running for my mind

5.5 miles

40:47

7:24 average pace

Ok, so I got some flack on Saturday for not updating my blog enough lately. It is true, I took some serious time off from detailed updates from the blog. But, I am committed to being back on more consistently. As many know, I took the time away from the blog to study for the bar. I am glad that is behind me and I never have to study for that thing again.

This morning I went out solo for an easy loop. I don't really know what I will be doing for any plan these next few months. My next major race is Boston, so I think I am just going to average around 4-5 days a week to maintain some decent fitness for now.

It was a brisk morning, but felt good in shorts and a long sleeve. I don't have specific split data because I am borrowing my mom's Garmin until mine arrives (my 610 fell off in my last marathon and broke so I ordered a new one). I know my first mile today was close to 8:00 but then I just felt like I needed some faster miles. I have not really pushed the pace at all since the BCC Marathon on 9/14. It felt good to have a little quicker turnover and the last 3 miles were around 6:55. Nothing too crazy, but a little quicker.

6

46:43

7:47 average pace

It was fun to get out on a run this morning with Adam and Scott. Both Brayden and Tyler were maybe going to join us as well, but they bailed. Would have been a good sized crew for a Tuesday morning.

I was super surprised to see 64 degrees on my phone when I woke up. Yesterday was only around 43. It is the warm before the storm I guess. It was good to run with Adam again. It has been a few months at least. We ran the typical 6 mile loop from my house with a slight modification north of Spring Ln. It brought back a lot of cold memories from last winter. I don't know if I am ready for early dark cold winter runs yet.

Overall, I felt good. My legs seemed a little slow at the beginning even though we started at a little slower than 8:00 min pace. I think I was a little fatigued from yesterday's quicker couple of miles. At about mile 5 I noticed my lower back was feeling pretty sore as well. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but I think I am going to focus on some core exercises to see if I can strengthen my back a bit.

I took this AM off from running. I slept in only about 30 minutes more than when I run and decided to do a little stretching for my back and neck that have been hurting lately. There is a disease that runs in my family called ankylosing spondylitis. It is likely the cause of much of my lower back pain. Thankfully, running is the one thing that I have found that makes it feel the best. Stretching helps as well and I am going to try a little strength training over the next couple months to see if that helps as well. I might get out for an evening short run but we shall see.

6 miles

44:40

7:27 average - mile 4 in 6:39

Was glad the rain had subsided by the time I went out at 6am. Met Tyler and Scott at my house and did a 6 mile loop. We had contemplated a little faster mile or so in the middle and we decided to toss that in at mile 4. It felt nice to clip along at that pace. I think next time I do this workout I will go for 2-4 at tempo. I am going to do a little interval day next week as well.

I still don't know what my plan is for the next couple of months before I start another training cycle in preparation for Boston. Going in to my last race, I averaged about a 7:45 pace on my "easy" runs. I think i might try and drop that down to 7:30 and see how that feels. I also think my plan of 4-5 days a week for the next couple of weeks is going to be good for me mentally. If anyone has some thoughts on how to spend the next two months of "off season" without losing too much fitness let me know. thanks.

My back felt pretty good on the run but it is definitely still sore. One of the triggers of inflamation for me is stress. I tend to live a pretty stress free life, but the weight of not having a job is starting to take a toll on me I think. It is constantly on my mind, even when I am running and it should be the furthest from my thoughts.

Took another morning off. Not because my back hurt, it actually feels better today than any other day this week. Whit flew to San Francisco yesterday morning so I have my daughter Grey. I am going to take her in the stroller tomorrow, but I just couldn't make it work this morning with time constraints.

I am going to go hiking with Grey this evening if the weather holds. Going to head up Neffs probably if anyone is interested.

10 miles 

1:25:56

8:36 average

AM - Met Scott and his daughter just after 8 and ran with Grey in her stroller. I would like someone to tell me exactly how much more difficult it is as far as effort goes when you are pushing a kid in a stroller. Especially when there is a headwind and you feel like you are pushing a parachute!

We obviously were planning on taking it easy, and I was actually pretty surprised with the average pace when we were done. There were some hills and a few windy sections that I felt like I was putting in quite an effort. 

After the run I hurried home and changed and went to a friends to help him move. I tossed Grey in the backpack and lifted boxes from a basement to a truck for two solid hours. I consider this my cross training for the month! Grey was a champion and didn't complain once the entire time. 

PM - Headed up to Summit County to my folks place and got in the hot tub before heading to bed. My parents' hot tub is a machine at massaging. I focused a lot on my back because it had been so sore at the start of the week.