Training Widget

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Much better month

Day 329 - July 31, 2008

July proved to be a much better month for running. For the first time in several months I was over 100 miles. Finally I'm trending in the right direction. I'll be out of town this weekend with no internet access, so posting will have to wait until I get back. Hope you all have a good weekend.

Day: 329 Time/Date: 7:40 PM 7/31/2008 Weather: Clear, 81F
Run:
N Carnation-Davis Miles: 3.6 Time: 25:35 Pace: 7:06 min/mile
Miles to Date:
1072.5 Total Running Time: 131:39:25

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The Big Announcement

Day 328 - July 30, 2008

This morning I went for nice run with the wife. We did 2 miles together then I went on ahead and ran another 3.5 when she was done. It was nice to get out together and put a few miles under our shoes. I was proud of her - even with it being so hot she still ran the whole thing without stopping. She'll be ready for the Women's 4 miler in no time.

A few days ago I mentioned that a challenge had been thrown down about riding in the 3rd Annual Cycling Challenge to benefit the Charlottesville Boys and Girls Club. Well, I bought a bike and have begun training. Initially, I thought I'd just ride the short 30 mile loop and be done with it. But what good would that do the kids? My $50 registration won't do much and I'm not doing it because I love to ride and was looking for the next opportunity. No, I'm going to do my best to raise some serious cash. In fact, to help promote the cause, I've launched a blog - Cycling for CVille to track my training progress, share my riding experiences, and raise upwards of $1500 for the Boys and Girls Club. So, if your interested in another reading experience and want to help out, click on over and check it out. The more money I raise, the farther I'm going to ride.

Now, running comes first and I'm going to keep this streak going. I hope I can add the riding without hurting my weekly mileage. It's only 3 months until the big event, so I should be able to handle it. If I have to drop out of one challenge, it will definitely be the riding.

Day: 328 Time/Date: 8:00 AM 7/30/2008 Weather: Clear, 78F
Run: TL 5.5 Miles: 5.5 Time: 48:25 Pace: 8:48 min/mile
Miles to Date: 1068.9 Total Running Time: 131:13:50

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

A new route

Day 327 - July 29, 2008

Today was all about finding a balance between running enough and making sure I don't injure myself. Yesterday I bought a new bike and of course had to take it out and see what I could do. I only went 6 miles, but I wasn't sure how that would affect me on the run today. My legs definitely felt different, but it wasn't bad. I did have some foot pain when I started out today, but I think that is unrelated to the bike ride. I think has more to do with all the time I've been on my feet the last few days. I'm going to monitor it and see how it goes the next few days.

The new route was nothing crazy, just an extension on the 2 mile Amicus run. I was hoping it would get me out to 3 miles but 2.8 is good. Either tomorrow or Thursday I'll get in a long run (assuming the foot pain is gone) and be right on track for another good week of running.

Be sure to check back tomorrow as I have a big announcement planned - just another data point to prove I am in fact insane.

Day:
327 Time/Date: 7:10 AM 7/29/2008 Weather: Clear, 68F
Run:
Carnation 2.8 Miles: 2.8Time: 20:50 Pace: 7:26 min/mile
Miles to Date:
1063.4 Total Running Time: 130:25:25

Monday, July 28, 2008

Another day down

Day 326 - July 28, 2008

Today was just a maintenance run to get a few miles in before work. I have to admit I thought about just sleeping in and scrambling for a run after work in the heat. I'll be glad when the humidity breaks a little and I can have some more flexibility in when I run. Yesterday's mid-day run was brutal on me and I really didn't feel recovered today.

