track fan

1:47:25 (57:35/49:50), last 4 miles were 8:02, 7:51 and 7:24 average for the last 2 miles (I missed a mile marker).

Surprisingly I really felt like crap most of this run. I think a combination of the travel, two days in a row of overshooting my mileage (because of cab problems and underestimating how far things were), and the last couple months of work stress have really started to wear on me. I am planning on really focusing on taking it easy next week, trying to lower my stress levels (I am not sure exactly how I am going to do this, since I am under a lot of pressure right now -- but maybe just mentally easing up without actually easing up ;-) ) and get ready for the semester to start. Also -- I am planning out my new racing schedule this week, so my training should be getting interesting soon -- I am hoping that the 101F days stay around (versus the 113F they have been) -- although I really really can't wait until October when it will be back to normal weather again.

Happy rest of the weekend bloggers!!

(126.8) 

Day off, but I had forgotten last week that I wanted to post an article from Flotrack on Lindsay Allen, one of Greg's athletes.  Close-by, the World Track and Field Championships start next weekend - yea ... a week of T&F!

So, the weather forecast from the radio yesterday: "highs of 101 today and tomorrow, but warming up by Wednesday and Thursday" ;-) ha ha.  Despite the high numbers - the mornings have been much cooler as of late, much more tolerable.  Actually, even 101 feels cooler to me now.

One more tidbit before I go to work, I went to clean the filter basket for the pool on Saturday.  WHOA, there was a huge spider that had built a web in there (as an aside, I am terrified of spiders).  As I looked on, mortified, I realized that "she" had a huge red hourglass on her belly. I quietly backed away and ran inside the house and "holed up" until Dean came home (all manner of insects, and live rodents, are his job).  I was sad that he killed her and her egg sac - but he said, "it was either her or us".  

Have a great week bloggers. 

AM: (9 miles, 1:20:08 (40:38/39:30)).  Very nice morning, a little hot, but cloudy so it felt pretty good. 

PM: (4 miles).  If I can leave work early enough I will actually try to run 4.5 on my favorite course tonight -- the sunset was spectacular and would have been an awesome night to run this course (the mountain views are very nice).

Happy running!

1:02:27 (31:29/30:58).  I felt so great today ... pretty surprising given I felt sort of sluggish on my run last night.  It was a nice day, a little on the hot side but under 100F so all is good!

AM: (9.5+ miles, 1:20:43). 25:18 wu 15 x 1` w/1` recovery at 3K-5K pace (supposedly ~ 6:30-6:44; probably more in the 6:50-6:55 range) 24:47cd. I ran these really hard, trying to get closer to 3K pace. I ran the first few recoveries a little too hard, so the last 3 were very challenging. Felt good on the recovery run home though (still ran faster on the uphill run home than the downhill out) so I must of been in the right pace range. I am getting geared up for some speedwork soon, I think things are cool enough in the morning now (rarely above 80F) that I can hit the track soon. I have a tentative racing schedule that I hope to get to Greg soon -- which will require quite a bit of training soon. My main goals are 10K and 10 mile PRs. The 10 mile is probably going to be easier to hit, the 10K will take some work. I am hoping for a good half-marathon this spring as well.

PM: (4.5 miles, 40:19).  Beautiful night.

Happy Thursday bloggers. tight schedule today.

1:01:49 (31:07/30:42).  Longer than 7, I don't know what got into me today -- I was about 30 secs/mile faster than usual.  This despite about 1 hour sleep and a hard day yesterday ... weird.  I won't complain though, unless I crash and burn tomorrow!

Last night I came about 1" from stepping on a snake ... I got out a little late for my PM run (in part by design, in hopes it would be cooler, and in part because my day was crazy).  I was finishing up, my favorite run in my favorite park, and it was just dusk.  I was looking out for rocks (it is a trail run) and looked to my right just in time to see him/her laying across the trail.  My heart beat a little faster (and I jumped in the air), I did not actually stop to get a closer look!

Happy Friday bloggers!

AM:(8 miles, 1:11:18 (37:20/33:57). I had to suffer through a very hot run because I slept in a little and didn't get out until almost 8:30 ... it was almost 92F and sunny. I had another tough night ... at 2:53AM I finally had to break down and take an ambien, I have so much work to do this weekend and I just couldn't afford another brain dead day like yesterday. I have two big projects that I am working on, and my class starts in a week ... I really need to get 4 lectures and the first homework written (along with the solutions which will be hard) before the first day of class. This class is so hard, I know that I can finish the homework/exams in less time than it will take them, but I am pretty sure that many times it will still be hours of work for me too ... I did not actually ace this class myself! One of my colleagues was bemoaning her experience as a student in this class and how she worked for 3 days on an exam only to get a 50% ...ahhhh, the good ole days. My professor would give us open problems that had not been solved just to see how far we could get. I don't plan on being that mean ;-).

PM:(4 miles). I really want to go to my favorite spot to run, but I can't because we are having dinner with one of the Deans from my college and his wife. As it is I won't be able to wait until the sun goes down, so it will be a little hot ... again.

Have a wonderful weekend bloggers ... enjoy the dog-days of summer!

Don't forget the World Track and Field Championships start today.  Today and tomorrow NBC will be showing recaps of the first two days.  Then there will be some live and recap coverage on Versus the rest of the week.  I am thankful for DVR -- I have already set my TV to record about 15-18 hours of coverage (though some of it might be reruns, I am not sure).  Jenny Barringer made the finals in the steeple, but it was down to the wire and she had to make a final mad sprint down the backstretch to make the top 5.