A clydesdale no more!

I want to start running my general aerobic runs a little faster so I pressed the pace a little today.   Ran a few miles at or below 7:00/mile.  I was a little more tired toward the end of the run than I usually am.  I guess that this is a good thing.  It was good to see so many people out exercising this morning.  Not sure if it is because it is warmer or because school is out.

Total Time: 1:05:42 (7:18/mile) 

It was hot and windy this morning.  Warmed up with 3 miles at an easy pace into the wind then ran a 4 mile tempo run.  Most of the tempo run was with the wind or with a cross wind.  The last mile was into the wind.  Splits were: 6:21, 6:13 (too fast), 6:28 (over compensated), 6:19.  I was dead tired at the end.  Tempo runs aren't supposed to be this much work so I obviously pushed harder than I should have.  Cooled down with 2 miles into the wind and it was a lot of work.  Not sure why it was so much work this morning.  During the cool down, I was attacked by two black birds.  I don't know what I did to them but they kept swooping down at me.  As I would turn towards them, would back off and perch themselves on a telephone pole.  As soon as I turned my back on them, they would swoop down at me again.  This continued for about 1/4 mile.

 Total Time: 1:06:55 (7:26/mile)
 

Six easy miles in a torrential downpour.  Weather has gone from hot and windy to cold and rainy.  I can't remember the last time that it rained this hard.  I was completely soaked.  Other than a little tightness in the usual areas, I felt pretty good today.  

Total Time: 48:09 (8:01/mile) 

Weather looked good as I headed out the door but the rain started falling shortly after leaving.  It really started to fall and I was quickly soaked.  I really wasn't in the mood to run this morning so I thought that running a good hilly run would get me motivated.  Ran up to the entrance of Mueller Park canyon and back home.  The further I went up, the harder it was raining.  I really didn't push hard and just tried to enjoy the run.  Felt pretty good on the way down.  Didn't force the pace but form felt relatively in control.

Total Time: 1:21:18 (8:08/mile - 45:40 going up, 35:38 coming down) 

I'm starting to get in the mode where it takes a lot to get myself out the door but once I get going I feel good.  It's probably due to the colder temperatures the last few days.  My form felt really forced and didn't feel very natural.  I think that my biggest problem is that I have a lazy push off.  I've noticed this in the past but can't seem to fix it.  

There was a health fair at my work yesterday and I was a little disappointed in a couple of the results.  I have high blood pressure and my body fat measured at 17%.  There is no way that my body fat is that high.  Makes my wonder why I bother running this much.

Total Time: 1:06:21 (7:17/mile)

Felt like my legs needed a little break from the pavement so I headed for the mountains.  Parked my car about 1/2 mile from the B and headed up the dirt road that climbs the mountain.  I wasn't sure how much climbing was going to be involved and I think I may have bit off more than I could chew.  It was a tough run.  I was expecting a few flat sections but it was non-stop climbing.  Reached the snow after about 6 miles and kept going for another 1.5 miles then turned around and headed back to the car.  Towards the top, the dirt road was just wet enough to make it spongy.  It was a great surface to run on.  On the way back down, I focused on a good leg turnover and driving my legs forward.  I think that the uphill running is the cause of my laziness in my push off.  It was a lot more fun coming down than going up.