Day: 326 Time/Date: 7:15 AM 7/28/2008 Weather: Cloudy, 63F
Run:
N Carnation-Davis Miles: 3.6 Time: 26:41 Pace: 7:25 min/mile
Miles to Date:
1060.6 Total Running Time: 130:04:35

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Random Thoughts from the last 3 days

Day 325 - July 27, 2008

The last 3 days have been weird. I overslept on Friday so I took the cheap way out and only ran a couple of miles thinking I had all afternoon on Saturday to get in a longer run. Saturday came and the quest to find a bike to ride in the fore mentioned challenge turned into an afternoon of riding progressively more expensive bikes and then an evening of greasy cheeseburgers and beer. I was probably one beer shy of the streak coming to a crashing halt, but I sucked it up and ran a quick mile on the treadmill at 10:30pm so I could live to blog another day. Let's just say that beer and cheeseburgers should come after the run, not before.

Today, I wanted to get a longer run in, but it got hot really fast. I couldn't decide what the best course of action was, so rather than run a common route and end up racing the watch, I decide to skip a plan and just run for 30-35 minutes. I intentionally started out toward Amicus with no plan so that I was certain to adjust on the fly and run a truly random route. It worked well. I made 2 mid run course corrections and managed to sneak in an extra mile and maintain a relaxed but efficient pace. Who knows what the rest of the week will bring, but if I start riding this week, I'm sure the mileage will slip a little. Stay tuned.


Day: 323 Time/Date: 7:15 AM 7/25/2008 Weather: Clear, 60F
Run: Amicus 2 mile Miles: 2.0 Time: 14:34 Pace: 7:17 min/mile
Miles to Date: 1051.4 Total Running Time: 128:57:30

Day: 324 Time/Date: 10:30 PM 7/26/2008 Weather: Indoors, 77F
Run: Treadmill Miles: 1.0 Time: 06:51 Pace: 6:51 min/mile
Miles to Date: 1052.4 Total Running Time: 129:04:21

Day: 325 Time/Date: 12:30 PM 7/27/2008 Weather: Partly Cloudy, 90F
Run: Random miles Miles: 4.6 Time: 33:33 Pace: 7:18 min/mile
Miles to Date: 1057 Total Running Time: 129:37:54

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Waking up on the run

Day 322 - July 24, 2008

46 weeks into the streak I still find ways to surprise myself on the run. Obviously, yesterday's 9 mile run left my legs a little tired and I wasn't really psyched about running this morning. So to ease myself out, I chose my favorite daily route and headed into the fog. As I expected, I was pretty slow.

My first half mile out of the development was 10 seconds slower than my normal crawl. Add that up over a 3.5 mile run and that's over a minute slower. So, I decided to try and pick it up a little, but my effort didn't yield much. When I finally reached the turn around, I was 13:54, still a good 10 seconds from normal, but at least I was maintaining my pace.

On the way back, I was monitoring my pace and I estimated that if I continued to run at that pace I might break 27 minutes. It seemed unlikely, but I half jokingly reminded myself of Phillipians 4:13 and continued to push on. Well, something must have clicked on the way back because the strides were coming easier and before I knew it I was back in the development with only the long downhill around Carnation to go. When I reached the driveway, my watch said 25:56! I had run the second half in 12:01.

It is funny what little things we use to motivate ourselves. I really doubt whether God, or anyone else for that matter, cares what time I run my daily runs in. But, that one short thought, that didn't enter my head at any other point on the run, may have been just the trigger I was looking for. I hope I can remember this post when faced with a real challenge someday. If a little positive thinking can get me through an insignificant 3 mile run, imagine what it can do when it matters.


Day: 322 Time/Date: 6:30 AM 7/24/2008 Weather: Clear, 63F
Run: N Carnation-Davis Miles: 3.6 Time: 25:56 Pace: 7:12 min/mile
Miles to Date: 1049.4 Total Running Time: 128:42:56

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

300th post

Day 321 - July 23, 2008

Well, I couldn't let my 300th post be a pitiful little 2 mile run, so I decided not to post anything yesterday. Instead, I saved it for the 9 mile run I did this morning. It was hot and humid for such an early morning run, but I was pretty pleased when I finally finished. My time wasn't terrible and I didn't get the dreaded I can't go on feeling. I did at one point entertain the idea of calling the wife to come get me, but since I wasn't positive she would be able to get the kids up and out the door faster than I could be home, I decided against it.

