Cool Runnings!

AM - 5 easy miles. Achilles felt better, still a bit stiff at first, but not as bad as before. I will keep up with the stretching and reverse calf raises. I think this is helping. Pace felt good this morning, a bit chilly as compared to what it has been previously, only about 50 degrees. Total time for the run this morning was 39:26, average pace of 7:53/mile. After looking at the Garmin, I noticed that each of my miles was progressively faster than the previous, without intending to do so.

On another note, I have been considering the possibility of running Moab with Lybi. I am still not sure if I am going to do it or not, and it will depend on whether Lybi's mom is able to watch the boys for us or not. If yes, I will register as well, and will go with her if I get in. If not, I will stay home with the boys while she goes.

PM - another easy run - just 2 miles to get me to 7 for the day.  I am going to increase my mileage to 45 this week, and will hold it there for a few weeks, then go up to 50.  Total time for the run this evening was 15:45, average pace of 7:52/mile. 

AM - 5.1 easy miles. It was a bit nippy out this morning as well - probably more normal weather for this time of year here. We have been having unseasonably warm weather. I, for one, am looking forward to cooler weather here. Total time for my run this morning was 39:36, average pace of 7:46/mile. I must have picked it up again as I got warmed up. I wasn't looking at the Garmin on the run, and Lybi has it right now, so I will have to check my splits later on. I do know that there was one point during the 4th mile where I started to pick it up, and forced myself to slow down. No tempo miles this week, I need to have a full week of just recovery runs.

PM - ran with the boys.  First 0.43 with Joey in 5:30, then 0.78 with Joey and Adam in the jogging stroller in 6:45, then another .79 with Samuel in 9:32.  Average pace for the combination of runs was 10:53/mile, helped generously by my average of 8:36/mile on the middle leg.

I noticed an odd thing today - the top of my left foot has been fairly painful today.  I don't know if maybe my laces were too tight, or maybe I have a nerve that is somewhat pinched.  I will ice the foot this evening, and perhaps wear the sock tonight in case some tightness is causing one of the bones in my foot to slip out of place. 

AM - 5.1 easy miles with the Garmin.  The top of my foot is still kind of painful, but more or less went away during the run.  Right now, it is not too bad unless I try to dorsiflex my foot.  I managed to keep all of my miles slower than 8:00 today, which is an accomplishment compared to yesterday.  Total time for the run was 41:39, average pace of 8:10/mile.  I will be happy if I can keep up this kind of pace the rest of the week and not overdo it.

PM - 2.05 miles, 0.62 with Joseph, then 1 mile with Sam, then the rest by myself.  I tried to focus on running smooth and relaxed on my run.  Felt good.  I also re-laced my shoes using the Lydiard lacing technique, and my foot felt much better on the run.  I will ice it again, and hopefully it will feel better in a couple of days.  I don't think it is going to bother me enough to keep me from running, however.

AM - did not run, I was up too late last night, so I decided to sleep in to get enough sleep.

PM - ran 6.2 easy miles in the evening after the boys had gone to bed.  Tried to focus again on relaxed running form, didn't feel as easy as yesterday, though.  I was probably a bit tired from the day.  I have also had a lot of stress at work this week to deal with, and that has probably had an effect on me as well.  Total time was 49:26, average pace of 7:58/mile.  Stretched and then did my core exercises. 

AM - didn't run again.

PM - 3.0 easy miles (so far).  Lybi still needed to run another 2.5 miles, and I had to pick up our minivan, so I ran to BrakeMasters, in a (very) roundabout way to get to 3 miles.  It has been raining out all day (HALLELUJAH!), and the run was absolutely blissful.  It felt very, very easy.  When I hit the stop button on the Garmin, I was amazed to see the time was 23:04.  I was totally not expecting this, but it must have been an effect of running in the rain.  Needless to say, we do not get that chance here very often.  Mile splits were 7:43, 7:40 and 7:38.  Depending on how late Lybi gets back, this may be the only run I get in today, and that would be okay.  I am planning on doing a minimum of 12 total miles tomorrow, probably broken up into two separate runs.

AM - no running, slept in.

PM - ran 12 mile long run.  It started out really nice but a little windy, sunny and warm.  First 3 miles seemed a bit faster than I had anticipated, but I was running with a favorable crosswind, so that may have explained things.  Then I turned south and the crosswind turned unfavorable.  But I was in a really good rhythm, and a little wind wasn't going to stop me.  When I turned around at the 6 mile mark, my average pace was 7:51, and I was a little bit worried that I may have taken it out too fast, but decided to keep on going, because I was really on a roll.  When I turned around I got a favorable crosswind again for the next 3 miles.  Felt really good.  Turned west for the last 3 miles, crosswind turned unfavorable again, but I was on the homestretch now.  Total time for the run was 1:33:19, average pace of 7:46/mile.  I was absolutely amazed at how well this run went.  I think a major component was getting enough sleep, which I haven't been doing very well this week.  I need to re-commit to getting enough sleep this next week to 1) avoid getting sick and 2) avoid injuring myself.  Achilles was a bit stiff for the first 1/4 mile, then loosened up and felt good for the rest of the run.  The top of my foot also felt good the entire run.  I will continue to ice it for a few more days.