I just felt like running

Tue, Dec 02, 2008

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100

I made it a little further before I stopped in disgust at the pain in my ankle. Now its got me wondering if I have a stress fracture. No running tomorrow. and ice tonight.

Mon, Dec 01, 2008

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Went out for a lunch run and my right ankle complained big time. I doesn't feel like a strain but who knows. Its fairly high on the inside of my ankle.

Sun, Nov 30, 2008

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Early morning long run on the Rocket City Marathon course. Felt good. The mile markers are very easy to see (painted on the road) so I did 4 test miles to see if I could hone in on marathon pace by feel. I undershot in all cases. 6:45/mile is my target and I did 6:40, 6:17, 6:24, 6:25. I was shooting for comfortably hard so I feel good that this was faster than I need to run. Maybe my target is too low. At the end of my run, my right ankle started to hurt. Remnants from the Dizzy Fifties last weekend.

Fri, Nov 28, 2008

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Fueled by a big thanksging meal and one lunch of leftovers, i had alot of spring in my step today. Did several extended pushes at a little better than 5K pace.

Thu, Nov 27, 2008

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

I once ran the Atlanta Marathon on thanksgiving morning and remembered the great appetite I worked up. This wasn't in that ball park but it was a great run. The weather has turned warm (60F) and sunny with a little breeze. Pushed Elliott at Wilson Morgan park while listening to music. Got 7 laps in. My son was very content and slept most of the way. I didn't think at all about pace.

Tue, Nov 25, 2008

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

My normal tuesday after a long race recovery jog. This week i probably could have run on monday but by tuesday I was pretty much pain free. Good to get out and stretch my legs.

Sat, Nov 22, 2008

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

It was a cold morning - 24F- so I decided to sleep in a little before the race. My thought was why hang out at the race start shivering for an hour before the race when I can hit the snooze in a warm soft bed. I left a little after 5:30am for the 7am start. I needed caffeine so I stopped at the Huntsville 5 points Hardees and got a sausage biscuit. As I drove the 5 miles up to Monte Sano State Park a bad feeling crept into my head. "I don't think the race starts at 7am!" I pushed the accelerator as s snaked up the curvy road. I pulled into the parking lot at 6:29 and glanced up the road to see 100 runners getting their pre-race briefing and then the race started (right on time- 6:30am). I scrambed to tie my shoes, take off my sweatshirt, get my water bottle (empty), and then run the 100 yards to the start line were John Nevels got my race number. Then I ran back to my car and struggled with cold fingers to get the number ...

Mon, Nov 17, 2008

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

One thing I claim to be good at is tapering. I do it to excess sometimes.

all I wanted to do today was to get out and clear my head and warm up my legs enough for a good stretch.

dizzy fifities (50k trail) on Saturday

Sat, Nov 15, 2008

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Chilly and windy day. Had quite a bit of rain last night. I scrapped plans for running the trails at MonteSano out of self preservation. I'll have 50K on the trails over there next weekend (Dizzy Fifties) so I'll leave the head first falls and sprained ankles for then. Instead , I ran from home over to point mallard and then did the out and back on the hiking trail there. There was a big youth soccer tournament going on. Lots of excited kids and cold parents. I felt good. No calve soreness.

Thu, Nov 13, 2008

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

took the day off. Calves still tight.

Wed, Nov 12, 2008

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Easy run on the trails at work. Calves tight from yesterday.

Tue, Nov 11, 2008

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Got an early start to work (5:10am). Felt good. I had a famous Big Bob Gibson pork potato the night before with some of their beans. Well fueled. Listened to a couple Prarie Home Companions and some ESPN talk radio. Got to work in 1:14 (about average) 7:45 pace for 9.5 miles. A light drizzle started us as I was badging in through the gate.

My last return run was a bad bonk so I made an effort to fuel correctly. Started with a quart of soy milk flavored with Nesquik (of course). Chocolate clif bar. Piece of Red Velvet Cake (Dennis's birthday, thanks to Sidney for bringing the cake). 2 cans ravioli (1000 cal). Chocolate chip clif var (thanks Sidney) an hour before my run. Lots of coffee and water too.

I started out of the gate toward home fast and didn't let up. Without the Garmin, I ended up running faster than I would have. I just let my music and how I felt dictate the pace. ...

Mon, Nov 10, 2008

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Trail run at work. Felt good with a lot of spring my step. Took it easy though as I'm doing the commute on foot again tomorrow. listened to two hilarious songs from the Forgetting Sarah Marshall soundtrack and then to some great French horn concertos (Strauss #1 and Mozart #1). I played Horn for 6 yrs in Jr and Sr high. I never could play the Strauss but its my favorite of the two. once that was done, I followed it with some Moby and Jimmy Eat World. Kind of an odd playlist.

Sun, Nov 09, 2008

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Ran from home to the 3M River City Run course (10K). Ran the course and then came back home for 2hrs of yardwork. Took it pretty easy. My quads were sore from yesterday.

Sat, Nov 08, 2008

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

I put a unique handicap on myself during this race. I was given the opportunity to compete as the Nesquik Bunny My mom was visiting from Wisconsin and put together a nice Smilebox slide show of the event (click link). It was great fun. Lots of people wanted pictures, kids followed me around, my daughter and nieces were thrilled. It made for a unique day for many people which makes me happy.

The costume was built really well and they did the best they could to make it suitable for running. I was glad it was only around 50F because even with that it got hot. The head is pretty heavy so I'm expecting a sore neck by tomorrow although it feels ok. The whole costume slowed me down by 30 seconds per mile on average. My first mile was 6 minutes but the heat and the weight wore me down by the final mile. ...

Fri, Nov 07, 2008

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Cold and rainy at lunch so I ran on the treadmill at the fitness center. My running mix on the ipod actually makes treadmill running somewhat tolerable. Warmed up at 8:00/mile and finished at 6:35/mile. saved myself a little for tomorrow. I will be running a 5K dressed as a very famous chocolate milk celebrity. I'm glad it is supposed to be 40F at the start.

Thu, Nov 06, 2008

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Another easy day. Didn't feel particularly strong but it got better about half way through. Quite a warm day - 70's.

Wed, Nov 05, 2008

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Easy run on the trails at work. Didn't have a whole lot of time. Finished listening to a podcast of "Wait Wait Don't tell me." Funny.

Tue, Nov 04, 2008

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Commuting on foot to work.

I'm so pleased with the time change. Almost my entire morning run to work was in daylight. listened to the latest This American Life via podcast - the halloween edition. highlight was a very harrowing tale of a rural New Yorkers tussle with a rabid racoon. Eye opening. There was also a David Sedaris story about a medical examiners office which like most of his stuff is hilarious.

The chicken kill plant smelled especially disgusting this morning. I normally tolerate it well and have somewhat pleasant flashbacks to my childhood but this morning I was glad to be free of the stench.

1:20 on the first leg.

Will leave early from work (worked 12 yesterday) to be able to vote this evening. I'll be glued to CNN until the president is announced.

1:17 on the return trip. Got in to vote at 5pm. No line. Only 1 other voter in the polling place. ...

Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Ran easy on the trails as warmup. Did three 1/2 mile intervals at half marathon pace for mental preparation (75-90 seconds rest). Came in at 3:12-3:14. I'm shooting for 6:30 pace. The intervals felt good - not easy but more like a comfortably hard stride.

Sun, Nov 02, 2008

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Sunday afternoon run pushing Elliott in the stroller. Did the 3M River City Run course (www.rivercityrun.come) in reverse with some add-ons. Elliott slept most of the way. Nice day- around 70F.