Blake Bennions running

First run as a dad, amazing weather today. Whitney is adorable and both she and Becca are doing great!

I ran around the neighborhood and track and did 4 100m strides, 2 400ms in 69 and 71 and 2 200ms in 36/37. Nice first day back, definitely felt a little tight. Today was a good shake out and solid mileage for the first day back. I'm pretty confident I can still get 80 miles in this month and stay on pace for 1000 miles this year.

Nice evening run around the neighborhood. My Garmin is being a little inaccurate again, maybe it needs an update or something. Pretty amazing being a dad, also really draining. Was hoping to get some work done tonight after my run but instead of sleeping Whitney had a cluster feed/poop session for 2 hours. She's finally out so now I'll have some time to knock stuff out. She's a really sweet and happy baby, so lucky to have her!

Easy 10k around the neighborhood. In some ways it's actually easier to get out for runs with a kid. This week I've just been going a little after dinner before the night shift begins and that routine has been nice. I've been on my feet more too so it's easier to just get out the door. I'm also starting to get more confident with my achilles, calf raises and massages seem to do the trick. I might making running a little more frequently.

Ran at Battelle Darby while my mom pushed Whitney in the stroller. It was hot and sunny and I forgot my hat so I cut it a bit short, I'll need to get some sunscreen and maybe a new running hat that shields my face better. Also feeling kind of tired today, might take tomorrow off and just do a stroll around the neighborhood.

10 minutes at 5k pace followed by a couple 400ms. I got through 1.8 miles in the 10 minutes, I didn't time the first 400 but I did the 2nd one close to all out. I ran a 61 which is kinda slow but not too bad after I'd already done a pretty hard 10 minutes. Trying to get somewhat of a kick back. I still feel kind of awkward and tight when I'm running at faster than like 4:30 pace, need to keep doing strides and drills and hopefully that will get better.

Ran to the track and did a couple mile repeats at 5k pace with 800m recovery jog between the two. I finished with 4 strides and then cooled down to 6 miles. I'll do an easy run next. The 2nd hard mile felt a little harder than I would have liked, buty legs were tired and I really really need to get back to regular nasal rinse and asthma meds.

4.7 miles around park and neighborhood. Tried to take it easy but naturally sped up to marathon goal pace, which I suppose is a good sign. Outside of the heat it felt really smooth and easy.

Easy run around the neighborhood. Apparently didn't stop the Garmin when I ran into Whitney Becca and my mom and then stopped it when I started running again. So I missed tracking part of my run, but I know I ran a .6 mile loop and then a little more beyond that before I noticed it was paused... so I'm just rounding up to 5 from my garmins 4.3.

Might run at the scioto mile tomorrow. Then maybe Friday off and a long run/workout Saturday.

Ran while my mom biked along the scioto mile, 4.1 miles. Lots of speeding up and slowing down, felt great on the surges and sped up to sub 5 minute pace at some points.

After I dropped my mom off at the airport I came home and ran a little over 4.2 more miles, it's been perfect weather this week. I felt pretty good today, maybe I'll do a 400 or 800 meter repeat workout on Saturday.

1.5 mile warm up and then 6x800m at the track with a lap jog in between reps. All the 800ms were between 2:46 and 2:50. The last rep was the fastest because I sped up a bit for the last 200m. Cooled down to 7.5 miles and added a couple of strides.

Felt pretty good today. The 3rd rep was kind of tough and was the slowest, it had me a little worried, but I guess I got something of a second wind because the 4th rep was my 2nd fastest and I ran my recovery lap at the quickest pace between the 3rd and 4th reps.

My achilles was feeling it towards the end of the workout and cool down, I need to get back to doing calf raises. My calves were sore going into today for some reason, even though the past couple runs have been easier. Will have to do an easy run on Tuesday where I can't go faster than 7:30 pace.

Ran over to the track and did most of my run there. I ran a 5k pace mile and then 2 200s and 2 strides. The mile was in 5:49, the goal was to run 5:48 and feel really easy. It just a bit beyond easy, and today was one of those days where I just can't stop having shortness of breath.

The goal is to win my local 4th of July 5k and ideally I'll be able to run low 17s or high 16s by then.

5.5 miles east and then 10x400m at goal 5k pace with 200m jog recovery between reps. I averaged about 83 and ended with the 10th at mile pace with a 75. The pace felt really good outside a little shortness of breath on the 8th and 9th.

Easy run around my neighborhood and the park/track, Ohio is super pretty. There was a huge rainbow for a few minutes of the run.

Also did some research on the local 4th of July 5k and it looks to be a slow course and a little over a 5k. So not the best course to run a fast time on, but it does look like a cool course and hopefully I can compete to win it. I'll have to make a schedule of races I want to run this year. So far it's just 4th of July and Thanksgiving if I'm here for it. I want to race like once a month or every other month now that I'm getting into a little better shape.