3/26/12 Run and "Workout"

6 Miles
41:45
2.2 miles "hard" @ 13:45 (6:15)

So, I had wanted to begin doing some workouts this week, and decided that even though I didn't feel good when i started the run, I needed the effort. So, as I hit a portion of the run that puts me on a slightly curvy, but mainly straight part of the route, I just decided it was time to start doing some harder running. And not having done it for a while, I could tell that I was going to have a rough go about 2 minutes into it.

Nonetheless, I maintained my pace as evenly as possible, although, truth be told, I was definitely slower in the last half mile of this effort. Maybe something like 6:10, 6:20 for my 2 miles.

Either way, it felt great, even though it hurt. I'm glad I did it, and am kinda anxious to get going with more of that.

I may be taking tonight off, but we'll see...with my daughter till about 8pm, so could be a little tough to get out for a run after that. Later!

3/24/12 - Easy Short Recovery Run

4-ish miles
29:30

After a lot of driving and a long weekend, I got back in town and knew I needed to get some running in, despite being tired and really ready to just unwind and do nothing. But I changed quickly and headed out to my normal running spot these days.

Made a short loop and actually was moving a little quicker than normal towards the end of the run. Definitely not finishing by running hard, but I can say that I really felt smooth last night. Just an all around good feeling, much needed short run.

24 miles in the last 3 days... I'll take that for now.

3/24/12 Kenyan Way Long Run

12.5-13 miles
1:33:00

Gmap says I did about 12.6 miles, as I did our route plus an additional mile at the beginning of the run. That gives me a 7:23 pace... gladly take that...especially with how I felt at the end of the run. I was pushing it early. I got out to base...a place I hadn't been in a long time, and started out with the sub-3 hour group, knowing it was only a matter of time before I was looking at their backs. I was pretty pleased to have gotten to the water stop 7.5 miles into the route (8.5 miles into my run) and still be with them. From there on, though, it was tough sledding. I dropped probably almost a minute behind them in the next 2 miles, so I made a quick stop for water with them and took off ahead of them. It took them roughly 3/4 mile for them to catch me and pass me by. I labored my way back to base, but seriously, I felt awesome getting back out there with them. I also felt really good having kept up with them for as long as I did.

It's a long road back, but I feel like I'm making progress. Good running day, for sure.

Two of my favorites...

This first one really gets me going...especially the last verse...Some of the lyrics just carry a little more impact w/me than they used to:



And this one just makes me want to run...and run...and run...



That's all for now!

3/15-3/18 Updates

Thursday - 3/15
No Run

Friday - 3/16
Easy 32 minute run

Ran w/my daughter biking next to me through Pearland. Great time out...she enjoyed, and I loved it. She told me that it was fun for her...even asking me if I thought she'd be good "that that thing we watched last year, where people had to swim, then ride a bike, then run." She's too much sometimes. :-)

Saturday - 3/17
12.4 Miles
1:29:30
7:13 avg pace

I will completely take that pace right now. Running heavy, and still not feeling in shape, a 7:13 pace run for 12 miles is just fine by me. :-) I started out feeling pretty good, as I headed from the Kenyan Way base area towards the park. I looped the parke and came back. At that point, I was feeling a little tired, and didn't feel all that confident that I'd complete the run feeling any good. But once I got going through the bayou area, I felt better, till I got about a mile and a half from the end of the run. I struggled there towards the end, but felt really, really good to finish the run feeling good.

Sunday - 3/18
No run

I felt kinda weird today, so I figured I'd be best to take the day off. I spent the day yesterday after the run working on school work, then gardening with my daughter. So, my legs were a little sore and just felt some weird things that I figured an extra day of rest would help. I'll be ready to get back to it tomorrow, though. Feeling a big confidence boost this week and ready to start picking up the intensity juuuuuuust a smidge. See how the body handles it.

3/14/12 Easy Run

7-ish Miles
51:42

Ran a route out down Beechnut, then back down Braes Bayou. Nice run, pretty flat, and awesome weather. It's strange getting used to sweating so much during a run when I never really had to bundle up THAT much otherwise.

