Of Mice and Marathons

AM: 6.5 miles, averaged 10:03. HR 129.

PM: 6.7 miles, averaged 9:45. HR 133.

Solid recovery runs. Decent weather. Sunny and highs in the 50s. My mom is flying in tomorrow. The boys are very excited. I think the first time she has been back since August 2022 when she came with my Dad.

Lunch: 60'+ on the trainer. 234W. HR 137.

Decently hilly route, particularly at the end. The boys were still napping so I was going to go longer, but I decided the idea of a short nap myself was in order. Nice littler 30'er.

Picked Mom up at the airport with the boys. 

PM: 8 miles, averaged 8:06. HR 146.

Decent bit of rain but I was dressed just right and I enjoyed it. Megan got the boys down and we hung out with my Mom for a bit. Megan leaves for a conference in Spokane early tomorrow morning.

Week 1 Day 3 of 100 Pushup Challenge: 11, 15, 9, 9, 13

AM: 7.8 miles, averaged 144.

PM: 7.8 miles, averged 8:18. HR 146.

PM: 7.4 miles, averaged 8:59. 

The boys' friend and her parents came over early for pizza.

Off.

Not sure why I didn't run, but Mom and I went to get Crumbl cookies. She was invited to read at the boys school, which was a pretty cool and the boys were exciting and confused. 

Off.

Took mom to the airport. Did workout as I was exhausted and Megan wasn't getting home until very late. 

Didn't eat too much, put the boys to bed and drank too much. Megan came home around. This day began a period of increasingly worsening mental health. I kind of worked through it somewhat on Sunday, thought I was fine. 

Off.

Mental health day. Megan got home early in the morning.

Stayed home Monday as I usually do while the boys were in school and Megan was at work. I was quite tired so the boys had a lot of TV and I rested in the chair.

Off.

Off.

Back home and doing much better. Looking forward to running tomorrow. 

PM: 20' on the trainer. 142W. HR 136. 

Couldn't focus. No energy and just wasn't having it. Glad I at least tried something.

Off. 

I don't recall, but I figured I would just take it off.

PM: 60' on the trainer. 195W. HR 153.

HR elevated but coming around.

PM: 7.4 miles, averaged 9:30. HR 157.

Insanely nice weather for April. Sunny and 73ish. The boys went in their kiddie pool in fact. Run was therapeutic but challenging even at a slow pace, but it was good/necessary. 

This will be known as The Day of Turning on the Fountains. The boys and I went to the park and the fountain service was there and I figured out the process of turning on the subdivision fountains. I thought they were testing water quality or something until I saw the rowboat on the top of the truck. It was fun to watch the process and the boys got to see the fountains turn on. They were excited for that. One of those weirdly memorable moments that you cannot really explain (far less to do with the fountains than being together).

AM: 4.4 miles, averaged 10:13. HR 141.

Got some work done and did a short run. Beautiful weather again. Polly Ann was closed just after Waldon, so I rerouted. Lots of road construction. I am hoping whatever they are doing on our road does not increase speeds near our subdivision. 

PM: 60' on the trainer. 211W. HR 146.

AM: 60' on the trainer. 201W. HR 137.

Got up at 5:00, which was tough especially since it was the first night in about 7-8 nights I have felt like I actually was sleeping. But it set the day nicely. Except I should have been more patient with the boys in the afternoon. Charlie smashed Sawyer in the face with kid's fishing pole, which wasn't as bad as it first looked. Should have spent more time outside with them today. 

PM: 7.7 miles, averaged 8:26. HR 152.

Beautiful evening for a run. Warm, but must have been very dry because it almost felt cool.

AM: 60' on the trainer. 217W. HR 137. 

Numbers seem to have more or less normalized. 

PM: 7.8 miles, averaged 8:24. HR 146.

Running numbers seem to have more or less normalized. Cloudy and moody sky but very pleasant after the heavy rains.

