Seeking a better country...

Jack came with.  The sunshine tricked me into thinking it was warm enough to bring him.  It wasn't.  He kept taking his gloves off.  "Uh-oh!!"  Then I would put them back on.  Seconds later, "Uh-oh!!"  This happened around 2 dozen times, so it was hard to get any consistent rhythm...which was fine, because lately I like stopping and taking a little break every half mile or so.

'Twas another brighter day than usual.  Enough snow has melted that I could roll up a few of the Christmas lights.  I waited till peak warmth at mid-day to run.  After fixing the girls' bikes, they bailed and said they didn't want to come with me.  So I ran alone to Freedom Hills Park.  When the switchback trail beckoned, I couldn't refuse.  Halfway up, the wet trail gave way to slippy, snowy trail.  Still, I continued on, slipping all over the place, running through the weeks at the very edge where the snow had melted.  Repeated the cycle three times.  Ugh.  Between the snow and my current fitness level, getting to the top was a threshold-type activity.  I could have used a drink; alas, it will be 2 months before the drinking water is available.  I ran home.

In the evening we went couch shopping.  I bring this up because 18 months ago I ran a first place finish at a 5k in Fruit heights.  The prize was a $20 gift certificate to Crown Burger in Layton.  I finally redeemed it.  The shake was great. 

I rolled over 300 on the tm with this run.  My wife and kids do a little bit of running on it, but I estimate I'm responsible for 80% of the mileage.  I tried to run my headache away.  Instead, I turned it up an order of magnitude.  It's weird how a run can take things either way.  I wonder depending on what...

5+ of the miles were under 8 minute pace, but not by much.  Glad to get them in, though.   

I guess this week 8 is the new 6.2.

After 5 miles in the 7-7.6 range, I did 2 @ 8, then cooled down for 1.  Jens joined me to watch the fire truck show.  (Chicago Fire)  When he was 2, we were hooked on 3rd Watch.  He would nap late in the afternoon, so he was always up with us at night.  Our tv was in a windowless basement room, so while we were down with Jens bouncing off the walls, throwing balls, wrestling, etc, the other kids were sleeping 2 flights up.   Now he's 15, wants to drive all the time, and doesn't bounce off walls, but crashes through them.  

Anyway, it was a funny juxtaposition of memories.  13 years is a long time.  I am becoming old. 

2 pm  My son had tennis lesson at Lagoon.  While he smacked balls around, I ran down to Parrish Lane and back via Legacy.  Tailwind for 5, then a stiff breeze coming back.  My wife's waffles are very light, even so, the eight I ate to fuel this run didn't feel so good.

Skiing on Friday was a blast.  My calves are sore, by which I mean my lower legs.  I don't own any livestock. 

Bye bye, Gina.  I'm not sorry to see you go.

 This Monday edition of the TM 10k was tough.  I'm sick again, but the throat culture was negative.  I was hoping for 2 lines so I could get anitbiotics and feel fine by Wednesday.  Instead, my immune system has to duke it out with yet another bug. 

Jack was up, so I rearranged all the couches so the TM was blocked off so he couldn't get a floor burn.  Jens wanted to watch Biggest Loser, which was good, cuz Jack is such a good climber, he was teetering on the edge trying to leap into my arms while I'm running.  We all survived, though.  That kid is so cute. 

I got to bed so early last night that I woke up with enough time for a 5-spot before work.  The slow miles are trying to get faster.  

Lately I'm watching FNL.  When I can do six miles in an episode, I'll be ready for marathon training.  I'm having second thoughts about Skyline Trail Marathon.  It's gonna get hot... 

Group run, Saturday 7:30 a.m. @ Pages Lane Trailhead of LPT.  10ish miles, easy pace.  Come one, come all.  There's a lot of roadkill, and the dump is taking on a lovely stank. 

Freedom Hills Loop, hard return.  

