I didn't get out of bed very early this morning. It was quite late actually. I wanted to enjoy my last day of vacation. When I finally got up, my wife had some errands to do and then wanted to go for a run. We got the errands done quickly, then drove to Lemon Park to run in the shade.
We walked out into the nature trails and then started to run. We ran this way and that avoiding dead ends most of the time. It was nice in the shade, but the lack of wind made it a bit warm. About a mile and a half into it, my wife decided she wanted to leave the trees behind, so we ran out onto the road and finished our workout on the paved sidewalks.
After a brief cool down, we headed home. (garmin data)
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Post-14er shake out...
I slept in a bit this morning after summitting two 14ers yesterday. When I finally got out of bed, I went out for a run. I ran a mile with my wife to warm up. It was her first time out since spraining her ankle several weeks ago. We ran on the trail so the surface was softer for her. She did great, covering the mile with only a short walk break or two in less than twelve minutes.
I walked her back to the house, then headed out on my own. I ran back to the trail and headed west. I wanted to run down to the intersection we'd driven through several times over the past few days. I wasn't sure how far away it was, but I knew it would give me a decent workout with the hill on it.
I lost my Garmin to dead battery before I'd even gone a mile, so I just ran by feel. I wasn't in a big hurry, but I kept a steady rhythm. I covered the out and back in just over an hour. With the time running with my wife, I figured it was close to an hour and a quarter. That means I average for "my" portion of the run was around 9:09.
I walked her back to the house, then headed out on my own. I ran back to the trail and headed west. I wanted to run down to the intersection we'd driven through several times over the past few days. I wasn't sure how far away it was, but I knew it would give me a decent workout with the hill on it.
I lost my Garmin to dead battery before I'd even gone a mile, so I just ran by feel. I wasn't in a big hurry, but I kept a steady rhythm. I covered the out and back in just over an hour. With the time running with my wife, I figured it was close to an hour and a quarter. That means I average for "my" portion of the run was around 9:09.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Can I have some O2?
After a good night's sleep at my brother's house, I was ready to test my lungs at altitude. I got a little mixed up getting out of the housing development, but eventually found my way to the running path I spotted when we drove in last night.
Running along the path was fun. Prairie dogs were everywhere, chirping at me, warning each other that a big, old guy was on his way.
I ran down the hill and around the corner before crossing the road to run in an open park across the way. I ran till I hit my first split in the trail and took a left. I was hoping there would be a loop. There was. I had a couple of rabbits run across the path less than five feet in front of me.
By the time I got back to the road and crossed it, I was getting kind of tired. I ran up the hill at a slightly slower pace and then ran back into the housing development. I stopped when the distance rolled over to four miles. That was enough for one day up here. I was pleased that I actually stayed under 9:00 pace. (garmin data)
Running along the path was fun. Prairie dogs were everywhere, chirping at me, warning each other that a big, old guy was on his way.
I ran down the hill and around the corner before crossing the road to run in an open park across the way. I ran till I hit my first split in the trail and took a left. I was hoping there would be a loop. There was. I had a couple of rabbits run across the path less than five feet in front of me.
By the time I got back to the road and crossed it, I was getting kind of tired. I ran up the hill at a slightly slower pace and then ran back into the housing development. I stopped when the distance rolled over to four miles. That was enough for one day up here. I was pleased that I actually stayed under 9:00 pace. (garmin data)
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
A beautiful ride with a beautiful woman...
My wife wanted to show me her finally-organized-like-she-likes-it classroom, so we got up at 6:00 and rode out to the school. While I was airing up my tires, she took off in a catch-me-if-you-can way. I caught her, but it took longer than I expected it to. I think she was pushing to stay away longer. On Main Street it happened again. A friend pulled up at an intersection and I stopped to talk. She kept going. I had to chase her down again. Then a stupid little dog started following us. He followed us for quite awhile since we weren't going very fast uphill. I finally had to turn and lead the dog away from my wife, then sprint away to lose him. The funniest part of that was watching him almost run straight into a chain link fence at full speed. He was concentrating on me and didn't see it. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! That done, I was chasing that beautiful woman again. I caught her at the bridge less than a mile from the school.
The trip back home was less eventful. We had a slight tailwind, so it was pretty easy going. We made it back in time to get the kids up and get them moving for our road trip today. They get up pretty easy when it means cousin time! My wife's average speed was 9.9. That's the fastest she's made the to school and back trek. Woohoo!
The trip back home was less eventful. We had a slight tailwind, so it was pretty easy going. We made it back in time to get the kids up and get them moving for our road trip today. They get up pretty easy when it means cousin time! My wife's average speed was 9.9. That's the fastest she's made the to school and back trek. Woohoo!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Sweaty trails...