I had a good day with the boys. Megan had something on campus so I took them for most of the day. This is typically my work day, but regular classes are out, so it worked just fine. Sawyer seems to really be focusing on building different things, more so than he usually does and I think the praise is pissing Charlie (often the recipent of praise) off. 

AM: 7.6 miles, averaged 8:31. HR 147.

PM: 60' on the trainer. 211W. HR 137. 

Pretty good day. I was home by myself for a good deal of it. Got a bit of work done. Took the boys to the grocery stores after picking them up after school. It was tough to be patient with them as they were into everything, but I did my best. Challenging time of year.

AM: 60' on the trainer. 216W. HR 133.

PM: 7.3 miles, averaged 8:54. HR 145.

Quite windy. Quite annoying, but it was fairly sunny. We've been blessed with overall excellent spring weather. Worked with the boys on their bikes a bit and rode mine to corral them and for visibility. We went to the neighborhood park. They didn't want to ride home (it's 1/8th of a mile). Sawyer ran off down the road. I yelled. A car was coming, but stopped. Even in the neighborhood I do not trust cars. 

AM: 90' on the trainer. 211W. HR 127.

Got up around 5:20. I tried quite seriously to stay in bed, but I got up and got rolling before the boys got up, which I always enjoy. Always need to get ahead of them.

100 Pushup Challenge (Restart): Week 1 Day 1: 10, 12, 7, 7, 9

PM: 8 miles, averaged 8:12. HR 148.

Solid run. Decently steady easy the last few miles. Weather was chilly but very runnerly.

AM/Lunch: 1:45 on the trainer. 243W. HR 145.

Wave Tempo (SS/Tempo)

Tried to get up at a decent hour to get a longer ride in so I had some time to work in the morning, but it didn't happen. My body said "sleep!" so I did as Megan was up with the boys. Decided to do something a bit steadier as it has been a bit. This one always works well. I will try to extend this back out to 2 hours or more of the workout portion as I think I am racing a 66-mile gravel race in 7 weeks and I want a good showing after the crap show at that race last year. The boys played in the basement with Megan while I was grinding it out. Felt quite solid.

282W (156 BPM)/247W (151 BPM)

285W (161)/248W (152 BPM)

PM: 4.7 miles, averaged 9:40. HR 131.

Good afternoon with the boys. We played outside and helped me to replace some downspout extensions. Sawyer was uncharacteristically helpful. 

AM: 7.3 miles, averaged 8:49. HR 140.

100 Push Up Challenge Week 1 Day 2: 10, 12, 8, 8, 12

PM: 60' on the trainer. 218W. HR 133.

Got some of the rest of the year planned out for running races, which has me excited. I might jump into a 5k or 10k or two this summer (just winging it to test the fitness) with the aim to run a halfway decent half time (I really need to get back under 80') in September and to run a 50k at the end of November. The same race I pulled out of in 2019. I have been trying to do an ultra since I moved to Michigan and I think I have been signed up for at least two since early 2017. Let's see if this sticks. It has me motivated. I have been motivated, but I need something a little more than just getting fitness back and trying to bring my half marathon times back down. 

I think I should update my running calandar on the blog, which I don't think I have done in years.

AM: 60' on the trainer. 207W. HR 128.

Got up early to get ahead of the boys. Long day with them but an overall good one. Tried to work a bit without completely ignoring them. We went to the mall, which is always an adventure.

PM: 7.6 miles, averaged 8:35. HR 136.

The clouds cleared as I headed north. Felt pretty decent and like I might have some pace in the second half but my legs were content to run aroun 8:20-8:40 pace. I felt a crap coming on the last two miles, so I slowed considerably. That kind of ruined my run along with the multidirectional headwind, but glad to get this in late.

Grading is coming along, but it is going to be challenging as we are headed to Toledo early in the day Saturday and won't be back until Sunday late afternoon. Megan has a race on Sunday. The race is usally the previous weekend. 

