Seeking a better country...

Another week begins with a 7 mile run, very slow.    Rt. calf is locked up from Saturday, rt. knee tendonitis as well.  I don't regard either of these as very serious, just noting them in case they don't go away.  I really should go after the calf with a tennis ball, but I resist for some reason. 

So the series 10k is Saturday in Ogden, and I need to have a total run of 18.  On a scale of 1-10, how important is it that the 18 miles be run continuously?  

As a part of the marvelous holiday, I took the girls to the CROWDED rec center.  It's an okay place to visit, but I'm glad I don't live there.

Biggest Loser progression run.  I was lazy and increased in .2 mph increments.  I made it to 7:11 pace by the end, so that was okay.  The only bad thing was getting such a late start; we were busy with kid commitments till 9:30.  It's hard to wind down and get to sleep after a run; luckily my son was working on scholarship applications and definitely needed some help and input.  It's a good thing for the last minute, or nothing would get done.  Oh yeah, post-run I did some planks and such. 

New crocs for $10 at a podiatrist office.  It is nice to have them back.  Other than that, this run was pretty blah.  Afterward, I was sneaking a chocolate shake around so I didn't have to make 6 more and run out of ice cream.  I was stunned at the temperature, and felt very sheepish that the run took place inside instead of out in the warm wind.  Oh yeah, a couple more planks.  2:30 and 2:00 after the run.  I perspired more in the 2.5 minute plank than in the 57 minute run.    

My feet feel really hot.  Another 7, quite uninspired miles.  I warmed up, did three or 2 at 7:30 pace, and loafed the rest.  I'm trying to work out a plan for the weekend.  One of the neighbor boys suddenly decided to work on an Eagle project, so I have to push the long run to Sunday.  I'll still be racing, but racing only.  This isn't my preference, but it'll have to do this week.  I'm already dreading the 18 miler the day after a hard 10k.  Oh well.  If I don't beat myself up too much, it should be helpful.

Jack sat in his excer-saucer for 5 miles, and we watched Big Bang Theory.  Then he got mad, but was content to sit on the rug for the remaining mile.  I got to work by 11 a.m., but since I'm working for free at this point, who really cares?  

I fell asleep last night around 9:30, so it wasn't surprising when I started waking up in the 4's.  My alarm was set for 6:30, so I stayed in bed sleeping off and on until then.  Only one nightmare visitor to crowd the bed.  I had a single bowl of oatmeal.  Spencer and I got to the race in time for a brief warmup.  I thought I'd like more than a little, since it's been taking me 4-5 miles to feel like I'm going lately.  I got almost 2.  I saw Tara just before the start; she had a killer's eye.  She asked me my goal, which was modest; stay under a 7 minute pace.  The siren sounded, and we were off.  Immediately I rebelled against the pace.  People were passing me left and right while I faded in mile 1.  Oh well.  I needed some hard tempo miles for this week, and I was going to get them.  After an initial hill, the first 1/2 of this race is downhill or flat.  At the turnaround I was at 20:20, and the fun was over.  We were headwinding all the way back, and had to climb back up the hills we dashed down.  I passed 7 or 8 people in the second half, including a brief walk after the steepest up. (I can't believe I walked.  I felt like I broke the code.  Someone needs to revoke my runner card)  My breathing was horrible.  I had been following a lady the whole race, and thought, "I might catch her.  She's got to be feeling about as lousy as me."  We arrived at the final downhill, and I couldn't close on her, but when we turned into the parking lot, I found a little more, and caught up.  She probably chipped me anyway, but this is a series, so all the seconds count.  After the 5k, I'm 8 seconds out of first place for my age; I hope I made up some time.

Splits:  6:45, 6:18, 6:41, 7:00, 7:45, 7:14.  .2 was around 45 seconds.  

Spencer came in under 48, which was great.  I had to rush home to help with an Eagle project, so no cooldown.  18 miles tomorrow.  Dread.

This was 2 minutes faster than last year, another good harbinger.  (this may be the only time "harbinger" appears on the blog)