Motivated to Succeed

11:00 AM - a chilly 15 degrees out but dressed in three or four layers and went out there.  Just wanted to run.  Did 3.25 easy miles and 2 x 1 mile in 6:19 and 6:04 ; all this with 20-30 mph gusts.  Felt so good! I love running :).  And glad to see I am getting in better shape!! BQ here I come! (though I know it's going to be a lot of work and probably take a few years to do)

Total Time: 36:32     Total Mileage ~5.25

11:00 AM - I woke up late; I think my body telling me it needed a day to sleep in.  With all the running combined with working late and school work it's just getting hard to get a long run in.  Was absolutely frigid outside today so decided against going out there, though now as I write this it's starting to snow and actually looks nice out. 

Total Mileage: 5.25   Total Time:  38:02   Average Pace:  7:14/ Mile!

5:00 PM Today's weather was just plain miserable.  It was freezing rain from 2am to 8am this morning and at 6:30 my college still hadn't cancelled classes (as it only has once in the last five years) so I had to leave and make an hour and 20 minute commute to school.  I'm so close (12 days) to graduation, that it is just becoming a chore.  Plus with the other stuff on my mind, I am finding it really hard to concentrate on running on the treadmill day in and day out.  The roads are so iced over and as they only sand and don't salt, they will be for some time.  Now I remember why I want to move somewhere else! *sigh.  I felt fine, but just couldn't concentrate and still don't have access to a tv facing the treadmill so I stare at a blue wall for mile after mile.  Really depressed. I hate winter.

Total Mileage: only 4.75   Total Time: 32:41   Average Pace: 6:53

Why am I not happy with a 4.75 mile run @ 6:53 pace?  That's awesome for me, and yet I feel unchanged and that oompf I usually feel after the run is gone.  I need to make myself wake up early tomorrow and just try to go for a run outside for time (even if I have to run 9 minute mile pace or something).  I don't like this. Not one bit.

Getting ready to go on the treadmill for a quick run before work.  I ebayed the Forerunner 305 watch and found one for 100 bucks plus shipping and handling that ends tomorrow so hopefully I win it!  My mom said that if I do, she'll buy it for me for my Christmas present since she didn't have anything for me yet! :)!! Yay!

8:00 AM - Ran easy on the treadmill and took the advice and tried to rig up a laptop movie station.  It worked fairly well, though I think a fan blowing in my face would aid in both cooling me off as well as making me feel like I'm running outside. Might try that as well.

Total Mileage:  7.25   Total Time:  54:22   Average Pace:  7:30

5:00 PM - stopped by the hospital at 4 and Dad still wasn't in surgery yet despite a 1:00 time slot.  Mom had me pick up the boys pizza and then I came home to watch them as it looks like Mom won't be home until way later. 

Hopped on the treadmill to try and clear my mind.  Put in "Saint Ralph" and had a laugh at just how bogus that movie is, though I guess I learned that with anything a miracle might be possible.

Total Mileage:  6.8    Total Time:  51:00     Average Pace:  7:30 / mile

Does anyone know if you can get in trouble for marking the road with like a 4 inch spray paint line or number for every half mile/mile on a route? Or do they make like "temporary" spray paint or something?

Thanks to everyone for the prayers and support.  My mom just left to go to the hospital down in Albany (hour south of my house) to hopefully get the good news to bring my dad home.  He had surgery for his heart for a defribrilator because they think he has some kind of irregular heartbeat that's congenital.  He had a weak heart valve which they say will need to be repaired in a subsequent surgery sometime in the coming year :-, but the good news is that my dad gets to come home and rest today. Everything went really well and they say that the irregular heartbeat should be fixed.  My dad just disclosed the other night before going to the hospital that it wasnt a "sore achilles" that had kept him from running the last year, but the heart.  I'm just glad it's better now.

So I also updated my blogging to hopefully be more accurate.  Now it includes marathon and vo2 max miles, as opposed to just the easy/fast miles.  I think I need a refresher, because I know the terms but just not the exact qualifiers for each kind of entry.

As far as I know:

Marathon = +1:30 per mile or so from your 5k race pace?

Threshold = steady pace you could hold for an hour but not easy (+45 secs on 5k pace?)

V02 Max = ~90 to 95% maximum sustained effort?

