A breath of fresh air

I was not looking forward to today's run.  I didn't want to find out if my right shoe was still hurting my ankle.  I didn't want wet feet again.  My shoes hadn't dried out from yesterday.  But, I got myself out the door.

The second mile was all ice and puddles.  I slowed down when I couldn't see an obvious way around the massive puddles.  Most of the time I ended up running through snow to avoid the lakes on the sidewalk.  After that second mile, there were just puddles here and there.

Here are my splits.

8:19

8:12

8:03

8:03

Another 32:37!  However, after the tempo run, my shoe started to bother my ankle again.  I retied my shoe two times on my way home, but it didn't help.  Oh, well.  At least my feet were drier than yesterday.

Will and I completed another run at the indoor track.  Strides and all.

I just want the sidewalks to be cement again, instead of snow, ice, and then cement.  A mile into the run I was going to call it quits because all I could see was ice and snow for more than a quarter mile.  The ice and snow was covering puddles and puddles of water.  As I turned around, I stepped in some snow, but it gave way to yet another frozen puddle.  With my foot soaked, I headed home.  As I got closer to home, I convinced myself to stay out a little longer and try running a different route.  The sidewalks were still bad, but only in thirty foot stretches.

I reached the trail only to find a sign that read, "Trail Closed Due to High Water."  Wanting to see what high water was like, I ran around the sign.  The closed trail was no different than the treacherous sidewalks I'd just come from.  Maybe Sunday when it got up to 50 degrees--for the second time in three months--there was water.  But, the trail was just covered in another thick layer of ice.

Will and I headed outside.  It was 25 degrees with NO wind.  Can you believe it?  Perfect weather compared to a wind chill of 9.

Unfortunately, it started to snow.  I didn't bring the jogging stroller's cover.  (Will can't stand it.  He wants to see what's going on.)  So, I cut the run short.  And spent the next eight hours convincing myself that my day wasn't ruined because my run didn't go as planned.  I only felt better after an hour of cleaning.

I was planning on doing a five mile tempo run today.  Then my husband found out this morning that he needed to be on campus longer than usual.  So, Will and I went to the indoor track.  Did 6 strides.

Dreaded going out.  My right shoe is still bothering my ankle.  I re-tied my shoes at least four times during the first mile.  My hip has been stiff lately.  But, my ankle and hip feel better after a mile.

Dreaded going out, again.  Retied my shoes at least four times again during the first mile.  But, I finished the tempo run.  I took it one mile at a time.  Here are my mile splits:

8:23

8:19

8:13

8:07

8:15

So 41:17.  I was very pleased.  My hip bothered me a bit.  (Temp 19 degrees.  Wind Chill 12 degrees.)

Will and I were back at the indoor track with all our friends (the regulars).  6 strides again.

Will and I ran outside.  My feet stayed surprisingly dry.  I think running in the wake of the jogging stroller helped.  It was so warm!  I didn't even put on my gloves.  I pulled off my sweat shirt in the first mile.  And took off my hat for a few miles.  It was 39 degrees and sunny.

Today was my farewell run to my Nike Pegasus.  Tonight I bought Mizuno Wave Rider 11.  They are heaven: very light, enough space for my feet and bunions, lots of cushion, and no more annoying pain in my right ankle.  I am looking forward to tomorrow.

Now about today's run, my splits were all over the map.

8:41--My first two quarters were 2:07 and 2:08.  I wasn't surprised and figured my body was still warming up.  But, it didn't get better.  I got slower.  Although, I was giving the same effort as other tempo runs, I couldn't go faster and felt terrible.

8:17--Since I was in the middle of my there-quarter mile stretch of trail, I figured I'd keep running.  The next half a mile, my body showed little improvement.  I talked myself into finishing the second mile.  I don't know how it happened, but I sped up--way up.  I finished the second half of this mile in 3:58.

8:00--I didn't feel like I was pushing it that hard.  But, the 2:00 quarters kept coming.

7:48--Again, I didn't feel like I was pushing it that hard.

7:56

So, 40:42.  Very pleased, but not very consistent.  I am still wondering what happened during the first and second miles.  Was it because it was 50 degrees? Or was it my lunch?  And where did the speed come from?  Should I slow down to my race pace range 8:00 to 8:30?  I felt like I was "working" at the same level as last week.  I am guessing my lunch (a roll and some frosting) slowed me down and the weather sped me up.  Probably a better lunch will help me be more consistent.

