Friday am 20 Miles

The weather cooled off just in time. As I walked out of the door this morning it was 72 degrees and a little humid and overcast. During the first mile the wind switched directions and it started to feel a lot better. I’m not sure the temperature dropped that much but the humidity did.

I felt good for most of the run. I had to run into a four hundred thousand mile per hour head wind between miles seventeen and nineteen and that was rough – it is amazing I survived. But the last mile felt pretty good. I will definitely be sore today.

Instead of keeping each mile split I ran four 5-mile loops and kept my time for each loop. I didn’t want to spend the whole run watch watching.

Here are the splits:
1st 5 – 44:39
2nd 5 – 41:40
3rd 5 – 45:38
4th 5 – 46:08

Total – 2:58:06
8:54 pace per mile

Seven Miles with Socrates

I got up really early this morning and was out of the door by 5 am for four miles by myself. Then I looped around and met Jakeb at the house and we ran 3 more together. Tomorrow is the first of two 20 mile long runs before I start to taper for the Dallas White Rock Marathon. I wanted to be a little fatigued but I hope the seven miles wasn’t over doing it.

Running this year has been good. This is the part of the training where I get more introspective because I wonder if I have it in me to finish my training at the level I desire. I wonder if I have it in me to finish 20 when I am not as rested as normal. I wonder if I can run a marathon in less than four hours. If I fail at either it will not be the end of the world and I will try again.

Training for a running a marathon is a great form of self-examination and Socrates said “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

Thirteen miles Friday am

I ran thirteen this morning. It seemed like it was over before it began. The weather was good and I felt pretty strong. I just ran and did not keep up with my splits.

Total time – 1:53:02 (8:42 pace)

White Rock

I registered for the Dallas White Rock Marathon tonight. I am (or should be) committed.

18 miles Friday a.m.

The cool weather felt great and I felt as strong as I ever have on a long run.

1 – 8:36
2 – 9:01
3 – 7:48
4 – 7:40
5 – 9:21
6 – 9:22
7 – 9:03
8 – 9:25
9 – 9:01
10 – 8:31
11 – 8:45
12 – 8:39
13 – 8:49
14 – 9:22
15 – 8:23
16 – 8:24
17 – 8:52
18 – 8:12

avg – 8:44 pace

I’m happy with it.

Long runs, China, and Garage Sales

I ran 17 on Friday. It was okay but not my best run ever. Jakeb ran the first three with me and I felt like it would be a really bad day but it ended up being okay.

I went to China in 1994 and at the time it was rare for the locals in that part of China to see westerners. I would run through Ningbo, a relatively small place for its 5 million people, with my neon shorts and white t-shirt I had earned back home at a 5K. People would see me on the streets and tap their friend on the shoulder and point at the 6’2” white guy with round eyes. Even though I was out of place I never felt like I was in any danger.

I can’t say the same thing about Friday morning in Lake Jackson. The early morning is not usually too busy but this morning was because all over town there were garage sales. Going to garage sales must be a big deal because in front of every one there were cars parked wherever there was space (in the driveway, in the ditch, in the street). The people who go to these things are aggressive. They are in a hurry to get to the garage sale to buy someone else’s junk. They are so aggressive that they are not in the mood nor do they have the patience to slow down for a runner who might just be trying to get out of the way. I feared for my existence a few times and bailed into front yards and ditches twice. The sidewalks are not safe haven enough because they are fair game for parking as well.

I ran four on Saturday and six this morning. The cooler mornings are making the runs a little easier.

Transition

I have been transitioning to a new job so it has been a while since I've written. I've been running quite a bit (for me). September was a 145 mile month which is one of my longest ever.

Last Monday I ran a 15 mile long run. The cool weather made the run seem almost effortless. I ran the first five alone with no music. I ran the second five with Jakeb. He felt so good he wanted to run the last five with me but I wouldn't let him. Instead he got on his bike and rode beside me as I finished the last five with my ipod playing in my ears.

The rest of the week went well and Saturday morning I ran an 11 mile long run. I ran it Saturday instead of Monday because I no longer have Mondays off. I do have Friday off now so I am switching my long run to the other end of the week. My 11 mile run was not near as easy as the 15 miler. It was hot and humid, I had stayed up later than normal the previous night so I slept late and didn't start running until 8 am when the sun was up. I ran the first four miles way too fast which made the rest of the run rough. Jakeb ran the middle 4 with me and he had a rough time of it as well.

This week has been messed up because I haven't taken the time to redo my training spreadsheet to reflect Friday as my long run day. My day off will change as will my track workout day and tempo day.

Change is good but it is hard to be in-between.