45 Degrees and Running

4 Miles - 30:11

Man it was nice out today. Probably why I hit it so hard. I have been thinking about this 5K I am running on Saturday, and not knowing what to expect. The last one I ran, a little less then two years ago, was at a 7:13 pace. I haven't been doing speed work yet this year, or tempos, I have been just trying to get myself used to running everyday. So I have had nothing to gauge how I was going to perform. I was thinking that 7:30 pace for the race would have been good. Until last night, I ran 4 miles at about a 7:33 pace. So on Saturday, I should be able to run better than that over 3 miles and the race adrenaline. So that was a good motivator, and a confidence booster. Just what I need right about now as I am going to start increasing the miles and the difficulty of my training.

Reeds Lake

4.35 Miles - 39:30

Ran around Reeds Lake today, slowly. It was a nice run, good scenery, houses, the lake, lots of people. It was also a nice change from going around the block at my place. I think I definatly will run this again when I get to the 8 mile point. I felt pretty good though, my legs were not tired, didn't have any pains in my knees or calves. Just a little stiffness/soreness in my ankles.

Slowly but Surely

6 Miles - 51:08

I think I ran six miles today, I went out with the intention to, brought my GPS receiver. Unfotunatly, it died around 4.8 miles. I know the route I was taking was close to 6 miles, and I was on about an 8.5 minute mile pacs, so I ran till I hit 51 minutes. I felt a little rough in the first three miles, my legs were tight, and my quads and shin muscles (whatever those are called) were killing, but by the end of mile 5, I felt great. Even better after 6. This is the farthest I have run this year, this might be the start of my weekly increase in the long run.

Running

4 Miles - 32:46

I felt good today, I thought I was running slowly, taking small steps, but everytime I got to a mile marker, I noticed I wasn't going all that slow. I didn't have any pains in my knees, ankles or calves, and my legs didn't get too tired.

No Trip to Harrisburg

4 Miles - 32:42

I was home and able to run today, and my legs felt good all day, which sometimes gets me into trouble. I started out today running, again, faster than I should, but I slowed it down about a quater mile into it. I ran the first 2 miles at and 8 minute average, the third mile I slowed to about 8:45, and the fourth mile was about 8:15, so I was still fairly strong by the end of the run. I think the plank ab workouts I have been doing while stretching have been helping as well. My upper body feels a little more stable, and my lower back doesn't hurt anymore when running.

Time to Rest a Little

2 Miles - 17:42

I was sore today, I thought about going 4 miles, but about half a mile in, my calf felt like it was going to go, so I made the executive decision to just do two miles. I will be sore again tomorrow, so I will rest......that and I have a wine tasting in Holland that I am going to...but good timing. And depending on if I fly to Harrisburg or not Friday, I might not run then either.

A little sore

4 Miles - 33:57

So I was sore today like I expected after running so hard yesterday. I didn't feel tired, just my legs were sore, especially my calves and quads. I ran faster today than I probably should as well, with a 8:45 mile average, I should be running in the 9-9:30 range for my easy runs, I just have a hard time running that slow.......I need to learn though.

Take it Easy

4 Miles - 30:59

I was feeling good today, I was thinking about my run all day. It has been a few days, and my legs were feeling good, as they always do after a break, it was above 40 degrees all day, I was pumped about my new diet. I switched my diet to add more carbs, I was always feeling slugish, and back when I was lifting a lot of weights, I was high on the protein end of the diet. I was about 60% protein, 10% fat, and 30% carbs....not so good. So now I am about 60% carbs, 23% fat and 17% protein. I am hoping this will give me more energy all day and during my runs, and help me recover quicker.

So back to today, I was feeling great, and I could see the sidewalk....most of the time, so I took off like a rocket. Started out with a 7:15 mile, this is close to my best 5K average mile. Then it hit me that I was running too fast, especially with not running for a bit, my knee and my calf probelems....but I kept at it. I slowed a little, at mile two I was about a 7:30 average. Then fatigue started to set in, it was my back mostly, and my quads a little, but mostly my back. Then the ice started in on the sidewalks. I was still looking good at mile 3, still at a 7:30 average. Then the ice and snow got worse, it was a bit of a struggle, but I felt great the last quarter mile, and finished at about a 7:45 average for the 4 miles. Big questions is, how will I feel tomorrow.

Rainy Days

4.1 Miles - 36:31

It was pouring out today at the vineyard, and all of a sudden there was a break in the clouds, so I went for a run. Took the gate remote today so I could get out of the community, then went running around the vineyards, and the hills. I forgot how hilly this run was, it's pretty tough. I did manage to get a little over 4 miles in, the last mile was all uphill. Then I openned the gate and went back into the community, pretty spent. As I was walking, it started to trickle, then it started to pour and the wind picked up, and I was too tired to run up and down the hills inside the gate, so I walked, and got soaked.......and soaked, it is about 1.5 miles from the gate to thier place, so I was pretty wet. As I was approaching their gate, Tom came rolling out in the Explorer and picked me up. By then, I couldn't have gotten any wetter though. I'll take the rain anyday though over the snow..

