Not There Yet - 3.5 Miles

3.5 miles run - 29:57.68 (8:34/mile)
1.1 miles walked
course: Briarcliffe

69°F | °C
Current: Partly Cloudy
Wind: SE at 12 mph
Humidity: 37%

finish
69°F | °C
Current: Cloudy
Wind: E at 12 mph
Humidity: 35%

Tonight was not too dissimilar in time from my gagging 3.1 mile treadmill run last week. That, though, was inside, with no hills, and slightly shorter. I'm reticent to compare too much, but both numbers show me that though I am becoming more fit, I've a long way to go. For the last several years at this time, I am in almost exactly the same spot. In fact, in 2009, I was simply faster.

I can't dwell on this. I just need more miles, more days, more focus.

Saw Brad Webb on his bike heading westward.

Pleasant Without the Valley Sunday - 6.1 Miles

6.10 miles run (55:58 - 9:10/mile)
0.36 miles walk
total: 6.46 miles

61°F | °C
Current: Partly Cloudy
Wind: NE at 14 mph
Humidity: 37%

finish
62°F | °C
Current: Partly Cloudy
Wind: NE at 13 mph
Humidity: 30%

course: Briarcliffe

The run went better than expected. Hardly speedy, but I felt a little wobbly today going out, and I know that treadmill speed can be deceiving. Just the same, the run was comfortable and :21/mile quicker than similar distances at Cardinal Fitness.

A few crackpot drivers chose to do rolling stops at stop signs, then didn't look. I actually had to yell at one driver to avoid being hit.

Nice weather for running and just about everything else. Corn-on-the-cob and grilled pork chops await on my deck along with a cold drink. Now you go do the same.

Slow Poking 5.5 Miles

5.50 miles
1.25 miles walk with incline
total: 6.75 miles
course: Cardinal Fitness

Pulse still high even though I had a decent sleep last night. Just the same, a decent gallop. So far, this is a much better month than last April. Looks very similar to April 2008, though my runs were generally faster then. So much depends on plunking my feet to the road and adding in the long runs.

I still need longer runs. Today's run is not that. A good workout, but what I need are 8-12 milers at least every two weeks. Once I get running outside, this will happen, but Chicago weather being fickle, and me hating the cold, haven't gotten the job done. 80 degrees, then low 30s, then mid-70s. With heavy rain in the middle. That was last week.

So there's my immediate goal: longer runs.

Fans Not Applauding - 6.61 Miles

6.61 miles run
1.12 miles walk

total: 7.73 miles
course: Cardinal Fitness

Hoped for longer run. Pulse was higher (187) than hoped at a slow pace, so I withdrew that hope. Only three hours of sleep last night, so I suspect that's the cause. 

Recovery good. Ate well. Legs are OK. I'll know better in the morning.

New strategy: run closer to the ceiling fan. My bandanna was drenched.

Gag Me With A Spoon: Reeking Woman on Treadmill One - 3.6 miles

3.60 miles (including 26:29/5K - 8:33/mile)
0.75 miles walk

total: 4.35 miles
course: Cardinal Fitness

Not long ago, I complained of old lady perfume. Today, a woman with the worst BO I have ever endured. And, she had gas. Bad. It was a toxic cocktail that caused me to briefly gag.

I chose the treadmill next to her because she looked like she intended to run for awhile. Preferably, I don't wind up to a machine in which walkers rotate in and out every mile, chattering all the time. I am a crabby, unsociable guy, you see. Good decision, I thought. I don't mind, really, that walkers are using the place, and am impressed when I see some regularly. Just a preference, that's all.

The reeking stench was more than I could handle, but the other treadmills were taken. My response was to run at the farthest part on the machine as I could. In this case, in the back, far right.

It just so happened that I decided I wanted, or needed, a time check. 5K season is approaching, and I wanted an idea of where I was. My workout as a result would be shorter.

The 5K part: Half mile warm up. I started faster than I could handle at 7:30 for the first mile. Dropped it to 9:31 for the nest mile. Popped it up to 8:00 for most of the rest, though I went somewhat faster the last 0.15 or so for fun.

I'm faster than a 26:39. I'll try again soon, but use a wiser pace.

You children of the 80s will know this one:

Frank Zappa - Valley Girl

Synergy is Beautiful

I love the synergy of a long run -- when my mind and body find a groove and pace and stride for a decent amount of time. No matter how crummy the previous day was, this helps clear out the junk in my head. Problems don't disappear, but it helps me see them more objectively.

These runs are all too rare, but coveted the way I coveted a good nap or a great steak.

I hope to see a few of these this summer.

First Outside Run - 3.5 Miles

3.5 miles run
0.360395291 miles walk

total: 3.86 miles

70°F | °C
Current: Mostly Cloudy
Wind: SE at 7 mph
Humidity: 36%

finish
67°F | °C
Current: Cloudy
Wind: E at 8 mph
Humidity: 42%

course: Briarcliffe

First outside run. Mild inclines, new course, humidity, squishy post-rain ground. No wind.

Briarcliffe, as a course, will likely refer to one of several, all starting on my street, a sort of main neighborhood drag. I've charted 3.5-10.3 mile routes.

Yesterday, I bowled. Lucky Strike. Had a few lucky strikes, but mostly, used muscles that haven't been involved in my life in some time. I have the corresponding next day ache to prove it. I carried that ache on my run.

Not sure how fast I ran. No watch on purpose. Needed to run clear of the digital truth.

Not a bad run. Tomorrow, something longer.

Treading In(stead of) Water - 6.50 miles

6.5 miles run (61:56 - 9:31/mile)
1.30 miles hard walk

total: 7.80 miles
course: Cardinal Fitness

Rainy morning here in Wheaton, IL.

Slowed it back down as I wanted to put in the miles without a major recovery issue. Tomorrow, as it is Easter, I might not have time to get out.

Took yesterday off. While I wanted to complete the last seven days with a run, my body said otherwise. Having run five of the seven days, I am pleased, but it is the next several weeks in succession I am concerned with. Run one good week, and what have I got? I'd rather run 20 mediocre weeks in a row.

Either way, for the last seven days including today, my mileage is 27.86 miles, the most since finishing 30.72 on August 26. That August I ran over 98 miles.

Busy day. Tonight, a family from Burkina Faso -- friends from church -- are coming by for dinner. A family of seven in our tiny abode. I'll grill chicken and we will introduce them to Easter egg coloring. This means I ran early, will hit the shower, swig some breakfast and coffee and begin to clean.

Weight Watching? Not So Much. 6.0 Miles

6.00 miles run
1.25 miles hard walk warm down

total: 7.25 miles
course: Cardinal Fitness

Longest run since January. Most miles in seven-day stretch since January as well. If I run tomorrow, that seven-day stretch will be something over 30 miles, meaning the most since August. We'll see tomorrow. More important is the regularity.

Ran 9:22s. Not especially fast, but faster than I had been going for my recent five milers. I'll hold it there a little while, then nick it to 9:13s.

My pulse was higher than I expected - as high as 187. Rotten sleep last night -- just 4.5 hours. It takes its toll. I also didn't eat before running, and it was close to noon when I got started. The good news is that both concerns are easily resolved.

My weight's unchanged, hovering round 137. It will drop with consistency.

The song of the day? The Numa Numa song, as I describe here in my personal blog.