Go, you chicken fat, go away!

I think I've given my legs plenty of rest since Ragnar, but they're still incredibly tight.  I guess I should be doing more stretching.  If I have time tonight, I'll try to do a session of Yoga X. 

I was pretty amazed watching the New York Marathon yesterday.  Those guys run faster miles than I've ever run, and they do it 26.2 times over.  I tried to get a fast mile in this morning.  No where near their times. 

By the way, Paul Petersen almost qualified for the Olympic Trials Saturday.  Read his report if you haven't.  Pretty awesome.

Time - 22:58 (avg. pace 7:39)

Splits - 8:12, 6:25, 8:21

I've been running consistent miles lately.  I start at a pace, and I'm able to stick with it.  Perhaps I should try to run a marathon by starting off at a 6:30 pace. 

So I was running down the street (either I'm about to start a rap song or a country western song), and I see this guy that's in my brother-in-law's ward.  I don't know his name, but he was instrumental in my BIL's baptism.  Anyway, he saw me and said, "Hi Burt."  Now I have to figure out what his name is and commit it to memory.

At the 4.5 mile point I saw this guy running on the opposite of Val Vista.  He's got to be in his late 50's, but he had a great pace going.  We simultaneously waved at each other.  Now, had he been on my city block, I would have been a bit jealous.  I own my block.  People can run on it, but they're not allowed to be faster than me.  But as it was, I was quite to content to let him own the adjacent city block.  And by the way, people can run on my city block, but stay the heck off my street.  You better believe that when I see someone running on my street, I immediately go out and give them the hardest stare down they've ever had.

Time - 44:21 (avg. pace 8:09)

Splits - 8:09, 8:10, 8:14, 8:09, 7:58, 3:41 for 0.44 (8:19 pace)

It was 50° out this morning!  Why is it so cold?  Oh yeah.  It's November.  Today I ran down the canal since Marathon Dreamer told me she misses talking my ear off.  No Wes, MD does not  live in AZ or Mazatlan.  I ran down  the east side of the canal south to Guadalupe and ran back on the west side (said in lame white boy wannabe gangsta voice.)  About a tenth of a mile before I turned around I saw another guy run on to the canal road.  I followed him for a mile.  We were running close to the same pace.  He had to stop for traffic trying to cross Baseline Road.  I almost caught up to him, but as soon as he saw my shadow he surged ahead.  I chuckled to myself and for a brief moment thought about giving chase.  That would have creeped him out I'm sure.  He turned around at Southern Ave., and I gave him a friendly wave.  He gave me the thumbs up.  You go on with your bad self!

Time - 51:26 (avg. pace 8:31)

Splits - 8:37, 8:30, 8:29, 8:29, 8:28, 8:34, 0:20 for 0.04 (8:55 pace)

Next week I have three races, the Open Mile, a 5k, and a Mud Run.  Should be a fun week.  I did some speed work this morning. 

Splits

1st mile - 8:31 warm-up

2nd mile - 6:11

3rd mile - 8:36 cool down

I think when you settle into a rhythm, your mind choses a song that matches that rhythm.   Today's song was "Didn't do the dishes.  Lazy.  Lazy.  Jumping out the window.  Double, crazy.  Itsy bitsy soda pop.  Itsy bitsy boo.  Isty bitsy soda pop a boy loves you.  It's true.  It's true.  A boy loves you."

Time - 56:18 (avg. pace 8:40)

Splits - 8:43, 8:42, 8:41, 8:38, 8:36, 8:41, 4:18 for 0.50 (8:41 pace)

Thank goodness for that 6th mile.  I would have hated to turn this into a progressive run.