A clydesdale no more!

Slow and clunky.

Absolutely, completely and utterly burned out on running right now.  Considered running the Centerville 5k but decided that having a sub-par performance at a race would do me no good so I just went out and did the usual 8 mile loop.  Based on how I felt, I am glad I chose not to race.

My ankles are killing me.  Incredibly slow run because I couldn't get a decent push off. 

After a lazy week last week, I decided to jump back in.  Ran up and into Mueller Park canyon and back home.  My achilles tendons are killing me.  Effort was good going up but incredibly slow coming back down.  Didn't want to push too hard figuring that it would do too much damage.  Shocking how slow the pace was coming down the hill.

Ran to the LPT and headed south.  Kept the pace relatively easy because I am still fighting achilles pain.  Felt al ittle better on the way back but still very sore and hard to push off. 

New shoes should arrive today.  Hoping that will solve the achilles problems.  Did the usual recovery loop.  First 2 miles were a struggle.  Felt better for the last 3. 

Hot and smokey.  My body is still rebelling against me.  Got new shoes which I am hoping will be the miracle cure to all of my aches and pains. 

Got a little later start than I had hoped for so a few less miles than I planned.  Becky was running the Farmington Days 5k so I headed in that direction hoping to meet her at the start and run it with her.  I was a little slow andI knew I wasn't going to make it to the start in time so I headed up Glover Lane so I could meet her along the course.  Ran into her when she was 1/2 mile into the race (mile 8 for me).  Ran the rest of the race with her (she took 1st in her age group) then added a few miles after she finished.  Felt better than I have the past few days but the pace was too slow.  Was really gassed on a few of the uphills which has me worried with the upcoming race.

After a few easy miles, I decided to pick up the pace and get a few quicker miles in.  Ran at a progressivley faster pace for the next 4 miles.  Started at 7:00/mile and finished at 6:40/mile.  Felt really good although it was depressing how much work it took to hold that pace.  Ran an easy mile to finish the run.

A nice and easy run.  I'm going to cut the hills out for the next couple of weeks hoping that my achilles and knees get back to normal.  The new shoes seem to be helping.  The other pair never felt right from the beginning. 

It seems to have cooled down a bit.  Temp felt perfect this morning.  My path converged with another runner 1/2 mile into my run and instead of meeting a fellow runner, I decided to speed up to prove that I was faster.  What is wrong with me?  Ankles were a little achey which is a lot better than what they have felt like for the past month.  Hopefully they continue to improve.  Held a steady 8:00/mile the entire run and it felt very comfortable. 

Nice and easy.

First time in a long time that I have actually felt good while running.  Aside from a few aches and pains during the first mile things moved relatively well. 

Ran 7 miles before taking the girls to the Handcart Days 5k.  Ran the race with them.  They were a little slow but seemed to have fun.  Ran most of it with Emmas as she struggled a little more than Gracie.  Regretted not racing it as the wininng time was 19:20.  Even though I'm not in the greatest shape, I think I could have been close to that.  The intent was to get in more miles afterward but opted for the extra rest. 

Just an easy 5.  Wish it were more but it wasn't.

Dropped Becky off at the Des News 10k starting line then drove to Liberty Park.  Put in a few miles at the park while waiting for the 10k runners to come in.  Saw a lot of familiar faces (didn't recognize RAD at first because she was running in cognito).  After Becky came in, I put a few more miles along the marathon course.  Saw Allie and Kam running so turned and ran with them for a minute.  Being the classy competitor that she is, Allie asked that we not run with her as it could possibly give an unfair advantage.  Hung out with Kam on 1300 East for a few more minutes then made my way back to Liberty Park.  Fun day of running.

This week I will just be running whatever I feel like when I step out the door.  Not tapering for Saturday as there really isn't significant training to taper from.  I am going into this far less prepared than I ever have before.  It's just a long run.  At least that is what I keep telling myself.

Just a few easy miles to shake out the legs.  It was warm and humid and I was completely drenched when I got home. 

