Out Of Breath

I woke up this morning ,dropped off the kids at school and ate a small breakfast. A cool front is coming through this morning and there is a pretty stiff breeze out of the north.

It took forever to get warmed up this morning and the entire run I felt like BOTH my harmstrings were going to pull at any second.After a warm up my first mile was a 7:50. Stopped and stretched my hamy's but they seemed tighter after I got back going?? The next two miles were at a slower pace and the last was a 7:18.(yay me!!)

I'm still trying to drop some pounds. Current weight is 196. I ran a 5k in August at 205lb's and the time was 26:47 :(  I ran another 5k in September at 198lb's and the time was 24:39 :) Losing weight makes me feel like a different runner. It is amazing!

I did'nt run today because I have to go in to work tonight for a 12 hour shift. (6:00pm - 6:00am) I just took it easy and took several naps.I'll get back out tomorrow.

I came in from work this morning and slept until 10:30am, woke up and went and ate lunch with my wife at her lunch break.Came home and slept another 2 hours (because I have to work again tonight) and then went out for a run.

I jogged 1/2 a mile for a warm up and then did a 2.5 mile tempo run at a 8:25 pace. I had to keep reminding  myself  to slow down. Then I jogged another 1/2 mile or so for a cool down. I felt strong today, I think the rest day helped.

While I was leaving my house for the run I saw the Good Year Blimp flying over. Pretty cool I never saw that before!

Today after church I ran some intervals. I jogged a mile to get warmed up and then started off with 1/2 mile intervals.

1/2 - mile in 3:04 @ 6:08 pace.

1/2 - mile in 3:03 @ 6:06 pace

1/4 - mile in 1:25 @ 5:40 pace

1/4 - mile in 1:26 @ 5:44 pace

1/8 - mile in :45 @ 6:00 pace

1/8 - mile in :45@ 6:00 pace

 Pretty tough for me. I normally would run 3 sets but did not feel like I could hold out.

If you guys have not noticed....I'm not a talented runner. But I really enjoy it and work hard to reach my goals. Running helps me clear my head of all the problems that we all face. If running makes me healthier and helps me live a better life....what more could anyone ask for??

I got my new garmin in today and I had to try it out.

I ran my 5k course and beat my best time of 24:39 by 5 seconds.24:34 / 7:54 pace and the first 1/2 mile was a warm up at around a 9:00 / pace!!

I can't wait to learn how to use the garmin better.

Tonight I ran the loop in my neighborhood.

The first mile was 7:55/pace.

The second mile was a 7:54/pace.

The last mile was a 7:34/pace.

Negative splits in spite of not feeling that well. Had to push myself hard the last mile.

No run today. Sicker than a dog. Stomach flu???? Barely survived work.

No run again today. Still trying to recover from being sick. Very dehydrated from all the trips to the bathroom.

WARNING-- Do not leave a roasted chicken sub from Subway in your car for 5 hours in 82 degree weather and then put it in your refigirator and then reheat it and eat it the next day!!! DUH!!

Legs are very weak and mouth is like cotton. Will try to get out tomorrow and give it a try.

I finally felt like running today. I ran 4.37 miles at a easy pace to get back into the swing of things.

Mile - 1 - @ 9:41 / pace

MIle - 2 - @ 9:22 / pace

Mile - 3 - @ 8:42 / pace

Mile - 4 - @ 8:33 / pace

.37 mile- @  8:02 / pace

Leggs felt better towards the end , but still a little weak. Maybe everything will be alright by Oct.-18 for my next 5k.

Today I did 35 sec. hill repeats with down hill recovery's. I warmed up with a 1 mile jog.

1st- 5:30 / pace

2nd - 5:16 / pace

3rd - 5:18 / pace

4th - 5:29 / pace

5th - 5:35 / pace - Getting very tired , hard to recover!!

Did a cool down and now I'm going to get some rest for work tonight.

I slept today until 12:00 pm. (worked last night) I ate a small lunch and went out for a run. Wonderful day to be out. I'm trying to increase my mileage and today was a good day to start. I ran 5 miles starting off easy and then slowly increasing the pace. The first mile was a 9:24/pace and the last was a 8:32/pace. Legs were a little sore from the hill work  yesterday but after I warmed up everything was ok.

