run, run, run

Boise, ID 8:00 pm

Pace: 8:26

I have a busy kid week this week (and next) so I'm getting up early in the morning and working, so I have to get my running in at night. This wasn't a bad one. I took my regular MWF course, ran it in reverse and added a couple of more miles. There are a lot more people out running in the evening (at least this one because it wasn't as hot) so I would try to push myself a bit by passing other runners.

iPod song of the day "I Feel Good" -- James Brown

Meridian, ID 9:00 pm

Pace: 8:39

Got the kids to bed and went out a little later than I'd hoped. The weather was still pretty warm when I started out, but about half-way I stopped off at my sister's house for a minute. Then we started yackin' and I ended up staying for about a half-hour. So it was dark by the time I got out to continue my run. The second half was kind of weird. I haven't run in the dark in a while and, while the cool temperatures felt great, I was kind of in a fog. Maybe it's from running later than I'm used to, maybe it was that hot dog I had for dinner (the kids had a pool party). Probably the hot dog. But I ran through it, since I was 5 miles from home I didn't have a choice.

This might have been my last run with the Nike+ on my foot. I ordered a Garmin and it is supposed to come today. After 3 years and 5,430 miles with the thing, it will be quite a lifestyle change to stop using it, but I think I've outgrown its usefulness. I need to start using something that will allow me to customize my workouts more and focus on more than just chugging out miles. I think this will be a good thing.

iPod song of the day: "Gonna Fly Now" --DeEtta Little

Boise, ID 9:15 pm

Pace: 8:49 Avg HR: 150

My first run with the Garmin 305. The thing is cool. I'm really going to like it. But, last night's run was a rough one. Maybe it was the heat (88 degrees when I left the house) or just the fact that I'm not used to running at night. Whatever the reason, I was feeling kind of sick when I got home. I need to get more sleep.

Boise, ID 10:30 pm

Pace: 9:36 Avg. HR: 136

Pathetic. I've done a lot of dumb things in my life and this is one of them. I really had no business running today. I haven't gotten a decent night's sleep in almost a week. I was exhausted all day and didn't have a free minute to run until 10:30pm. So I thought if I took a nap for an hour before going out that would make it all ok. It didn't. I wanted to get 50 miles in this week, but the only way that is going to work is if I run late again on Friday and then get up early on Saturday. That it isn't going to happen. I'll take Friday off and see what I can get in Saturday morning.

This run was really weak. I started out slow and got slower. When I stopped at the light at Fairview and Mitchell my legs were shaking and I was feeling dizzy. But, I kept running because I couldn't think of anything else to do. Things got a bit better after mile 5. But not much. I hate it when real life gets in the way of running.

iPod song of the day: "Stonehenge" -- Spinal Tap

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:22 Avg HR: 153

If going out running on Thursday night was dumb, this morning's run was brilliant. After a week of grinding through hot, late-night runs it felt great to get out in the cool morning air. I started out the first few miles right around 8:30 and picked up the pace some in the second half, finishing strong and feeling great.

I went up to Maple Grove to Chinden and up Mitchell. I forgot to take a turn I needed to get to 10 miles so I altered my course a bit and got lost in a subdivision once. I hid my water bottle in a tree at McMillian and Shamrock and then had to backtrack to get it because I had changed the course. Even still, a great way to start a Saturday.

iPod song of the day: "Golden Years" -- David Bowie