Running For My Life

I am feeling back in the swing of things after a 14-miler this morning….my longest run since the marathon, which seems like years ago but was only early last month.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/29/2008
• Time: 06:00:00
• Total Time: 1:58:30.00
• Distance: 14 miles
• Average Pace: 8:27.76/mile

I figured I better ramp up my mileage this morning due to the major damage I’m going to do later today at the Thanksgiving feast!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/27/2008
• Time: 06:00:00
• Total Time: 1:40:48.00
• Distance: 12 miles
• Average Pace: 8:24.2/mile

This morning I ran for just the third time in the past two weeks.  I have been giving my overused body a break and catching up on my sleep (although I must confess to playing a lot of early-morning online poker games the past two weeks!).  Although I am still not feeling 100%, I have resumed my training this week and will try to log maybe 40-50 miles…..and burn off some of the Thanksgiving energy.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/24/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 00:53:30.00
• Distance: 6 miles
• Average Pace: 8:54.92/mile

This was a team race and for whatever reason I never really got going.  It was a fun event, but my time was way slow….I think my slowest 5K of the year by far.  My team won, however, so that made up for the poor showing on my part.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/08/2008
• Time: 10:00:00
• Total Time: 00:19:50.00
• Distance: 3.1 miles
• Average Pace: 6:23.8/mile

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/08/2008
• Time: 09:00:00
• Total Time: 00:16:30.00
• Distance: 2 miles
• Average Pace: 8:15.19/mile

Just a short 5-miler this morning to stay loose for tomorrow’s Warrior 5K.  This one should be interesting for two reasons: 1) it’s designed like a cross country team.  The course is in a park and you score as teams instead of individuals.  2) the race-time weather is supposed to be rain/snow mix, 39 degrees, 16-20 mph winds.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/07/2008
• Time: 05:30:00
• Total Time: 00:42:38.00
• Distance: 5 miles
• Average Pace: 8:31.36/mile

After a rough week last week due to some nagging injuries, I am back in full swing this week.  I did 10 miles yesterday morning and a fast 12-miler this morning.  I am gearing up for some 5K races over the next 2-3 weekends.  This Saturday is the Warrior 5K in West Allis, then next Saturday is the Race for Cakes II in Cedarburg (this is one of those rare races where I can say that I am the defending champion!).

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/04/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:34:36.00
• Distance: 12 miles
• Average Pace: 7:53.06/mile

The Lakefront Discovery Run is, without a doubt, the best race of the year.  It draws about 1,000 runners to the Lake Michigan lakefront for an awesome 15K and 5K.  For some reason, 15K seems to be my perfect racing distance, as I had perhaps my best race ever at last year’s LDR, and then topped that this year.  I finished in 59:12 (6:22 pace), which was about 30 seconds better than last year’s time.  That was good for 21st overall, which is a nice accomplishment for an old slow guy like me when you consider that many of the top runners in the area compete in this race.

Another great thing about this event is the post-race party at the Milwaukee Ale House.  The place is packed with runners drinking free beer and watching the Badger football game….does life get any better than that….especially on a Saturday morning???  What fun!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/25/2008
• Time: 09:00:00
• Total Time: 00:59:12.00
• Distance: 9.3 miles
• Average Pace: 6:21.76/mile

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/25/2008
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 00:17:02.00
• Distance: 2 miles
• Average Pace: 8:30.64/mile

Although I have yet to miss a “scheduled” run in over 4 months, I am finding my motivation to get out and run a bit harder to come by these days.  Part of the reason is the post-marathon blues.  After spending 18 weeks training for one single purpose, now I feel like I am running just to run.  Not that I don’t enjoy running, because I do, it’s just more fun when the runs have more meaning like they do during marathon training.

Another reason I am finding it harder to get excited about getting outside is the darkness.  It’s hard to put in words, but when it’s pitch black outside, your mind’s natural reaction is to go back to bed.  And these days, my entire runs are done in the dark.  Think of walking around with your eyes closed; there’s a big difference on your psyche when you can see everything around you.

Speaking of running in the dark, I own the roads these days.  I see nary a soul when I’m out - with the exception of an occasional dog walker.  It’s kind of nice.  I am pretty much staying on the roads now; I don’t like to go on the secluded running paths in the dark.  Not that I’m afraid that I will get mugged for attacked by someone; it’s the animals that scare me.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/23/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:12:45.00
• Distance: 9 miles
• Average Pace: 8:05.18/mile