Cool Runnings!

Ran the following mile splits: mile 1 - 7:59, mile 2 - 7:53, mile 3 - 7:55, mile 4 - 7:55, mile 5 - 7:42, mile 6 (cool down) - 8:12. Felt very good - could have run farther, but I am going to stick to my schedule in the hopes I don't get injured. Total time: 47:38.

Took it out nice and easy again - mile 1 in 8:15, mile 2 in 7:41, then kicked it up a notch - mile 3 in 6:45 (felt a bit hard), mile 4 in 7:39, then slowed down and ran the last 1/2 mile in 4:47. Total time: 35:09.

I ran in the afternoon instead of the morning today, and that may have contributed to a faster run - first mile was 7:47 instead of the usual 8:10 or so. Second mile was 6:50 (had to wait at a red light for 30 seconds). Third mile was 7:02. Fourth mile was approx. 8:00 (another darn red light, this one longer). Total estimated run time: 29:40. Next time I will try to keep away from routes involving lights . . . either that, or I gotta get me one of those Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS watches!

This was a tough run - I only had about 4 hours of sleep the night before because of a sick infant. Nevertheless, I did my 7 miles, and I am proud I didn't quit early. Here are my splits:

Mile 1 - 8:16

Mile 2 - 7:55

Mile 3 - 7:49

Mile 4 - 8:03

Mile 5 - 8:12

Mile 6 - 8:24

Mile 7 - 8:00

Total time - 56:30. I had a small break after the fifth mile to get a drink. All through the run, I just felt like I didn't have that spring in my step, and I couldn't quite find my rhythm. Hopefully with some extra sleep these next few days, the spring will return.

It was a little hard to get started this morning. My splits were: Mile 1 - 8:15, Mile 2 - 7:35, Mile 3 - 6:49, Mile 4 - 7:23, then 1/2 mile cooldown at 4:46. Total time: 34:49.

I took it a little easy today after having to lay low for the rest of last week. Splits were: Mile 1 - 8:24, Mile 2 - 8:03, Mile 3 - 7:04, Mile 4 - 7:18, cool down for last 1/2 mile in 4:41. Total time: 35:32. The run felt good, although for the first two miles I felt like I was running faster than I actually was, and was a bit surprised to see the splits that I had.

Another routine morning run, felt a little better than Tuesday. I tried to concentrate today on keeping my breathing relaxed and even.

Mile 1 - 8:14, Mile 2 - 7:43, Mile 3 - 7:08, Mile 4 - 7:32, 1/2 mile cool-down at 4:49. Total time - 35:27. I am actually finding it kind of hard to stick to my plan of only running 3 days a week until my long run gets to 10 miles, but since I want to avoid injury and run St. George, I will keep with it.

I decided to only do 7 miles today instead of 8, since I am taking Sasha's advice and am going to add some light easy runs this week on Monday and Wednesday, if possible. I also tried to hold back a bit more. Splits were:

Mile 1 - 8:26, Mile 2 - 8:08, Mile 3 - 8:07, Mile 4 - 8:06, Mile 5 - 8:10, Mile 6 - 8:28, Mile 7 - 8:28. Total time - 57:56.

I was able to maintain my same breathing rhythm throughout, and the miles actually went by pretty quickly. That could have been the music, or could have been that it was just a nice relaxing run. In any case, I will be putting in 1-2 miles on Monday at an easy pace.

Here we go - this is my first additional day of running. Total time: 18:10. I took it easy, and it felt good to get out this morning and run before going to work.

Felt good after my run yesterday. I felt like I had to try hard to hold back, and after my third mile, where I popped a 7:12, I found I couldn't slow back down as much as I wanted to. Splits:

Mile 1 - 8:14, Mile 2 - 8:12, Mile 3 - 7:12, Mile 4 - 7:39, last 1/2 mile was run in 4:44. Total time - 36:03. I am noticing it is also about time for me to get a new pair of shoes. That will happen within the next couple of weeks.

It felt good this morning to get out and run. I have to admit that I had a real hard time keeping a slow pace - in fact, the slower pace felt less comfortable and smooth. I actually picked up the pace during the second mile, and only then did my stride feel more natural and smooth. First mile split was 8:45, second 1.2 miles run in 9:30. Total exercise time: 18:15.

Today felt good - my calves have been kind of sore for a couple of days, and I had my wife massage them yesterday - much better today. No soreness at all. I tried to take it a little easier today (at least my first two miles were slower than 8:00!). Here are my splits:

Mile 1 - 8:24, Mile 2 - 8:18, Mile 3 - 7:45, Mile 4 - 7:53, last 1/2 mile cooldown - 4:52. Total time: 37:15.

I have actually felt good adding the extra days this week. I will leave it at 5 days for a few weeks at least, maybe more, but will gradually increase the miles on some of my easy runs during the week.

Instead of driving to the track and doing my long run at the track, I ran to the track (2.6 miles), ran 2 miles there, then ran back. It was refreshingly different, and definitely broke up the monotony quite nicely. Since I didn't know the actual distance to the track until after I ran, I just took my splits to and from the track, as well as my mile splits at the track. I kind of like this approach. Splits were:

To the track - 21:17. Mile 1 - 8:21. Mile 2 - 8:18. Back home - 21:04. Total time - 59 minutes flat.

I am going to continue with the 5 days per week for a couple more weeks before adding the 6th day, but am going to add a mile on to each of my two easy runs this week to increase my mileage. I also went ahead and bought a new pair of running shoes, and will plan on integrating them into my runs this week as soon as I get them.