AM: 90' on the trainer. 211. HR 132. 

PM: 7.6 miles, averaged 8:37. HR 140.

Better run than yesterday. Legs didn't want to move too much, but ran very organically and progressed nicely. Skies cleared just before I went out, so I did see the sun. 

AM: 7.6 miles, averaged 8:40. HR 140.

PM: 60' on the trainer. 215. HR 134.

Week 1 Day 2 of 100 Pushup Challenge: 10, 12, 8, 8, 12 

AM: 90' on the trainer. 216W. HR 131. 

Group ride at 6:00. Needed to get to bed earlier, but it is hard with the semester ending. Trying to reprogram myself so that getting up at between 5:30-6:30 isn't super painful. Just need to get to bed around 10:00-10:30, which will be easier onece the semester ends.

Down about 12 lbs from this time last year. Getting closer to my fighting weight all the time. I think I can do some damage on the bike and running with another 6 lbs or so, but I am going to try to be more patient with workign that off.

PM: 12.3 miles, averaged 8:38. HR 144.

Ran to Orion Oaks and did a lap and a half. Not sure why I don't run there more. Nice easy effort with some steadier miles once my legs woke up. 

A rather indulgent day of exercise, but that is pretty normal closing out a semester. 

AM: 60' on the trainer. 211W. HR 124.

PM: 4.6 miles averaged 9:56. HR 124.

Megan had graduation in the morning but I was supposed to be with the boys anyway. Got up early to make sure I got in an horu of aerohic activity. Had a little time before leaving for Toledo, so I did a 45' recovery run. 

We went to the Glass City expo to pick up Megan's bib for the half. Glad I am not running as it is humid and supposed to be 60-70 degrees. Had a good dinner at her Uncle's. That's the first time I have been sober there in the 14 years we have been together and that I have been going there. No small feat with a full bar, plenty of wine, and some beer. It actually wasn't that hard.

PM: 60' on the trainer. 196W. HR 120.

Megan ran 1:59:30 in the half, which I thought was great given warm humid conditions. Sawyer slept until almost 8:15 as they were up late playing with their cousins and went to bed around 10:00. Having been somewhat used to getting up early I was up around 7:30 and Charlie poked his head up (he needed more sleep for sure, but was too excited to). 

Went to see Megan's parents. The boys found the facility gym, so that is a new source of entertainment. Jumped on the trainer when we got home. 

I submitted grades around 8:30 or 9:00 I think, so pretty good overall!

AM: 60' on the trainer. 210W. HR 123.

Resting HR was 37, which I haven't see in some time.

PM: 7.6 miles, averaged 8:34. HR 148.

Dropped the boys off at school and attened our department spring conference. It was nice to see people. It has been 5 years since I have attended in person! It was great to actually think about my teaching and exchange ideas. Went for a run in the early afternoon when I got home and picked the boys up.

Started my summer reading. I haven't been reading many books the last few years. I ordered four new ones. Excited to focus on something. I have read a few books here and there or done and audio book, but not a lot of sustained time. It's time to get back to that. 

I guess this mean I am officially on summer break. 

AM: 60'+ on the trainer. 219W. HR 127.

PM: 7.6 miles, averaged 8:00. HR 148. 

20' Steady

First workout since maybe the end of March, so a light one to get back rolling. Quite warm, but breezy and dry. A gift really for the last day in April. Averaged 6:50 @ 166 BPM. Picked it up a good bit in the last 3-5' as I was averaging abot 6:55 for most of the faster interval. I think the last mile was around 6:36-6:38, but that was a notification from my Garmin after the run, I don't really have splits. 

A lot of work to do for my half marathon in a month, but I am just seeing what I can do in that time without killing myself by pushing too hard training for it. It will give me a sense of fitness and just kind of adjust training for the direction for September and the rest of fall. I am down 8-10 lbs from November so I am hoping that will make a difference. I really do not want to run slower than I ran in November.