Walk

Activity: Walk
Time: 83 minutes
Location: Humble FD

Something is better than nothing. I'm hoping my knee stops aching soon.

Life

I'm trying my best to wear a smile on the outside. Its hard when everything around me is crumbling.

Repeats

Activity: Run
Mileage: 4.0 miles
Time: 34:38 -- 8:40 pace
8:53, 9:16, 8:15, 8:14
Location: Humble FD
Average HR: 159
142, 157, 166, 174

4 x 1 mile repeats followed by 500 meter walk. As you can see from the heart rate(s), I'm tired and working too hard for an eight-ish minute pace.

5 miles

Activity: Run
Mileage: 5.2 miles
Time: 53:42 -- 10:20 pace
Location: Kingwood Greenbelts

Kevin saved me.

I was tired all last week. I started feeling better Thursday/Friday, then the long run with Vic zapped me. Almost blew off today's run. Kevin showed up at the the house and we started talking about running. Before I knew it we were changing into shorts and on the trails.

Very humid today. Pushed Alison in the stroller. Legs felt good, but I was working quite hard to maintain a 10:20 pace.

Anyone else having Garmin signal problems? Its been hit-and-miss for a couple weeks.

3 miles

Activity: Run
Mileage: 3 miles
Time: 30:34 -- 10:11 pace
Location: Humble FD
Average HR: 143

My knee hurt all day yesterday. Hurt bad.

Didn't feel like running today, but felt better after making myself run a few miles.

Long run

Activity: Run
Mileage: 12 miles
Time: 2:41:01 -- 13:25 pace
Location: Cullen/Big Bear park
Average HR: 127

Activity: Weight Training
Body Region: Upper
Time: 30 minutes (to be done after nap)
Location: Home Gym

Showed up late for Strider's group run. Ended up running with Vic, who arrived after me and needed to log fourteen miles. After nine miles I started experiencing knee problems.

I-10 traffic and construction is FRUSTRATING. I left my house this morning at 6:40 am. I just walked in the house and its currently 12:20 pm. That's nearly six hours of my day gone for a simple 12-mile run.

9 mile bike

Activity: Bike
Mileage: ~9.0 miles
Time: ~1 hour
Location: Kingwood

Casual bike ride around Kingwood with my friend, Wyatt.

3 miles

Activity: Run
Mileage: 3 miles
Time: 30:12 -- 10:04 pace
10:14, 9:45, 10:14
Location: Humble FD
Average HR: 146

Activity: Weight Training
Body Region: Lower
Time: 30 minutes
Location: Humble FD Gym

I'm getting my legs back under me.

Interview with Cupid

4 miles

Activity: Run
Mileage: 4.09 miles
Time: 43:13 -- 10:33 pace
10:53, 10:18, 10:39,
10:22, 0:59 (0.09 mile)
Location: Kingwood Greenbelts
Average HR: 143

Activity: Weight Training
Body Region: Mid-body
Time: 30 minutes
Location: Home Gym

I've shorten my mileage and slowed my pace, but continue to have tired legs.

Recovery week

Activity: Run
Mileage: 2 miles
Time: 20:59 -- 10:30 pace
10:40, 10:19
Location: Kingwood Greenbelts

Activity: Weight Training
Body Region: Upper
Time: 30 minutes
Location: Home Gym

I'm glad to be home. I've been at work for 52-hours straight. Plus, it has been a busy month for fires and EMS calls.

Trying to determine the reason my legs are sore and I'm tired when I run. The CC didn't chime in on my last question, "Any advantages/disadvantages to running long the day after a hard race". I've decided to cut all of this weeks mileage in half. Hopefully, I'll be rested enough for the Rodeo 10k on Saturday. I'd love to run a sub 52 minute 10k on my first 2007 attempt.

I'll see my Striders friends tonight at Bubba's. Can't wait!

