6.26.09

I feel like I'm hanging by the skin of my teeth lately when it comes to running. Each day is a battle to get out the door, and the runs aren't exactly easy like they were when it was cooler outside. For instance today during my run I had to stop twice for water and a little recovery, and about halfway through the last loop I really had to stay positive and think about the old "one foot in front of the other" 4-feet running theme song just to make it. Still each time I go out there and do that I feel better about it, but apparently not enough to do it everyday.

Still working hard. I've got lots of caricatures to work on, and April has a new printer so she can print all kinds of things. It's not just a photo printer, it's a deluxe printer that can print large format things, print on vellum, etc. and it has 4 drawers that can hold about 350 sheets of paper. So yeah, it's not simply a new printer you can just by from the store, it cost a pretty penny, but she needs it to get her business going.

Tomorrow we are going to Splash Country near Pigeon Forge. We are going with April's sister and her boyfriend and I think it will be a lot of fun. Not sure how it will affect running, but at this point I guess any reason is acceptable to put a zero in the calendar.

92° F 51% From W4 mph
1:05:05 (9.60) bf 1475

6.23.09

Great run today. Not a cloud in the sky and it was sunny and beautiful. Took a water break after each loop because it was really hot because of the direct. I ended up having to take a water break about every three miles, or every loop around the block. It worked well, but was still a pretty good effort at the end to stay on pace and finish the run.

Actually had some words of encouragement from a woman in the neighborhood. She said I have inspired a lot of people around here with my running, and it's true I've seen a couple more people walking and running than I normally do. She has been doing water aerobics because she cannot run quite yet. I encouraged her to keep at it, but it was really cool to hear that from a relative stranger. I've waved at her a few times, but never really talked. It really felt good.

6:15pm. home. 89º
1:04:00 (9.51) bf 1466

6.22.09

So today was a great run through the neighborhood. After the major storms today, which blew over have the plants on our front porch, it was clear and beautiful. It also wasn't too hot because the rain had cooled things down slighty, so just above 80 degrees wasn't too bad. I felt really good the first two loops and the last one struggled just a bit, but still felt really good.

I like that my legs feel great. When I was running a lot of miles they always felt tight and honestly I was probably running too much, but that's the sort of thing I risk I guess. Running is a sort of all or nothing for me. If I'm going to do something, I do it all the way and taking days off or whatever is to risky with my mindset. I'm kind of in that place now, where I've taken so many days off I'm kind of that brink of not running, but I'm hanging in there and I think things will turn around soon.

Well it's been a rough couple weeks. Not bad rough, just different rough because so many things are happening right now. Lots of life changes with jobs and just getting used to new schedules. April is getting her business going. We have an office now and so we are getting things together for that. It's just hard getting used to her being home now, because she did work most of the day before and now she gets to hang with me. There is also talk of maybe getting a teaching position, but it's still up in the air. There are just so many things going on right now it's been difficult to feel motivated to run with so much else on the plate. Soon I should have a new normal and get back on my usual running track.

5:30pm. home. 82º 71% 4mph
1:04:00 (9.41) bf 1457

6.16.09

Not too bad today, a little cloudy but got sunnier and hotter. Probably going to switch to morning and afternoon runs soon.

11:30am. home. 81° 70%H 2 mph
42:15(6.34) bf 1448

6.14.08

Tough run, it was hot. Not sure what's going to happen in July when it hits 90 at 9 am.

5:05pm. home. 85º 51H 4 mph
42:36(6.41) bf 1442

6.12.09

It wasn't too bad out today. The first loop I caught clouds and the second the sun really came down, but I felt good. The third loop was tough and about halfway through that one I knew I was almost spent for the day. I really feel inconsistent lately so I'm thinking I need to write some stuff down. Other than this blog, which is basically just a log/journal I normally keep a barebones schedule laying around. I haven't gotten around to filling one out yet, but I was thinking before I know it fall races will be here, training has to start now (at least in the base sense). There's something about having a schedule, no matter how rough, that keeps you extra accountable. I hate filling in zeros.

4:45pm. home. 83º 60%H 6mph
1:02:41(9.35) bf 1436

6.11.09

Thunderstorms were still going on through the day, but luckily it cleared up and was very nice around five. I got out the door while I could. A good run. It was a little hot today, but not too bad since the rain had just come through and I caught a couple clouds too :) We were supposed to go camping tomorrow, but now it looks like the plans aren't going through. It's not a bad thing it'll give me more time to finish some things and run.

5:30pm. home. 77º 76%H 5mph
1:07:10(10.02) bf 1427

6.10.09

thunderstorms and lightning, stayed inside.

6.9.09

Extremely hot today, just tried to make it 40 minutes.


4:45pm. home. 88º 50h 5mph
42:37(6.37) bf 1418

6.8.09

Was busy all day visiting and working, didn't get a run in.

6.7.09

Easy run turned into a kind of tempo around the neighborhood. Clouds made it a little easier to run and since I've had plenty of time off the legs were really fresh and I just wanted to go fast so I did.

7:33pm. home. 84º 41h 5mph
41:30 (6.38) bf 1412

6.6.09

Okay so sorry about this past week no real updates coming from my end. I've been feeling very unmotivated lately, but I actually enjoyed having some time off from running for a while. It just seemed like I had been grinding it out for a long time and I need a nice long break from running. Well I'm feeling better than ever and am ready to get back to training.

Today started off a new base where the focus will be one quality run a week, one long run, and striders/coordination once or twice as I see fit during the week. I've had a lot of time to think and reflect about my goals for this year and I'll be focusing on a half marathon in the fall. I have no goal time right now and probably never will. My only goal will be to put forth my best effort on race day.

It was a very beautiful day today, I like when the humidity is low like this. The wind was just strong enough to cool me down one way, although running with it I did get pretty hot. Still other than a stitch I got under my rib (common area for me) where it's closest to the bellybutton for the first 20 minutes the rest of the run went fine. My legs are feeling really great right now. The biggest thing I hope to get from my time off other than motivation is injury prevention. Sometimes I take things a little too hard, so hopefully this week off will help with anything that may have been going astray. I haven't had any niggles lately, but I'm sure most of this week off can't hurt.

home. 3:53pm. 82º 39%H 4mph wind from ENE
1:11:31(10.50) bf 1406

6.5.09

Fully rested? I hope so.

6.4.09

Resting a ton

6.3.09

Resting more

6.2.09

Rest

6.1.09

Taking a few days rest