I ran almost my entire run on bricks today. About a quarter mile from home, I hit the brick on School Street and for some reason it occurred to me that I had never run an entire run on brick streets. How could I have neglected this for so long?! I set to running all the brick streets I could find.
I covered every brick street north of the highway and then crossed the highway. Asphalt! Yikes! I ran fast across it to the brick on the other side. I ran on brick for another several miles until I ran out of brick to run on the west side of Main Street. I ran across Main. Concrete! Yikes! More brick on that side of Main. Then I ran out of time and had to run about a quarter mile on sidewalks along Highway 54. I caught Curtis from there and was back on brick until I returned to the final quarter mile of chip-n-seal which took me home.
With a little more time, I could have run all the brick in town. There was still a little to do. Maybe another day. (garmin data)
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Tour de parcs...
I took off this morning not really caring where I went. I just wanted to run. I ran up Belmont, skipped over to Glenarm, took Holly over to Hampton Park and did a lap around the walking path there. While I was circling the playground, I hatched a plan to run the sidewalks in the parks. That meant running down to Sixth Street Park and Lemon Park after Hampton. Running on sidewalks through trees in the dark isn't the best idea. It's hard to figure out where the turns are.
About halfway through Lemon Park's mile loop, I came up with another plan: run through our around all the parks in town. There are lots of them. I left Lemon and ran up to Fifth Street missed Centennial Park by an block and circled back around to get it before running up to Zerger Park. I ran along the highway for a block or two then ran back down to Second Street and took it over to Westhoff Park. I think that was the name of it. It was dark and it doesn't show up on Google maps. From there I ran a block too far once again and had to circle back to run up Mound past May Dennis Park with it's 27-hole disc golf course. It's called Rock Island Park on Google Maps, but I saw the sign that said May Dennis.
I ran back over to Main and ran down to Green which I took east to Champa Street Park. From there it was just a hop, skip and a jump back home. (garmin data)
About halfway through Lemon Park's mile loop, I came up with another plan: run through our around all the parks in town. There are lots of them. I left Lemon and ran up to Fifth Street missed Centennial Park by an block and circled back around to get it before running up to Zerger Park. I ran along the highway for a block or two then ran back down to Second Street and took it over to Westhoff Park. I think that was the name of it. It was dark and it doesn't show up on Google maps. From there I ran a block too far once again and had to circle back to run up Mound past May Dennis Park with it's 27-hole disc golf course. It's called Rock Island Park on Google Maps, but I saw the sign that said May Dennis.
I ran back over to Main and ran down to Green which I took east to Champa Street Park. From there it was just a hop, skip and a jump back home. (garmin data)
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
A great start...
What a run! 59 degrees. Just a fingernail-clipping sliver of a moon. Bright, bright stars. Barely a breath of wind. Awesome!
My plan when I toed the start line this morning was to run out past the lake and up the hill south of it. I figured I'd have time to run at least a little of it before I had to turn around to meet my goal of an hour and fifteen minutes on the road. I was wrong. I hit the corner before the lake at almost 30 minutes and decided I wouldn't even make the base of the hill before having to turn back. I changed my plans and ran around the bend and up the hill toward the highway.
As I approached 54 I fully intended to turn left and take the dirt road closest to town, but when I got to the intersection I turned right and ran out to the next road, the one with the long steady hill. I had forgotten about that little detail in the months since the last time I was out that far. The hill didn't trouble me much, but the pile of sand on the edge of the road did. I stumbled into it more than once.
I turned left when I got to the next road and headed back into town. As I was running along, I all of a sudden realized I was running faster and feeling better. It was a strange sensation. I glanced at my Garmin. It confirmed the increase in pace. My average was around 8:58 when it had been at 9:01 earlier.
Since I felt good, I decided to push a little harder for the last three miles or so. I ran them in 8:36, 8:27 and 8:37. Not bad considering the earlier miles had all been around 9:00 pace. The last .12 was at 8:08. I wish I had run the whole thing at that pace. Maybe another day.
I enjoyed a nice cool down lap around the block. The light of the sun was just beginning to color the world. What a great way to start the day! (garmin data)
My plan when I toed the start line this morning was to run out past the lake and up the hill south of it. I figured I'd have time to run at least a little of it before I had to turn around to meet my goal of an hour and fifteen minutes on the road. I was wrong. I hit the corner before the lake at almost 30 minutes and decided I wouldn't even make the base of the hill before having to turn back. I changed my plans and ran around the bend and up the hill toward the highway.
As I approached 54 I fully intended to turn left and take the dirt road closest to town, but when I got to the intersection I turned right and ran out to the next road, the one with the long steady hill. I had forgotten about that little detail in the months since the last time I was out that far. The hill didn't trouble me much, but the pile of sand on the edge of the road did. I stumbled into it more than once.
I turned left when I got to the next road and headed back into town. As I was running along, I all of a sudden realized I was running faster and feeling better. It was a strange sensation. I glanced at my Garmin. It confirmed the increase in pace. My average was around 8:58 when it had been at 9:01 earlier.
