Shuffling Along (Is that considered running?)

I started this run in Tucson, AZ, far too late in the day.  Tucson has some humidity to accompany the heat, and I did not respect it.  The run had elevation changes.  Flat to start, downhill, then a long uphill stretch.  The return home is the reverse.

About 2.5 miles in, the heat became a factor.  There was no wind.  The final uphill section on the way home was painful, but I struggled through it.

The run was slow, 10:04 a mile.  However, on the positive side, in May I was running just 3 miles and calling it a long run.  I ran a mile for time in eary April and finished in just over 9 minutes, so there is improvement. 

Rest day.  I was facing a long drive back to Vegas from Tucson, so it made sense to rest. 

This was a run around Bunker park in the evening.  I had a day off since my last run, and I felt good.  In fact, my last run was two days earlier in the AM, so my body felt like it had a two day rest.  I averaged 9:11, a personal best since returning to running.  

I ran this AM, after running hard in the PM the night before.  The effects were obvious, as my legs felt weak and sore.  I push hard through part, and just concentrated on keeping moving in others.  All in all, I was happy with my run.  Vegas is brutal in the summer, though, and even before 7am it is very hot.  9:27/mile for 5 miles. 

Rest day.  I was really hurting after the previous two days.  It was mre than fatigue.  I am new to running, so I decided to let my body catch-up a little.

This was a great run for me.  I set out to run 5 miles, with the understanding that if I did it under 45 minutes, I would run a 6th.  I finished 5 in 44:56.  The 6th was hard, as I had been slowing down dramitcally through the 5th mile.  That continued in the 6th.  I finished at 9:30/mile, which is by far my best run to date.

I felt the effects of the effort from the previous day.  I was very sore at the start, and almost took a rest day.  Instead, I ran with a plan to not run hard.  I need miles on my legs, and decided a slower, active recovery would be good.  I was right.  Afterward I felt weak, but OK.  I ran 9:39/mile, still much better than just a few weeks ago.

Ran with a buddy at Mouth Charleston.  This is a decent climb, at altitude, and we felt it.  We ran two miles up, ten two miles down.  We averaged 10:12, which we were happy with.

After the run yesterday in the AM, I played racquetball in the PM.  Running is great for racquetball, but not vice-versa.  I am tight, sore, fatigued, and slow the day after racquetball.  I started too late, and the sun was brutal over the last 30 minutes.  I ran 6 at 10:09.  Not great, but considering how I felt, not bad.

One note, this was the first time I ran four days in a row since by first semester of college. 

I decided to run for one hour, at the end of which I would finish the mile I was on.  I was on mile 7, so I finished it.  I averaged 9:24, which is great for me.  I have run more than 6 miles exactly three times in my life, so I was thrilled with today's run.  Expectations: I will hurt tomorrow and it is going to take a while for my body to adjust to 7 miles a day from the 5 I was running.

Fifth day in a row running, and the body is ok.

I was right in my expectations after yesterday's run.  I paid for it today.  I was sore and weak, but instead of taking the day off or running less, I decided to run with a little less effort but get the miles in.  9:43 over 7 miles. 

One thing I have noticed is that my fitness level, while ok for everyday life, was much worse for running than I had anticipated.  Getting where I want to go is going to take time, but I have time and am enjoying myself.

This was my 6th running day in a row.  Tomorrow will be a rest day tomorrow as my overweight, 41 year-old frame needs a break.

Rest day.  Driving to Tucson after work, so I slept in.

I got into town late, couldn't sleep, but I got up and ran anyway.  I started later than I had intended.  There was heavy cloud cover, which kept the temp down a little (under 80).  However, the humidity was at 42%, and I felt that. 

I was still a little sore, and the run started uphill for three miles.  I was not fast, but I felt OK.  I keep reminding myself that the important thing is the miles right now.  When I have the mileage base and the fitness level I need, I can start some intervals and work on my speed.