I'm hoping that this long run will encourage me to continue to bump up my weekly mileage. I should be in the mid-20's this week (I hope since I ran almost half of that today) and that is getting me close to the 30 a week I'd like to do. I've only got one more weekend trip planned that will cut into my running time, then it should be smooth sailing through the fall.

The one thing that might get int he way would be this silly bike ride challenge that was issued to me. Apparently, our entire company is going to be riding for the local boys and girls club. Sounds like a great cause, but it means I have to a) get a bike, b) train, c) ride over Afton Mtn. Fortunately, I'm not that competitive (ROFLOL) so I won't take it that seriously. We'll see.


Day: 320 Time/Date: 7:10 AM 7/22/2008 Weather: Cloudy, 69F
Run: Amicus 2 mile Miles: 2.0 Time: 14:50 Pace: 7:25 min/mile
Miles to Date: 1036.8 Total Running Time: 127:09:23

Day: 321 Time/Date: 5:45 AM 7/23/2008 Weather: Cloudy, 72F
Run: Celt 9 miler Miles: 9.0 Time: 07:37 Pace: 7:31 min/mile
Miles to Date: 1045.8 Total Running Time: 128:17:00

Monday, July 21, 2008

Hey, I Remember You

Day 319 - July 21, 2008

An old friend came to visit me on the run today - the mid-run stretch. I forgot how much I missed taking a short break after warming up for a mile or two. Stretching really helped this morning as I was crawling along at speeds a sloth would find slow. I didn't do much, just 2 or 3 minutes to work the quads, calves, hamstrings, and inner thigh. I tried to stretch out my creaking back, but I don't think it did much. But, just those two or three minutes made a world of difference. It had taken me 10:40 to get to my stretching spot, but it took less than 9:40 on the way back. I need to remember to invite my old friend along with me on my morning runs. My times will start looking better and I imagine I'll have less problems with sore legs. So thank you old friend for joining me today.

Day: 319 Time/Date: 6:30 AM 7/21/2008 Weather: Cloudy, 71F
Run:
N Carnation-Davis Miles: 3.6 Time: 26:35 Pace: 7:23 min/mile
Miles to Date:
1034.8 Total Running Time: 126:54:33

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Waiting out the heat

Day 318 - July 20, 2008

Sleeping in on the weekend is nice, but having to run in the heat is not. I waited as long as I could today and it still was in the mid-80s. The temperature wouldn't have been bad, but the humidity was a killer. It still was a good run - way faster than even just a few days ago.

I still want to get a long run in, but I have to admit I find lots of excuses not to do it. I'm not sure why I keep doing that. Maybe I schedule a run somewhere out of the ordinary to get out there and force the long run to happen.

Day: 318 Time/Date: 8:15 PM 7/20/2008 Weather: Cloudy, 85F
Run:
S Carnation-Davis Miles: 4.1 Time: 30:35 Pace: 7:28 min/mile
Miles to Date:
1031.2 Total Running Time: 126:27:58

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Finding time to post

Day 317 - July 19, 2008

Its been a busy week and the running has suffered a bit. To maximize my time running, I decided to not post everyday. It seems silly that 10 minutes a day makes a difference, but in some psychological way it does. Here's what you missed this week.

