Running in Life's Slow Lane

No miles again today. I awoke to the sounds of heavy rains and they soaked us for a few hours. I'll gladly trade a day of running for soaking rain in mid-July.

Today's splits ---
11:42
11:33
10:36
03:12 (11:22/mi pace)
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3.28 mi -- 11:17/mi avg pace -- 424 cal

Avg HR:  138 bpm (73%)
Max HR: 159 bpm (84%)

Wonderful run this morning. So glad to get back home and run alongside Teresa in the gorgeous light of the Oklahoma dawn. Humidity was not a problem and sweating was not nearly the issue that it was in Virginia last week. Even the dead skunk and the catfish remains tossed along the county road didn't detract from the general ease I felt today.

I did carry along a drink container today. They had a cheap one at Wal-Mart with a curve in it small enough to fit my hand. It holds about 20oz which should be more than enough to get me through the workouts. Today I drank from it during the first 1.5 miles then chucked it onto the grass before we started out on the county roads. That seemed to work well.

Looking forward to tomorrow's 4 mile workout. Still trying to creep my miles back up to 30+ miles per week.

Location: Lawton, Oklahoma - Where the Gods wave in each drifting leaf.

Today's splits ---
11:24
11:06
11:01
09:33 (10:33/mi pace)
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3.91 mi -- 11:02/mi avg pace -- 516 cal

Tried to keep a lively pace this morning though I didn't have my iPod to help out. Found myself around the 11ish pace for the most part, occasionally dipping as long as the 10:30 range. Pushed myself during the last 0.5 mile to get around the 9:40 mark.

I think I need new insoles for my "junk" shoes that I wear when doing work at the theater or in the garage. I've noticed that the last few days or standing about on the concrete at the theater have left my feet sore and tired. This whole concept of paying attention to my feet is still new to me.

Gorgeous day out there. Humidity is fairly high for this time of year. Probably because of a sizeable storm set out to our west in NW Texas. Hopefully that rain will come our way later today.

Having fits trying to decide what our race schedule will be for Aug and Sep.

Location: Lawton, Oklahoma

No miles today. I awoke to steady drenching rains and while I tried to wait them out, I eventually had to give up and get some work done.

Today's splits -----
11:18
11:53
11:26
11:09
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4.0 mi -- 11:27/mi avg pace -- 518 cal

Late getting started this morning so a bit hotter than usual and with very little wind blowing from the south. I had to take a break at 2.25 mi at the end of the neighborhood run as I seemed to be overheating a bit. Probably due to the fact that what little wind was blowing wasn't getting through the houses. Once I hit the county roads I was able to start running again and it appears I picked up the pace a bit as well.

We've definitely reached that time in the growing cycle when most of the flowers are gone and all the plants are focused on seed production. Definitely starting to see seed heads on the taller grasses. A lot greener than usual for this point in July though.

Location: Lawton, Oklahoma

Today' splits ---
(Not available)
----------------------------
3.3 mi -- 11:20/mi avg pace -- 445 calories

I forgot to charge up the Garmin after yesterday's run. Since I knew that the bridge over Nine Mile Creek was a bit further than a 3 mile round trip I ran that route. MapMyRun.com puts the distance at 3.3 miles.

Another beautiful day. Not so many Tyrannids flying about today. Instead there were plenty of my other favorites: the Mimids. For some time the number of skunks has outpaced the number of snakes in the roadkill. Definitely seems as though there is more than one way to mark the change in seasons.

Location: Lawton, Oklahom

Today's splits ---
11:26
11:17
11:01
04:33 (10:45/mi pace)
-------------------------------
3.42 mi -- 11:11/mi avg pace -- 455 cal

Tough run to finish. After we made the turn at Nine Mile Creek I was feeling like I could go a full 4 miles today. That was, until I got halfway up the hill and the sun seems to be shining about 10 ft from the right side of my face. Wow, it felt miserable. The legs held out though and I was able to keep improving my pace all the way home. Good run.

Another gorgeous morning though the bird population seemed a bit decreased along the fence and power lines.

Location: Lawton, Oklahoma