New Career?

I had a thought while I ran today. I wonder if I can start up my own online running store. It was one of those totally random, fleeting thoughts. But then I thought it again with emphasis on the "can" instead of the "wonder". I ran it by Natalie and she actually didn't dismiss it. Hmmmm?

Wednesday - run 7.0 miles

Ran 2 miles with Luke in the stroller. Very slow. Then another 5 miles on my own. It took much effort to keep this run together. Actually, it probably wasn't together, but I did get it in. I'm going to try and make up for lost miles tomorrow. Nat and I are going out of town Friday nite to celebrate our anniversary, so just getting in a normal run Friday and Saturday will be tough.

Tuesday - zero miles

Didn't run. Period.

Monday - run 3 miles

Easy 3 miles after yesterday's LR. Getting out the door when my body was telling me total rest day was tough. Very satisfying run. Easily could have, and probably should have, run 5.

Week Total - 40.2 miles

Good week. Actually, my best week ever. Solid 5+ mile runs that felt good and a good long run.

Sunday - run 11.9 miles

Whew! I made it. I put off the LR 'til this evening and by the time I headed out the door I really didn't feel like running. My fam went out to eat while I ran. And from the beginning all I could think about was how much farther I had to go. By the turnaround (out and back) at 6 miles I was mentally drained. I'm not sure if I was physically drained or not, although my head told me I was. I'm just mentally weak right now. Anyway, I stopped at about 8 1/2 miles to grab a powerade. Took about 4-5 mins to regroup and then finished the run. My legs are tired, so maybe it wasn't just mental weakness.

Saturday - run 4.8 miles

Slept in so I didn't get out for my LR this morning. Went for a 3 mile run (before nephew's b-day party) but pushed further than the 1.5 for the out & back. I just wanted to run more. What the hell is happening to me? Three runs this week were enjoyable and one I wanted to run more. Big day tomorrow. I'm at 28+ miles for the week and this has GOT to be a 40 mile week.

Friday - run 2.6 miles

The plan was to run 4 miles today. A shorter run on the eve of my long run tomorrow. I decided to run a "fast" 1/2 to get an indication of where my speed is right now. Up to this point I've done no running that would be speed work. I'm not ready yet to run an all out mile. I don't want to know just yet what that would be. Anyway, after a 1 mile warm up, I ran the 1/2. I thought I could probably run under 3 mins and decided that I would be pleased with a 2.50. I ran a fast, but comfortable, 1/2 in ... 2.50! As I was running my cool down, I decided to call it quits after 2 and a half b/c 1) I was pleased with my fast 1/2 effort 2) I feel confident that I can reach 40 with this weekends planned runs and 3) it was hot.

Thursday - run 5.3 miles

I ran at the regional park trail, from now on just "trail" since it's the only one around. Over and back then 1 full lap. 9.25 pace for the 5.3 miles. I just looked at my log from last summer. One entry I ran 4 miles at the trail, over and back, at a 10.13 pace. My note to myself was "Felt good!".

Wednesday - run 5.6 miles

Today was supposed to be a run at the Regional Park, but I didn't feel like the trail today. I mapped out a new route from the park that goes up one of the steepest and longest climbs in the Athens area. The climb is about 3/4 mile long. I passed it up then back down the other side for about 1/2 mile, maybe longer. Then back up and down the front. It was a tough run, especially since I hadn't eaten since breakfast and I started at about 2 PM, and very windy. But I totally enjoyed it. This makes 3 runs in a row that I used the word enjoy to describe my run. Four if you include the race Sunday, which I did enjoy. Am I shifting over to an actual runner? I'll call this run Springcreek Ridge 10k. Yeh, I'll need to find another 0.6 to add to it.

Tuesday - run 5.0 miles

I went out on a 4 mile stretch that I know well. Ran at a comfortable pace. I wanted to see how fast the comfortable pace was. Thru the 1st half mile the pace was slow. At mile 2 the pace was still slow. I turned off the chronograph and continued to run by feel. At that point it didn't matter how fast (slow) the run was. I was enjoying the run so I added a mile to it to make it 5 miles.

Monday - run 3.6 miles

AM) 3.6 miles easy effort. I felt sluggish and legs felt tired. But the easy and enjoyable effort was about an 8.17 pace. Not bad at all.

PM) 1.4 miles with Fivefingers on.

Week Total - 25 miles

Not 30. Kind of bummed about that but should be relatively rested for a big week this week. 40 is the goal.

