Winning Back What I Lost

1145AM:  Back to the grind after a week off.  Well, it wasn't really a week off per se because I was hauling around an 80lb backpack up and down the Frank Church Wilderness most of last week.  Ran 5.38M during lunchtime w/ temp around 90 degrees.  Overall pace was right @ current MP.  It's been a long time since I've gone for a lunchtime run b/c the temps and direct sunlight are just too much for me this time of year.  I had to bite the bullett though b/c I didn't get up this morning for my usual early morning run due to some GI problems in the middle of the night.  No problems during the run so I'm hoping that it was just all the b-day cake I ate yesterday. 

9PM:  5.41 easy miles in a gale force wind; temp was around 90 degrees when I left the house w/ a howling wind in my face; I thought the skies would open up but they never did; got into a real nice pace in the last mile where I felt that my breathing was under control and my legs and arms were synchronized; the ultimate goal is to fall into that rhythm much earlier in my runs and repeat it day in and day out.

645AM: 4.7 slow miles; legs were sore this morning and I didn't loosen up until mile 3; I'm sure it will take a week or so before my body gets used to the late evening and early morning schedule again; looking forward to a massage during my lunch hour today to work out the kinks left over from a week of backpacking.

930PM: 5.75 easy miles w/ an incredible electrical storm on the western horizon; got a full body massage this afternoon and my legs felt real heavy and stiff; fell of the wagon w/ more leftover b-day cake and some candy; I really need to get strict w/ my diet and start fueling correctly; I'm 75% sure that I'll run the Kuna Days 5k this Saturday; it's a small race on a flat course so I'm confident I can run faster than I did this past spring and possibly come in under 21 min.

1020PM: 6.88 easy miles in the wind and light drizzle; Legs starting to feel better but my left and ankle and foot are swollen; I think I twisted somehow but I'm not sure when or how; I slept in this morning so I was hoping to get a 10 miler in this evening; my plans were dashed once my wife decided to make an evening grocery run; I'm still on pace for my 60 mile week though if I get in a longer run of somewhere around 15M on Saturday.

830PM: Easy run on a cool evening; temp in the 60's which is unheard of for this time of year; it rained off and on all day today which is another rarity for August in Boise; took me a while but I settled into a nice easy pace around mile 5 or 6 and had enough for a good kick of sub 8 the last 1.5M; my legs are getting lighter again two days after the massage; it usually takes at least a week before they return to full strength.

645AM:  Morning came early; I really didn't wanna run this morning but this is exactly when I NEED to run the most; the light rain didn't make it easier but the cool temps did; I'm a little confused by what month it is because I've never seen weather like this in August in Boise.....ever.  4.4M easy.

9PM: 5.55M easy. Ran to Albertson's on Overland and Five Mile to get a couple of Redbox DVD's; Looks like I'll be running the 5k w/ a couple of HS kids from my ward; they're both on the MVHS Cross Country team (Sophs) and should do quite well based on the times posted for the 2008 Kuna Days 5k. 

Drove down the road just south of Meridian to Kuna, Idaho.  I haven't done any speed work in months so I was interested to see how I'd do.  The course was more difficult than I thought and .12 miles long.  The first couple of miles were rolling along the Boise River then slightly uphill.  I started off right on my goal pace of 6:54 but quickly faded w/ 7:22, 7:14 & 7:10(.22).  I passed a couple of people, including one younger fella in the last mile and wasn't passed by any other runner.  Speaking of "getting chicked"- I was passed by the female winner in the first 3/4M.  Somehow I maintained my dignity and was able to fend off any feeling of embarrassment. [/read the discussion board for more context]

5PM: Biked 4M w/ the kids this afternoon; I pulled my 3yo and 5yo in the carrier so it was a decent strength workout.