8:00 AM - wanted to get in a run before work today (10am to 7pm :( yuck!).  And, as I have 5 finals next week, I really need to get cracking the books!  It's crazy that I'm graduating a week from Saturday!! Did 6.5 miles

First 4 miles - 30:00   7:30 pace  (this is now I think my "easy" pace) as I do a lot of miles per week at this level. 

Last 2.5 miles - 17:15   6:54 pace (would these now be "threshhold" miles? or marathon?  I know I'm supposedly gunning for ~3 hours in the next marathon, which I think is about this pace, correct? I felt so relaxed running them, but since I have never tried holding that pace for a super long time, I don't know how that would work?)

Total Mileage:  6.5 miles    Total Time:  47:15

7:00 PM - Got home from work finally and got to see my dad.  He looks good and feels alright. He's going to go sleep for a bit more after not getting much rest, understandably yesterday.  Did an easy 2.25 miles and have since adjusted miles for the day based on Michelle's comments.  Really had to struggle hard to hold back.  It's unbelievable to believe that 8:00minute pace feels unbearably slow!  I need to get more consistent in training and schedule it out so I know what I am going to be running each day and at what speed.  I want to set a record or something for the biggest PR possible for the marathon!

Total Evening Mileage: 2.25   Total Time:  18:00   Pace:  8:00 / mile

8:00 AM - Decided to get in a nice run before working on final exam prep.  Plus, since I work 4pm to 12:30 tonight I know it was my only time to get a run in.  Started off easy, with 3.5 miles at about 8:00-8:15 pace.  Trying hard to stay relaxed, though it just felt too slow and my legs were complaining, so I picked up the pace.  Still overall relaxed and comfortable. Ended up doing the last three I believe around 7:25-7:30 pace.  Felt really good and no soreness.  I think today is day number 12 in a row and body still feels great!

Overall Mileage:  6.5    Overall Time:  50:22   Overall Pace:  7:45/mile

1:00 PM - Study break.  Finished one final exam today and decided to go for a quick "easy" run.  Tried hard to hold back and did 2.75 in 21:45; average of 7:54/mile.

Overall Mileage:   2.75   Overall Time:  21:45   Overall Pace:  7:54/mile

9:30 AM - So worked until 12-something last night, came home and crashed.  Had a very scary dream - the second night in a row! I don't know what's wrong with me! Thursday night had a dream about the mob trying to take out a hit on me, and last night had a dream that someone was trying to kill me with carbon dioxide pumping it into the house. Very disconcerting to say the least. I know I'm stressed out and that I miss my Emmy, but can't I please just have dreams of like Olive Garden's never ending pasta bowl or something?! sheesh!  Okay now time to destress and go for a run.  Will be just under 50 miles this week and had like 51 last week so this is getting good! I'm finally prepared to commit to get in shape!

Had a nice run.  Did 4.25 miles easy @ 7:30-7:40 pace, as well as 2.25 miles a little faster (hopefully goal marathon pace) 6:40-7:00.  Felt really great!

Total Mileage: 6.5 miles   Total Time: 47:08    Average Pace: 7:15

Just finished my second of five finals.  These two were take home though.  So I got my Criminal Justice and American Religious History finals out of the way (after ~19 typed pages later!).  Then did my Women in American History take home portion of the final (~9 typed pages).  So I am taking a break and looking at my log and see dang was so close to 50 miles this week.  So how to fix that problem?  MAKE it 50 miles.  Time to hop on the treadmill quick!   I am so looking forward to next Friday.  Only six days until I get to see my sweetie.  She's so absolutely amazing :)  It's so hard for me to concentrate right now during finals week because I know I'm so close to graduation, and also I know that I am so close to being able to wrap my arms around my cutie and finally be happy!!! :-D

4:30 PM - was looking at the mileage for the week and the 48 was bothering me. So I hit the treadmill for another easy 2.  Nice and relaxed.  Did 2 miles in 15:18, or 7:39 per mile :-D! Woot!  I really hope I get to get that long run in tomorrow.

TOMORROW'S GOAL:  Follow the loop from house, down Parkis Mills to Hermance - back roads Grennell and Armer, come out at Rock City Falls, and come back with five and a half miles gradual uphill with total elevation gain last 5.5 of 430 feet.  Total course loop is 13.61 miles.  So will hit the Half and then cruise it on back home the last half mile.  Let's hope the weather allows me to get out there!

