Where's the Donuts?

And I'm back. Almost two full weeks of no running. Nothing was hurt from the marathon, in fact I could have been back out the Tuesday following, but I decided a physical and mental break would be healthy. I rode my bike a few times, took some walks, but other than that off my feet. Didn't really even think about running much. I started to itch this week though, and headed down to meet the Slugs this morning. Good to be back, even though I was pretty sluggish. I ran alone for 1.5 or so, then ran into some other guys headed back on the route. I joined them and stepped up the pace (we ran a 7:05 mile), then went to breakfast. I ran about 3, more or less. 25 minutes.

I'll slowly work back into a routine now on the treadmill. There's a Turkey Trot 5k in two weeks I'll do with the club (need to defend my raffle win of a frozen turkey from last year), then I plan to keep the mileage easy through the end of the year. No more races until Nookachamps in January, at least I don't think so.

Although it's not the end of the year, it kind of feels like the end of the running season. So I compared 2008 to 2007. I improved considerably on my mileage and quality of running, and was able to run some times I'm proud of. I've already run 350 more miles at this point than all of 2007 (1,143 to 793), and had seven months of over 100 miles, compared to just one in 2007. I feel good about that, and encouraged to build on that standard in 2009.

supernova red -- 46

Four miles on the YMCA loop, which I hadn't run in months. Big uphill to start that one, then you cruise back down. Even running slowly I can feel the time off, and a few joints are a bit creaky, maybe from the marathon. It's warm and damp outside today, and almost totally silent. I saw maybe two cars, two other people. Felt pretty good, but back into a rhythm will feel much better. 31:13

 supernova red -- 50

Three on the treadmill at the YMCA, eight-minute pace. My hamstrings are really tight and sore after a few days back, I suspect that's leftover from the marathon. With the cramping they were pretty beat up. Tough to get back in the mindset of running indoors, but at least there are NFL highlights to watch on Mondays. 25:00. 

supernova red -- 53 

Morning treadmill run at the Y. Felt pretty good today, my legs were more fresh and loose than they've felt since getting back into it, and I worked the pace down to 7:40 for most of the run. Finally, a little pep. 

supernova red --  56.5

Shore Dr.-11th, the short loop. Nice morning out, cloudy but in the 50s, and dry for a change. I'm still working out some kinks I think are leftover from the marathon. My stride has loosened up and feels comfortable but I have little aches in my hips, so I tried to stretch more afterward. Fitness feels alright despite not having run much lately, but the real easy pace helps. I'll go a little further tomorrow in Port Orchard. 25:06.

Morning run with the Slugs on Beach Drive. Mike was going 12 so I met him on his way back in and did 6. Although I'm still a little achy in the right hip, my legs and fitness are coming around a bit more everyday. I ran two-plus miles at 7:15 pace that felt relaxed and easy, then did one frisky mile at 6:45. It transitioned so smoothly I almost didn't notice the quicker pace. I slowed down for a few hundred meters until meeting Mike, then picked up to his pace and did a 6:35, 6:50 and 6:55 coming in. Then we ran easy for 1/4. Felt really strong on those faster miles, so I haven't totally lost it for the winter. Next Saturday I'll try to run 18 minutes at the Turkey Trot 5k, it should be within reason if the weather is alright (like today, for example, really nice fall day). Last year it poured the whole race. 45:25.

supernova red -- 66

Four on the YMCA treadmill. Real tight muscles afterward, which was odd. Usually that happens after a few days of pounding the machine. 31:00. 

supernova red -- 70 

Turkey Trot at the Bangor Naval Base in Silverdale, I did this one last year also. A few guys from the Slug Club were heading out also, so it was a team thing. I had an off week because I've been at work a lot and running other errands that have kept me up late, but I figured I could still do alright.

Better weather than a year ago, when it poured, and we had cloudy skies and 50 degrees or something. 200 runners there, but the competition wasn't as good as last year, I could tell at the start. Other than the Central Kitsap High XC team, I didn't recognize anyone from other local races.

I started out with two other guys, let the high school kids take off and set a pace. 5:44 for the first mile, which has two short downhill stretches, and then I left the two guys with me. I was a little conservative on mile 2, figuring I'd make sure I could finish strong. It continued downhill then started to head back up as you near the 2-mile marker. A guy from the Slugs caught me there, and I hit 2 with a 6:10. I was a little lazy on 3, I have to admit. Me and Henry got talking, we still had a decent pace but he usually doesn't stick with me, and I should have known I was slowing to stay with him. Back up the first hill and I started to push a bit because I could see two of the XC runners. I started to make a move on them but then hit the bigger hill and lost some momentum. I caught one of them on the track at the finish with about 75m to go, and he pulled away, then he slowed and I caught him again with 10m or so. But I couldn't quite get around and finished on his shoulder. I took 5th, and first for my age group. Time was about the same as a year ago, so I would have liked to have been 10-15 seconds faster (plus that would have given me 3rd place).

But oh well, it was still fun and I did enjoy running with Henry for that mile and pushing him. He was pretty excited with how he ran. Didn't win a turkey in the post-race raffle, that was the only real disappointment. 

One mile warmup and one mile cool down. My legs felt good afterward, I still have some hip stiffness that's hanging around.

supernova red -- 75

Lazy Sunday afternoon, I went over to the Y and ran around the indoor track for about 20 minutes, then shot baskets for another half an hour. I'll call it three. I have a funny pain behind my left knee from the race, like that muscle is strained or tired. It didn't hurt while running, but when I cool down it stiffens up and bothers me walking around the house. Felt better after stretching. 

supernova red -- 77 

The annual Slug Club Thanksgiving run was today. Everybody, and about 20 or so who don't usually show (friends and family) meet at the Starbucks in Silverdale at 8 a.m. Then we head out as a pack to the Clear Creek Trail and run for 45 minutes or so. I ran with a few different people, running really easy so we could chat and catch up. Then everybody sits around and drinks a cup of coffee, and we all go on our way. It was great. 45 minutes or so to cover the distance, pretty slow at the start but a few of us stretched it out to a better pace by the end. Been awhile since I've been on that trail, it is a really nice example of a wooded urban path. Now it's time to eat, hope everyone on the blog is doing the same. Happy Thanksgivings all around.

supernova red --  82

Seasonably warm morning down on Beach Drive, 7 a.m. and no need for gloves. Some people even had shorts on. Me and Mike went 6, ranged from 7:30 pace down to 7:00 eventually. Pretty relaxed, though we had a good pace going. Everything feels healthy, probably helps to run these really light weeks right now. 45:50.

supernova red -- 88