They all can't be "easy" runs.

10.2 miles. Legacy Trail. 1:20:43. 7:55 pace. And more importantly, Dad is coming home from the hospital tonight.

Back in the groove at the Ringling Bridge.

5.2 miles. 38:11. 7:21 pace.

Had another "race" with shirtless backwards-visor dude over the bridge. He was faster than me on the flat parts, but not on the climb, or the descent. Some day I will inform him that he has been racing me, or not. 

Amazing scenery today. Fog rolled in while I was running at sunset. As I was going up the bridge, I could see below me a flock of pelicans coast by, with their bellies inches above the water, and then "vanish" into the fog. Whoa! Awesome piles of awesomeness!

It was a bit crowded out there because 1. resolutions, and 2. people TAKING PICTURES OF THE FOG! Ringling School of Art kids with cameras on tripods. In their defense, it was that cool. I hope some of the pictures they took can do it justice. Anyway, I have become much more adept at dodging pedestrians over the last 8 months. 

This run will be tough to beat tomorrow.  The scenery, I mean. The running was tough, with the humidity, and I was kind of plodding along. But there was some killer stuff to look at. At one point, it looked like the fog "ate" half of the bridge. Amazing!

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 35:44. 7:46 pace.

.75 mile warm-up. 8 miles in 1:05:23. 8:10 pace. .75 mile cool down.

I was trying something new this morning. It did not work well. Apparently, the less information I have about how I'm doing while running, the better. Usually, I go out, start my watch, and run, and I don't look at my watch again until I finish. Sometimes I look at halfway. For example, I ran my first marathon without a watch! So for the most part, I don't know how I'm doing while running. So, I've been looking at some folks on here, who could tell you what their 4th mile split was, etc. and I thought I should try that. So I mapped out a run that I could figure out my mile splits. Long story short- this gave me analysis paralysis.

12.9 miles. Legacy Trail. 1:45:09. 8:09 pace.

5.8 miles. Ringling Bridge. 41:41. 7:11 pace. There were a lot of fast people out there last night. (New competition!)

5.5 miles. Hood route. 42:24. 7:42 pace. I put my folks' Christmas stuff in the attic, and then went out. Not as long as I wanted to go because of the very late start, but the pace felt pretty good. Then I caught up on sleep.

I'm thinking that I will revise my short term running goals after my next race. I can't see past Baton Rouge right now. 

Also, January 9 marks 2 years of racing. It's one of those weird anniversaries that only I care about. It has got me thinking about what I used to think was possible, and how that has changed. I look at the (chubby?) guy in these pictures, and try to recall what was going through his head:

http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event_video.asp?EVENTID=74488&BIB=10461&S=230&PWD

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. I accidently double clicked my stopwatch, so no time today. felt slow, though.

5.2 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 39:38. 7:37 pace. Great sunset. Cotton Candy Pink clouds. I saw a kid catching a fish, with his dad racing over to help him. Shirtless backwards visor dude was running without a visor. I don't know how I fared against him today. We were going in opposite directions. Also, I saw a very old man running up the bridge. We gave each other thumbs up. That would be cool to be out there pushing it like that guy some day. 10 days to race day. Every little ache in my legs is causing panic. Taking tomorrow off. I'm shooting for 16.25 Saturday, under 8 minute miles. Sunday is still a little up in the air. 

16.25 miles. Legacy Trail. 2:14:33. 8:17 pace. Not as fast as I wanted, but it felt very smooth today. I didn't have to push hard to finish, and there were no alarming pains. Since I ran before sunrise, there were no amazing wildlife sightings. The stars were very clear, though. I have some ideas for what type of run I should have tomorrow ( week before race day), but I'm still undecided.

9.5 miles Hood route. 1:14:11. 7:48 pace. Interesting run. I passed a woman riding a horse. So, I thought to myself "I'm faster than a horse!" This now extends the list of things I have passed while running to: Trucks (going up a bridge pulling a crane), Bicycles (same bridge), Boats (in a no wake zone), the Wind (a sailboat on a calm day), and now a Horse.

Later, an older woman riding her bike followed me for over a mile. I didn't know she was there for the first 3/4 mile of it. then I heard this voice come up from behind me. It was like Fran Drescher, but with a Wisconsin accent. She said "Criminy! You keep running like that, and you'll live forever!" She scared the snot out of me. I later yelled across the street to her, after she told me how long she was behind me, "SORRY I HAVE BEEN SO GASSY!" (Yes, I yelled that across a 60' right of way.)  We yelled back and forth across the street for a while. She said "I hope you win your race!"

Son #2 has a fever. I'm staying home with him today. Spouse will be home with him tomorrow. Come on kid! Get better!

5.5 miles. 42:24. 7:42 pace. Hood route.

Okay, the whole family now has the flu besides me. I am now changing my goal for this weekend's race to "getting to Louisiana."  

4.6 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 33:17. 7:14 pace. 

I intended to go much slower, but then I got this stuck in my head

http://youtu.be/c-mH29_0CoY

and faster paces than expected happened.

The good news is I guess I'm still not sick. I just need to stay healthy for 4 more days!

No run tonight. I had to work late. Next update will be after race day.

Have a good weekend, all. 

I finally got the flu last night at 9:30. 15 hours from leaving for the race. I coughed, and I just knew it was over."Dissapointed" does not cover this feeling. I haven't really been sick in years. I was due, but the timing sure does stink. This race was not meant to be.

This experience does make me realize how cool Spouse is. If she felt like this all week, and the kids felt like this all week, and she was STILL telling me to go to the race, she is one supportive wife!

4.6 Miles. Ringling Bridge. 37:52. 8:14 pace. 

1st run back. Still sick, but no fever. Stopped 10-12 times for coughing fits.

Shoes felt weirdly large, like my feet have shrunk? 

Tomorrow will be better.  

2 mile coughing fit, interruted by occasional running.

5.5 miles. home course. 42:42. 7:46 pace. Not much coughing WHILE running. As soon as the running stopped, I started hacking until there was bloodshot eyes and fear.

Long story short, I'm not going to be ready for a marathon for a while.

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 36:38. 7:58 pace.

Meh. I'll take it. I had to stop 2X for cough fits. 

I'm taking tomorrow off from running.  

Part of the reason I didn't run 1/29/13: 

http://youtu.be/O_rtlchIm8E

Get off my sidewalk, people! 

At 10 seconds into this video, there is a pretty good shot of the Ringling Bridge that I run @ 3 times per week. 

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 35:08.7:38 pace.

No high wire acts today. Kind of windy. Only 1 coughing fit (or 0.52 Lung Butter miles). I'm starting to finally come out of this flu, I think. Also, I think the running helps a bit. 

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 33:58. 7:23 pace. 

Some coughing, but I didn't have to stop.  

Song stuck in my head for the run: http://youtu.be/ADMPoimDXt0