Rollin' THUNDER

16 miles at 7:00 am. I woke up at 5:20 to go running but my watch wasnt charged so I had to wait around for it to charge. I dont know why, but I just dont have a whole lot of motivation to go out running. I need to try and change that so I can be excited about running again.

This was my semi-long run for the week. I didnt want to think about pace or push myself, I just wanted to take it easy and get some time on the roads. 

GU at 6.6 miles.

Max HR 164

Avg HR 146

Total time 2:02:55

Avg pace 7:41

10 miles at 9:45 pm at the gym. I woke up this morning and was unable to get out of bed due to tiredness. I worked a long day yesterday (first time in 7 months) and didnt feel like running. I had to do some work on one of the apartment buildings for a few hours, then mow the lawn, so I figured I would just run at night. When night came I wasnt really feeling like I wanted to run outside in the dark with a headlamp, so I decided to go to the gym and watch the olympics while I ran.

This was supposed to be a tempo run, and I did pick up the pace over the span of 4 or 5 miles, but not to a point where it was a speed workout or anything.

Max HR 168

Avg HR 149

Total time 1:15:13

Avg Pace 7:31

Not too bad for being on a treadmill.

9 miles at 9:45 am. I felt like I was working hard this whole run, when I wasn't really going fast or doing anything that should have made me feel so tired. I am hoping it is because I ran 10 miles so late last night.

I wanted this to be an easy run to relax and rest my legs for my long run tomorrow, but I just felt gassed.

Max HR 166

Avg HR 148

Total time 1:08:02

Avg pace 7:34

22 miles at 6:00 am. I went to bed last night late because my wife ran her first half marathon. It started at 10:00 pm and she finished around 12:15 am. She did awesome. She has been batteling a knee injury in her training, and I was amazed and proud that she still got her goal of 2:15.

I was asleep probably by 1:30, and woke up at 5:15, not a ton of sleep, but better than what I got last saturday before my long run. I did almost the same route as I did last saturday, only I went the opposite direction. It was way easier to run from my in-laws to my parents rather than from my parents to my in-laws. The elevation difference between their houses is about 600 feet, and it makes a huge difference (1200 feet difference).

I took a small water bottle with me because I didn't want to have what happened last week happen this week (too much water at mile 12, then stomach cramps from 16-20.5). It made a big difference to be able to drink the water after each gu (mile 6, 12, 18) rather than a ton of water at just mile 12. It was also nice to be able to take a sip every once in a while when I felt like I needed it.

Overall this was a good run. I felt good and was even contemplating going 26.2, but I guess I decided I wasn't feeling that good. I was under 7:30 average, which I am waaaaaaaay pleased with. This was a good way to end my highest mileage week ever. Hopefully next week I can hit 80 miles.

Splits: 7:55, 7:48, 7:16 (all downhill), 7:22, 7:45, 7:54, 7:31, 7:23, 7:15, 7:12, 7:06, 7:16, 7:28, 7:26, 7:22, 7:29, 7:22, 7:22, 7:35, 7:30, 7:28, 7:25

Total time 2:44:10

Avg pace 7:28

Avg HR 152

Max HR 171

10 miles on a treadmill at 10:00 pm. I woke up incredibly tired after a long weekend with the family. I was not in the mood to go running (ever since the Idaho Falls half, I havent really been in the mood for running). So I figured I would go tonight. When night came, I was not in the mood for running, but I have a streak going of almost 100 days straight (not counting Sundays) of either running, swimming, or biking (I only swim or run to recover from injury or races). Because of my streak, I had to go running. 

I got to the gym and had to treadmill hop to 3 different treadmills during my warmup so I could get the best view of the Olympics. I started my run, and my Achilles tendon was bothering me (it has been hurting since my 22 miles on Saturday). I knew it would be an uncomfortable run, but I am hoping this is a pain/injury I can train through.

The run went well, I even did a couple miles a lot faster than I normally run, maybe that will come back to haunt me.

Avg HR 148

Max HR 175

 Total time 1:13:20

Avg pace 7:20

8.25 miles on treadmill at 9:45 pm. I did 8 1/4 mile repeats with the treadmill at 7.0% incline with a 1/4 mile recovery in between.

I was supposed to do 12 miles, but I was battling gas, and decided to go to the bathroom at 8.25 to let it out just in case it was more than gas. I am glad I decided to go to the bathroom to let it out because it would have taken a long time to clean that treadmill!  :)  After being in the bathroom for a few minutes and my HR dropping down to the mid 90's I decided to just call it a day. I still had a good workout with the hill repeats.

Avg HR 154

Max HR 181

Total time 1:04:33

Avg pace 7:49

17 miles on treadmill at 8:00 pm. I had to take 2 bathroom breaks during this run, which makes me frustrated at the crappy way I have been eating lately. I really need to fix my diet to be more running friendly.