When I signed up for this, the idea was that it would be a good opportunity for a long run.  Nothing more.  I didn't want to race.  I didn't even look at my watch on the way up to the halfway point.  Of course, with such a small race, there is always the chance of placing so that was in the back of my mind.  Woke up at 1:30, got ready and headed to the starting line.  Since the aid stations were self service, I filled a bottle with powerade and carried it in a fuel belt.  The race started right at 3:20.  Got a little over zealous at the start and had the lead for the first 1/4 mile.  Seth Wold quickly remedied that and took off.  Another runner passed me shortly after that and yet another during the little climb by the temple.  The 3rd place runner missed the turn onto 900 West and came running back to me.  Stuck with me for a few minutes then started to gap me.  He missed the turn onto the trail and I yelled to get his attention.  From this point he hung back with me.  Maybe he thought I had any inclination of where we were going.  I wrote down directions on how to get to the canyon so I was semi-confident that I could get us there.  Unfortunately, the real life streets at 4:00 a.m. look much different than they do on Google maps.  I knew that we jumped off the trail momentarily, turned on a street then got back on the trail. We missed the trailhead and I saw another one so we took it.  That one took us straight up a mountain and it didn't feel right.  Got to the top and we knew we were in the wrong place.  We turned around and headed back down to where we were supposed to be.  It was easy to find now because of the trail of headlights.  I felt horrible.  I didn't mind me getting lost but the fact that I took somebody else off course really made me feel bad.  It only ended up being 0.4 miles but it cost us 4 minutes and we were in 3rd and 4th place before the wrong turn.  All I could think about was I possibly cost this guy a chance to place.  Despite the set back, it was kind of fun passing people along the trail.  Got to the mouth of the canyon and the real fun began.  I started to gap the guy I was running with and started to worry that I was pushing too hard going up the hill.  Slowed a little and he passed me.  We played leap frog a few times and I eventually got ahead of him for good.  The best thing about starting so early is that it is too dark to fully understand what you are doing.  I focused on 10 feet in front of me and just kept my legs moving.  Short, quick comfortable strides.  Got past a few more runners and could only see one more ahead of me.  Was it possible that I had made up all of the lost ground?  With about a mile to go I saw the leader coming back down.  Shortly after that, I saw second place.  As I got closer and closer to the top, I couldn't see anybody else.  With 1/2 mile to go to the turnaround, a couple of guys went by me moving pretty fast.  Where did they come from?  Got to the top, ditched my headlight, vest and fuel belt.  Seems like everybody else kept their reflective vests and headlights.  It was still incredibly dark but I didn't want to deal with them once it got warm.  Stayed about 20 feet behind the 4th place runner for the first 2 miles going down the canyon.  I started to have the urge "to go" and saw a campground restroom so took advantage of it.  This is just a long run after all.  Came out and there was nobody in sight.  Shifted back into long run mode and just held a comfortable pace.  I really didn't want to blow up and have to walk.  Still not over the Boston experience.  My plan was to keep the pace under 8:00/mile for the rest of the race.  Doing so would enable me to finish before any of the half marathoners which was my main goal.  Pace was 7:30's coming down the canyon then slowed to 7:50 ish once I was out of the canyon.  There was still nobody in sight ahead of me and couldn't see anybody behind.  On the long stretches I thought I could see a runner coming back to me but soon realized that it was just the balloons at a mile marker or somebody out jogging the other way.  With 1.1 miles to go I knew that I had made it and just enjoyed the rest of the run.  Ended up finishing in 3:42:24 and 5th place overall.  It was a few seconds slower than my Boston disaster but considering the wrong turn and bathroom break, it is technically faster.  Maybe I have just become the 3;42 guy.  Most importantly, the extra 4 minutes from going off course didn't make a difference in the grand scheme of things.  I would have still finished where I did and the other guy came in a little later so my mistake didn't prevent him from placing. 

Here is what I am taking away from this run.  It is a fun event if you don't take it too seriously.  It would be fun to run with a group of people.  I can still actually cover 26;2 miles without having to walk.  That was seriously in doubt.  The extra weight has taken it's toll on me and I have completely lost my speed and I am o.k. with that.  It can be somebody else's turn to chase PR's.  I can have fun in events like this and pacing other races.  Not sure what I am going to do about Huntsville.  Anybody need a 3:30 pacer?

Took it super easy.  Everything feels good except my right calf which is killing me.  Should be better in a couple of days.  Surprised there isn't more fallout from the marathon.