Here's a fun article for those of you who are bored. Enjoy

Run cut short

Activity: Run
Mileage: 5.27 miles
Time: 56:59 -- 10:49 pace
10:55, 10:41, 10:31, 10:26,
11:22, 3:04 (0.27 mile)
Location: Humble FD
Average HR: 140

Planned to run long at work, somewhere between ten and twelve miles. Just past the five mile mark we got two large fires back to back. After all the work was done, I lacked the desire to run another five miles.

During the run I was tired and my legs were heavy. This was the same feeling I had last week. Is there any benefit to running long after a hard race? I may use this week as a mini-recovery. I have a sore spot on the bottom of my left foot that will not go away. Only hurts when I'm bare foot.

One more comment about P2P

I forgot to mention the highlight of today's race.

Last week I had a good race at BW 6k. I did well partly because I ran 10-20 yards behind Lisa Foronda. She looks as good coming, as she does going.... TRUST ME.

Today I ran a good race behind another girl, but not for the same reasons. I found myself trying to keep up with this "girl" for the first three miles. Not just any girl.... a very young girl. I assumed she was five years old, maybe six. Two things struck me odd. One: Holy shit that girl is running fast. Two: She looks just like Alison.

The bottom line; she ran an 8:10-8:30 pace before she backed off in the last mile. Beautiful, clean stride. I checked her results on RTN. Her name is Rachel Flam from Houston and she is seven years old. Keep your eyes one her. We all may have just met a future Olympian! Did I mention she finished in 43:36 -- 8:42 pace and that's her gun time, not chip time! Needless to say she won her 14 and younger female age bracket. Her closest competitor was 13 years old and 11 minutes behind her!

She looked so similar to my daughter, EVERYONE was complimenting Alison and telling her how proud/inspired they were. It took me a few times to realize they were talking about the other girl.

This may have been the coolest thing I have ever seen.

Park 2 Park report

Activity: Race
Mileage: 5.0 miles
Time: 40:30 -- 8:04 pace
8:19, 8:03, 8:09, 8:03, 7:48
Location: Houston, Texas

Perfect day for a run. Twelve minute PR. That rocks. Wonderful weather. Vic, thanks for the words of encouragement. P2P is quickly becoming a favorite.

Alison ran the 1k in a blazing 10:30. Kevin surprised everyone with a speedy 43 minute run. See, that is all the proof you need. Become a Strider, run faster.

Prediction

Anyone care to predict my P2P time?

Last year I ran a good, hard race and finished in 53:05 (10:37 pace).

I want to get in the 45 minute range this year.

5 more miles

Activity: Run
Mileage: 5.13 miles
Time: 53:11 -- 10:22 pace
Location: Kingwood Greenbelts
Average HR: 152

GPS was acting weird. Luckily I was running one of my usual routes.

Pushed Alison in the stroller. Picked up the pace on the last two miles, because it was getting dark inside the trails. Quarter mile from the finish I remember thinking, "Wow, nothing hurts or aches". Ten feet later my right knee started hurting. The human mind is a weird, weird organ.

Woke up sick this morning. Sore throat, sinus headache, general weakness, and felt sore all over. Odd, that a few other bloggers posted the same. Hmmmm, do I have a virtual flu? May have to do with the lack of sleep. I haven't slept more than four hours at one time in nearly 7 days.

If you haven't noticed, I am taking the week off from weight training. Its a PLANNED recover thing. I'll start again Monday.

Just noticed the Bayou City Classic eliminated the clydesdale division from this years race. I wish more races did a weight class. The logistics must be a nightmare, but it means a lot to a big runner. If anyone knows of such races, please let me know. I would like to support/run them.

5 miles

Activity: Run
Mileage: 5.11 miles
Time: 54:40 -- 10:42 pace
10:43, 10:47, 10:35, 10:54,
10:28, 1:11 (0.11 mile)
Location: Kingwood Greenbelts
Average HR: 145

Ran by heart rate. Tried to stay below 80% of my maximum HR.
220-33=[187]
187 x 0.8=[149.6]
Spent most of my time trying to slow down. I highly enjoyed this run.