Sunday - run 7+

I did a ~7 mile trail race today. I'm not totally sure what the distance was, but I was pretty close to racing the pace I thought I could. I went out too fast, so the middle part of the race I suffered a bit before I was able to recover for a strong finish. All in all, I'm pretty satisfied with my effort.

Saturday - run 2.2 miles

Easy 2.2 mile run to keep loose before the trail race tomorrow.

Friday - run 3.0 miles

And that ditch gets bigger. I spent most of the day finishing a tree house for Luke's birthday. Then spent some more time playing with him in it. Managed to get in a 3 mile run between that and dinner. I don't regret it a bit!

I am not going to try to make up the difference tomorrow. Although the mileage is more important to me than the race on Sunday, I'm just not going to tire myself the day before. If I can make it up in a 2nd run Sunday PM then great. If not, I'll be rested for a big week next week, won't I?

Thursday - run 2.25 miles

2.25 miles on the Y treadmill. I had planned on two 2-mile runs today, AM and PM. Probably gonna skip the PM. And the ditch gets deeper. Planning on a 5 miler tomorrow which may get me back on pace for that 30-mile week.

Wednesday - run 4.4 miles

AM) I ran one loop around the Regional Park trail, 2.3 miles. My goal was to run all out and see what kind of pace I could hold on the trail. I normally shoot for under 23 minutes b/c I know that is under a 10 minute pace. I ran a 20.45 today. I was pumped about that until I did the math and found that it is a 9.01 pace. I just missed the 8's! I was supposed to run 2 loops. Didn't.

PM) I ran another 2.1 miles from home to get in some mileage. I got two runs in today but since I ditched the 2nd loop of the park this morning I actually ran less than I had planned for a single run today. Digging a ditch I might not be able to get out of (less than 30 miles this week, I mean).

Tuesday - 0 miles

So much for running every day this week. I just didn't feel like running today. With this week a rest week, I couldn't talk myself into running. I want to taper for the race on Sunday, but still want to get in 30+ miles. I've got to remember these short races I've got scheduled are just something to look forward to. I can't slack off resting up for them or my overall fitness won't get to where I need it to be by Oct. I will try to get in 2 runs tomorrow. If it ends up being not enough rest for Sunday I'm OK with that.

Monday - run 6 miles

I ran an old and tough 6 mile route that I haven't run since last year, and I only ran it once last year. It's got 11 hills in the 6 miles. At least they are hills to me, probably not to everyone. Anyway, it started out well. The first mile was 7.50. The second mile went OK, about 8.03 (tougher mile). But just over mile 2 I hit the steepest hill. I really don't remember it being that steep. The run went south from there. Pace ended up being about 8.34. The positives: decent 1st & 2nd miles, never really felt bad (at least on the flatter sections), finished relatively strong, and ran the whole way (I walked some last year).

I'm glad this is a rest/down week. I wanted today to be similar to the last 3 weeks, but I'm am going to shorten the rest of the runs this week. I hopefully will still get in 30 miles this week, but I'm planning on running everyday (something I haven't done yet) so my daily mileage will be lower.

Week Total - 30.1 miles

Good week considering Natalie was gone from Thursday to Sunday evening.

Sunday - run 4.5 miles

Not the 5 miler I had originally planned, but 4.5 still put me over 30 miles for the week. A 7.46 pace that felt easy, maybe 75% effort.

40 Miler

I got notification today that I can change my registration from the marathon to the 40 miler. I'm not sure why I'm so hesitant to make the change. I'm thinking about it way too much. Which is interesting to me b/c I signed up for the marathon w/o much thinking at all. I can't figure out why this is different. Hmmm?

Saturday - Zero miles

Didn't run today. With Natalie gone, I didn't get time by myself to sneak in a run. Not a big deal. I knew this would happen, that's why the long run on thursday. With a five mile run tomorrow, I can still manage 30 miles this week. That will make 3 straight 30 mile weeks, albeit the last 2 less mileage than 3 weeks ago. I'm going into unchartered territory with my mileage. Three weeks in a row at +30 is a first. The 40.6 miles in the last 7 days (ending yesterday) are a new record (barely). This type of mileage in the past would have had me injured, so the fact that I'm not feeling much pain anywhere is such a blessing. Ha, also a 1st!

Next week is a down week for me. I really want to push the limit and shoot for that 40 mile "calender" week (Monday to Sunday) but with a race on Sunday and the injury free running, I'm going to play it smart and make next week a rest week. Of course, I've still got 5 miles tomorrow.