Will and I had a very enjoyable run outside!  Will pointed out buses and water (the Iowa River) many times.  My new shoes felt great.  The weather was wonderful: sunny and 39 degrees with NO WIND!  Over the winter, I did forget how much harder hills are with the jogging stroller.  I felt strong despite the tougher work out.

I was more consistent today on my tempo run.  However, I can't remember all my splits. 

8:05

8:07

and then I can't remember.  32:22 for the four miles, so 16:10 for those last two.  This tempo run felt tougher than the one on Thursday.

Will and I got to the indoor track only to find out it was CLOSED!  I was very disappointed.  Last Monday, I read the March closures' sign very carefully.  It did not say it was going to be closed during Spring Break.

I can't remember anything about this run except that it was six miles.

It's offical.  I caught the terrible cold Will is still getting over.  However, I just have a bad cough right now.

The trail still has the sign, "Trail Closed Due to High Water."  I ran on the trail again.  There was no water any where to speak of.

I felt achy my entire run today.  I was so glad when it was over.

Exhasted from little sleep and the terrible cold, I took a nap instead of running.  I was out for two hours.

I ran through the other neighborhood by our apartment for the first time.  (Well, the two--and only two--subdivisions are a mile and a half away.)  I saw a lot of big and interesting looking houses.  One is Chinese and another is a bunch of rectangular boxes stacked by each other.  And yet another has about twenty pricey, arty, ugly statues.  Those were the top three.

Will and I were back at the indoor track.  There is some promise of the weather warming up.  I did the six strides and Will ate fifteen jellybeans.

The wind was intense--huge, huge gusts.  I wasn't looking forward to my run.  I just wanted to lie in bed. 

I went on my run.  I felt horrible.  I had the terrible stomach pains that I had around last Labor Day.  My two mile splits were 8:22 and 8:48.  (I was hoping to run at least 4 tempo miles.)  I felt the worst during the 8:48 and the next two miles.  I was able to "jog" some of it off.  I felt terrible again during and after my shower.  Later that night, I finally felt normal again.

Today's run felt good.  No crazy stomach pains today.

Will and I enjoyed our run along the river.  We saw three dogs, four ducks, and tons of buses and trucks.  Will pointed out each one of the buses and trucks.

Lybi--I was sick, but not that sick.  I didn't get around to blogging my past seven runs until tonight.  I think part of it is that I don't like to admit when I missed a day of running.  Seriously, I don't feel good about my day unless I have run at least five miles.  I don't know if that attitude is healthy.

I ran as quickly as possible because my husband had an unexpected meeting back on campus.  The timing worked out perfectly.  As I was finishing my run, he was walking through the parking lot on his way to catch the bus.  The whole while Will slept.

Today was my longest tempo run ever.  The last mile was pretty tough and missed the choir of croaking frog cheering me on.  They cheered during my third and fourth miles.

Here are my mile splits.

8:00--had a little help from the downhill.

16:05--missed the 2 mile marker

8:04--enjoyed the frogs.  Although, at first I didn't know what the noise was.

8:07--tweaked my hip running down a hill and it bothered me the rest of the run

8:08--pushed hard to get up the hill

This tempo run was done on the trail that was closed for the winter.  (Well, it was open to cross-county skiers and those that wanted to hike through the snow.)  Today there were a few patches of snow, but there was no danger of soaked feet.  I am excited to use the trail for next week's tempo run.

My goal for today's run was just to enjoy it.  And it worked.  I am enjoying the warmer weather.  We've been having more days in the high forties.

Will and I were back at the indoor track.  There were thunder storms all morning.  Will cried the last five laps.  He kept saying, "Water!  Please!  Please!  Water!"  We had already stopped at the drinking fountain three times.  (I forgot to bring his water.)  And the last stop was with six laps to go.  I sang a couple songs, but that didn't distract him at all.  Neither one of us enjoyed those last five laps.  Finally, we were done and I headed straight for the drinking fountain.  After I unbuckled him, he headed for the stairs!  He didn't want water.  He was looking for a way to get out of the jogging stroller.

I did the six strides again.