Running For My Life

I have been sick for the past three days, but in an effort to keep my rather modest 16-day running streak in tact, I kept on going.  Sunday and Monday I did measly little 2-milers, and this morning I worked my way up to a whopping 6 miles!  I am feeling a little better now so hopefully tomorrow I can resume my normal routine.

The other “weather” that I have been under is a bunch of big fat snow clouds, which have continued to dump near daily snow on the streets and running paths in the area.  I have been stuck on the treadmill for too long.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 12/09/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 00:50:06.00
• Calories: 751
• Distance: 6 miles
• Average Pace: 8:20.7/mile

I hit the Pettit Center for a 14-miler this morning since it was windy, snowy and cold outside.  The oval is about 450 meters so I did 50 laps.  I ran with a friend, Bill, who is training for the indoor marathon (for which I happen to be race director) next month at the Pettit.  He was doing 20 miles (72 laps I believe).  It’s actually a great place at which to run in the winter; lots to keep you distracted from the constant turning.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 12/06/2008
• Time: 06:00:00
• Total Time: 2:01:06.00
• Calories: 1736
• Distance: 14 miles
• Average Pace: 8:38.73/mile

The last two winters I have put on major miles since I was training for the Boston Marathon both times.   Without the Boston goal this winter, I am having a harder time finding the motivation to put on miles.  Finding the motivation to get up to run every day is easy, it’s just difficult to go that extra mile.  I think I need to write down a schedule and try to stick to it every day instead of just winging it.  Right now the only goal I have is to run at least 50 miles each week.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 12/05/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:15:30.00
• Calories: 1132
• Distance: 9 miles
• Average Pace: 8:23.5/mile

Just two days after bragging about what a tough guy I was for running outside in the cold weather, I went back to the treadmill this morning.  Not only was it bitter cold (which doesn’t bother me that much….I have run 22 miles in below zero weather), but we just got another 3-4 inches of snow yesterday and I didn’t want to slip and injure my Achilles again like I did in March (conveniently 6 weeks before the Boston Marathon).  I think there’s a fine line between being tough and being stupid, and I didn’t feel like testing that line this morning.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 12/04/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:03:04.00
• Calories: 1028
• Distance: 8 miles
• Average Pace: 7:53.06/mile

I am within 100 miles of eclipsing 2,000 miles for the year, which will be a first-time accomplishment for me.  Considering I was injured and hardly ran for the months of March and April, that makes it even better.   Last year I did almost 1,900 miles.  Next year’s goal: 2,500.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 12/03/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 00:26:16.00
• Calories: 377
• Distance: 3 miles
• Average Pace: 8:45.55/mile

For whatever reason, I have been doing more of my weekday runs on the treadmill lately.  It’s been cold and snowy and icy, but those are all lame excuses; last winter I was able to do daily 10-milers outside almost without exception.

Back to this winter (yes, it is winter in Wisconsin already - we have about 6 inches of snow on the ground)…  I think it’s easier to put on shorts and a tank, and head down to the basement for a run on the treadmill.  But this morning, I had a last-minute change of mind, and I’m glad I did.  It was 17 degrees with 10 mph winds, and there was ice and snow on most of the side roads that I run on.  So upon finishing my 8-miler, I felt much better about my accomplishment.  And I think that will carry over to other “bad weather” days this winter (which are most of them).

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 12/02/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:08:31.00
• Distance: 8 miles
• Average Pace: 8:33.55/mile

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