Cool Runnings!

Ran 5 easy miles this morning.  Did not get quite enough sleep - I will need to work to make sure I get extra sleep tonight.  Weather was very muggy - mid-80's and close to 50 percent humidity.  Not enjoyable at all.  Started out slowly, gradually got into a nice rhythm by the end of the first mile.  Total time for the run was 40:18, average pace of 8:04/mile.  I felt fine on the run, but I could definitely feel the humidity.  Even though I love monsoon season here for all the rain which we desparately need, it is hard to get excited about runnng when it is so humid.  50% humidity here is like 100% humidity in the midwest or east coast.  Planning on getting in a couple more miles this evening.

AM - ran 6 miles this morning.  Still muggy out, but not too bad.  Got a little more sleep last night than the night before, but was still kinda groggy when I got up.  It took me less time this morning to slip into my rhythm - just a little more than 1/4 mile.  Ended up running a bit faster than I had anticipated,but it still felt good to me.  Lungs didn't have a problem with the pace, legs felt pretty good as well.  Total time was 47:37, average pace of 7:56/mile.  Feeling pretty good about my fitness - I think I will continue to see my pace increase naturally as my fitness increases.  Will plan on running again this evening to make sure I get in my miles.

PM - ran 2 miles in the evening.  Temperature was lower than normal due to storms during the day - only 95!  I am certain it was lower than that at 7:00.  Ended up running faster than I had planned - seems to be the story of my life - ran the first mile in 7:58, second mile in 7:16.  Total time was 15:15, average pace of 7:38/mile.  I still managed to keep my normal breathing rhythm, but I could tell the pace felt a little fast.  Will try to maintan an easier pace tomorrow to take it easy on my body. 

AM - ran 6 easy miles in the morning.  Made a conscious effort to run a bit slower today to give my body a bit of a break.  Felt a little out of sync, although I was able to keep the pace about 20 seconds slower than yesterday.  Total time was something like 49:36, average pace of 8:16/mile.  Not much else to report - will put in a couple more miles this evening.

PM - ran 2.05 miles with the boys in our double jogging stroller.  All 3 boys plus the weight of the jogging stroller meant I was pushing around 120 pounds.  We had a terrific storm this afternoon I would have loved to go out and run in, but didn't have the chance.  But it felt good running with the boys, although it was incredibly humid - I was sweating buckets.  Total time was 17:14, average pace of 8:24/mile for the run.  Not too bad, considering the weight I was pushing :)

AM - ran 6 easy miles.  Right lower leg was a little sore - probably from trying to push a car up our driveway - the car of the parent of one of Libby's piano students had died, and it was raining pretty hard, so we didn't want to try and jumpstart it in the rain.  Unfortunately, the car was too heavy.  Took things a bit easier today - at least for the first 3 miles, then the pace picked up a bit.  Total time was 48:47, average pace of 8:08/mile.  Last 3 miles were all sub-8:00.  It was extremely humid again this morning - gotta love that monsoon season.  I do love the rain that it produces (seems like more than last year), but I don't especially like the humidity when we are not used to it.  Will plan on doing another 3 miles this evening to give me 9 total.

PM - ran 3 miles.  Right lower leg still a little sore/tight - will ice it, stretch it and rub it down tonight.  No rain tonight - bummer :(  but the weather was still pretty nice, although still very humid.  Took off, and started with an 8:01 mile.  Then sped up for the next two miles - 7:37, 7:32 (I will count these as MP miles).  I know I picked it up the last 1/4 mile, but overall the run felt good.  Puts me at 9 miles for the day.  8-9 miles tomorrow, and then 16 EASY miles on Saturday.  I have to keep telling myself easy in the hope that I will slow down a little.  Gotta order me some Clif bars - although there are stores here that stock Clif bars, none of them stocks my all-time favorite flavor - blueberry crisp.  Whoever thought of that flavor was a genius.

AM - ran 6 easy miles in the morning.  My right lower leg was still a bit tight, but in keeping with a promise I made to Libby last night, I took it easy, and averaged 8:30 miles for the run.  Total time for the run was 51:00, exactly 8:30 pace.  Legs felt OK, lungs felt fine during the run, but my upper body felt prett stiff.  That's what I get for trying to push a car up our driveway the other day.  After my run, I stretched out and showered, and by the time I got to work, my back was really sore.  I must have done something to do it when I was trying to push that car.  I went to the chiropractor this morning, and it feels a bit better, but still not normal.  I have a heat pack on it right now, and will use the heating pad this evening.  I may or may not run the extra 2 miles this evening, depending on how I am feeling, and I will have to see how I feel tomorrow morning to determine whether I will do the entire 16 miles or not.  If I run this evening, it will probably be on the treadmill (Libby gets to go out with some friends).

No running today - back hurts too much from trying to move that stupid car.  I went and saw my chiropractor again, and he said that everything was out but my head . . . after the treatment, my back feels a little better, but definitely not normal yet.  I am going to wait until the pain is gone before resuming my training.  Even if I lose a couple of days of training, I am certain it will not affect my long-term training for St. George and beyond.