Once again I had to work last night so I woke up at 11:30 am. I ate lunch and went out for my run. (5.20 miles) Here are the splits.

9:27 / 9:04 / 8:52 / 8:22 / 7:57

It was cloudy and cool today, Another great day to be out on the road.

I took vacation from work tonight because today is my 24th wedding anniversary!!!! We are going out tonight!

This morning I tried to get out early because it is suppose to get warm today.

I ran 4.80 miles in 38:35 / 8:02 pace. I picked up a running friend this morning. A 12 inch tall little brown dog. He followed right behind me for 3 miles and then he saw another dog in a yard that he liked better than me. (I guess) Pretty good morning.

I ran a easy 6 miles this afternoon while my oldest daughter and wife followed me on their bicycles. We met an elderly lady walking and she said that I had 2 very pretty trainers.(very nice)

I was surprised that I felt strong at the end. My last 1/4 mile was at a 7:15 pace. Nice afternoon.

Today I ran the Liz Hurley 5k in Huntsville Al. The morning was pretty cool but felt good to me.(low 50's) I ran a 1 mile warm up. I set my garmin pace alert at 7:45 to try to keep me from starting to fast and getting tired at the start.

The race started and I could'nt hold back. The first 1/2 mile was at a 6:55. Slowed down a little and still felt good.The first mile was a 7:28.

The second mile had a few small hills but nothing to bad. I was still feeling good but I was thinking about the hills in the third mile that Eric S. had told me about.The second mile was 7:45.

The third mile was just as decribed, quite a few hills. None of them were very long but they were pretty steep and they really took their tole on me. I finally made it to the down hill side of the course which happens to be the last 1/2 mile of the race. I should have pushed harder but I was content with my NEW PR 23:55!!!! My garmin showed  3.12 miles at a 23:47- 7:38 / pace. Officially it was 23:55. My weight for this race was 193, down from 205.

Mile 1-7:28 , Mile 2 -7:45 , Mile 3 -7:47 , Mile .12 -6:38

Nice easy run after church. It was a cool and sunny afternoon.Felt great to get out and enjoy the weather.

I ran 1/4 mile intervals today. I ran 2.57 for a warm up and then started. I would run the 1/4 and then jogg back the same for a recover. Here are the splits...5:54 , 5:47 , 5:31 , 5:46.

Jogged back home for the cool down.

I woke up this morning and carried the kids to school and went for a run. My legs are a little sore from the intervals yesterday but I figured that everything would be ok after I got warmed up.

The air was a little nippy as I started but soon I was just fine and sweating. I could feel the soreness in my legs and hips the entire run and it was difficult at times to maintain a good pace. Tomorrow will be a rest day because I am working tonight.

Today I went out for a afternoon run at 12:30pm. I tried to increase the pace every mile and felt pretty good accept for the cool wind in my face. Probably about 15mph and gust up to 30 mph. I dont like the wind!! 5.29 miles / 8:38 pace.  Here are the splits...9:11 , 8:52 , 8:39 , 8:30 , 8:16 , 7:41.                                                                                                        When I got home my day turned bad. My wife called me from work and said that my teenage daughter had called her from school and said that a female student had taken her own life at the school. When I picked up my daughters from school and we got home we had a long talk about problems that we face and that they could come to us at any time  no matter what the subject. Please pray for this family and communicate with your childeren!!

After the events at my daughters school yesterday I needed a good run to clear my head.

It was a little cool but the run did me some good and my legs felt good. It seems that these longer runs are helping me.

Seven miles is the most that I've done in a while.The last 2 miles were 7:44 & 7:43/pace.

I finally got a day off from work and went for a afternoon run. It was cool/cold and windy.

The run started with a head wind and my shoes felt like they weighed 10lbs.each. I was having a hard time getting into the run and mentally I was just not into it.

At 2.5 miles I made a turn and finally got a tail wind and started to increase my pace. I started feeling good and wanted to finish strong.The run ended well and I'm really starting to feel like I am getting faster.(its about time!!) Here are the splits.

8:56 , 8:49 , 8:13 , 7:31 , and the last .33 was 6:32

Tomorrow I will do at least 7 miles.

Today I went for a long afternoon  run. The weather was clear with a light wind. My legs felt pretty good. I think that I am ready for my next 5k race Saturday.