Sat 2006 Oct 28, 5 mi, 40 deg

St Croix Valley Runners 5 mi, 39:20, pace 7:52. Started out in front slowly, expecting the group to catch up, but they ran even more slowly today so I picked up the pace, finishing way ahead. I like to run a hard 5k or 8k one week before a marathon. This wasn't real hard, but it will do nicely. What a lovely morning for running: cool, breezy, dry, with a colorful sunrise as we ran. I saw every kind of waterfowl overhead, gathering their strength for the winter trek south. Good group of runners: Jim, Gauss, Doug, George, Charlie, Paul, Wayne, and Cal, plus A & S and myself. Fine conversation before and after. No pain, no strain. Two more runs before boarding the airplane for NYC. :-)

Thu 2006 Oct 26, 3 mi, 36 deg

Gateway Trail 3 mi, 23:00, pace < 8:00. Recovery run with JG, turned out to be a pretty aggressive pace. Excellent, cool morning, red sunrise through the trees lining the trail. Good conversation, just what a run should be. I was still a little tired from last night and Tuesday, but able to keep up. Didn't try to hold JG back this time. We walked a mile or so after the run too. No pains. Tomorrow is a day off, time for some yard work I hope.

Wed 2006 Oct 25, 5.8 mi, 47 deg

Woodbury Runners 5.8 mi, 45:47, pace 7:54. Faster than intended, but that's normal with this bunch of roadrunners. After the 3-mile mark I took the shortcut and they went faster, going the full 6.2 miles in about the same time. Lovely, cool, clear evening, ran through the sunset. I wore a headlamp, and was glad for it toward the end. No problems. I feel very good, went to a party afterward for a law school classmate.

Tue 2006 Oct 24, 8 mi, 40 deg

Gateway Trail 8 mi, 1:03:47, pace 7:58. What a wonderful run! Intended to run 8:30 or so, because I'll be with those Woodbury speedsters tomorrow, but just couldn't hold back. Probably a bit faster than 7:58 pace, because the mile markers on the trail have been removed for re-paving and I might have gone a little long before turning around. For sure not short. First mile 7:53, last mile 7:07; that marker was there. Also I walked for several minutes to take an incoming business call, and didn't subtract that time. Anyway it was a beautiful day to run, cool and windless with some clouds and some blue sky, plus the tail end of fall color. Passed by A & S twice on the trail; we parked at opposite ends of the run so each of us would have a water supply at our turnaround. No pains, no strain.  I feel great.

Mon 2006 Oct 23, 4 miles, 37 deg

West Lakeland Four Miler, about 34 minutes, pace probably 8:30 or so. I forgot to put on my watch. Cool, breezy morning; I went mostly east & west to avoid the worst of the north wind. Just a nice, fairly easy run, no objective except to put down a few miles and feel better all day. No pains, no strain.

Sat 2006 Oct 21, 10k Race, 37 deg

Nerstrand Big Woods 10k Trail Race, 47:40, pace 7:40. Time is an estimate, because I didn't click my watch at the finish, but it's close. Nearly a minute faster than last year, even if not a blazing 10k pace. This race is probably not amenable to a blazing pace, with soft grass & dirt trails, but it is a lovely run through a beautiful woods consisting of several hardwoods and some conifers. Might be first in my age group - results not yet up as I write. Chatted briefly with a young man who confided that this would be his longest run ever, as he passed me by! Met Pat Brown, 70, whom I have seen at many races but whose name I didn't know. No real pains, just a very small warning from my right knee, just south of the kneecap a little to the right. Doubt it's a harbinger of bad news, though I always fret. Big party tomorrow, pig is already on site, life is good!

Fri 2006 Oct 20, 2.3 mi, 34 deg

Afton trails 2.3 mi, 20:30, pace about 8:50. Distance is just a guess. Wonderful recovery run with JG, followed by coffee at the coffee shop in Afton, today being JG's birthday. Nice easy run, good conversation even during the run. We were surprised to find our feet slipping on the trail as we went over a bridge, where ice had formed overnight. Other than that minor scare, it was a great time.