Friday - run 1.4 miles

Today was supposed to be a short/rest run just to get me over the 30 miles/wk hump. After yesterday's 9 miler I needed a break. Tomorrow will be similar. Plus Natalie's gone, so finding the time for anything longer is hard anyway. I also have a race planned for next weekend so the easy runs should help me recuperate. I've put in just over 40 miles in the last 7 days. Ran in my new VibramFiveFingers on grass. Jury is still out on them.

Thursday - run 9.2 miles

Ran on the Regional Park trail today. Four loops of 2.3 miles each. Pace was 11.03/mile.

loop 1 - 24.46
loop 2 - 24.58
loop 3 - 25.19
loop 4 - 26.39

I wanted to run 5 loops for 11.5 miles but I was running out of time (I had to pick up Luke from school) especially if loop 5 went south anywhere near what loop 4 did. Whew! Interestingly enough, I was at the exact time a little over the halfway point on loops 2 and 3 but came in 23 seconds slower on loop 3. I was really trying to focus and thought I was running quicker during that stretch. Hmmmm?

I wore my new arm coolers from Moeben. Chaffed a little under the arms (nothing some Bodyglide won't take care of). But overall I think I like them. Once they got wet with sweat I could really tell a difference in temperature, especially in the shade when I would catch a breeze.

Wednesday - run 4.0 miles

Four miles on the YMCA treadmill. Did some hill work, progressive times (8.57, 8.49, 8.41, 8.34) for each 1/4 mile. Mile 1 I started at 0.0 incline and raised it 0.5 each quarter. Mile 2 I started at 0.5. Mile 3, 1.0 and mile 4, 1.5. Still raised it 0.5 each quarter. So for 3.75 miles, I was technically going uphill the whole way. Good workout.

Tuesday - run 5.0 miles

Ran a quick but relatively comfortable 5 mile route I used to run with a buddy. It's the first time I've run it in probably a year and a half. The pace was ~ 7.46 (at least thru 4 b/c that's when I accidentally stopped my watch instead of lapping it). Based on my time, which is about where I was when I first ran it a couple of years ago, I'm either slower than I thought I was or my legs are a bit tired or maybe it came a bit easier. Only time will tell.

On a random note, it looks like I going to be able to take a short trip to Denver to spend 3 days running the trails out there with a friend. Our own sort of stage race. I'm hoping to cover about 15 miles/day. With this trip in the works about 5 weeks before the Triple Lakes race, I contacted the race director to see if I could bump up to the 40 miler. The way I see it, if I can handle 3 days at altitude and mountains for ~ 15 miles/day, five weeks later a 26 miler wouldn't be that much more demanding. I'm up for pushing myself to see how far I can go. I'm not looking for a race I know I can accomplish. This, of course, assumes I can handle the 3 days in Colorado.

Monday - run 6 miles

AM) 2 miles on treadmill. some core lifting.

PM) 4 miles. Didn't take watch but it felt "easy" and relatively quick, ~ 8.00 pace?

Week Total - run 30.6 miles

Not the increase to 40 miles that I wanted but the ofer on Tuesday and the weekend getaway didn't help. Over 30 miles two weeks in a row though is an accomplishment for me. Natalie is leaving Thursday and won't be back 'til Sunday, so an 35+ mile week may be a stretch this week too, but I will try.

Sunday - run 5.3 miles

Run today really was mentally tough. Legs were tired from yesterday and it was humid out. Talked myself thru most of it. Give myself a "B" for finishing the run when I really wanted to stop short or walk.

Saturday - run 9.2 miles

Got home from Pigeon Forge and went for a run. Today was supposed to by an 8.5 mile LR but I went to the park and ran 4 loops. Decided going a bit longer wouldn't hurt me (as long as it didn't hurt me) since I've got goose eggs for two days this week.

Friday - zero miles

Took the fam to Pigeon Forge Thurs-Sat. Went to Splash Country today. Didn't run.

Thursday - run 4.0 miles

4 miles on Old Niota Rd at 7.46 pace which I kept "easy" until the end.

Wednesday - run 6.7 miles

AM) 3.1 miles ~ 7.50 pace

PM) 3.6 miles ~ 7.35 pace. This run felt slower than that b/c I ran at 2:00 right in the heat of the day.

Tuesday - zero miles

Just didn't run. No particular reason.