Relentless

afternoon - 26 Leeds.  What the crap... is all I can say about this run.  Started off without a plan really, just a water bottle and some Cliff Shots.  So I headed out past the Junction and down the hill toward Quail.  I thought I might push out to anywhere from 20-30 just depending on how I felt.  I was pretty warm out and I drank my water much quicker than I thought, but refilled when I hit the Leeds park for a short pit stop.  I never felt very good, but was moving along pretty decent and hit just barely over 7 min ave. on the way out (15 miles) even with all the hills (3 big climbs over bluffs and the continuous uphill).  But the last two out past Leeds - Leeds was at mile 13 - were a little struggle and I started to feel crappy.  Turning around, I told myself just to relax and remember that there are ups and downs in a run - especially one this long.  I took my second gel at the 18 mile mark, but it immediately started disagreeing with me.  I got to the overlook at Quail and decided to just sit.  I even thought about calling Ally from someone's cell phone, but thought that I would just push on through.  But then I had to walk a bit along the lake - I just felt horrible, legs were gone and stomach was trashed.  Got down to where there are a couple businesses and wanted to use the phone, but everything was closed for New Year's.  So I started up the hill and thought I would call home from the gas station at the Junction.  Ran about half a mile and had to stop again and start walking.  I figured this was a pretty interesting site for people - a guy walking up this big hill clear out from any part of town and then add to it my puking.  Eventually I got to the phone, but no one answered at home.  So I had 5 miles to get home.  I just started jog/walking as much as I could and hoped my wife would check the messages.  Eventually she pulls up.  Luckily she had checked the message and came and got me or it would have been a horrible 4 more miles.  Just over 1:47 for the 15 out, but 2:15 for the 11 back (including the walking and breaks).  A perfect storm hit me: hotter than usual (for this time of year), sick the last few days (up a lot the night before with stomach pains, but no throwing up), not hydrating enough (on the run and the days before the run), long fast the day before, crappy shoes (I'm not a huge fan of these Neos anyway, but the wrong sizing makes them fit very weird).  (Neo 39) 

afternoon - 11 River Trail.  An easy shake-out down the trail and then Molly's Mile at home.  Didn't feel all too bad considering what I put my body through yesterday.  Good new is... the cramping in every muscle of my body has finally stopped.  (Hyper Speed 2 21)

AM - 10 Clyde's.  What a horrid night.  Sick and non-sleeping people everywhere in my house.  This is why it is important to have someone to run with, otherwise I would have never gotten up this morning.  But all-in-all it ended up not being too bad a run.  (Free 561.45)

afternoon - 11 Mall/GS.  Wasn't sure if I would get much more than the Mall with the team, but slowly worked some kinks out and just enjoyed and nice easy run with the boys.  Then extended up Green Springs and Molly's Mile.  (F50 22)

afternoon - 9 Quail Canal Trail/Dirt Miles.  Took the team (at least those that aren't wimps) over to Quail to run on a trail I spotted out there a few weeks ago.  The trail is pretty awesome, but it is only 2.5 miles long (loop).  So we ran it twice.  Then I went home and ran some with the dog up onto the Dirt Mile course.  Was able to stretch it out to 9 miles by dinner time.  (NB 110 -9)

I like Trail Thursdays, but the following improvements need to be made: better organization for rides and leaving the school (it took us clear until 3:40 to be running, when it only took 10 minutes to drive over there), I need to run in the morning so that I can get the mileage I need on Thursday.

afternoon - 13.5 Fields.  Ran out with the boys and then a bit further (toward Warner Valley).  Tried a little bit of a push on the way back and got a few miles of Tinman Tempo in.  But just don't feel fast at all.  Molly's Mile.  (Stratus grey 900.35)

AM - 21 Little Black Mtn.  2 Loops with Clyde and Quasi.  Cold at the start, but up at the top was much warmer.  First lap was chill in the dark and nice to chat a bit.  Then Clyde took off going after a record.  Logan was going with him, but then held back with me for about 3 miles as I was breathing and working much too hard for a 6:00 minute pace.  Eventually he continued on, but it was enough to help me get through it.  I actually averaged just over 6 for the 2nd loop (1:02:50), but was cough up a lung.  Good run and good extended tempo; maybe someday I will have some legs, because I sure didn't today.  It was hard running.  Molly's Mile.  (NB 101 375.75)

Week was more down than up.  Even though the mileage was fine the runs were tiring and mostly ugly.

Goals for next week: another 100 week, get feeling a little stronger.