Winning Back What I Lost

8PM: Another weekday half marathon in the dark.  I know I keep saying this but this running in the dark thing is really starting to wear on my psyche.  It's almost as bad as running on the TM.  I guess I could remedy this by running right after work but I'm really not brave enough to get home from work and then take off on a 13M run. 

Noon: Solved my phobia of running in the dark w/ a midday run near the office.  It was supposed to be a short recovery run after last night's medium long run but I got an itch to run up Shaw Mtn. Rd just to remind myself of what I'd be in for next month.  Ran it very slow on the way up and took it easy on the way down.  Message received- I need to a) shed more lbs; and b) do more hill/strength training.

545AM:  Got a really good night's sleep.  Planned on running outside but all of my outside gear was in the wash.  The training plan called for 11M general aerobic run but I could not hang.  Felt good but not great. 3 of my kids are fighting colds and I'm starting on one myself. Luckily, I'm still taking an antibiotic for my root canal and its helped me to ward off the worst of what would likely be a nasty sore throat and congestion. 

Funny anecdote: Told my dad that I wanted to drop 20 lbs before my marathon in June and he said that if I'm successful he'd buy me a nice dress to celebrate.  That's the funny thing about runners.  To the "layperson," we don't look overweight. But most of us non-elites constantly do battle with the feeling that we are.  We say, "If I could just drop another 5 or 10 lbs I would feel so much better when I run."  Then we reach that goal and realize that, big surprise, running is still taxing.  So we vow to drop some more weight and the cycle repeats itself.  I guess this could qualify as a type of psychosis.  But so long as I'm cognizant of that fact and its rooted in efficiency rather than vanity it's not as much of a problem, right?   

830PM:  Easy recovery run on the TM. Started slow and finished strong. Tomorrow's long run is going to require some logistical gymnastics. My wife is in the hospital and returning home tomorrow so it may be difficult to sneak away until the late evening. 

Been more than occupied w/ my wife's post-surgery recovery and taking care of the kiddos this weekend.  I finally got a moment to get away for my weekly long run. Unfortunately, it didn't come until late this evening.  Even then, it almost didn't happen due to an emergency involving my six year old and a very loose bottom tooth.  She wouldn't let me pull it and she wouldn't let me leave until it fell out. It's been a crazy weekend in the Price household but at least I got it done. 

830PM: Easy recovery run on the TM.  I'm not accustomed to running the day after a long run, but I'm also not accustomed to running on Sunday.  My legs were heavier than I would have thought at the beginning but they began to loosen up toward the end.  Finished strong w/ the last mile a little slower than current MP. 

2M easy warmup; 4M @ 7:24/mi; cooldown. I struggled a bit with this run.  I've been battling a head cold for about a week and the benadryl I've been taking has me kind of drowsy and out of it.  It didn't help that it was like 80 degrees inside the club.  I guess I could have run outside but I like that the TM helps keep me at my goal pace and doesn't allow you to slack off. 

830PM:  Easy aerobic run. Overloaded on pizza for dinner so I was really dragging for about the first 2/3 of the run.  Finished strong w/ my last mile being my quickest so I could make it home to the safety of my own bathroom. 

9PM:  Short recovery run on the TM.  Progressed to a decent pace but didn't push it in anticipation of tomorrow's long run. 

Easy long run.  Out and back from barber park to Veterans Memorial Park. Lots of people out on the greenbelt getting ready from the racing season including those racing in the Basic 5 from Julia Davis Park. I was supposed to run a tempo in the middle of the run but I developed some soreness in the groin area and decided not to push it.  Don't know what I am going to do about it other than stretch.  May need to start seeing the chiro again to get me lined up.  Hope its not a form flaw thats causing it.

8PM: Beautiful weather this evening. I was actually able to run in shorts and a long sleeve shirt. I've been struggling w/ a horrible cough all weekend but it abated during the run for the most part.  As soon as I finished I broke out into a horrible coughing fit for the next 20 mins. Don't really feel all that bad, no fever, I just can't stop hacking.  Easy pace w/ 10 x 100m @ 7 min/mi pace.

8PM:  Loooooong TM workout. It wasn't raining but it had rained all day and I really didn't want to be out there in it in case it changed its mind.  Took the day off from work and training yesterday.  Been bothered by a horrible cough that I can't seem to totally get rid of.  It was especially bad the night before last.  Luckily, I had some leftover antibiotic that finally kicked in late last night. 

Tried some new compression sleeves for my calves.  Didn't notice any difference during the run but they're meant for recovery.  I plan on sleeping in them tonight and hopefully I'll notice a difference in the morning.

830PM:  A nice progressive run.  Started slow against the wind and finished really strong w/ the last 2 miles at just under current MP.  Felt pretty good about this run, especially since I was running in my Wave Riders which are my last pair of non-ultra light trainers. 

