Running With Pepper

Out in Denver for work and now it's time for some pleasure while visiting a good friend from the corps. Earlier in the week was crazy with 12-15 hour days of work, so I was completely and utterly exhausted when I got back to the hotel. No chance to run, but today is my first day of my visit and I took my friend Dan's dog Cooper for a nice 4.5 mile run. Finished in 40 minutes with a multitude of sniffs, pee breaks, etc. Cooper is a great running companion and he makes me miss Pepper even more now. I could definitely feel the altitude, although it wasn't as bad as I thought. Well...this afternoon should either include a hike, rock climbing, or a mountain bike ride.

(Brooks Infinitis 252.5 miles)

Back in the DC area after a some great time in Colorado for work and time with friends. I've decided that I'm going to move there sooner rather than later...yes...I absolutely loved it there and can totally see myself living there. Took Pepper for a run tonight after dinner and we ran 2 miles in 16:30. Dropped the pup off at the house, got a couple swigs of water, then took off on another 4 miles and finished that in 29:36. Yes, I was hauling my rear and went up the huge hill at the last mile. Legs felt great after a long weekend of climbing, running, hiking and biking in the mountains. After the run, I took Pep on another 1.5 miles worth of cool-down for a total of 7.5 for the evening. My legs really feel great after tonight and my running was completely effortless. Lets hope they stay that way. Still no word on the job, but I'm still optimistic that I'll get it and be able to move out there. I should have Friday off this week, although that may change per the norm. The plan is to run a nice 15 miler on Sunday...yeah..back to the running grind since the marathon is in 3 months.

(Brooks Infinitis 260 miles)

Ran to the doctors office after lunch for a total of 3 miles in 21:43. Nice and easy...I plan to run tonight with the Pup and see where he wants to take me. I hope to get at least 2-2.5 miles out of him tonight and then do another 4-5 for myself. It's a nice day out with some thunderstorms in the area.....temps are cooling and I'm looking forward to the weekend. I have tomorrow off so it'll be really nice.

(Brooks Infinitis 263 miles)

Ran 12.5 miles on the W&OD and Four Mile Run Trails from late morning until early afternoon. Once again, gastrointestinal issue forced me to cut my run short. Based on my conversation with my brother Dale (fellow blogger) last night, I think I'm somewhat lactose intolerant and that is my issue. My Lucky Charms and skim milk from earlier in the morning may have negatively affected my overall running. Time to move to Soy. Overall, I finished this run in 1 hour 36 minutes and 28 seconds. Afterwards, I walked/slowly jogged another 2 miles back to my car on the trail, for a total of 14.5 for the day. Not bad considering my inconsistent training as of late. Let's just see how I feel tomorrow when I do a nice recovery run.

(Brooks Infinitis 277.5 miles)

Ran an easy 2.5 miles with Pepper after dinner tonight for a total of 21 minutes. Afterward, went to the gym to do some shoulders and more leg maintenance. Since I started my direct strengthening program with certain leg muscles, I haven't had any problems (knock on wood). Got home from the gym, took the pup out for another mile for a total of 3.5 for the day. I wanted to keep it easy as I put more than the usual amount on my legs yesterday. Still no word on Colorado....dang it takes the government a long time to say you have a job.

(Brooks Infinitis 281 miles)

Nice 5 mile jog while in the middle of the day to take a brake from crazy work. Weather is fantastic as it's cool (80) and humidity is minimal at best. Finished the run in 37:25 and I didn't feel like I was moving all that fast. My theory is that I'm probably faster than I think I am because I'm always running in the heat and humidity. When it's time for game-day (marathon), I should easily come in under my 3:45 goal...barring any craziness. I'll take a trip to the gym tonight to round out a nice week of exercising/running and overall decent health, regardless of the chocolate chip cookies I have on the counter at home.

(Brooks Infinitis 286 miles)

It's SUNDAY....long run day. Ran from the house down to the W&OD trail until I picked up the Custis Trial at mile marker four. From there, took the Custis for all its four miles until I got into Rosslyn where I picked up the Potomac River trail. Follow that trail for about one mile until I got to the Roosevelt bridge to head into downtown DC. Ran next to all the monuments along the mall on the way up to the Capitol building. Up the capitol hill, yes..there really is a hill there, and headed down to Eastern Market. Total run was 15 miles in 1:57:48. Nice pace where I only started to tire at about mile 14. After the run, I met fellow blogger Lucia, who is well on the road to recovery and look great from all her cross training, and we wandered the market, tasting the free fruits and veggies and eating crepes. All the food was outstanding and I'm now annoyed with myself for not getting veggies down there. The plan is to put some good mileage on the legs early in the week since I'm visiting my best friend in NY and his family during the latter portion of the week as well as the weekend. As of now, I'm shooting for 30+ miles for the week. As I write this, I have a fantastic doggies snoozing next to me...life is good. Have a great week bloggers!

(Brooks Infinitis 301 miles)

Ran today after lunch along the Custis Trail in the DC heat that has unfortunately returned. Temperature was about 86 degrees and humidity was somewhat back in the air. My legs were really sluggish after Sunday's long run and strengthening exercises I did at the gym last night. Nonetheless, it was good to get out and at least stretch them out. I ended up doing 6 miles in 49:50. Afterwards, I realized that I may be coming down with a cold of sorts, or my allergies may be really putting me through the ringer. I feel really run-down, sluggish, and I just want to pull a George Kastanza and take a nap under my desk. Oh well...another meeting tomorrow to prep for...time to get back to work.

(Brooks Infinitis 307 miles)

Doggie has been sick and so have I. I've had a sinus infection which has really screwed me up over the past week and it's limited my running. Took Pepper out for a nice 2.5 and took it nice and easy with plenty of walking included.

Ran on the Custis Trail for a nice Tempo run after lunch for 5 miles...up and down the rolling hills. Finished the run in 36:22 and my pulse was consistently around 140-150 during the whole run. My sinus infection is doing better since I'm in day 3 of my antibiotics but the drainage is still there and it's screwing up my breathing. I aim to improve on this as the weeks get closer to the marathon, which is only 2 months away! :)

(Brooks Infinitis 312 miles)

Did another 3.5 with Pepper tonight with the usual run/walk pace he likes. The weather here is beautiful, other than the rain we've had all day. Temps have been in the low 70's and taking Pepper out is great. Also hit the gym again tonight and did some hard work on my legs to keep strengthening them in other ways. Hit up the shoulders and then the abs at the end of the gym to round out the day. Sinuses are doing much better and I think I'll take a nice run tomorrow during work.