I did 6 miles before the first bathroom break, then 5 before the second bathroom break, then finished with another 6 miles.

Max HR 167

Avg HR 145

Total time 2:11:34

Avg pace 7:44

I have said that one of my goals is to do a marathon on a treadmill, and I always thought that I wouldnt be able to stay in one place for that long. But after tonight I think it might be possible.

12.79 miles on treadmill at 1:00 pm. I had said after yesterdays run on a treadmill that I thought I would be able to do my goal of a treadmill marathon, but after today I dont know anymore. This was a hard 12.79 miles and I almost talked myself into quitting several times. With such a strange distance to have, maybe it looks like I quit early, but I didnt. I was going to do 12.75 to give me 48 for the week, but then I went .04 more to make my shoes be at a more natural number.

Max HR 176

Avg HR 159

Total time 1:38:12

Avg pace 7:41

9 miles on treadmill at 2:30 pm. I was tempted to do 12 today and then with my long run tomorrow I would have hit more miles in this week than my brother ever got before he was injured, but i decided that there is plenty of time to add on miles. Better safe than sorry.

This was my 5th run on the treadmill this week, and I cant decide if I am going to do my long run tomorrow on one or not. I probably won't but it would be ....... (I dont know a word to put it) to do a full week of training on a treadmill. I guess flat, or boring, or un-scenic could all fit. 

This 9 miles wasnt bad. I feel like I could have done more, but I wanted to save some for my long run tomorrow. I didn't hit lap on my watch at every mile, so I only know my average pace.

Lately I have really been looking forward to my friday runs because they are shorter, and I just havent been excited about running (hence going later in the day and having to run on a treadmill to avoid the heat).

Max HR 166

Avg HR 145

Total time 1:08:17

Avg pace 7:35

24 miles at 5:30 am, not on a treadmill. It took a few miles before running on the road felt normal. For a little while It felt funny that I was moving forward, and the ground wasn't moving backwards. The weirdness of running on the road for the first time in a week shows by my mile splits for the first few miles. I was also taking it easy, knowing that i had 24 miles ahead and didn't want to start out too quick. It was dark for the first few miles, so I couldn't see what my mile splits were, but when I saw that mile 4 was around 8:15 I was a little surprised at how slow I was going. I guess it is better to start slow and be able to finish than to start fast and blow up at the end.

The only thing memorable about this run is at 22.83 miles I thought I got shot in my right hip. It was only for 1 step, but it hurt BAD!!! After that it was a little sore, but nothing like the initial pain.

My pace for this weeks long run was 18 seconds slower a mile than last weeks long run, but this week was all out and back, and last week I had 600 feet decline over 22 miles, so I am not concerned.

Avg HR 147

Max HR 171

Total time 3:06:21

Avg pace 7:46

5 miles on treadmill at 9:30 pm.

This was my first run since Saturday's long run. When I woke up Saturday I had a tiny sore throat, nothing that was going to slow me down. Sunday when I woke up I thought "I am glad I don't have to run today". Monday I woke up and thought my throat kills, I will run tonight when the pain goes away. Around noon I decided I should take the day off and let my body recover from the sickness. Tuesday the pain was just as bad, and Wednesday my sore throat bug was still there, but not so bad, but it got replaced by the lazy bug. So after going 98 days in a row (not counting Sundays) of either running, biking, or swimming, I missed 3 in a row. But I am back now.

I didn't time myself on tonight's run, but I think the pace was about 7:41 over the 5 miles. Now I am tempted to do 2 long runs in a row to rack up some miles, but I should probably just have a low mileage week, and get healthy again. I guess I will see what I decide to do.

Oh, and taking Nyquil (spelling) gives some pretty cool dreams!

Oh, my wife is the best!

5.5 miles on the treadmill at night. I had planned on doing more, but I got a visit fromt he hurryandruntoatoilet monster.

9 miles on treadmill at night. Felt good during the whole run. 

10.5 miles on a treadmill at night. I took a potty break at 5.5 miles and ten after I finished the last 5 miles I went to the potty again. And then after I stretched I went potty again. All #2. Some might see this as a bad thing, but I just see it as an easy way to get down to race weight.

This run went pretty well, besides the fact that I was doing it on a treadmill. I really need to quit being lazy and just go earlier in the day.

I did the last 5 miles at my TOU marathon pace. It felt good, and was a pace I could have kept doing.

15 miles on treadmill at 8:30 pm. I did the first 8 miles at 7.7 mph (7:47), took a potty break for about 4 minutes, then did the last 7 miles at 7.8 mph (7:41). Not a bad run, I could have gone longer.

10 miles on treadmill at 10:00 pm. This was the first run of the week that I didnt have to stop and take a potty break. I guess the key to not having bathroom issues is to eat Costa Vida for lunch, have ice cream for dessert, then for dinner have a big chicken dinner with corn on the cob and rolls. 