8PM: Easy recovery run on the TM.  Broke in a new pair of shoes tonight. I order all of my shoes online now so I didn't want to run outside so as to avoid any scuffing or damage that would preclude me from being able to return them if they didn't fit right.  Right out of the box I loved the look of these shoes- very sleek.  If nothing else, they have that going for them.  Like all of the other shoes I've been purchasing, they are of the minimalist variety.  They feel kind of similar to the Nike LunaRacer's, particularly the narrow toe box.  I'm hoping that, like the LunaRacer's, they'lll stretch out as I put a few miles in them.  As it is I ended up gouging a piece of skin out of my toe w/ the toenail from my pinky toe.  Aside from that inconvenience, I liked their lightweight feel and the softness of the upper. 

8PM: A good medium-long run. Waited until after the BYU v. Gonzaga game so I had to run most of it in the dark. Still, it was fairly mild temp wise w/ little to no wind. Only 28 days til Robie so I'm gonna have to crank up the hill/strength training. I feel like I have a decent base now so if I'm going to set a PR there this year will be entirely dependent on whether I can run all the way to the top.  Not a whole lot of time to be saved on the downhill- maybe 2 to 4 mins tops.  OTOH, I figure I can save anywhere from 10-15 mins on the uphill, which makes up 2/3 of the course, if I just keep a steady pace on the uphill w/ no walking. 

Tempo run on the TM. 2M warmup, 5M @ 7:27/mi pace; 1.5M cooldown. Got a horrible night's sleep last night. Up all night with a sick little boy. I really wanted to just hit the sack early this evening but once I got into the run I felt pretty good.  Now its time to take some melatonin and crash. 

830PM:  Medium-long run.  Very mild this evening. I was able to wear shorts, long sleeve and a light jacket. Still have some soreness in the hip/groin area, especially on the right side. Might have to visit the masseuse tomorrow, and maybe the chiro later on if that doesn't alleviate it.   

9PM: My regular Wednesday evening church commitments made me delay this run until late. The wife made some delicious chocolate-chip, pumpkin bread which, while extremely tasty, is not considered a "light" snack nor is it helping me in my quest to drop weight.  I guess I shouldn't complain that my wife likes to bake and is such a great cook, but I will.

Easy progressive run on the TM that topped out at 8:00/mi pace for the last mile. 

1230PM:  A really good midday run on the GB. The wind died down today. Temp in the 50's w/ the sun poking through here and there.  It know its technically springtime but it still feels like its right on the cusp between winter and spring.  

Out and back from Municipal Park headed east. Didn't push it but I did get some decent miles w/ an avg pace at just slower than current MP.  Looking forward to another run this evening after watching some NCAA tourney basketball.

830PM: Easy aerobic run, 7.35M, on the TM. Nothing special, just something to get my weekly mileage up.

630AM: Short, easy aerobic TM run.  I'll be snowboarding w/ my son and nephew after work so I wanted to get in a quick workout before work.  The legs were slow to wake up after the morning and evening workouts yesterday.  Big long-run workout planned for tomorrow- weather permitting.

2PM: Well this is a first, 20+ miles on a TM. Not really by choice, it was rainy and windy, but it really wasn't as bad as I feared.  I was able to watch the entire Butler v. Florida Regional Final, including the OT. It was a great game made only better by the greatest play by play announcer in the business, Gus Johnson. Did get some weird looks from the folks at the club. I guess that's to be expected when you spend that much time on a TM drenched in sweat.  I feel really good about this run precisely because I feel really good after this run- like I could have gone a bit longer. Maybe I'll decide to run an entire marathon on a TM someday? 

630AM: 6M recovery run. Started easy and finished last mile @ current MP. It was light out by the time I finished. Can't wait til its light out when I start. Planning on doing a little hill work on the TM this evening.

9PM: 5M of hill work; 1 min intervals of incline varying from 2 to 6.5%.  Legs felt good and my breathing was controlled. Planning on a longer hill session on Saturday, weather permitting, on the Robie Creek course.

9PM:  Medium long aerobic run.  I was worried that I'd have to do another long TM workout but the rain subsided and it was actually a pretty nice evening for a run.  Battled a stomach ache most of the time but felt good otherwise, breathing was easy and my leg strength was adequate.  Finished listening to True Grit by Charles Portis.  Never read this book growing up but now I know what all the hoopla was about.  Easily one of the best pieces of American fiction that I've ever read.  Portis is right up there w/ Twain, London and McCarthy. 

830PM: Easy recovery run on the TM. Legs were really heavy and sore today.  I needed an easy day.  Haven't been getting very good rest lately.  Hopefully, that will change w/ the family headed to my mother-in-laws til Sunday. 

830PM: Great run on a gorgeous evening.  Warmest day of the year to date.  Able to run in shorts w/ no gloves or hat for the first time.  Got home from work, watched the Cards opener on the DVR and went for a run.  The only thing that would have made it better was if Ryan Franklin would've held the lead w/ 2 outs in the 9th. 

Warm, 6M @ 7:38/mi avg, cool.