Day: 312 Time/Date: 10:10 PM 7/14/2008 Weather: Clear, 72F
Run: Dahlia Miles: 2.0 Time: 15:34 Pace: 7:47 min/mile
Miles to Date: 1013.4 Total Running Time: 124:12:22

Day: 313 Time/Date: 6:30 AM 7/15/2008 Weather: Clear, 65F
Run: N Carnation-Davis Miles: 3.6 Time: 27:40 Pace: 7:41 min/mile
Miles to Date: 1017 Total Running Time: 124:40:02

Day: 314 Time/Date: 7:50 PM 7/16/2008 Weather: Clear, 85F
Run: S Carnation-Davis Miles: 4.1 Time: 31:52 Pace: 7:46 min/mile
Miles to Date: 1021.1 Total Running Time: 125:11:54

Day: 315 Time/Date: 7:10 AM 7/17/2008 Weather: Clear, 63F
Run: Amicus 2 mile Miles: 2.0 Time: 15:00 Pace: 7:30 min/mile
Miles to Date: 1023.1 Total Running Time: 125:26:54

Day: 316 Time/Date: 7:10 AM 7/18/2008 Weather: Clear, 67F
Run: Dahlia Miles: 2.0 Time: 14:56 Pace: 7:28 min/mile
Miles to Date: 1025.1 Total Running Time: 125:41:50

Day: 317 Time/Date: 7:45 PM 7/19/2008 Weather: Cloudy, 89F
Run: Amicus 2 mile Miles: 2.0 Time: 15:33 Pace: 7:46 min/mile
Miles to Date: 1027.1 Total Running Time: 125:57:23

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Too hot for 8 am

Day 311 - July 13, 2008

I ran mostly in a daze this morning and just tried to get from one point to the next. This was not one of those relaxing runs that you can really enjoy. I could have easily taken the easy route and only run 2 miles, but I'm trying to force my weekly mileage back up near 30. At some point I've got to make a longer run happen before work. We'll see what the week brings.

Day: 311 Time/Date: 8:10 AM 7/13/2008 Weather: Clear, 71F
Run: Geranium-Amicus Miles: 3.5 Time: 26:38 Pace: 7:37 min/mile
Miles to Date: 1011.4 Total Running Time: 123:56:48

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Not much to write about

Day 310 - July 12, 2008

Just a slow two miles to let my aching calves recover.

Day: 310 Time/Date: 7/12/2008 7:30:00 AM Weather: Clear, 70F
Run:
Amicus 2 mile Miles: 2.0 Time: 15:43 Pace: 7:51 min/mile
Miles to Date:
1007.9 Total Running Time: 123:30:10

Friday, July 11, 2008

Running at dusk

Day 309 - July 11, 2008

Today was a good recovery run. I wanted to wait for the sun to set so it would be cooler, but it was still a pretty warm evening. The miles clicked off pretty easily and I enjoyed the relaxed run. I need to find more time to enjoy more runs and not just record another notch on the streak pole.

Day: 309 Time/Date: 8:10 PM 7/11/2008 Weather: Clear, 87F
Run:
Beazly Miles: 5.1 Time: 38:25 Pace: 7:32 min/mile
Miles to Date:
1005.9 Total Running Time: 123:14:27

Just like that 1000 miles down

Day 308 - July 10, 2008

And there you have it, I have cracked the 1000 mile barrier. Sure, to get to 4000, I should have been there 2 months ago, but I have to admit that running everyday was tougher than I thought it would be in the beginning. Now that the barrier is down, I'm going to see if I can get to 1200 by the end of the first year or the streak. At least I don't let my past failures get in the way of setting high goals :)

Even with the heat, I still ran a pretty fast time last night. Compare that to the last two times I've done this run and I was smokin. I'll take it easier tonight when I go out - hopefully it will be a little cooler.

Thanks for hanging in there for 1000 miles. I look forward to the next 1000.

Day: 308 Time/Date: 5:15 PM 7/10/2008 Weather: Clear, 93F
Run:
N Carnation-Davis Miles: 3.6 Time: 24:40 Pace: 6:51 min/mile
Miles to Date:
1000.8 Total Running Time: 122:36:02

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Sleep won out - 1000 miles will wait a day

Day 307 - July 9, 2008

So I gave in to my need to sleep. I really wanted to run the 7 miles to get to 1000 miles, but the lousy weather and being dead tired overruled. Still, 1000 miles in 308 days is pretty good. If I push myself, I may get to 1200 by the end of the first year.

How's that for the next goal?