4 miles

Activity: Run
Mileage: 4.35 miles
Time: 40:26 -- 9:18 pace
9:31, 9:42, 9:14,
9:09, 2:49 (0.35 mile)
Location: Humble FD

Blisters

Activity: Long Run
Mileage: 10.2 miles
Time: 1:45:59 -- 10:23 pace
10:22, 10:14, 10:28, 10:23,
10:15, 10:25, 10:09, 10:38,
10:35, 10:35, 1:55 (0.20 mile)
Location: Jones Park - Conroe

Activity: Weight Training
Body Region: Upper
Time: 30 minutes
Location: Home Gym

A few weeks ago I read about some trails in Jones park. They're located off 1488 between the Woodlands and Conroe. I learned this from Rick Cook's blog (dirt runner). Jon Walk read my comment on Ricks blog and emailed me a google map of the route they run. Its much like Huntsville State Park, but no RR or water fountains. The trails and scenery are very similar. Parking is ample and its a bit more level. I ran with Kevin. Made for a nice morning, but I was no where close to recovered from yesterdays race.

My legs are thrashed. Within the first mile they were tired and heavy. I didn't feel like running, but pushed forward anyways.

The new yellow NB 872 suck. I've not had a single blister since I started running. During yesterdays race I felt a couple hot spots, but I didn't pay them any attention. Right now, I have a quarter size blister on my right foot and three 1/4-inch blisters on my left foot. I think the shoes are too big. Plus, we went through a lot of water today. Erin bought them from Zapatos.com, so I may be stuck with them.

Buffalo Wallow

Activity: Race
Mileage: 3.88 miles
Time: 33:28 -- 8:38 pace
8:28, 8:47, 8:59, 7:14 (0.88 mile)
Location: Houston, TX

Activity: Weight Training
Body Region: Lower
Time: 30 minutes
Location: Home Gym

Nice day to run. Bettered my time by 15 minutes from last year. Competition was fierce. My 8:38 pace for good enough for last place in my age bracket.

Kevin joined both HARRA and the Houston Striders. Welcome!

Picked up my Ironfoot award (socks, again). I wish HARRA did more for the Ironfoot winners. While I might not be fast, I'm persistent. Its a large accomplishment for me to win anything. I'm not looking for a Main Street parade, but come on already. Today was similar to last year when I won. After finally finding the right person, I was told, "Grab a pair of socks out of the grocery sack and sign here". Makes me care less about their lil' Ironfoot award.

Kevin and I drove around Houston, signing up for our next two races, Park to Park 5 mile, and Rodeo 10k. I can't wait.

Low key w/o

Activity: Stationary Bike
Level: 5
Time: 30 minutes
Location: Home Gym

Back on schedule

Activity: Run
Mileage: 6.0 miles
Time: 59:25 -- 9:54 pace
10:57, 10:22, 10:01,
7:45, 10:28, 9:51
Location: Kingwood Greenbelts

Activity: Weight Training
Body Region: Mid-body
Time: 30 minutes
Location: Home Gym

Coach Steeve said, "Looks like your are on the mend and ready to transition back to training and racing without having to worry about nagging injuries. "

That's the green light I was looking for. SMART schedule called for six miles with the fourth mile at tempo. I pushed the fourth mile as hard as I could, yet left enough in the tank to finish the remaining two miles.

Damn, I'm tired.

Shoes

If you make it out to the Buffalo Wallow, you'll see the debut of Bill's loud shoes.

You might recall me registering for the RR-50. That was before the knee and ankle injuries. During that time I did a fair amount of researching about trail running shoes. I had a couple brands-models of interest after reading reviews in Runners World magazine and an Ultra list server I read.

As a parting gift, er I mean Christmas gift, Erin bought me a pair of NB 872 in a beautiful Strider Yellow color. I don't mean the parting gift comment in a mean way. I'm simply trying to lighten my spirits. It was nice that Erin encouraged me to try an ultra, she listened to my desire for specialty trail shoes, and she actually went out and bought the ones I wanted. So, thanks Erin.

Anyways, I've only wore them once and that was on concrete. I'm excited to test them out Saturday. Last year I was dead last at BW. With any luck and some brand new yellow shoes I hope to move up a place or two.