track fan

1:10:44 ... yes sireee ... the same route as last week nearly 5` faster.  I basically ran easy with the idea being I wanted to run the second half faster than the first half.  It is a loop course (very very hilly), and the only part of the run that is the "same" is the last 2.x ... so, it took me 18:21 to hit the landmark on the way and 16:43 to run from the landmark home, I am very happy.  When I am running more miles I run the first part in about 18:45-18:50 (sometimes 19 if I have had a particularly hard week of running) -- so it is encouraging to find that I haven't lost too much leg strength!!  And I am very happy that I can still run 8 min pace pretty easily.  I guess I can't be too hard on the ol' ellipse after all -- between it and the many many hours pool running, I have managed to keep in ok shape.  

It is still in the 80s here, but there is a faint cool breeze so it doesn't feel bad (well, that and I was only out there for 70 mins anyway). 

61:54. (+50 mins of pool running).   Did not feel that rested ... but it felt good to be outside and running.  I wanted to pool run for an hour but I had a meeting and just did not have time (it takes time to drive to the pool, park, shower for the pool, shower after the pool, etc. so it is really a hard time commitment to make some days).  Anyway ... 1:50 mins of exercise is ok for a Tuesday ;-). 

 I forgot to tell you about NCAA Division I cross-country.   U of Arizona women were second in the PAC-10!!!  This was a huge upset as PAC-10 is one of the powerhouses of cross-country (Stanford, Oregon, Washington) it is going to be a great cross-country regional meet in the middle of November. 

I hope you are all having a wonderful day, and don't forget to vote!

longer than 6 actually, 57:39, but what the hey!  Lovely morning ... I had a slight "snafu" when I turned my ankle.  I actually fell and limped around for a while and then said, this is not too bad.  I could feel it swelling up while I was running, but it doesn't really hurt too badly now, just a little "twingy".  I was wearing my compression sleeve and I think that helped keep the swelling down, unfortunately I had to rush to work so I haven't iced it yet today ... I will try that tonight.  But since it is only slightly throbby I think it will be ok.  I am such a doofus ...

I hope you are all having a great week!!

1:02:57.  Long 7, very hilly.  I have been running this semi-loop course.  The "road-loop" is about 5.5 miles and then I add on some trails about 1/2 way into the run.  Today I ran to the end of my little trail, which is good since it only added on a minute to my run.  Although I still feel like I am not as smooth or running as easy as before, I am getting stronger and more used to it every day.  I think running these tough courses (the only flat place I have to run is about 10 miles away) is helping build my strength back faster - which is good.  I guess we will see for sure when I hit the track again.  Maybe I will run my 90 mins (yea!) this weekend on a  marked course, just so I can start calibrating my internal garmin again.

I taped my ankle, just to be safe.  It hurts, but not badly (and certainly not as bad as my leg hurt a few months ago) - but I am afraid if I turn it again I will do serious damage (it is weak as when I was in high school/college I tore the ligaments in it and was in a cast for 4 months!).

Ok ... now I am off for an hour of fun fun fun (pool running) to make it 2 hours for the day.

Have a wonderful Thursday bloggers! 

53:42 ... beautiful day. Legs a little tired, but still enjoying running.  

I am just so excited about the NYC marathon this weekend.  Shalane Flanagan and Kim Smith dueling out again (just like a few years ago when they were in college - both of them with 1:08 1/2 marathon credentials, Kim Smith had a 2:25 marathon debut in London) - Mary Keltany (1:06:36 1/2 marathon a month ago) is almost assured a win,  but can she get close to a 2:20 marathon??  it is most definitely possible. And then, of course there is the world famous Geb!!!  And Meb and Ritz!  It is going to be a good one.

And let's not forget our bloggers, especially Dan the man, who is racing his second marathon this weekend, GO DAN GO!!

Happy trails bloggers!

39:15.  Nice day!  I am heading to the pool (hopefully for 1:20 of poolrunning - if I can stand it, otherwise 1:00 of pool running no problem doing it, but because it was almost 2PM before I finished, and I had not eaten yet, I got really hypoglycemic and felt pretty ill -- but once I drank some orange juice and ate a little "lunch" I was much better -- almost passed out though on my way to the sandwich shop) and then into work -- I have a big grant deadline.  I missed 1/2 a day of work yesterday because of an unfortunate "incident".  I have a non-malignant growth thing on my chin (hemagioma -- or birth mark, except this is not the correct term because technically it is reserved for things found on babies that they will grow out of -- and mine showed up ~5 years ago and is/was unlikely to go away -- basically it is a deep vascular malformation and LOOKS like a birthmark).  Anyway, for some unknown reason it got inflammed and yesterday just started bleeding for no reason.  TMI, I know.  But it was weird it just would not stop no matter what I did.  Finally, after an hour-and-a-half (and one ruined work-shirt) I called my dermatologist and they told me to come right in.  I think the original idea was to cauterize to get it to stop bleeding, but after I got there they decided to cut it and send it for a biopsy (I am sure it is nothing, but my biopsy from last week came back as squamous cell carcinoma so they are being extra cautious).  The main thing was that they cut it out and then sewed it up (so I have stitches in my chin that look like little hairs) ... so, I got to work at 1PM, tired and emotionally drained (maybe short a pint of blood? just kidding, it wasn't that much). I worked until 6 but just did not make the progress I had planned for the day.  SOOOOOO, off I go today, me and my little chin hairs ;-).

I hope you all have a great day!