With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams...

Back at the early morning run.  I will say that my early runs don't seem to last as long as the ones I did when I slept in.  I wonder if it's because I'm still asleep and it's dark outside.

4:50-5:50 am   nice weather, clear skies.  Beautiful moon was setting as I went out.

Started a new "training program" for the Myrtle Beach Marathon.  I used smart coach on the runner's world magazine.  It has me running 3x a week and xtraining the other days.  I think I'll just run on the x-train days and see how it goes.  Maybe throw an elliptical in there now and then when the weather is horrid.

The marathon is on Feb 13th..so I've got just under 11 weeks.  I think I can do it.  I'm glad I've got some serious training to do to keep me motivated as it gets cold and as the holiday treats pile up. 

avg pace 9:24  - 10:28, 9:20, 9:13, 9:21, 9:10, 8:54, 8:43(pace for last .13).  

20 min elliptical

3 miles run

I wasn't prepared for the cold weather..I had my shorts on, and I'm really glad that I did the elliptical first to warm up, because my legs were frosty on the run. My outdoor thermostat read 37 degrees.

9:45-9:00 pace increasing w/mileage

Had a tooth ground down to a stump for a crown last night.  Traumatic for me emotionally and physically.  It was my first crown rodeo.  :-(

So I didn't sleep well, and rationalized my sleeping in because I figured I needed to heal.  Looking back, I don't think I really needed the rest, but I thought it was a good excuse at the time.

I did 20 min on the elliptical.  If it's not a thunderstorm after work, maybe I'll try and get my tempo in then.

I did enjoy the fact that I got to eat a vanilla frosty for dinner last night.  It was great except for the fact that I had to carry around a towel to wipe the drips off my face because I couldn't keep the food in my mouth. 

I got my run in today. It was 59 degrees with 84% humidity outside when I went out at 5 am. I'm never sure whether to wear shorts & a t-shirt or pants & a coat. I guess I need to keep a better eye on the weather forecast. Did the same old 4 mile loop. It's getting boring. I feel like I need a new running venue. paces were: 9:54(warm up mile), 7:45(fast mile), 10:07(1/2 mile recovery jog), 7:50(fast mile), ???(1/2 mile recovery jog...I pushed off instead of lap), 9:47(cool down mile), 9:54(.17 to get home). My fast miles were faster than I'd anticipated. I had only planned on trying to keep an 8:30 pace. My garmin wasn't set up for this run, so I just ran fast figuring I'd get at least an 8:30. It was hard running the 7:45 pace, and I felt kind of icky right afterward, but when I got home, I was feeling good and happy about what I'd accomplished. I could tell when I started out on my first fast mile that my knee wasn't used to that kind of speed. It was talking to me for the first 1/4 of that fast mile. I think it was trying to tell me that I need to work on my physical strengthening exercises more and build my quads up. I've been really slacking on them. The little dog that I had to spray last month was out again this morning. I just kept running while his owner was standing there yelling at him to come back. The dog chased after me for 2 houses, then went back. I'd forgotten my spray, or I would have given him a little mist. The guy knows I'm out in the morning, yet he still takes his dog out front without a leash.........and he knows the dog chases me. Frustrating.

Did 4 full laps with bleachers on both sides after school.  It was 22 minutes.  I don't know for sure the mileage, but I added 2 miles to my running total.  It was a tough workout!

Didn't sleep too well.  I think I'm getting a chest cold.  Tried to go to bed early, but the Office and 30 Rock kept me awake.  They were great last night.  The hour before was great too.  I guess I spent 2 hours laying in bed watching tv instead of sleeping.  I didn't have energy to do anything else.  Sounds pathetic when I put it in writing.

Wanted to do an easy day today, so I did a 10 min elliptical warm up, then a 2 mile easy run.  41^o outside.  I wore my shorts outside, but it was okay since I'd already warmed up on the elliptical.  Mile 1 was 10:48, mile 2 was 10:47.

10 miles are on the agenda for tomorrow.  Rain in the forecast....ick.

Not feeling well.  Basic lack of energy and chest congestion. 

Went out to see what I could do.  Got to run in a new area by Sealey's house. We almost didn't get started because I was afraid to get out of the car.  Her four fowl birds ran up to the car when we drove up, and I was afraid to get out.  I didn't want to get pecked.  After we found out they're just stupid birds, I had to laugh at myself. 

 It was fun hearing the stories about all the neighbors that lived nearby.  Real country living down there!  There was a bridge/overpass that is being worked on, so we got to run on it w/o any traffic.  I just didn't have any energy.  Sealey had already run 7, and was just topping off her mileage with us.  The 3.74 was really all I could do.  I was getting dizzy and could tell it was time to quit.

47^o   87% humidity