track fan

2:04:45 - it was somewhere between 14 and 15 miles.   It cooled off a lot last night (I think it got down to the high 40s) so I decided to go out to the mountains to run (it is a very hilly dirt road that I run laps on - each lap is somewhere between 5.5-6.2 miles long depending on whether or not I add on some other loops).  I used to run this route all the time on the weekends when I lived near the flat Rillito trail -- it was my way of getting a hilly run in.  Now that I live in the mountains every run is a hilly run, and I like to find at least one "flat" run a week -- but the weather was so nice I decided to run the hills today too.  Once it gets really hot (very soon I fear) I will need to do all my long runs on the Rillito, because there is water there and hills + heat + long miles is way too hard for me ... Anyway -- beautiful day, I felt really good, and I loved being in the mountains.  This is safe, even during snake season, because it is a dirt road and wide enough that snakes are easily avoided - surprisingly, I did not see any today, I know they are out there, but none in the road!

Drake and Penn Relays were FUN to watch!  But relays are much more fun in person than on youtube.  I can't wait for the Peyton Jordan results ... especially the 10K.  Both the men's and women's races are LOADED.  I am pretty sure the top 3 women will run in the 30's (at most 31's) and it is way possible that the men will run in the 28's  -- it is going to be great!

Have a wonderful evening bloggers.  

AM: (9 miles, 1:18:33).  Ran the first 7 miles pretty easy then ran the last 2 miles hard.  Hard meant that my "landmark" took me 18:23 on the way out and 15:27 on the way back -- I would estimate my pace was somewhere between 7:40-7:45 ... very very hilly (average 250 ft elevation gain over the little over 2 miles) and 8 mph headwinds for the last 1/2 mile.  It felt very good to open it up a little!

PM: easy 4

Happy Tuesday bloggers.  What an awesome track meet on Sunday - both the men's and women's 10K was outstanding!!  3 men broke 27:30 (and they weren't even the winner -- who was awesome, running a 27:11 after breaking away from the lead pack with *7* laps to go!!); all told there were 14 men that got the Olympic A standard (27:45)!!!  In the women's race there were 8 women that got the A standard (31:45) with a nail-biting two women show between Sally Kipyego and Shalane Flanagan for the win (Sally won in 30:38, Shalane ran 30:39)!   There just are not enough track 10K's  ... so in a World Champs year the ones that are open (to non-university runners) are just stacked and SOOOO exciting!

So ... last night we were watching a stupid comedy show (basically we had about 1/2 hour before bedtime and were kind of just killing time).  All of a sudden a mouse came "walking" through the living room.  I started laughing and sort of 'lightly' screaming at the same time.  I got up and found Titus-the-cat running around looking under my briefcase ... apparently he brought it in and then unknowingly lost it!!  it took 15 mins but I was able to catch it (using a tupperware bowl) and release it outside where he/she belonged.  We have 3 animals in this house -- you would think that at least one of them would be competent enough to keep out mouses wouldn't you? 

1:04:32 -- this is probably longer than 7, I don't have this run as dialed in as my mountain run (sigh, when will it be October?).  No big deal.

The craziness that is my life is continuing ... it is going to be a very tough two weeks.

Run well bloggers!!  Don't leave me, I will return!

AM: (~8.5 miles, 1:14:25).  26:54wu/27:31cd  10 x :38-:40sec sprints up a very steep hill.  This run was probably somewhere longer than 8.5, but not quite 9.0 ... it was a hard workout, made a little more difficult in that I did run slowly enough in the recovery down the hill for the first few, so the last 2 were super tough.  I am sure it is helping with my power though, in a way I can't wait to try the track again soon to test it out (although it is already a little hot for long track workouts - 96F most of this week, easily 86F by 9AM).

PM:  easy 4.

We have a nest on our patio, it is in a perfect corner, it drives Titus-the-cat crazy because it is "just" out of his reach.  Anyway, today the 4 babies tried to fly for the first time.  One did not do well and Titus got him.  I chased Titus and took the baby bird away from him and set it back outside on the ground.  By the time I got back from my run it was gone ... I am hoping that it was able to recover from the scare and fly off.  Titus is locked inside for the day though, he doesn't like it, but it has to be.  House cats are the number 1 reason that many of the song birds in the US (and probably the world) are at risk for extinction ... we (and Titus) are trying to do our part for the environment!

Other exciting news ... our first scorpion of the year last night ... luckily on the wall (easy to spot and not get stung).  It is funny, we have to check our bed every night before we get in ... the joys of summer ;-)

Happy day bloggers! 

1:05:08 ... hmmmm, how did that happen?  I ran my usual 7 mile route and then added on, and yet, somehow ran the same time that I usually do.  I thought it felt like I was running fast but I did not think I was that much faster ... must be all that hill work.

Have a great day bloggers!

Day 2: no scorpions in the bed ;-) 

AM: (8 miles, 1:11:14).  Hot hot hot ... so I ran slow slow slow (it was about 90F when I finished) -- I puttered around the house, worked, puttered, worked, etc.  When I finally checked the weather at 9:30 it was 89F,  yikes.   Anyway, it was a nice run, my legs felt good (probably because I am running less mileage this week -- busy busy).

PM: easy 4.

Need.to.get.out.earlier.tomorrow.

SFBD (scorpion free bed days): 3