Oh well...no problem there. All in all, the run felt really good. No real feeling of wear and tear, although today (3/15), I'm definitely feeling a little tiredness in the legs. So with that in mind, taking the day off, as I've not run 5 days in a row since the start of the year. Yesterday was the 5th, so it's a good time to rest a day, especially with 10-12 as the goal for the weekend.

I'm excited about the run this weekend and ready to tackle whatever comes my way. Should be a great one.

Later!

3/13 Easy Run

6 Miles
43:30

Made sure to take it easy around my 6-mile loop. Nothing too major...just a nice stroll out. Felt good running, and didn't feel like I was pushing it at all.

As I ran, I passed a couple of places that got me thinking where my running has been in this short time this year so far...making it past a spot where I had to stop once to stretch my calves as I was having issues...making it past 30 minutes and being notheworse for wear...moving at sub-7:30 pace and feeling pretty good about it... like I could have held a conversation.

All in all, I'm feeling better about my running. Just gotta work on getting my body back to where it needs to be to train.

3/12/12 - Run w/1-Minute Pick Ups

6 miles
43:00

Got out this evening for a nice run...did 6 miles w/7x1-min pickups. Over those 13 minutes (7 pickups and 6 rest periods), I covered just a hair over 2 miles...I'll take that for now.

I made sure I did some really, really good stretching after the run to try to fend off any pending soreness in the calves, Achilles, hamstrings, quads, etc. Overall, just a great feeling run, and definitely one of those that makes me look forward to the next run. I'll probably run with Dan next time out.

3/10 & 3/11 Running

3/10
9 miles
1:43

Ran w/my brother, so I slowed it down a bit and ran w/him. He's training for a 2nd half marathon within a few weeks of each other. He's 2 weeks out, so I wanted to run w/him to help him do the miles. He's doing awesome... moving slowly, but definitely working at it. He's dropped about 20 lbs since he started running again, and is doing great. He's feeling good about his running and has a marathon as his next goal in his not so distant future.

3/11
6.4 miles
47:11

After seeing my brother and his kiddos off as they hit the road to head back home, I headed to church, then out for a nice run. It was as close to my favorite running weather as I've seen in a while...warm, but not hot, misty/light rain, roads wet... don't know why I like that, but I do. As I started, the mist became a sprinkle and then a little light rain. nothing too bad, as that subsided after a couple of miles. All in all, legs felt good, body felt good. All in all I can say I feel progress, and that's good. Additionally, down 2 lb's from last weekend. I'll take that.

More Updates...Making Progress

Well, the running has become easier, faster and I'm slowly starting to shed an lb or two. I have my first short-term milestone in that department that I'm looking to achieve...hopefully, it's not too far away.

Running, I'm looking forward to my first double-digit mileage day in the next 7 days, which should come this Saturday. Over the weekend, did another 9 on Saturday and then 6.5 yesterday. If all goes to plan (and we know how it goes sometimes when you make plans), 10-12 will be on my Saturday agenda. And if I do that, it may mean a trip out to run with my favorite running group, the Kenyan Way. I've been hesitant to get back out there, as I'm just not the same runner I was last time I was out there...or heck, maybe I am. Either way, it's up in the air if I join the group run or not.

Either way, I'm feeling better with each passing run.

This week, my daughter is on Spring Break w/her mom, so the two nights I would normally have reserved for her won't happen, which means I should get a little more running in this week. Not sure if that will help or hurt my weekend running plans. ha ha ha

So, that's it for now. I should be able to post regularly after each run now, going forward... The running, if all goes well, should get way more interesting.

Quick Hit Updates

Nothing too major, except to say that the last week was a pretty light week. I missed a couple of runs with a couple of spur of the moment schedule changes w/my daughter...if there's one reason to miss a run that is acceptable, that is it for me.

But, it's good, because it gave my knee/calf a chance to get a little rest. Now, I started this week with a nice Sunday run...6 miles, 43 minutes, with 3x2-minute pickups. Felt pretty darn good, and I definitely completed the run in the shortest amount of time since I started running again. Very, very good stuff. I followed that up with an evening gym workout...a nice 30 minute circuit, including some jump rope warmups, then pushups, crunches, side crunches, Supermans, one-legged squats, pullups and weighted running arm motions.

Overall, great workout, and ready to get some sleep, some rest, and keep it going tomorrow.

Later gators!