track fan

2:02:48 (1:05:29/57:18 - I can get splits for the last 6 miles of this run (because there are mile markers: 8:23 for 2 miles, 8:15, 8:11, 7:53, 7:25).  I took an accidental detour on the way out (I turned the wrong way on one of the trails -- not paying attention, so it was probably longer than 7 miles, I was averaging about 9:00-9:05 the first 3 miles).  I was pretty happy to see my "unintentional progression run" - it was very hot today, temps were 82F/75% -and very sunny - at the start at 6:45 and when I finished it was 91F - thankfully with much lower humidity 49%).  I wasn't trying to run fast on the way back, I mainly just wanted to keep a solid effort and not "slog" -- I was happy to see no slogging.  Two more months and this same effort will likely produce much faster results (it won't be cooling down for at least 8 more weeks -- sigh).  ANYWAY.  I  was right about my legs, I had much less pain, but they were just not responsive, it took forever (well, 4 miles) to warm up.  Once I did warm up I felt oh so much better "leg-wise".

I hope you are all having a wonderful relaxing, enjoyable Sunday with your families!

I think I got into the Houston marathon, I have not received the official confirmation (they were supposed to let us know by the 17th) but they charged my credit card today ... hmmm.  I guess I see some high miles in my future again.

AM: (9 miles, 1:18:46) 31:56wu +strides/33:19cd.  5 x 200 w/400 recovery.  Dean said I did not run these hard enough last week, so this week I pushed it a little more, 47, 48, 46, 46, 46.  It was 87F (31%), but it was partly cloudy which makes a big difference.  

PM: (4 miles easy).  My last week of being able to run these in the light, school starts next week so I will be back to 60 hour weeks, which means lots of late nights ... 

I received my official confirmation yesterday, I AM IN for the Houston marathon, January 30, 2011.  It is going to be a challenge to get the training in since Fall is super hard at work, but I am hoping it won't be as tough this time around (training-wise) as I am in better shape.  Only time will tell!

I hope you are all having a wonderful week!!

1:05:45.  Probably a little longer than 7, I went a little further than last Friday.  This is not an out-and-back but sort of an out-and-loop - so I can't actually run a fixed distance and then run back the same amount of time - I have my *major* climbs during the last 2.5 miles, but the majority of the first part are just minor hills - there are no flat parts to this run, it is either up or down.  Good training.  I am hurting bad though.  I don't know what is wrong with my lower leg - John fixed it on Saturday, Sunday was great, but I am a limping mess the first mile of my runs, and today I felt it the whole time (though it was slightly better on the uphills).   Best case it is a Soleus muscle strain, worse case it is a tibial stress fracture (or stress reaction).  I am doing some exercises (on top of the ones John gave me last week) -- and have a massage tomorrow, so I am keeping my fingers crossed on the muscle strain.  

I hope you are all having a wonderful week so far!! 

AM: (11 miles, 1:27:45).  26:23wu +strides/22:30cd.  5 x 5` @ 10K effort w/3` recovery.  Since I did these on the track I could get 800m splits, and I was at 7:05/7:04/7:06/7:05/7:10 mile pace.  It was 89.6F when I finished, hot and sunny.  I felt like crud.  I hope that the heat was worth about 3-4 seconds/mile.  I would expect to be 4-6 secs/mile off pace with no speedwork (I generally get about 4 secs/mile faster each month of specific 5-10K workouts) -- but 10 secs is a lot off.  But ~90F (easily felt like mid-90s with the sun).  Oh well, that is why today was training and not a race.  I am just not used to running at this pace.  I should be grateful that my legs remembered how to do it at all ;-) (since I am losing more and more of my long term memory every day). 

PM: (4 miles easy).

I am very sure what is wrong with my leg is not a stress fracture (or stress reaction) ... it is not the bone ... it is the medial aspect of my calf (not shins, but more the belly of my calf - probably Soleus - is just super super sore ...).  

Back to the salt mines ... have  great day!! 

1:04:59.  It really doesn't happen very often, but today was one of those days when I really had to push myself out the door.  It was because of many things ... my leg hurts, I am tired (from lack of sleep), and my body is tired from yesterday ... all topped off with the fact that it was 82F at 5AM!!!  by the time I headed out it was 90F and I just felt horrible.  I think I got a little bit of heat exhaustion yesterday, I have been sick to my stomach, and feeling like I have low blood sugar since yesterday morning (I actually drank a Gatorade yesterday -- and it tasted great, usually it makes me sick because it is so sweet).  So anyway, I negotiated with myself and got started, and it was not "fun", nor did it feel "good", but it did not last too long and I did not feel nearly as bad as I did on my cool-down yesterday.  So ... all is well and angel-runner-Bonnie won again.  My leg doesn't feel worse when I run, it just hurts pretty much all the time, so I will continue to run (and stretch, and do exercises).

Happy Friday everyone, Fridays are my "meetings" day, and I still need to finish my lectures for next week, so it is going to be a long long day, and weekend.  BUT, it is Friday nonetheless! 

AM:(8 miles, 1:13:44). Very nice run, it was hot but the clouds were out and that makes ALL the difference! I saw Big Boy and CoCo (I had carrots today) and then had to hurry home. Off to new student orientation to meet and greet our incoming students ... luckily we only have 3 new PhD students ... then I need to spend about 5 hours finishing the answer key for the first homework set, sigh.

PM: (4 miles easy)

I hope you are all having great adventures and having fun!

I am loving the new Nike Free HyperTRs ... probably the best Free shoe yet!!