Running For My Life

For the first time since spring, my entire run was in the dark this morning. It’s kind of depressing at first, but in a few weeks I will have adjusted to running in the dark and it will be no big deal.  Sadly, there are about 5 months where it is light during all or part of my morning run; the rest of the year it’s lights out!

Two more days until the Chamber Chase 10K race in my hometown of Wind Lake.  Can’t wait!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/19/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:24:20.00
• Distance: 10 miles
• Average Pace: 8:26.33/mile

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 09/18/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:20:00.00

3 mile warm-up, 1200-800-400-800-1200 w/ 400 rest intervals, 3 mile cool-down

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/17/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:21:05.00
• Distance: 10 miles
• Average Pace: 8:06.49/mile

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/16/2008
• Time: 19:00:00
• Total Time: 00:34:55.00
• Distance: 4 miles
• Average Pace: 8:44.02/mile

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/16/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 00:26:15.00
• Distance: 3 miles
• Average Pace: 8:44.78/mile

I was a little nervous about this morning’s 10-miler because I really beat myself up last week.  However, everything felt fine and I was able to complete the run pain-free.  However, later in the day my lower back tightened up, a result of Saturday’s long run when it started hurting late in the run.  I had back surgery for a ruptured disc 6 years ago and this is the first problem I have had since.  I am not overly concerned about it, but I am going to monitor the situation closely over the next few days and hope it gets better on its own.  I have a massage appointment next Wednesday so hopefully I can wait that long.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/15/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:27:22.00
• Distance: 10 miles
• Average Pace: 8:44.02/mile

What a week!  I was in Chicago at a work training conference….so no kids, no “chores”, no nothing.  Now I see why single people are often such good runners.  I would wake up and run, go to the conference, then run again, eat dinner and go to bed.  The next day I would repeat it all over again.  So I was getting two runs in a day and still getting some rest.

I capped the week off with an amazing 23-miler this morning.  I did the first four miles of the run on the treadmill in the hotel fitness center due to heavy rain, but it was so hot in there that I decided to “rough it” and head outside (remember, I ran 20 miles in sub-zero temps this past winter).  I ended up thoroughly enjoying running in the downpour; once you are soaked, it’s actually fun.  There were also many other runners doing the same thing, no doubt getting in their final long training run for the Chicago Marathon, which is in 3 weeks.

I was in fairly bad shape the last 6-7 miles of the run.  My back was sore (I think because I was slumped over slightly due to the rain) and my left calf was tight and sore.  But I finished strong and felt great about that.  The Chicago Lakefront is an amazing place to run….plenty of space and water stops.  Getting to the lakefront from my hotel 1.3 miles away was a different story.  What a hassle running in a city like that!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/13/2008
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 3:14:30.00
• Distance: 23 miles
• Average Pace: 8:27.04/mile

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/12/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:27:40.00
• Distance: 10 miles
• Average Pace: 8:46.32/mile

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/11/2008
• Time: 17:00:00
• Total Time: 1:22:30.00
• Distance: 10 miles
• Average Pace: 8:15.19/mile

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/11/2008
• Time: 06:00:00
• Total Time: 00:34:00.00
• Distance: 4 miles
• Average Pace: 8:29.92/mile