Since I felt good, I decided to push a little harder for the last three miles or so. I ran them in 8:36, 8:27 and 8:37. Not bad considering the earlier miles had all been around 9:00 pace. The last .12 was at 8:08. I wish I had run the whole thing at that pace. Maybe another day.
I enjoyed a nice cool down lap around the block. The light of the sun was just beginning to color the world. What a great way to start the day! (garmin data)
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
A little rain must fall...
The first thing I did this morning was look at the radar. Yesterday they were predicting a 50% chance of rain, so I wanted to see if it was coming. It was! Since I didn't see any lightning, I decided to go out and see if I could run a little moisture out of the sky. I mean what cloud doesn't love dumping a torrential downpour on a runner?
I started running right around 5:00 and within a block was beginning to feel raindrops. That gave me a light quick step. It's been so long since we've had much rain. I ran west and then decided to run south to the highway then run back and forth on the east-west streets. A block from Main I decided I needed to do some intervals, so I sprinted the last block and then continued this pattern for the rest of the first half of my run.
After I'd run every street east and west, I started in on the north and south. I finished those from Curtis to Main and decided to do the same "every street" grid going back to the east, Curtis to Belmont. Since there are weird street angles on that side, it took some maneuvering to get it done, but I came out just right in the end. I even threw in an extra two minutes to get myself up to 8 miles.
I walked a little cool down after I was done and then took a longed-for swig of water. Now I have to wait until after my lab work is drawn to eat. Hope my cholesterol is down this time. Grrrrr! (garmin data)
I started running right around 5:00 and within a block was beginning to feel raindrops. That gave me a light quick step. It's been so long since we've had much rain. I ran west and then decided to run south to the highway then run back and forth on the east-west streets. A block from Main I decided I needed to do some intervals, so I sprinted the last block and then continued this pattern for the rest of the first half of my run.
After I'd run every street east and west, I started in on the north and south. I finished those from Curtis to Main and decided to do the same "every street" grid going back to the east, Curtis to Belmont. Since there are weird street angles on that side, it took some maneuvering to get it done, but I came out just right in the end. I even threw in an extra two minutes to get myself up to 8 miles.
I walked a little cool down after I was done and then took a longed-for swig of water. Now I have to wait until after my lab work is drawn to eat. Hope my cholesterol is down this time. Grrrrr! (garmin data)
Monday, August 13, 2012
Food that does not stay put...
I am adding another kind of food to the list of foods I should NOT eat the night before I run. Joining Mexican, Chinese and Indian food, is the African food I had last night. Delicious as it was, it did not want to stay put in my gastrointestinal tract this morning. No accidents, but WOW there were some anxious moments out on the streets.
I woke up much less stiff than I was yesterday. I had just a little soreness in my calf muscles which was mostly ignorable. I only noticed it when I first started up and it wasn't a problem the rest of the time.
Because I was uncertain about the stability of things in the lower abdominal region, I chose a route that would keep me reasonably close to home. I ran up Larimer as far as it goes, turned left and ran over to Stout, took Stout south to the highway, crossed over the highway and wound my way down Haskell to Sixth where I took another left. From there I ran over to Howard, took a left and ran back home. The loop was around 2.6 miles and I took a quick pit stop after the first go round. I ran a second complete lap after that and then a shortened third lap, cutting off at Holly on the north end and Third on the south.
My goal time this morning was 1:05. I hit that just before I got home. I thought about running all the way, but the second SUPER urge came at that point too. I stopped to walk so I could control things better. I made it to the facilities before...oh, never mind. You don't want a full report. (garmin data)
I woke up much less stiff than I was yesterday. I had just a little soreness in my calf muscles which was mostly ignorable. I only noticed it when I first started up and it wasn't a problem the rest of the time.
Because I was uncertain about the stability of things in the lower abdominal region, I chose a route that would keep me reasonably close to home. I ran up Larimer as far as it goes, turned left and ran over to Stout, took Stout south to the highway, crossed over the highway and wound my way down Haskell to Sixth where I took another left. From there I ran over to Howard, took a left and ran back home. The loop was around 2.6 miles and I took a quick pit stop after the first go round. I ran a second complete lap after that and then a shortened third lap, cutting off at Holly on the north end and Third on the south.
My goal time this morning was 1:05. I hit that just before I got home. I thought about running all the way, but the second SUPER urge came at that point too. I stopped to walk so I could control things better. I made it to the facilities before...oh, never mind. You don't want a full report. (garmin data)
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Twenty...
Twenty miles. When I started running just over two years ago, I never thought that I'd ever run that far in a single workout. I had no intention of running a marathon, let alone a 100-miler. I should never have bought that first pair of shoes. What was I thinking?!
I set out with the modest goal of running fifteen to twenty miles this morning. I want to get in the habit of running long distances every Saturday and today seemed like as good a day to start that habit as any.
The plan I formulated was simple enough. Run 2.5 miles out in a single direction and run back. If I did that for three directions - west, north, east - I'd get 15 miles. If I added south into the mix, I'd make it twenty.
