Trying to improve my running

January 02, 2026

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Location:

Tucson,AZ,United States

Member Since:

Nov 05, 2011

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

-5K 21:05 TWS 5K 11/16/2013

-10K 45:57 5/2013

-Half: (split from 2nd half of SGM 2013) 1:39:40

-Marathon (2013 SGM) 3:26:07 Official chip time 3:29:30 (had to take a 0.75 mile detour to get my watch).

-Survived Speedgoat 50K 2013 (Time 9:59:51)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Attempting to complete half ironman triathlon.  I've done a decent amount of running but not much else for a while.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Stay healthy and happy.

Run everyday forever.

Personal:

married with kids trying to inspire the family to be healthy and active daily.

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
New Balance 1210 #3 Lifetime Miles: 117.56
Saucony Kinvara 4 Lifetime Miles: 259.66
Vertical Feet 2015 Lifetime Miles: 909.00
Off Road 2015 Lifetime Miles: 7.50
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
5.004.539.53

1st run (5.63 miles)

Ran up wade road again today for the morning run. I went further today than usual trying to get 5 miles in, as I had more time before going to work. I guess the whole road had an average grade of 1.8%, it was 1.54 miles long  and gained 150 ft of elevation. My time for the road was 13:32, average pace 8:47/mile.

There were several steeper parts. The first hill that I run regularly is 3.6% only 0.21 miles, I did it in 1:49 (pace 8:39). One section of the road that felt pretty hard to me turned out to be 2.3% grade and 0.97 miles. I did it in 8:35 (8:51/mile). That section include the steeper hill. The second somewhat steeper portion was 0.63 miles also 2.3% grade. I did it in 5:35 (8:52/mile).

Overall the first mile was warm up the next 1.64 miles were uphill then back down for 1.64 and mostly flat for the last mile.  Here are my splits: 8:44, 8:46, 8:42, 8:04, 8:21, and 8:28.

2nd run (3.9 miles)

I did 2 runs today to try and prepare my body to run for the relay next month. My 2nd run was also a run I have done several times. the first half is on roads and the second half is on trails it is a great run. I also did about a mile around the neighborhood "warm-up" chasing my kids on their bikes (I didn't time this). The first mile I went out faster than I meant too it is really flat and I guess I didn't notice how fst I was going it turned out to be an 8:11 pace. the 1st mile ends right at the pavement and I turned up hill, kind of gradual at first but steepening quickly at about 1/3 mile. The steep part of the hill is about 0.31 miles long and gains 151 ft (9.2% grade), it is also a trail and has quite a few rocks and looks like they don't want people to go up that way anymore b/c they have now planted a bunch of cacti and debris in the trail. I ignored it. Today this steep part took me 3:40 to get up (average pace 11:49/mile) I had to rest a couple of seconds in the middle. This is a great improvement from last time 1/11 I did it in 13:03/mile.

So on this run the 2nd mile has the big hill and the 3rd mile is on the trail and a ton of rocks going down from the big hill. The last mile is on the roads again. I was kind of surprised at how much slower my pace is on the trail than on roads. If I am going to do the trail 1/2 marathon I guess I better train more trails. Here are my splits: 8:11, 10:20, 9:37 and 8:25

Merrell Barefoot Miles: 5.63
Weight: 212.00
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