On a roll!

Okay, everything being relative, I am on a roll. I've run 12 miles this week, including 4.4 today, and three days in a row. On the other hand, that means I'm averaging 4 miles a day, which is actually how I planned it (no, honestly!) Since prior to Tuesday, it had been 14 days since I last ran, I didn't want to immediately injure myself -- I thought I'd wait a week or two before I injured myself :-) Anyway, given that scenario, I wanted to run no more than 4 miles a day this week, but maybe a 6-8 miler this weekend. Since I'm averaging exactly 4 miles a day when I run (again, a total of three days this week), I'm on pace (get it?) to keep to my goal.

Hopefully, I'll be able to run again tomorrow.

Since I ran last night, and then again this morning, I was quite creaky this morning. It was tough to get out the door. Fortunately, because I was only doing a short distance, I didn't bother with eating or anything, I justed headed out the door. Which was good, as I didn't pause to think or anything. I also ran a relatively flat course and I carried my iPod. Plus, I kept the pace very slow -- not only was I creaky, but I really didn't want to injure myself.

Anyway, I'm glad I ran!

Two days in a row

Wow, I can't believe I ran two days in a row. Actually, closer to 36 hours apart, as I ran yesterday morning, but this evening. I hope to run tomorrow morning (sorta like a two-a-day, but overnight). We'll see. Lessee... I ran from the Sunoco station to home, 3.30 miles, at a 8:32 pace.

Achy....

Well, I managed to take 14 days off from my running.... I ran for the first time in 2 weeks this morning. A short 4.3 mile run (did record a time). I was a little achy (don't know why - grin) but I'm glad I ran. I was thinking (always a bad sign) that I should keep my distances to 4-5 miles a day for a week or so (except for the long run) to avoid injury. What I don't want is to use any sort of injury as an excuse to stop running.

Short post today!

Heavy Heart

It was with a heavy heart that I sent the email to the North Face Endurance Challenge, Washington DC, 50K event to cancel my registration. I'm not worried about the registration fee, I really wanted to run in the race. It would have been my first ultra distance race, and it would have been my first trail run. I knew I could do the distance (well, mostly knew), as I have done 5 marathons to date. I have been trail running only for a short time, but I really like it. Not only is it less impact on my legs, but the variation in the terrain combined with much better scenery was wonderful. My longest trail run was 10 miles (see entry from March 27), and it was very hard, but I loved it.

The problem is this -- right now, I don't have enough time to run. My 'triangle' is warped, mostly with work. Any other free time is with my family. Of course, my family takes precedence over 'personal time' -- I wouldn't have it any other way, but my personal time suffers. Oh well.

I don't have another race planned, but I should sign up for a 10K or something, just to get myself running again (oh, I haven't run in nearly two weeks -- that doesn't help my training...).

Hopefully, I'll post again soon with a run report.

Ouch

Okay, I was supposed to run 4 miles or so this morning. Never mind that I ran my longest run in several weeks yesterday, or that I finished my run after 5 PM in the afternoon.... and it showed.

I turned around just after a mile when my body just wasn't reacting. My pace was weird, I was hobbling at times, and I was tired. I figured that I could push through 4 miles, but as a result, I probably wouldn't be able to run tomorrow.... so.... I turned around after 1 mile. I ended up doing (just) two miles at a 9:50 pace. whew.

Good End to a Bad Week

Today I ran 8.21 miles on Rocky Run trail. I felt good, but I hit the wall at mile 7. Probably because I haven't been running consistently lately :-)

I ran under a 9:00 pace (8:56) and for the first several miles, I was keeping a good pace. Mile 7 though, ouch. At the last 1/4 mile, I got my wind back, and I probably could have done another mile or so (but not much more). Still, I'm happy I ran 8 miles today, to get 18 miles for the week.

Compromise

Well, last night, I had planned on running 6 today... as well as 6 each day all week, with the option of running 8 one day. You see, I'm in O'Fallon, IL this week, and although I'm on travel, I find the runs quite nice. However, I ran 4.59 miles today (8:50 pace). I was very tired this morning and instead of not doing a run at all, I decided to run for 40 minutes (I ran for 40:32).

Not much to say today though.

Okay, trying to run again

Last week, I ran a total of 6 miles. As low as that is, it was better than the previous week, where I didn't run at all!

Today, the first day of the week, I ran 6 miles. I'm going to try to run consistently this week, but we'll see how it goes, as I'm in St. Louis this week. I can't run tomorrow, as I'll be getting up at 3:30 am to go to the airport (!ouch!).

I was a little slow today, as I was achy (from running 48 hours ago, as well as spreading mulch yesterday). But, I ran!

Good Animal... Balance... Tests...

Okay, it's been nearly two weeks since my last run, and this blog is going to be all over the place (I think it's a sign.. or a theme)...

I've been working a lot lately, and I haven't run as a result. I have been way out of balance (with the ol' triangle -- work, family, personal fulfillment). I was glad to run today, although I didn't run first thing, but at 11:00 am (oh, I ran 6.12 miles at a 9:00 mile). Since I was running a whopping 6 miles (a long run nowadays), I decided to bring the iPod. I listened to Phedippidations (Fdip 142: Dr. George Sheehan - Personal Best). I gotta that that book. Steve talked about several things that helped crystalize what I have been thinking about lately -- in a way. Dr. Sheehan's book talks of several subjects, but one is his concept of a Good Animal -- where it is a person's responsibility to maintain his/her body the best way possible. Our body is a gift, and we need to take care of it. It is our duty. This is one thing that sorta helped crystalize what I have been thinking.

Another thing is Balance. I knew I was working a lot, and it has been taking a toll on my running, but more importantly, on everyone around me. Needless to say, I think that keeping things in balance makes you a better person. One thing cannot take control for a long period of time. Today I am trying to put things in balance. I am spending time with my family (and trying to stay in a good mood to boot!), I ran, but since today is July 4, there's no work. Don't worry about it though, I have been making up the work part of the triangle for some time :-)

Lastly, the Test. I have a feeling that over the past several weeks, I have been under a Test. Unfortunately, I think I have been failing in that test. It is my responsibility to maintain the order, the balance, the good animal, but I have not. When you are in the thick of things (or deep in the woods), it's hard to put your head up to see where you are headed. However, that's not an excuse not to. So, I admit that I have been failing that test, but on the good side, I now am aware that I haven't been doing that well, and I'm going to try to do better.

Not necessarily a running blog today, but check out Fdip! It was very good today.