After work I got right back out on the road.  I ran straight up the hill to where the pavement ends; then walked up the steepest part.  I pushed pretty hard for 1/2 of this run, which isn't typical of late.  It felt good, getting reacquainted with hard breathing and burning legs.

4 days ago, I was walking around this area with the little girls.  There was water, puddles, rivulets and snow in abundance.  Today it was bone dry, aside from the most sheltered northern exposures.  

Around Mile 3, I ran into Kevin Smith.  He was in a 4 wheeler, staging some firewood for a scout camp out tomorrow.   I saw a couple with a dog walking/running.  I guess I was walk/running too.

The switchbacks are dry. 

Good run with allie and Tara.  Everything allie said accurately characterizes the morning's events.  Super fast pace, though.  I didn't have my garmin but we must have been cranking out like, 5:45 miles.

I ran to the post office for some nickel stamps.  When I came back, Tami handed me Jack and some dum-dums to take on a run.  I guess she wanted to get some stuff done.  I put him in his coat and stroller and off we went.  Within .5 miles he was saying "All done!"  So I gave him a sucker.  4 miles, 3 dum-dums.  He really enjoyed the run/suckers.  In the last half mile he starting singing the nonsense song that 20 month old boys sing.  I don't know the words; he doesn't either, but it didn't stop him from singing.  I would have run more but I was running low on suckers, and my left knee was doing a bit of it's own singing.

 I'm a bit dumbfounded by Danni's hairstyle last night on the BL finale.  Whoever thought that was a good idea should have a termination notice on their desk this morning.  

Slow, sweaty miles on the TM.

Another lame TM 10k, but much better than nothing.  For the life of me, I can't remember which shoes I wore.  I still haven't ventured into barefoot TM running.  I would definitely debut that at the rec center before I brought it home...

5, nice and easy with Chad.  Cold and windy.

Good morning freezing cold run with Tara and AndyB.  Good chatting, good pace, good times...26 degrees when I got home, just in time to take my birthday girl to the egg dive at the rec center.  My baby girl is 7.

.5 incline, 2 @ 7 mph, 2 @ 7.5 mph then 4 @ 8.5 mph.  .5 cool down.  Afterward, I went straight for the strawberry ice cream with an oreo.  The workout felt great.  I'm feeling much stronger than last month; no surprise, the mileage is back to a somewhat respectable level.  I was so revved up I didn't go to bed till around 1.  I'm certainly dragging this morning.

Easy 5 in crocs.  I love not buying new shoes.  Let me restate.  My wallet loves not buying new shoes.  

This was a dead-eye imperative run; my wife ushered me out the door.  I stepped off the porch, and pushed start on my watch.  First mile was 6:50.  Then I kept going to the 10k turnaround.  I got there in 20:50.  So at least that's sub-7 pace.  I came home easier, but the tempo had been set, so my pace kept drifting up.

 I think two differences between being a runner and a jogger is a watch, and signing up for races.  I've done a lot of jogging this winter.   

First herding cats run of the year, with Anna, Ash and Jack in the stroller.  We made it to Freedom Hills.  Anna's power-legs took her halfway up Old Haul Road.  Ash pushed her bike the whole slope.  I ran the whole thing.  They played at the park for a bit, but the setting sun and stabbing mosquitos chased us home before they were ready to leave.  Recovery cheesecake afterward.

Sunday morning run, with two girls on bikes.  I asked Anna how far she wanted to go.  Her reply was 4 or 6.  "What about 5?  How about we run 5?"  She then explained, "If we run to a tree that is 2 miles away, then it's 2 miles to get home, so that's 4, Dad.  If we run to another place, let's say the creek, and it's 3 miles away, then we can't run home in 2 miles to get five, so that's six.  See?"  I said, "What if we run to a tree that is 2.5 miles away?"  "Well, that's four!"  We didn't run to a tree or creek, but to the park, which is two miles away.  They played on the swings while I did a couple loops, and we came home to hide eggs.  'Twas a beautiful morning.