I ran 7 at 9:37 on a muggy and hot morning on no sleep.  I am ok with that.

I am getting slower.  Approximately 1 mile in, there was a quarter mile+ stretch that was slightly uphill in a sandy wash.  The sand was dry and loose, the kind you sink into.

After that, the terrain was easy, but my legs were weak and I just could not keep them moving at the pace I wanted.  9:52 for  7 miles.  I enjoyed myself, though.

It rained last night, which in Tucson means roads covered in sand washed across by flood waters.  What I did not expect were clouds of bugs hovering at face level along the roads.  I couldn't tell what they were, but some of them looked like flying ants.  They hit my glasses, got under my glasses, and got stuck to me (sweat).  When the run was over, I was brushing them off for a long time.

I shudder to think how many I swallowed.

The run started slow, as I was sore from the previous two days.  I started up hill for a couple of miles, and that hurt, but in the end I felt good.  I ran 8.5, which is a full mile longer than I have run previously.  I averaged 9:44, which I am very happy about.

Tomorrow is a travel day with no running, so I am glad I put in a good hard run (for me).

Rest day...sore legs plus a 7.5 hour drive through the desert was enough to earn a rest.

A great run this morning.  averaged 9:00 for 7 miles, by far my best run yet.  It was cool in Vegas and I felt strong right from the beginning.  The hard work is starting to pay off.

Felt weak, but ran strong.....for me.  I was able to push myself and maintain a consistent pace, which turned out to be one of my stronger paces.  Considering how fatigued I felt after yesterday, this was a good run.  

Sore from yesterday, but after warming up, I was able to push a strong pace the entire run.  While I still have fatigue and soreness, I fel generally stronger each run.

7 miles at 9:13.

I felt weak, but everytime I looked at my computer, I was at a strong pace.  I ran 8 miles at 9:16, which shows the gradual improvement I was hoping to see but was missing during my first few weeks of running.  Had to sprint across a street to avoid a camaro.  A month ago, that sprint would have finished me, but today it was just an interval.

Today was my strongest un to date.  I ran 8, one of my longer runs and broke the 9:00/mile pace for the first time.  I pushed hard through the last three miles and felt great.

No running today. Family time.

No run today.  Family time then traveling back to Vegas.

Ouch.  Today's run hurt.  My legs wouldn't move and they complained every step of the way.  I imagine it could have something to do with getting 3.5 hours sleep, or eating poorly over a completely inactive weekend.  I drove 7 hours, slept, snacked, watched TV, snacked, slept, then drove 7 hours again.

Note to self: inactivity is not the same as rest.

8 miles at 9:24.  I survived.

Felt under the weather at the start.   After a few minutes, I felt a little stronger.  The second half was much stronger than the first.  9:08 for 8 miles.  Felt much better than yesterday.  Sleep is key.  Gotta learn to turn the TV off in the evenings.

Went to bed with and woke up with a fantastic headache.  By the time I started to run, it had subsided.  I pushed the first 4.5 miles hard (for me), and I paid for it in miles 6 and 7.  Mile 8 I pushed hard again, but it is easier with the finish in sight.  9.01 for 8 miles, which is a great run for me.

According to the Jeff C scale, I ran 8 slow, 0 fast.

Ran 10 miles for the first time ever.  The last mile was really rough, as I expected, but I pushed through it.  9:21 pace for day, with which I am happy.

I don't know that I could do this this on a daily basis...yet.  I plan to drop back to my daily 8 for a while with a 10 thrown in occasionally. 

Started out weak, which I expected after two days of pushing hard, including my first 10 miler yesterday.  After a mile, it became obvious today was a day to forget about monitoring my pace, and just enjoy the run.  Which I did.  Eight miles at 9:35.

Rest Day

Rest

Sick

Sick

Sick, but tried to run.  Ran out of gas after 4 miles.