Trapped

2.1 Hilly Miles - 18:21

I am in Cali, at my aunt and uncles vineyard, went for a run today. I walked to the gate to get out of the community to warm up, and when I got there, it wouldn't open, the code wasn't working.....so I was stuck. Nothing left to do but run up and down the road from thier place to the gate.......which is one big steep hill, a few times up and down that and I was hit.

Michingan is slowly warming up, I hope

4 Miles - 32:02

It wasn't bad out today, cold, but not snowing, and it hasn't for a few days, which meant the sidewalks were flat, not clear, but flat snow and ice. So after a days rest I thought I might push it a little and see how I felt. I was on pace for 7:30 to 7:45 minute miles through 3, then that last mile, that always gets me. The road plows pushed all the snow onto the sidewalk on that side of the block, so it was rough going, and my last mile was less than easy. My quads were pretty sore after trying to keep pace while slipping around.

Well, I am taking tomorrow off becasue.....I am flying to San Francisco for a few days of relaxation.....and running, then a day or two of work.

Leaping through the snow

4 Miles - 36:50

Wore my face cover today, good thing too, it was 15 degrees. There was a lot of deep snow I had to jump through, but it covered the ice which was good. All this running on the snow and ice, the 4 miles I run feels like 5 or 6, and it feels like I am running uphill. So I know my legs are going to be in shape when it melts. I am just worried about my form, and injuries. Me knee is starting to hurt a little again......

Bad day not to wear my face cover

4 Miles - 36:02

Thought I would be ok today without my face cover.......not sure what I figured it was going to be like, I knew it was snowing hard. Today, for the first two miles anyway, was some of the worst conditions I have run in. It was about 20 degrees, be the wind was right in my face, blowing wet snow at me. Good times, and those pitfalls I was falling into yesterday were still there, only there was no water in them today. Still felt good to get out there and run though. I may sound like I am complaining, but I'm not, I am mearly reporting what I saw.

Slushies and Shenanigans

1 Mile???? - 8:30

Nice day out today, 41 degrees, which means the snow is melting, which I am all about. I thought today would be a little icy, and a little wet. My condo parking lot was a mess, it was hard just to walk out. Then I got to the block I run around. About 10 steps into the run, I sunk about a foot and a half into a pool of slush, and the next 6 or 7 steps were the same. It looked like solid snow and ice, but man I dropped through it quickly. My feet were soaked and freezing. I wasn't in a little valley either, I was on top of the hill.

So I turned around and decided to go the other way around the block, at least get 2 or 3 miles in. Same thing that way, only this was only about a foot deep. So I turned around again and just ran around the roads in my area until meet feet were aching from being soaked and cold. So about a mile. It's supposed to be about 17 degrees tomorrow, so that might make for some interesting turain as well. All for the good of running.

Beautiful Day

4 Miles - 33:49

It was a beautiful day today, despite being 25 degrees. The sun was out, the snow was melting, no wind, not bad. I felt good today too, started out on about an 8:10 minute mile pace through 3 miles, the sidewalks were snowy, but not too bad. Until that 4th mile, the snow was thick, and somewhat stiff, so about 3/4 of the time my foot would sink at an awkward angle, and that last mile was uphill, making it worse. Still finished ok though, I might go the other way tomorrow and get that part over with.

Treamill in Louisville

2 Miles - 17:01

Had to hit the treadmill today here in Louisville.

Freezing

4 Miles - 33:31

I think my calf is ok, I felt good today, other than the cold. No relief in sight.

Calf Feeling Better

2 Miles - 17:30

Just testing my calf out today, felt good.

Oh my Calf

1 mile - 8:35

It appears the strained calf I got last week was a little worse than I had thought. I rested and stretched it all weekend, then went out last night on a run. A mile into it I couldn't put any weight on it. So, I will rest and stretch for another few days and see where I am on Satruday.

This is the rain I was expecting

6 Miles - 49:58

Just not as much of it as I got. It was about 45 degrees today, a little drizzle as I took off for my run. It was nice, I was wearing shorts, which felt good, and the snow was almost all gone. Nice day for a run. After 3 miles however, it started to pour, and all of a sudden, it got a lot colder. I poured the rest of the run, and continued to get colder. My legs were numb when I got done. After 4 miles, me left calf started to cramp up, which I thought was going to stop me. I was able to stretch it out a little while running and finish, I just hope it doesn't hurt me for tomorrow.