9:30 AM - I fell asleep a little earlier last night than I had wanted, but as I had finished my second final, as well as studied for a third, I was wiped out.  Plus I was told I would not be missing my long run this week!  So I decided to hit the hay because I had my work cut out for me on Sunday.

It was kind of chilly when I woke up today.  Temperature about 20 degrees.  By 9:30 it had warmed up to a brisk 24, though minimal wind so it was pretty much the best case scenario.  Overcast, and roads pretty clear, except for some black ice patches on the backroads.  Kept Sasha and Michelle's suggestions in mind as I laced up my shoes, put on a pair of long spandex, a hat, gloves, and two long sleeve shirts.  Headed out the door and down the driveway...

These are splits/ hilights from what I remember:

MILE 1: Pretty much downhill.  Hung a left onto Parkis Mills Road and clocked a 7:45.  Thinking : "Okay, Benn. Not bad. Remember you still have 12 to go.  Don't let those horses take too much slack right away."

MILE 2: Consisted of two .2 - .3 uphills.  Shortened my stride and just kept the turnover the same, and trudged, trudged, trudged up them.  Felt good and relaxed.  No soreness really from the last two 50+ mile weeks with no days off :) Good sign, I thought.

MILE 3: Hit the mark at just about 23:00.  Felt good and relaxed.  Knew the next 5k coming up would be a lot of downhill.

MILES 4 thru 6: Some nice downhills in here that I knew ended up bringing my average mile time down a bit.  Held back on the steep downgrades though.  At mile 5 met a cheerful hunting duo carrying shotguns.  Ironic that they were walking uphill, and about half a mile later at the bottom of the hill I startled 4 hens and a tom that came fluttering about 12 feet above the ground through the trees.  Guess the turkeys won today!  Accidentally passed the 6 MILE mark and forgot to check my time :(.

MILES 7 & 8:  Downhill again.  Didn't think about pace too much, so much as breathing.  Wanted to keep it in check and basically breathing once every four or five steps (my relaxed pace). 

MILE 9: Was back out on the main road this time, Rte. 29 (which I would be following all the way back to my house).  This is always my least favorite part of running routes going east, because you have to take Rte. 29 back which is the busiest road in the county.  And boy people are really inconsiderate.  At just about the 9 MILE mark, I hear cars approaching from the back of me, and I'm all the way over on the side of the shoulder, though there is an ice patch coming up in front of me so I go out a bit to the right.  There is a double yellow line and no cars coming the other way so I figure I'm good.  I'm about halfway around it when simultaneously an 18 wheeler is coming by in the same direction as me, and a hot-to-trot black BMW speeds around it, narrowly missing my arm by I'd say about 12 to 18 inches.  Needless to say I was quite unnerved as well as a little angry that someone would not only break the law, but put other people in danger.  Mind you, this was in a 40 MPH zone and he had to easily be doing 55 or 60.  Hit the 9 MILE mark on the bridge, and remembered this time to look at my watch.  It read 1:07:02!! I think this was for the first time when I realized, hey wait a minute, Benn! You're doin' alright!!!

MILES 10 & 11:  Uphill again, as the remainder of the run would be.  I didn't really want to try to increase my pace, but rather hold it, especially after the run in with the near collision!  During MILE 11, someone pulled over a bit in front of me and proceeded to ask me directions to Ballston Spa, which is a town about 20 miles away.  When I gave the simplest directions I could think of, she seemed quite angry like it was my fault she had headed west after getting off the Northway instead of south :-.  I didn't let it get to me though, and I pushed on.  When I hit the hotel which is about my 2 mile mark, I just kept the tempo up.  I was breathing hard now, about once every 3 steps, maybe 2.

MILES 12 to 13.1:  I have run this part of Rte. 29 countless hundreds of times since I started training in high school.  I felt nice and relaxed, though by now my legs were starting to feel the hills.  I pushed on though, kept the tempo - imagined like I was on my bike on the trip to Maine two years ago, just plugging away at the hills: step-2-3-4-step-2-3-4. "Knees up, Benn. Almost there".  I kept pushing, and started to think of my mantra.. and thought about how I would get to call Emmy as soon as I got inside.  "You can do this, Benn!"  I drove hard towards the finish.