Sick

Sick

Sick

Sick

Sick

Sick

Still sick, but decided I needed to run.  So, after almost two weeks off, I ran 7.  Since I am stupid, I threw a couple of intervals in.  I paid for that, as the last 1.5 miles was miserable.  I avegas 9:12, but I was hurting at the end.  We will see how my body reacts.

My legs felt weak from the start.  Still shaking whatever I had last week.  Felt better than yesterday, but maybe that is because I ran slower.  I got into a groove during miles 5 and 6, and just rode that.  8 miles at 9:34, so I am getting slower.  By this time next year, if I keep regressing at this pace, I will be able to run a 5k in 21.  Hours.

Really sore from the previous two days.  Planning a longer run on Saturday, so I rested.

I planned a big run on Mt. Charleston.  I started at the parking lot for the Lee Canyon ski resort, planning to run down to the Deer Creek Highway, which connects Lee Canyon to Kyle Canyon, run up that road until I hit the 5 mile mark, then turn around and head back.

Actually, I was thinking about running to the 6 mile mark, but during the run I realized my big mistake: I grossly underestimated the grade.  My Garmin showed the grade reaching 20%, which I doubt is accurate, but I don't doubt it was over 10% at several points. 

The first 3.3 miles descended 900 ft, which beat me up pretty good.  Then the Deer Creek Highway climbed steeply for 450 feet over 1.7 miles.  It was at that point I decided to shorten the run.  I have never run longer than 10 miles, and my pace up the hill was in the 13:00 to 14:00 range. 

I did the math and determined that the climb up from the Deer Creek Highway up to the finish, 3.3 miles, would take about 45 minutes.  After not running for a week and a half, I decided to play it safe.

It was a good decision.  I struggled up the climb.  I wanted to walk several times, but I just kept saying, "Ok....made it through this half.  I will allow myself to shut it down in just a half mile."

At the end, I had run slow (11:25...yikes), but I had finished.  I was completely spent.  I am glad I did it, but I might wait until I am in a little better shape before I do it again.

Ouch.  The run yesterday beat me up more than I thought.  I started uphill, and felt ok, but over the first 3 miles, my body rebelled.  I  put in 7.  It didn't help that I started late, ensuring that there would be plenty of heat.  9:53.....and I am getting slower every day.

Rest day after a big weekend.

Start off very sore and tight, but loosened up after a couple of miles.  Increased my pace over miles 3-6, and held the pace though mile 7.  Mile 8 was a struggle, but I pushed it through to the end.

I run a 2 mile loop, and the first time I was chased by a dog.  He ws a little dog and was not scary, but he was annoying.  On the next lap, I met him again at a dfferent point.  This time he became my running partner, and ran with me for a quarter mile rather that attacking me.

My legs felt strong at the start.  I took the first two miles out hard, running mile two in under 9 minutes.  During mile three fatigue kicked in, so I settled into a little slower but more consistent pace.  My times mimicked yesterday's times.  The heat was a bigger factor than yesterday, as I started a little later.  I finished strong (for me) and was about 6 seconds faster per mile.  I can feel my body adjusting to the increase in miles from 6 to 8 over the last few weeks.  I am not hitting "survival" mode until around 6.5 miles, where three weeks ago I was hitting it in mile 5.

A good run for me.  It seemed hotter today, but I felt OK.  The wind was blowing fairly hard from the west, and that helped.  In one direction, the heat baked but when I utrned into the wind or hd a cross-wind it was really cool.

I averaged 9:24 for 8 which does not show improvement but does show consistency, which is my goal at this point.

I am traveling To Tucson this weekend, leaving after work tonight.  It will be about midnight when I get there, so I am not sure I will run tomorrow.  I know I won't be running on Saturday: 21st wedding anniversary, and Sunday I will be driving back to Las Vegas.

I rolled into Tucson a little after 12am last night/this morning.  I talked to my wife for a while, then got ready for bed.  At about 1am, I tried to sleep.  No dice.  I can never sleep after a long drive.  I am too wired.

