Where's the Donuts?

Much prettier morning than expected, who can listen to these weathermen anymore? Sun came up, a little chill but not cold, and a nice view from both Warren Ave. and Manette bridges. I added a little loop up Highland Ave. and around the Dicks Government Center, then home on Shore Drive and up the short trail. 44:05

supernova glide red -- 77

I didn't run this morning because my day began at 1 a.m., in a crazy experience that I've never had before. The details and links are below. I did get out for an evening run on an erie, windy and rainy August evening. It felt like October, so I guess it's fall. There was no one outside, it was odd.

Out to Tracyton boat launch and back, then some additional loops on Shore Drive to get 11 miles. Just above 7/min pace for the run, a little left hip tightness again around 9 miles. I think I'm going to try and get a massage before TOU, see if that helps this. I don't think it's structural, but more some inflamed tissue or something around the hip. Otherwise felt good, and I'm on a good track for my last heavy week of training. 78:00

supernova glide red

This isn't the crazy story, but worth noting: About 1/2 mile from home a pit bull came sprinting at me. Not a great feeling. I braced myself, but the guy just wanted to play. Now, it's an incredibly powerful and athletic and energetic dog wanting to play, but he was nice. I calmed him down once I figured he wasn't looking to clamp down on a forearm. No tags, but I thought maybe I knew where he lived. So I got him to run with me, and he loved it. We raced around Jacobson for awhile, in that uneven pace that dogs love. Nice dog. Buuut, the woman I thought was his owner wasn't, and I had no clue where he belonged. So I might have stolen someone's dog. Or saved a lost dog, you could say it that way. The woman, who has a fence and a leash, took him off my hands and said she'd walk him around the neighborhood to see if anyone was looking for him.

Now the crazy story: I woke up at 1 a.m. last night to my neighbor banging on my window, which is a bad sign. He yells "fire" and I think it's my house, but it's actually the two homes behind my yard and through a tree stand. Huge orange glow back there, these houses went quick. Pretty scary, though everyone got out. I was up until about three writing a story for our website, so that's why I didn't wake early to run. Plus I wanted to go back to the fire site in the morning. Here's the full story: http://tinyurl.com/34po9s

Big workout day. Back to the BHS track for Yasso 800s, follow up on the workout two weeks ago. Nice night, got up into the 70s today and the sunset was brilliant with orange and pink clouds. The Olympic College XC team, in its first year after a decade hiatus or so, was out there too. I talked to a guy I knew who is on the team, and then blew their ladder workout out of the water. (I was humble enough to not say it, but show it.) 

1.5 mile warm-up, then started in with the 800s. 200m rest on each (between 60 and 75 seconds each time), and no break this week like the last time around. Started too quickly, but I had a bunch of young runners to impress, right? Turned out ok.

2:45, 2:47, 2:50, 2:52, 2:53, 2:50, 2:52, 2:56, 2:57, 2:55, 2:55, 2:55, 2:59, 3:00

I had lost it by the last two, not enough fuel and it was getting late after a fairly stressful workday. But I loved it, and what an encouraging improvement off the last time out. Faster almost across the board, and I upped the number and cut the rest time between intervals and still felt strong. I was also really consistent on the first 200m for each, hit 43 seconds on the button almost every time. Another half mile cool down, then home. 1:13:26

supernova glide red -- 99

Rainy morning for Blackberry Fest, just like last year. It was really going two hours before race time, but slowed to a mist for the run. And it was warm, so actually not bad running weather. 

Henry was in town visiting, so he joined me for the 2-mile warm-up to downtown. Real small field this year, no one I recognized. Olympic High had their team out, and I figured that's the only people I'd race against. We warmed up another mile with one loop of the course. I really just wanted to better my 5k time from earlier this year, which was pretty realistic.

I figured the high school kids would race ahead, but apparently someone had taught them pacing. So I took over about 400m into it, and led the first mile in 5:27. A guy passed me right there and I stuck with him, which was good because it kept the pace up. I stayed within 5-10 yards for the second lap of downtown and we hit mile 2 in 5:39. We played the surge game for the last loop, me catching up to within a few feet then him stretching it out. With 600m or so left I thought I had a chance to take him, and went after it on the downhill. There's a tight corner there and it was slick so I ran cautiously, and he took off strong out of it the turn. I held close but couldn't get the turnover to make up the few quick steps I needed, and he pulled away a few steps through the chute. 6:01 for the 1.1, and he beat me by three seconds. 17:07 for me overall. Good race, better than last year's time by a minute and dropped 14 seconds from my other 5k this year.

Two mile cool down home, now it's time for breakfast.

adidas OneZero -- 8