This run went pretty well. I was feeling good and my HR was low towards the end, so I did the last mile in about 6 minutes. Overall I averaged 7:24 miles.

26.2 miles on treadmill at 7:30 pm. I was planning on doing a treadmill marathon in January or February, but today seemed as good as any to go ahead and try one. We went to Idaho Falls today, and on the drive back it looked like the air quality in Rexburg wasn't very good, so I decided then my long run would be on a treadmill, and I was planning on doing 26.2.

I ate a piece of bread about 50 minutes before I left for the gym, and then 2 cookies about 15 minutes before. I usually take a gu before, but lately I have decided that cookies and sweetish fish are just as suitable for simple carbs before a run. I took 4 gu's with me to the gym (I imagine it would be hard to pile cookies or sweetish fish on a treadmill) and got all set up to go. I asked the gym employee (my brother-in-law Chris) to change the channel so I could watch some preseason NFL. I found yesterday that watching football really distracts me from my running.

I started out at an easy pace (7.7 mph), and stayed around there most of the run. Every 5 miles or so I would go a little faster, but I didn't want to push it and hurt myself 3 weeks before TOU. I took a gu at 45 minutes, 90 minutes, 135 minutes, and 180 minutes. At about 2 hours and 45 minutes I went to hit the lap button on my watch and a gu fell, hit the treadmill and shot behind me. Luckily about 10 minutes later Chris came and asked if I needed a refill on my water, which I did. He handed me my gu, got me some water, and I was ready to finish my first treadmill marathon.

Overall this was a great run. It was the second fastest I have ever run a marathon, and I wasn't even pushing myself by any means. I wasn't shooting for time, but distance. I have a feeling that if I was trying to PR (3:09:49) I could have done it tonight.

My total time was 3:18:40, an average pace of 7:34.63.

13.1 miles on treadmill at 7:00 pm. I had planned on doing 10, but whats 3 more miles? My calves were a little sore from Saturdays 26.2 mile long run, but nothing that I am concerned with.

This run went pretty well. I had planned on doing a mile of warm up and then increasing the speed every mile. I started at 7.8 mph (7:41) for a mile then increased to 8.6 mph (6:58), held at 8.6 for 2 miles (I think), then went back down 1 mile at a time to 8.3.

Total time was 1:35:02, an average of 7:14.95 and my average HR was 158.

All day under both of my patellas felt a little strange, so I chose not to run today. I think I may have slightly overdone it between Saturdays 26.2 and Mondays 13.1. I say I am going to listen to my body and not get hurt, and my body was saying take the day off. I love when my body says that.

My knees feel better today, so I am going to do doubles today and tomorrow to make up for not running on Tuesday.

1:00 pm, 8.5 miles on treadmill in 1 hour. I started at 7.5 mph then every 0.25 miles  I increased the speed by 0.1 mph until I hit 8.5 mph, then I increased the speed by 0.1 mph every half mile. At 9 mph I held it for 1 mile, then decreased the speed by 0.1 mph until I hit 8.5 miles (I was at 8.6 mph).

Overall this was a good run. I did it exactly at my goal marathon pace for TOU and I felt good and relaxed the whole time. I definitely could have held the 9 mph pace for much longer than 1 mile, and I am sure I could have averaged the 8.5 mph for much much longer.

8:00 pm, 10.5 miles on treadmill. I was planning on doing 8.4, but decided to just do 10.5 and give me 19 for the day. I started out at 7.8 mph and increased the speed by 0.1 mph every mile until I hit 8.1 mph. I then held it there until my average speed reached 8.0 mph. I then took the speed down to 8.0 mph and finished the run at that speed. I just wanted this to be an easy run.

This is the first time I have done a double, and I feel REALLY GOOD for having run 19 miles today. Makes me wonder if I should try and get a 120 mile week in the next year or so by doing 6 doubles in one week.

9:00 am, 10 miles on treadmill at an easy pace. I ran for 1:16:05 which is a pace of 7:36.

I still feel good even after 19 yesterday and 10 already today.

4:30 pm, 8 miles on treadmill. I averaged a little over 7.8 mph (about 7:41) for 1 hour and 1 minute and some change. Very easy, relaxed run. I didn't want to try anything tricky and overdo it.

I feel surprisingly well for having run 37 miles in the last 2 days. Maybe doubles are the way to do it. But I have a hard enough time getting myself to run once a day, twice a day is probably only a rare occasion.

10.9 miles at 10:00 am. This was the first run I have done outside in several weeks and I could feel it. I just felt sluggish. 

My total time was 1:21:52 (avg pace of 7:31), but my avg HR was 161, which is really high. Hopefully I can get used to running of the road again.

I find it funny how a few months ago I couldn't figure out how people could stand to run on a treadmill, and today during my run I was wondering how people can stand to run on the road.