Day: 307 Time/Date: 7:00 AM 7/9/2008 Weather: Clear, 73F
Run:
N Carnation-Davis Miles: 3.6 Time: 25:35 Pace: 7:06 min/mile
Miles to Date:
997.2 Total Running Time: 122:11:22

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Glad I didn't wait

Day 306 - July 8, 2008

Due to circumstances of work and family responsibilities I needed to run on the treadmill tonight. Although I hate to admit it, I think it was good for me to run a consistent pace for 3 miles that wasn't slow. Maybe this will help me when I get back on the road tomorrow. To break the monotony of 2 mile treadmill runs I decided to run for 20 minutes plus whatever I needed to round it up to the next lap. That worked well. I didn't run too fast and feel like dying after two miles, but I ran fast enough to make sure I didn't take 20 minutes to run two and a half.

I'm getting very close to 1000 miles. I'm debating a long run in the morning to just go for it or let it happen over two days. I guess I leave it as a cliff hanger for now...Can you feel the excitement?

Day: 306 Time/Date: 8:35 PM 7/8/2008 Weather: Indoors, 78F
Run: Treadmill Miles: 3.0 Time: 20:46 Pace: 6:55 min/mile
Miles to Date: 993.6 Total Running Time: 121:45:47

Monday, July 7, 2008

Maybe that is the problem

Day 305 - July 7, 2008

I think the thought of getting up to go to work is demotivating to the point that it makes me not want to get up and run. Maybe it was just yesterday's travel, but I really had no desire to go out and get my miles in. I found this to be quite the contrast from this past weekend where I was constantly looking for ways to extend out my run and get more miles in. Maybe that had something to do with sharing a small house with 11 other people - I don't know. Anyway - today marks the 10 month monthiversary for this journey - 61 more days and then it will be a real anniversary.

Day: 305 Time/Date: 7:00 AM 7/7/2008 Weather: Cloudy, 68F
Run: Amicus 2 mile Miles: 2.0 Time: 14:40 Pace: 7:20 min/mile
Miles to Date: 990.6 Total Running Time: 121:25:01

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Another trip down

Day 304 - July 6, 2008

The streak has survived another travel day and forced family vacation. I set the alarm early and struggled through a cramped and stiff 3 mile run before loading the car up and driving 9 hours back home. The weather was still pretty nice and the neighborhoods were great for running, but I'm glad to be back home.

Day: 304 Time/Date: 6:45 AM 7/6/2008 Weather: Clear, 63F
Run: Cleveland Running Miles: 3.0 Time: 22:13 Pace: 7:24 min/mile
Miles to Date: 988.6 Total Running Time: 121:10:21

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Sure you'll be ready by 7

Day 303 - July 5, 2008

Didn't make it up before the alarm this morning but I was ready to crawl out of that death-trap of a pull-out sofa as soon as possible. As if that monstrosity wasn't uncomfortable enough, our 7 year old decided she needed to sleep in it as well last night. Can you say no sleep!

Anyway - not that that has anything to do with running. Getting up early was worth it. Today was another perfect morning for running. If my legs had not been so tired from yesterdays 7+ miles followed by a day of walking around the zoo, I'm sure I would have gone for another long run today. Instead I settled for a 23 minute 3.3 mile out and back. I thought I needed to be back by 7am so I was pushing it. Turns out no one else was awake when I got back so there was no hurry.

Finishing early has one extra benefit - now I get to sit here in Panera, sipping my coffee and post using the free WI-FI, while everyone fights over the one tiny bathroom. Ain't life grand.