I laid in a half sleep/half wake state until about 2am.  I drifted off.  At 4am, my youngest dog, apparently wired because I am home, decided he couldn't sleep.  He kept me awake.  A little before 5am I got up.

With two hours sleep, I hit the road.  I felt remarkably good.  The path was an 11 mile loop, and it has a lot of long slow climbs and descents.  I wasn't fast, (9:46/mile), but I finished.  That was my longest run ever. 

Now I am going back to bed.

Rest day

Traveling. No running.

Tired after the long drive on Sunday. The middle miles were tough, but I was able to push hard through the last 2. It was a good day.

I focused on keeping my pace consistant and pushing harder than normal. A lot of strange people on the street, but it was a nice morning. I ran three miles of the 8 under 9 minutes, and two others close to 9. The last mile was one of the fastest I have run since college.

Despite the effort, I felt great afterward. 9:00/mile.

Today was eventful. First, I felt sore and fatigued throughout my run. Instead of pushing the pace, I settled into a comfortable rythmn. The great part was that the pace I found was as fast as those I ran uncomfortably last week.

Then I realized that I have been reduced survival mode at all this week. Progress....finally.

The third eventful part of the morning was a little scary. A car turned left toward me from a stop sign. The driver was not looking (I hope) and drove straight at me for 25 to 30 yards. She was accelerating quickly the entire time.

She finally looked up, turn toward the center of the road, and (seriously) waved. This is the same woman who waited at a stop until I crossed in front of her then accelerated violently, having to hit her brakes to not hit me.

Before anyone asks, I do not know her, so there iis no justified revenge here.

It made the run more exciting.

Felt very fatigued early.  For me, this week has had a lot of miles.  I settled into a comfortable pace, which was better than I thought it would be.  Seeing improvement.

After 4 days of 8 miles, I decided to take a running recovery day.  I hoped to put in a long run on Saturday, and the joint and muscle pain on Thursday and starting on Friday told me I needed one day of a little less effort.  I ran 5 at a comfortable pace.

My minimum goal was 13 miles to bring me to 50 for the week.  I hoped the body would hold up for 15.  At 11 I doubted both.  11 was my previous long, and it felt like the miles were adding up slowly.  But, like so many one here have indicated, if you focus on your form and pace, the miles roll by.  When I hit 13, there was no doubt I could make it to 15.  I averaged 9:39, which I am happy with, especially considering this run was 4 miles longer than my previous farthest. 

The first few miles felt slow, but after mile 3 until mile 9, I felt great.  I seemed to be on autopilot.  This was a good day.

Rest day.

I felt tight and sore at the start.  I struggled to get my pace under 10/mile early.  After 2 miles I eased into a consistent pace.  At the end, was surprised by finishing at 9:17/mile, which isn't fast, but isn't slow for me.

I don't know what happened today.  I started a little faster than normal, but thought nothing of it.  I ran the first mile just over 9.  The second mile came in under 9.  I was surprised, but felt good and tried to maintain.  I kept waiting for the early energy expenditure to hurt me, but the it never did.  I finished with a low 8 mile, bringing the pace for the 8 miles to 8:47, which is significantly faster than I had run before. 

Another good day.  I had a running partner, who is a little faster than me, for the firs 6 miles.  Every mile was under 9, and the first 6 were in the high 8:30s.  My partner peeled off at 6, so I made an effort to make sure my pace did not drop.  The 7th mile was close to 8, and the last mile was under 8.  My run finished at 8:33/mile.

No running partner today, and I was sore at the start.  My first half mile felt tight and sore, which I expected after pushing hard the last two days.  Still, I tried to push the pace and maintained half miles under 9/mile throughout.  I was unable to close as hard as yesterday, so I expected a slower overall pace, but I finished at 8:31. 

A little tired today.  I could not keep the pace as high as the last two days, but still averaged 8:46/mile.  I am not sure if I will run tomorrow, as I will be traveling to Tucson, arriving around midnight.  I will try to get in between 10 and 15 miles.