I set out this morning with plans to run at least 10 miles, maybe 11. I figured I had plenty of time since I left before 6:00. I wanted to run a bunch of the miles on dirt, too, since most of the 100-miler I'm doing this fall will be on dirt roads. I thought through my options, puzzling over where the closest dirt roads were. Then I thought of my time on the trails yesterday and decided running the woods would be my best option.
I ran along the streets and through the hospital parking lot on my way to the paved trail through Sixth Street Park. I ran it, glancing a the new placards that identify some of the trees. Interesting. I turned the corner and ran down to Lemon Park where I took about half of the paved trail till it met up with the trails I was aiming for.
As I ran into the woods, I noticed the humidity immediately. It was muggy! Still, without the sun beating down on me, it wasn't all that bad at first. After a couple of miles though, it was almost unbearable. I was sweating like crazy and there was no breeze to evaporate it away. Ugh!
I gave up on the trails much sooner than I'd planned and headed back into town. I was still going to run seven or eight miles, but the longer I ran the more miserable the 71% wetness felt. I decided a block or two before Howard that I was done in. I ran through the Assembly of God parking lot and up the hill, across the highway and when I hit 6.5 miles, I stopped my feet and my Garmin. Finished. A short walk brought me home where blessed air conditioning cooled my dripping body. (garmin data)
I ran along the streets and through the hospital parking lot on my way to the paved trail through Sixth Street Park. I ran it, glancing a the new placards that identify some of the trees. Interesting. I turned the corner and ran down to Lemon Park where I took about half of the paved trail till it met up with the trails I was aiming for.
As I ran into the woods, I noticed the humidity immediately. It was muggy! Still, without the sun beating down on me, it wasn't all that bad at first. After a couple of miles though, it was almost unbearable. I was sweating like crazy and there was no breeze to evaporate it away. Ugh!
I gave up on the trails much sooner than I'd planned and headed back into town. I was still going to run seven or eight miles, but the longer I ran the more miserable the 71% wetness felt. I decided a block or two before Howard that I was done in. I ran through the Assembly of God parking lot and up the hill, across the highway and when I hit 6.5 miles, I stopped my feet and my Garmin. Finished. A short walk brought me home where blessed air conditioning cooled my dripping body. (garmin data)
Monday, July 2, 2012
Happy trails...
It had been over a week since my feet last slapped pavement, so I was ready to run when I woke up this morning. I laced up my Kinvara 2s and headed out the door.
I headed south on Edgeford first and continued on south on Howard to Sixth Street. My first idea was to run out to Lake Road on Country Club and run over to Highway 281 before returning home. Then as I was about to pass the trails near the sewage plant, my feet told me they wanted to run some trails. I ran past the guard tower while the snipers were looking the other way and enjoyed a nice little jaunt through the trees along the river. It was a beautiful morning to run in the woods. I borrowed the "facilities" when I came out and then left the way I'd come in. Not one sharpshooter took a shot at me.
Leaving the trails behind, I returned to my original route. I climbed up Country Club to Lake and then climbed up and over the little rise on Lake. Then it happened again! My feet turned me into the trails on the south edge of Lemon Park. There are little gaps in the trees along Lake Road, so it was as easy as anything to jump in. I once again found myself smiling as I weaved in and out of the trees and sped along the river.
I came off the trail and ran backward around the driving loop and Lemon, then headed to Sixth Street Park. I ran through the park and took the paved "trail" for a little till I found myself running north on Rochester. I skipped through the parking lot at the Dragon's Den and crossed the highway to Champa. From there a little twisting and turning brought me to 10K and my front porch.
After enjoying every minute of cycling last week, I wasn't sure how the return to running would go. I guess it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. (garmin data)
I headed south on Edgeford first and continued on south on Howard to Sixth Street. My first idea was to run out to Lake Road on Country Club and run over to Highway 281 before returning home. Then as I was about to pass the trails near the sewage plant, my feet told me they wanted to run some trails. I ran past the guard tower while the snipers were looking the other way and enjoyed a nice little jaunt through the trees along the river. It was a beautiful morning to run in the woods. I borrowed the "facilities" when I came out and then left the way I'd come in. Not one sharpshooter took a shot at me.
Leaving the trails behind, I returned to my original route. I climbed up Country Club to Lake and then climbed up and over the little rise on Lake. Then it happened again! My feet turned me into the trails on the south edge of Lemon Park. There are little gaps in the trees along Lake Road, so it was as easy as anything to jump in. I once again found myself smiling as I weaved in and out of the trees and sped along the river.
I came off the trail and ran backward around the driving loop and Lemon, then headed to Sixth Street Park. I ran through the park and took the paved "trail" for a little till I found myself running north on Rochester. I skipped through the parking lot at the Dragon's Den and crossed the highway to Champa. From there a little twisting and turning brought me to 10K and my front porch.
After enjoying every minute of cycling last week, I wasn't sure how the return to running would go. I guess it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. (garmin data)
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