I Probably Should Make My Blog Public again

7 easy miles in the heat, which wasn't as bad as Saturday. There was at least a nice breeze. I hate the areas of my run where there is limited shade. There is a 1 mile stretch that marks the edge of what we'd to be the base that makes ,e want to cry every time, and I run along this stretch for almost every route. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

I ran in the dark when it was a little cooler. I don't even remember much because I forgot to blog it, but I think I ran a different route than normal.

I ran in the late afternoon, so I tried a route that took me in more shade. I am bad at blogging.

Shoulders and arms right before bed.

Cooler and less humid today. I was off to a creaky start with a 9:33 first mile, and then decided to try a little pacing experiment. I tried to see if I could decrease my pace by 10 seconds every mile (leaving the 8th mile for cool down). I didn't do it exactly, and I think the hardest part was feeling always like I had to adjust my pace slower or faster depending on what my garmin said. If I ever try this again, I'll rely less on the watch. Splits were 9:33, 9:27, 9:14, 9:06, 8:56, 8:43 and 8:30. Then a 9:00 mile cool down.

Legs and back.

This guy was out at the Knights of Columbus yesterday. Weird. Charlotte did not like him very much. I don't watch Duck Dynasty, but he was very gracious in letting a whole bunch of strangers take pics with him. And he gave some autographs. Then later I ran a fast 3 miles in the dark. I don't love running in the later night, but I stuck to my neighborhood.

These miles were on the faster side. It was cooler and it was dark. Both those things tend to spur me to speed. 8:34 AP.

Just found out that my bro took second place in what he called the fat man's division (probably Clysdale) at a half last week. He ran it in 1:41, which is two minutes faster than the half we did together in April. I think that means my next year's goal will be sub 1:40.

3 treadmill miles after Monical's pizza. Glad I ran. Almost didn't. AP was 8:52.

Ran 9 this morning. Why? No particular reason.

It was pretty cool this morning, which is always awesome. I think it was in the 50s, but I'm just basing that on the fact the when I went to Champaign for an appointment, my car said 60 degrees. This allowed for a nice feeling 8:40 AP. my last mile was 8:05, and that felt pretty good.

5 easy miles in the dark again. It was beautifully cool.

A fast 4 miles before dinner. I stopped to talk to one of the nuns who was walking to the church when I passed by. I was glad I ran into her. I didn't even realize that I needed to talk to her until I saw her. Funny how that works. Anyway, after I talked to her, I forgot to hit the start button on my garmin and didn't realize it for a while. AP was about 8:20.

We had guest speakers at the school today. Both had been adopted in infancy and searched for their birth parents in adulthood (one at 30, the other at 35). One found out she was conceived through a violent rape; the other through a father's sexual abuse of his daughter. They made a powerful argument against the abortion "exception." I hope some hearts were swayed today.

Five miles after eating a chicken wrap at the Knights of Columbus.  It was warmer out today, but not too bad.  Pace was easy, but progressively faster. 

It was dark by the time I got home.  One thing I've noticed lately that's a little weird is that I don't particularly care for running in the dark when it's nice out, but during winter it doesn't bother me.  Maybe it's because I have no choice in the winter, or maybe it's the time (usually I run before dinner in the winter) or maybe it just seems darker when the trees have their leaves.  I don't know.  But the last few times I have had to run in the dark I feel hypersensitively alert.

Have this respiratory thing going on.  I know I've complained before about this cough I've had.  Since October.  Of 2011.  I am going to the doctor today.  Again.

Exhausted yesterday.  No run.  Went to bed early instead with my (clean) running clothes on as my pajamas (does anyone else do that?).  Set the alarm for 5 so I could get in a run today (I have to supervise a football game!  Yay!).  When the alarm went off, I got out of bed.  Then I got back in bed after seeing that it was raining.  Then I got out of bed again.  Then in bed one more time before I beat back the little voice in my head that said I didn't need to run. 

Believe it or not, this only took up 5 minutes.

Then I ran my 4 miles pretty slowly.  I used the run to clear my thought-sicles.

Still under the weather. I started off just saying i'd run 3 miles. Then I kept adding to it. I'm glad I got to 7, but I think I'll be knocked on my butt for the rest of the day.

6 fastish miles after school but before a volleyball game. AP was 8:13. 

4 leisurely miles in the dark. I scared a couple kids by loudly announcing myself as I was coming up on them. I have terrible sidewalk etiquette. I was trying not to scare them.

Nothing eventful about this run, other than the fact that I hate running country roads. I had to run almost in the ditch because one car didn't appear to see me unto the last possible second. Then he moved over.

It was nice out this morning. I always think it's strange when I am running in a tank top and shorts and there are people out walking in sweatpants and sweatshirts. I bet they think I'm strange.

My last mile was probably half marathon pace for me right now. Right around 7:45. It felt very good. Nice and comfortable, but I wouldn't consider it easy. I wish I had pressed the lap button at 6.5 so I knew exactly what the pace was, but I forgot.