Day: 303 Time/Date: 6:30 AM 7/5/2008 Weather: Clear, 59F
Run: Cleveland Running Miles: 3.3 Time: 23:08 Pace: 7:01 min/mile
Miles to Date: 985.6 Total Running Time: 120:48:08

Friday, July 4, 2008

Ironically 1 tenth of a mile short

Day 302 - July 4, 2008

Happy Independence Day! I woke up 10 minutes before my alarm this morning and decided to make the best of it. I was stiff as a board from sleeping on the 58 year old sleeper sofa and I figured no additional sleep was going to help that. I gave myself 30 minutes to work out the creaks, then set out on a perfect weather morning. Our annual trek to Cleveland is usually welcomed with high temperatures in the 100s and lows in the 90s - I'm not kidding - one year the house never got below 92 degrees the entire weekend. Today, it was 57 when I stepped outside with zero wind or humidity.

The area of Cleveland that we are visiting has to look like a sheet of graph paper from the sky, so there is almost no chance of getting lost. The neighborhoods are also very old, so there were lots of mature trees to run under and perfectly landscaped, manicured lawns surrounding Craftsman style houses. With no particular goal for where to run to, I ran against the watch and just meandered from block to block. At 26ish minutes, I decided to head back and retrace my steps. Gmap-pedometer tells me the run total was 7.3 - seems like I should have found another 0.1 somwhere to run 7.4 on the 4th of July - Oh well.

It was a perfect run this morning - no pressure to be back, no traffic to dodge, no loose dogs to avoid. If I could have mornings like this everyday I'd be renaming the blog 10000000 Days of Running.

Day: 302 Time/Date: 6:45 AM 7/4/2008 Weather: Clear, 57F
Run: Cleveland Running Miles: 7.3 Time: 52:55 Pace: 7:15 min/mile
Miles to Date: 982.3 Total Running Time: 120:25:00

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Heading out

Day 301 - July 3, 2008

I've got another 9 hour car ride today so I decided to take it easy on the miles and get out early. The clouds were just starting to pink up as I headed out and at least gave me something worthwhile to look at so early in the day. I don't think I like running before 6am, but 6am in July is way better than 6am in December.

Day: 301 Time/Date: 5:40 AM 7/3/2008 Weather: Clear, 58F
Run: Amicus 2 mile Miles: 2.0 Time: 15:05 Pace: 7:32 min/mile
Miles to Date: 975 Total Running Time: 119:32:05

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

300 Days and finally off the 15

Day 300 - July 2, 2008

Today is a day to celebrate for me - I finally made it to 300. I know I still have a long way to go to get to 1000, but somehow it seems more possible. It also is a time for an update on my cross-country journey. After 300 days of traveling north on Interstate 15, I finally have reached Idaho Falls and am turning East towards Jackson Hole and then north to Yellowstone.



To make the 4000 miles across country, I really need to get my daily average up and that is going to take some long runs. My goal for the next 1oo days will be to raise my daily average from the 3.2 miles I'm at now to 3.4.

Today's run was shorter than I had expected to do for the big day. I slept like garbage last night and my legs were dead when I rolled out onto the blacktop. So, bagging the long run I chose my favorite run - the 3.6 mile Davis run. It was a great morning and I really picked up the pace on the way back. I thought about going back out this evening if I had the time, but it didn't work out. So here I am, 300 days, 973 miles, and 119 hours into my streak. It is pretty cool to think that by next weekend I could hit 1000 miles. I know I should be well past 1000 already if I'm going to get to 4000, but still, 1000 miles in 10 months is pretty cool.

Thanks for hanging in for 300 days - I hope you'll keep checking back as I edge closer to 1000.

Day: 300 Time/Date: 7:15 AM 7/2/2008 Weather: Clear, 61F
Run: N Carnation-Davis Miles: 3.6 Time: 25:42 Pace: 7:08 min/mile
Miles to Date: 973 Total Running Time: 119:17:00

Cool Summer morning

Day 299 - July 1, 2008

Just an easy 2 mile run before tomorrow's big day.


Day: 299 Time/Date: 6:15 AM 7/1/2008 Weather: Clear, 57F
Run: Amicus 2 mile Miles: 2.0 Time: 15:03 Pace: 7:31 min/mile
Miles to Date: 969.4 Total Running Time: 118:51:18