I ran west first. I felt great. It was 61 degrees again at just after 7:00, so running shirtless felt awesome! I couldn't run straight west - or any direction for that matter - without a few turns this way or that. I just ran till I hit a T in the road and went south or north to the nearest westbound street or road and kept going. I made it clear out to West River Road before the Garmin told me to turn back. On the way back, I nearly got hit by a pickup truck on Jackson. I wasn't paying attention. Yikes! I made it back in one piece, stopped in for a pit stop and some liquid refreshment before heading out again.
I went north next. I had anticipated less traffic than there actually was on this section. Evil Dog's owners were having a sale at their house, though, so there were actually an unusually high number of vehicles passing me by as I made my way north. I ran out on Highway 61 to the paving company's asphalt production place, then turned and ran back along the same route. I must say it was nice not having to worry about Evil Dog. I knew he wouldn't be out since they wouldn't want him eating customers. I drank Gatorade and ate some Shot Bloks during my break after ten.
I ran east next. This took me out onto Highway 54. I ran along feeling the best I had the whole time. I hit half marathon distance at just under two hours. I felt pretty good about that considering I really hadn't been pushing my pace at all the whole time. I ran back to the house, took another short break, downed some Gatorade and a PowerBar gel.
I was a bit surprised by the slight hitch in my get-along when I started my final five-mile leg. My quads were getting sore and they let me know they weren't especially keen on the idea of going further. I told them to shut up and kept plugging away at the distance. Saving south to the last was a BAD idea! There are more steep hills to the south of town than any other direction. I was creeping up and down them, trying not to give up. I succeeded. Take that, hills! I hated them coming back, but I managed to keep going despite a strong compulsion to stop and walk. I ran back into town. Stopped for a break in traffic before crossing 54 again and made it back to the house just as my Garmin clicked over to 20.
I was done, so I walked for a few minutes to cool down. When my heart was a bit happier, I stretched a bit before sitting down on the front step. That was a bit of a mistake. Once I was seated, I didn't want to get up. I rang the doorbell. My middle daughter came to the door. I begged for a drink. She rolled her eyes at me, but went and got it. I gulped it down. My youngest came out. I asked her for a second glass of Gatorade. She complied in much the same way her elder sister had.
Eventually I made it inside. I drank a half gallon of Gatorade, showered and got ready for the day. It's time now to go see my daughter off to her second year of college. Two hours in the car. I hope my sore legs recover. (garmin data)
I set out with the modest goal of running fifteen to twenty miles this morning. I want to get in the habit of running long distances every Saturday and today seemed like as good a day to start that habit as any.
The plan I formulated was simple enough. Run 2.5 miles out in a single direction and run back. If I did that for three directions - west, north, east - I'd get 15 miles. If I added south into the mix, I'd make it twenty.
I ran west first. I felt great. It was 61 degrees again at just after 7:00, so running shirtless felt awesome! I couldn't run straight west - or any direction for that matter - without a few turns this way or that. I just ran till I hit a T in the road and went south or north to the nearest westbound street or road and kept going. I made it clear out to West River Road before the Garmin told me to turn back. On the way back, I nearly got hit by a pickup truck on Jackson. I wasn't paying attention. Yikes! I made it back in one piece, stopped in for a pit stop and some liquid refreshment before heading out again.
I went north next. I had anticipated less traffic than there actually was on this section. Evil Dog's owners were having a sale at their house, though, so there were actually an unusually high number of vehicles passing me by as I made my way north. I ran out on Highway 61 to the paving company's asphalt production place, then turned and ran back along the same route. I must say it was nice not having to worry about Evil Dog. I knew he wouldn't be out since they wouldn't want him eating customers. I drank Gatorade and ate some Shot Bloks during my break after ten.
I ran east next. This took me out onto Highway 54. I ran along feeling the best I had the whole time. I hit half marathon distance at just under two hours. I felt pretty good about that considering I really hadn't been pushing my pace at all the whole time. I ran back to the house, took another short break, downed some Gatorade and a PowerBar gel.
I was a bit surprised by the slight hitch in my get-along when I started my final five-mile leg. My quads were getting sore and they let me know they weren't especially keen on the idea of going further. I told them to shut up and kept plugging away at the distance. Saving south to the last was a BAD idea! There are more steep hills to the south of town than any other direction. I was creeping up and down them, trying not to give up. I succeeded. Take that, hills! I hated them coming back, but I managed to keep going despite a strong compulsion to stop and walk. I ran back into town. Stopped for a break in traffic before crossing 54 again and made it back to the house just as my Garmin clicked over to 20.
I was done, so I walked for a few minutes to cool down. When my heart was a bit happier, I stretched a bit before sitting down on the front step. That was a bit of a mistake. Once I was seated, I didn't want to get up. I rang the doorbell. My middle daughter came to the door. I begged for a drink. She rolled her eyes at me, but went and got it. I gulped it down. My youngest came out. I asked her for a second glass of Gatorade. She complied in much the same way her elder sister had.
Eventually I made it inside. I drank a half gallon of Gatorade, showered and got ready for the day. It's time now to go see my daughter off to her second year of college. Two hours in the car. I hope my sore legs recover. (garmin data)
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