On This Day I Can Run...So I Will!

I was very surprised at my times this morning.  I ran Rosewick Rd which has a nice hill.  The road is flat until the beginning of mile 2, then it starts a 1/2 mile decline and a 1/4 mile incline.  Once I got to the top and finished my second mile, I turned around and ran back which meant 1/4 decline and 1/2 incline, then last mile flat.  

AP: 9:31  Splits:  9:37, 9:26,  9:41, 9:19.

The only reason I can credit for the good run is the oatmeal cookies I had at 12:30am because I couldn't sleep :) 

Or maybe I'm excited because my buddy is coming to visit. 

Went fishing yesterday.  

Today I woke up late and decided to head out anyway to get in what I could.  After 1st half mile my watch went dead and the humidity started it's slow grip of death on me.  I decided to head home after about 2 miles and do some strength training in the a/c.  

Tomorrow I am spinning in the morning then trying another evening run with a friend.

Now I'm off to a meeting. 

Went spinning this morning and planned an evening run with my friend.  

When evening rolled around, so did the thunderstorms.  Looks like this week is going to be my "easy" week in my training.  I'm good with that.

I am going to be super rested for my long run on Saturday! 

Had a great run with my buddy. We ran the rail  trail and the weather was beautiful.  It was nice having someone to talk to and pass the time.  I didn't even notice parts of the run that I struggle with when I'm on my own.

AP: 9:47

QP always keeps me laughing.  She is the only one I know who can find road kill on a bike path.   

Ran 5 miles through my hood today.  It was hazy, hot, and humid but a great start for my week.  My goal is 5 again tomorrow.

AP:  9:50 

Went to the gym to do my run on the treadmill.  Went to the 1st treadmill, hung my magazine, put my water bottle in the holder, hung my towel, plugged in my headphones, started the machine...then I realized the belt was broken.  So I gathered all my stuff (only 3 out of 20 treadmills are available) moved to another treadmill in a different row.  I hung my magazine, put my water bottle in the holder, hung my towel, etc, etc, ... when I pushed the buttons to start nothing happened.  The machine was completely dead.  Soooo, I moved to the last available machine.  This time I tested it before hanging up my magazine, etc. etc.  Success!  It was my lucky day.  

Time flew by as I read my magazine (Literacy Centers for 3rd Grade), and watched "Kardachians" ( I really tried not to watch it but got sucked in).   

My goal for tomorrow is 5 miles and some strength and core training. 

Tired this morning so I only squeezed out 3 miles.  I didn't do any strength training either.  I couldn't think of any good excuses other than I just didn't feel like it!

Tomorrow I will spin in the morning and try an evening run again. 

Had an aggressive spinning class today.  It was great!

Thunderstorms rolled in again this evening and cancelled my evening run with my friend.  We are going to try again next thursday. 

I couldn't find a good pace this morning.  I set out with the goal of running 10-12 miles.  After mile 3, I decided to make this a fartlek run instead of a long run.

 It felt great to just sprint as fast as I could.  I felt like I was in high school again, running the 50 yard dash.  My sprints were short and followed with a short walk but even with walking I managed to keep my AP at 9:56.  

It was humid but overcast and not as hot.  Great day! 

Back to work today so I was up before the sun (unusual for me).  My body protested as I started my run and seemed to never completely loosen up.  My left leg is bothering me a little.  I don't know why.  

AP: 10:29  (Slower than I like but tomorrow will be better) 

Pouring rain this morning so I ran on the treadmill at the gym.  Hardly anyone there at 5:30am so I had not trouble getting a machine.  I chatted with some of the friendly regulars who asked me where I've been (I haven't been there this early since May because I haven't been working).  I started working this week so it's back to early morning runs.  

My AP was 9:50.  I did some ab work also (something I've been neglecting).  

Looking forward to spinning tomorrow and will try evening run with a friend (again).  

I dragged myself out of bed and went to spinning class.  I'm always glad I did, once I'm done.  

I met my friend for an evening run.  I told her to meet me at the park near the bathrooms.  I was a little early so I ran around the parking lot to warm up.  Time went by and she was about 10 minutes late so I decided to run around a different parking lot and there she was running around waiting for me.  She parked near the Jiffy Johns thinking they were the bathrooms we were supposed to meet at.  We laughed and got started on our run.

We decided to run the shaded loop around the park.  It is an all terrain run from soft pine needles to gravel then to roots and winding between trees.  It was nice to run through the shade.  Saw a huge ground hog (alive, sorry QP).  He ran across our path.  

I did better than my last evening run when I had to stop every mile and walk a bit.  This time I stopped to cool down a little after 2 miles then kept going.  I felt like I was going to boil over because I was soooo hot.  I am used to running in the morning so in the evening, my body says, "what do you think you're doing.  We don't work out like this in the evening, we should be resting".  I expect next thursday to be even better.

AP: 10:09  ( a lot slower than I like but I'm overall satisfied considering the terrain and time of day) 

Beautiful run on the Rail Trail.  Saw twin fawns run across the trail and some wild turkeys too.  Lots of people out today which I like because of safety concerns.  The trail is very secluded during the week so I avoid it except on busy days like Saturdays. 

AP:  9:54.

Had to walk a little at mile 10 and give myself a pep talk on how I can finish strong in order to keep my time under 10 min mile.  Must have worked! 

 I couldn't decide whether I wanted to run outside or at the gym.  I decided to run at the gym since I didn't hydrate much yesterday and I could have my water handy on the treadmill.  I went to get in the car and the car wouldn't start, soooo I ran outside and I was glad I did.  

I ran in the hood with the temperature about 72 degrees.  Beautiful morning.

AP: 9:51               split:  10:37, 9:56, 9:35, 9:14 

Late, tired, hungry...need I say more?

Today was hardly worth logging.  Will get myself together for tomorrow morning.   

God must know I need sleep.  I slept through my alarm for 20 minutes this morning.  

I tried doing some fartlek so I wouldn't be late for work.

AP: 9:40 

Went spinning this morning.  It was a tough class but a good start to a busy day.

I am getting better at my evening runs.  I accidentally said, "good morning" to another runner instead of "good evening".  He must have thought I was delirious or something (I know I probably looked it).  

AP: 9:36

split:  9:58, 9:45, 9:38, 9:02 

Rail Trail again today.  I promised myself that next week I will find a new place for my long run. 

AP: 9:57

10:14, 9:46, 9:33, 9:20, 9:41, 9:33, 9:42, 9:57, 10:07, 10:09, 10:41, 10:46.

You can tell I was running out of steam near the end.  I wonder if it has anything to do with the Nutty Coconut ice-cream I had before bed?   

AP:  10:17

10:43, 10:16, 10:12, 9:56.

Off to work I go!! 

Ran 3 slow, sleepy miles.  I've decided it's because I'm adjusting to a new work schedule.  I am going to try to go faster tomorrow.  (Trash day today....stinky)