And it was then, at the 13.11 MARK I knew I'd done it.  Without seemingly "racing", I'd set my BIGGEST PR OF THE YEAR!!! (and arguably MY LIFE!)   I warmed down to the house (~.5 miles)

NEW HALF MARATHON (13.11 Miles) - 1:38:31 (that's 7:31/mile PACE!!!!) That's aHALF MARATHON PR of 11 minutes 29 seconds  Old Record was 1:50:xx set in winter of 2004 when I was a freshman in college and about 20 pounds lighter!!!

I'm so glad I went out there and ran that long run today!!!! Thanks to everyone who inspires me, and pushes me to run by heart out.  I think I can finally say that I see the benefits of more consistent training, and having people that believe you can do it!  :-D

5:00 PM - Man was the commute today horrible!  While we had about 2-3 inches of snow up at the house, as I drove south to Albany, I became aware of the fine line the storm carved.  One minute it was all white and pristine, the next, slick, icy and a driver's worst nightmare.  I counted no fewer than four car accidents on my 45 minute commute!  All the local schools in Albany were cancelled (all two DOZEN OF THEM!), but our college won't close as it was the official last day of classes for the semester - blah!  But I guess it was good, because I got to celebrate my last official day of classes as an UNDERGRAD! woot!  Handed in two finals as well so I guess that's a good thing!

Next up:  Two finals on Wednesday back to back in my history classes and a Sociology final on Thursday.  Then GRADUATION ON SATURDAY!

Friday is the best day of all though:  after having a crappy dentist appointment I get to come home and wait to see my EMMY who is driving out for the weekend to see my graduation and what not! I am so excited! Haven't seen her since Turkey Day!! That girl is so amazing it's crazy!  I think I might set a world record for longest hug when I see her :-D!

So about the run.... I thought my legs were hurting.. which they are if I bend down or squat or whatever.  So I started off slow, but quickly found my legs had a lot to give.  I tried my hardest to hold back, but ended up still cruising fairly quick.  It's so hard having to run on the treadmill and not outside, especially on school days where I'm gone from the house from 6 am to 5pm!!!! DURING ALL THE DAYLIGHT HOURS! grrrr frustrating!   So I set the treadmill at 1.5% incline and set off.  First two miles were 8:00 to 8:20 and then they got quicker.  Legs felt pretty good actually. Only complaint was I got overheated running inside.  I really should see if I can't rig up the treadmill to run in the garage so I can run outside in the cold!

Total Mileage:  6.2 Miles   Total Time:  48:00   Average Pace:  7:44 (a bit too fast for a "recovery" day, huh?) but I'm getting better at pacing.  I'm determined to try and log some slower miles or something! Or maybe on the next long run I'll hold back and just hit 8's or something. I don't know.  It just feels really good to be in such great shape, as I am still twenty pounds heavier the last time I was even close to this fitness level.  And that PR yesterday is still keeping a smile on my face :)!!

Call me stupid, or anal retentive, but saw I was at 19.81 miles for the week so far, and it just didn't sit right, so went and did a barefoot quarter mile on the treadmill at 7:40 pace! :) Felt better to push me just high enough to sleep well tonight.  Now back to studying I go!

9:00 AM - Went for an easy run on the treadmill.  Was nice because right as I was finishing my cutie called me which made me happy :) Just today, Wed. and Thurs to get through, and then I get to see her on Friday! Yay!

Total Mileage:  6 Miles   Total Time:  49:16   Average Pace: 8:12 Good.  Nice and easy. 

I wanted to stay in the 8 to 8:30 range today and truly learn more about running at an "easy" pace on easy days.  I think I have been overtraining a bit, and running a little faster than I should be, as I guess Sasha pointed out to me.  Off to work 11am to 8pm.  Hopefully home to do a couple miles to put me at 8 for the day.  Then cramming all night for final exams!

 8:30 PM - Long day at work.  Came home and still felt pretty good, so hopped on the treadmill and did another 2.52 miles in 21:00 minutes.  Average Pace of 8:20.  Felt really good and relaxed.  Ironically was reading an article that stressed that many people run too hard on easy days, so I am going to concentrate on running conservatively pace wise, and allowing myself to go a little harder on the long days, to get my body used to the feel of running faster longer.

