track fan

14+ 2:10:00 (wow ... look at that).  I tried a trail near our new house today - since we were meeting to do the walk-through this morning.  The run I was supposed to do was a 5.3 mile loop.  My plan was to do 2 loops and then add on to get 14 in - this was a good idea, I thought, because then I could get some water in at least once.  Well, the plan went awry immediately when I couldn't park in the campground that the trail-guide showed as the trailhead (they will only let campers park there).  So I went up the road about a mile and parked in another pull-out and ran from there.  Then I seem to have taken a wrong turn -- so, I ended up doing an out-and-back route instead ... with no water.  Luckily it wasn't too hot (about 80F right now), but by the end it was hot enough believe me ;-).  

The good news was the trail was awesome -- and obviously there are lots of trails out there.  A few steep sections, but the footing is really good and for the most part it was great for running (not many ankle grabbers).  I did get nicked by a cactus -- a cute little "teddy bear cactus" -- they look all soft and furry - but they are not.  It grabbed my stomach and I have a neat scratch - mainly it just scared me (because it hurt).  

Well, I  have to grade mid-term exams ... happy family day bloggers! 

AM: (10+ miles, 1:27:07).  Ran my usual 9 or so miles + 8 x ~100m strides.  Felt super good today -- probably because it was cold, gloriously cold!

PM: (4 miles at the track).  I might run more, it depends on a couple of things.  Dean and I rode in together today (because we had to sign some loan documents for our new house) - he is going to the track to do some drills tonight, so I figured I can get my second run in then.  But, first 4 miles slow on the track is really boring so 4 might be all I can bear, and second, there is a huge weather front coming in today and they are forcasting up to 45mph wind -- that would be horrid on the track!! We have had record highs the last couple of weeks -- and in one day it is supposed to drop to record lows!  wow.

1:02:45 (31:23/31:21).  Felt pretty good this morning, despite the 30mph winds (and I am not exaggerating).  I watched some nature in action ... two coyotes trying to get breakfast - they were cornering a rabbit.  I actually wanted to hope for the bunny to win, but then I realized that if it did the coyotes wouldn't get to eat.  We do have a lot of bunnys here ... so then I hoped for the coyotes. Life is like that, often there are competing interests on any issue, and most of the time for one to succeed another needs to fail.  Can you tell I am over-educated?

Have a great day bloggers! 

AM: (9.5 miles, 1:19:11).  28:33 wu 4 x 5` @ 1/2 marathon pace w/1` recovery 24:31 cd.  Ran on the Rillto path, it is marked every 800m, so I could get some splits.  I was planning on hitting the 800s at somewhere between 3:40-3:45 (7:20-7:25 pace).  Did pretty well on the first one (3:42) missed the second mark (they are pretty small), 3:44 on the third one and 3:20 on the last one (I thought it felt fast).  

PM: (easy 4).

 Beautiful day today -- 38F and sunny for my run.  Had a really bad day yesterday, I am going to try to make up for it today and move on. 

Run well, be happy bloggers!
 

1:01:17 ... it is a recovery day, but I tell you bloggers the cool weather is just making me frisky as all get out on my runs.  I have just felt awesome during every run the past couple days.  It is amazing how much difference 50 degrees makes.  This is particularly true for weirdos like me who love colder weather much much more than hot.

Dean and I have a date at our new house tonight ... yippee.

AM:(9+ miles, 1:20:52).  8 miles + 8 x ~100m strides.  Nice day ... I got out late so it was cool, but warm in the sun.

PM: (~4 miles easy).

Date was great -- we are trying to figure out how to put furniture in, and arm wrestling for the closet space.