I hope this isn't a sign my body wants to quit... slept through 4 different alarms this morning and when I finally did wake up I felt like blah.  I don't really feel like running before having to go into work 11am to 8pm.  I don't know what to do! I mean I know I can deal with a day off here and there, but I've been doing so well, and I know I have a lot of stuff to do this week... finals tomorrow and thursday and then graduation on saturday.  What would you all do? Maybe I'll try to hop on the treadmill tonight for an easy couple miles. :-

4:00 PM - So the two finals went well today.  The one professor was sad to see me turn in my final. He said: "Mr. Griffin, just so you know you are really cut out for this History stuff. Best of luck to you, and if you need a recommendation for grad school, shoot me an e-mail."  So I guess that's good?

Came home a little early today since I finished final exams at 3:00.  Hopped on the treadmill at like 4ish... though I am getting really tired of running on the treadmill now.  Only did a 10k because was just too boring and wanted to be done with it. I hate winter. A lot...

Total Time: 48:52   Total Mileage:  6.2   Average Pace:  7:53 .. had to try really hard to hold back. Started at 8:34 pace but just couldn't stand it at about the 3 mile mark dropped down to 7:30s to just be done with it.

Bad snow storm today that's supposed to keep going until late tonight. And just tried running on the treadmill and it's broken AGAIN! Gr so frustrating.  So now it looks like today I won't get a run in. I was doing so well too, like 2 and a half weeks almost without missing a day! Tried to go outside and mom said I couldn't because the back roads will be too bad. There's already a bunch of accidents out on the road.  So I will try to get in a long run tomorrow morning before the dentist appt.  Have to wake up at like 6!

Was going to run outside today but that huge storm hit.  It was fine when I went in for my last final of undergrad! .. came out and 5 inches of snow, with anoher 3-4 inches expected.  Took 2 hours to drive the 38 miles home! yikes!  Happy that Undergraduate stuff is done, but found out right when I got home... I GOT ACCEPTED INTO GRAD. SCHOOL! (This after a disconcerting meeting this a.m. where I was informed someone breeched the confidentiality agreement and opened up my letter or recommendation from my religion professor which basically stated I would be a good candidate for a MS in Education... To make a long story short, the woman who opened it had no authority to do so, and was a representative of our "astute" history faculty and accosted my professor because basically she felt she was getting shafted of a good student.  He let me know the story and told me that's probably why I've had so much trouble hearing news back from them about the status of my application.  But got home and just got the news!)  So excited, so going to celebrate with an easy run downstairs on the treadmill.  I had hoped to do 7 or 8 outside, but I think I'll just shoot for an easy 4 or 5 on the 'mill today and just try to finish out the week 40+ miles. 

8:00 AM - Got up and it looked nice out. Overcast and temp in about mid 20s and all the fresh snow on the ground and in the trees.  Decided to go for a longish run so headed out the door and out onto the back roads... Man was it a mess.  They still haven't cleaned most of them so there was about 2-3 inches of slush and sand on there and needless to say it felt like I was running on the beach.  Started off pretty easy and just basically wanted to not die on the way home which was 3 miles of uphill.  Felt really calm and relaxed and despite the wind which picked up and threw snow in my face, it was a nice run.  A truck went flying past at like 45mph on a one lane road which made me want to shout some sort of explicative in his direction. But I held my tongue.  And I was rewarded.  The last 15 minutes, the sun came out and the wind died down and it was truly amazing.

Total Mileage: 10 Miles   Total Time:  1:19:15   Average Pace: 7:55

Now off to the dentist and then to the mall to find a pair of pants and a shirt for graduation tomorrow! Yikes!!

So I'm sure I'll here it how I wasn't dedicated enough to brave the blizzard to get out there and run, but treadmill is broken and busy day on Saturday with graduation... then went to see Emmy in Massachusetts on Sat- Monday but we had the huge snowstorm with frigid temps and blustery conditions that left us stranded inside.  Then today I had graduate orientation.. the big dance is about to commence.  Signed up for my classes today:

EPY 500 - Research Seminar & Methods

EPY 502 - Educational Psychology

EPY 523 - Adolescent Psychology

Will be a full courseload of 9 credits.  Total Degree is 40 credits, so I should be able to complete it in about 2 years. We shall see!  Going to unpack, wrap Christmas presents for the family, and then head off to bed.  Going to try to get up and out the door by 7a.m. for a run, seeing as how my boss has officially screwed me over for running this week.

Tues through Saturday scheduled either 10 to 7 or 11am to 8pm. GRRRR.  I will try not to be too mad though. 

Goal tomorrow:  To do the same loop I did on Friday.  Easy 10 miles.  Got to get back on track after celebrating.  Three days off is not acceptable!

7:15 AM - Got up and wanted to get a nice run in before I had to go to work 10am to 7pm today. Plus, looking at my logs, I am ashamed to have taken 4 days off in less than a week.  It was a frigid 9 degrees this morning when I headed out.  Was wearing two sport fast dry long sleeve shirts, a cotton long sleeve over those two, and a wind breaker.  Also long spandex, shorts, hat and gloves.  I thought I might be overdressed, but when my eyelids froze shut at about mile 2, I know if anything it was quite the opposite.  Felt pretty good during the run.  Ran a little fast the first half, so slowed down about :10 to :15 per mile on the way back.  Perhaps worst thing was hopping in the shower after I got home.  My legs will not stop itching and burning!!!

Total Mileage: 10 Miles   Total Time: 1:22:38   Average Pace: 8:15/Mile

7:30 AM - Woke up still tired, despite zonking out at the rebellious hour of 10:30ish last night. Oh boy how I live the party life, heh!  Headed out on the back roads.  Was a frigid 13 degrees, although today's high is finally expected to break 30 for the first time in a week, and as the low tonight will be warm (27), I should feel a lot better running tomorrow morning.  Ended up feeling nice on the run today.  Did 10k in 46:37.  Good for 7:31 pace.  Then finished with 100m striders and a cool down.  Overall, can't complain.

Overal Mileage:  7 Miles   Overal Time:  46:37 (10k) / 52:00ish overall  Pace:  7:31/mile for the 10k

7:45 AM - So I am really getting discouraged about working stupid hours.  All this week is either 10 to 7 or 11 to 8, except for today, and sometimes in the mornings I just can't get up early enough to get going and get out there for a run.  I hate working all the worthwhile part of the day so that when I come home and actually want to get stuff done, it's already dark, not to mention makes me stay up until 11 or 12.  I still haven't had a day to just rest up from all the drains of that last semester.  Oi.. so I woke up and decided to go out for a run.  I felt really good today considering I haven't had treadmill time in forever!  I think it's going to be really hard to even shoot for 40 mile weeks without the treadmill.  The treadmill really helps me get in needed miles on days where the weather doesn't allow a run outside, or the stupid schedule conflicts.  I mean I like snow sometimes, but when there's a whopping 9 hours of daylight out there's not much you can do, huh?

Ran out on the backroads the normal ~ 8 mile loop with Parkis Mills to Graves to Alexander and back on Parkis Mills.  Total elevation ranged from 966 ft to 674ft with equal ascent and descent, though with at least 6 rolling hills, I definitely felt the last 2 miles in my legs.  Overall though felt really well and wasn't breathing harder than normal, except for the last mile and a bit which is basically completely uphill.  Was nice to see I was really off in my calculations for where mile markers were.  Thought I hit the 4 mile mark at 31:45.  Was probably much closer to 30:00.  Same with 5 mile mark which I thought I hit in 39.  Probably closer to 37:30.

Total Mileage:  8.13  Total Time:  1:01:04   Average Pace: 7:30

SUPER HAPPY WITH THIS RUN.  I Mean about 2 months ago on a similar effort, it would have taken me about 1:08 or 1:10 to run this.  I think this is a sign of good things to come!!!

**TWO CONCERNS OF LATE:  (1) Jonn commented to me that my left leg is substantially less defined than my right leg.  Will this lead to injury down the road? It doesn't feel like I use my right leg as a crutch or anything, or perhaps I'll only be as good as my weakest leg?   Also (2)  I am struggling with miles it seems ever since the treadmill broke.  As long as I am getting in 25 or 30 miles a week will I still be able to at least maintain my current level of fitness?  Or am I going to be losing any of that "speed" I gained this fall?

I think it was in the Dec. Issue of Running Times that they talked about the McMillan predictor and someone said it's actually better to do sub-tempo runs.  I.e. you start with 3 miles one week with 2miles w/u and w/d, and then extend it until you do either an hour or 10 miles at sub-tempo pace.  I guess this is what Japanese runners do in prep for spring and summer racing during the winter.  What do you think?

8:30AM - Did an easy 10 miler after a long work week before going over to Massachusetts to spend the day with my cutie. Not sure again what the mileage will be like this week since after yet another failed attempt at fixing the treadmill. Now the tread doesn't rub on the left side, but is too loose and it sticks and stays in one place once I hop onto it.

Ran nice and easy.  Not breathing too hard.  Temp felt like late March.  Around 40 degrees with a high expected of 47 today!  Surprisingly and perhaps eerily calm before that tempest of a storm is supposed to arrive today.  Was a little breezy, so glad I still bundled up like normal.  I really need to get to Walmart or whatever and get some more clothes. Tired of having to wash the same running clothes again and again!

Total Mileage:  10.04  Miles   Total Time:  1:18:55  Average Pace:  7:51 / Mile

Did a really fun 2 mile run/walk/jog/snowball excursion with Emmy @ Canoe Meadows in Pittsfield.  Can't wait to go snowshoeing or something else with her there!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

FRB Friends!!!

11:00 AM - I GOT MY GARMIN FORERUNNER 205 TODAY!!! I got my shoes on - after I unwrapped Christmas presents with the family.  Man I love Christmas!  I love seeing the expressions on everyeon's faces when they open up gifts together :).  Dad really liked the Saturday Night Live set and Jolly Ranchers I got him.  Jonny and Harry like the DVDs and CDs and I could see my mom appreciated her gifts too.  I truly love giving people things just to see their faces when they unwrap their gifts.  I wish I could give someone something each and every day!

So I really like the Garmin.  It fits nicely.  And despite only charging it for an hour instead of the recommended 3 it held the charge fine and also didn't lose the signal at all on the backroads!!!  Ended up doing a tempo run after a warmup.. 3 MILES @ 7:03 pace/mile  and then cooled off back on the way home.  Surprisingly a lot of hustle and bustle out there on the roads and a cop at the bottom of the hill where a lot of out-of-towners go 60+ in a 45mph zone (Not surprisingly a kid was hit and killed here about 5 years ago).  Overall, felt really really good for the day!

Total Mileage:  8.24 Miles   Total Time:  1:01:35   Average Pace:  7:28/Mile

Oh, and Mom and Dad gave me gift cards to Walmart or Target... Sounds like a trip to get new Running Clothes! is in order?!?!

So Merry Christmas to me indeed.  About two hours after my entry after a sweet run with the Garmin Forerunner 205, my laptop crashed.  And I just had to go drop 760 bucks to replace my computer, this time with a desktop. :( grr that's 3 weeks of work right there.  Guess it means full time employment right now during grad school, unless I can secure a better job!  Plan is to get up early tomorrow and do at least a 10 miler.  Man I don't deserve any points for my efforts the last couple weeks. I am ashamed!  Also need to go get more winter running gear is on to do list.

8:45 AM - slept in a little later than usual; But after coffee I got ready and headed out on a nice easy run.  Ran the 10 mile loop and felt nice and relaxed the whole time.  Wanted to keep it 8:00min + per mile and keep it steady.  No soreness and no problems.  Even have come to terms with the Devil Dog that lies out in the road and usually comes out barking and nipping at my heels. Today it barked but I acknowledged its domain, moved over to the far side of the road and passed without problems both on the way out and way back from the loop! So that's a plus!  Now time for cleaning before work 3 to close.

Total Mileage:  10.09   Total Time: 1:22:20   Average Pace: 8:09  / Mile

6:15 AM - Woke up at 5:30 and decided that since I missed yesterday's run that I would get out there for an easy run before work.  I am glad I did.  I have to say that running in the early predawn hours is a surreal experience.  Slight wind but hardly any traffic on the main road and absolutely none on the back roads.  Did about 1.5 miles at my goal 1/2 marathon pace and then cruised on home.  I am going to have to try to get more early predawn runs in.  Don't worry.  I wore a little red blinker as well as white shirt and white gloves and my staple orange winter cap. :)

Total Mileage:  5.28       Total Time:  43:05    Average Pace:  8:09/mile  

Getting psyched for Tuesday!!

Big snowstorm last night.  We got about 8-10" of snow.  Had to work today from 9am to 6pm though everyone else but me and two managers cut out early so I was left to help pick up the store as the fireworks were going off outside until about 6:30ish.  I really miss my Emmy too. :(  Looking forward to our trip later this week! Never been off the mainland U.S. before!!!  Also, a very Happy New Year's Day to all the FRB gang and I can't wait to see how we all improve over the next year.  God bless, and keep in touch.   Tomorrow = the Hangover Half (Though little do they know my plan is to be sober and have one up on the competition! muahaha)