Another Short Run

I worked quite hard yesterday and didn't feel strong today, so we chose 40-minute routes.  I did the usual 1 to 1 run/walk, but didn't really feel strong until the last mile or two, when I was able to go a little faster.  We took the paved trails again because the grass trails are soggier than ever after more rain last night.

Distance: 3.53 miles, time 39:08, pace 11:05.  Good enough.  No whining.  It's a masterpiece.

Slept Late

I can't believe I slept until 8 am!  Must have needed it.  Then we had a coffee and went right to the park to run.  The temperature was already 75 and rising, so I tried to take it fairly easy, using my usual one to one run/walk.  Distance 4.95 miles, time 56:00, pace 11:19, it'll do.

No whining.  I need to run either farther or faster pretty soon.

More Rain

We got almost two and a half inches last night, and so did the park, so we ran on the paved trails instead of the soggy grass trails.  The temperature was 72 degrees, plenty warm for running, but the 25 mph wind felt pretty good wherever it could get through the trees.

I didn't feel particularly strong, especially at first, but I did the 1 to 1 run/walk anyway, 3.53 miles again, in 38:21, for a pace of 10:52.  That will do fine for today, longer runs are coming up.

No whining!  The cold is pretty much gone - no coughing, sneezing, or nose blowing other than the usual amount from seasonal allergies.

Like A Dog Straining at the Leash

We don't have a dog, but that's how I feel myself on a day like today as we head for the park.  I just can't wait to get started on the run.  And it was so worth it today, 70 degrees and sunny, with little or no wind, perfect for sitting in the shade sipping on a hot tea, and only a little too warm for running if I were picky.  I wasn't - I loved it and felt strong all the way.

I ran on the grass trails, finding them very nice indeed - in fact my usually-muddy shoes were cleaner by far after I finished the run than before I started.  I did a one to one run/walk, going 5.16 miles in 59:56, for a pace of 11:37.

Whining: Just a little warning from the PFS in the right knee after I ran hard up a steep hill.  No problem.  My cold isn't gone, but it's getting better.  It's a masterpiece.

Short Summer!

Sixty degrees today, windy, with dark clouds scudding across the sky, it felt like a fall day with snow soon to follow.  In June.

Happily, the weather forecast people are adamant that Friday will be better.  I'll let you know.  The weather wasn't actually too bad for running, though, kinda fun.

I ran the same figure-eight course that I ran last Sunday and Monday, using the same 1 to 1 run/walk ratio, but didn't feel like pushing very hard and the time shows it.  3.53 miles in 39:45, for a pace of 11:16.  Good enough, and I felt like I could keep on going at this pace for quite a while.

No whining, except for my cold.  It might be getting better, though.  Hard to say, the symptoms change.

Back Home

... with a cold, as so often happens.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014:

Today's run was back on the park's grass trails, just four miles, but that's enough, because I still have my cold.  It seems to be getting better, but I don't want to push my luck.  I'm still keeping extra warm and getting a nap or two every day.  I have a very clear memory of February's bout of pneumonia, and don't want a repeat.

Today's run was just delightful.  The trails were wetter than I thought they would be, because of recent rain I guess, but I was able to get by the wettest spots without much difficulty.  Shoes and sox got a little wet from dew on the grass, but that's the price to be paid for a lovely run in the cool of the morning. Easily worth it.  I'm anxious to go farther, when my cold abates.

Distance: 4.03 mi, time 47:22, pace 11:45.  I think I worked just as hard today as I did yesterday on the paved trails, but the grass trails seem to take me about a minute per mile longer.  Anyway I'm happy with the time.  It's a masterpiece!

Monday, June 9:

Trilium on the edge of our woods

Paved-trail figure-eight again.  This is the same route that I ran yesterday, except I ran it in the other direction.  Today was more humid than yesterday, but the temperature and humidity evidently didn't slow me down, as I finished the route almost a half minute faster today.  No problems.  Except for my cold, no whining
.
Splits: 16:07 (west, 1.46 mi), 21:50 (east, 2.07), total time 37:58, distance 3.53, pace 10:45.  Slightly slower on the west loop, faster on the east.

Sunday, June 8:

Paved trail figure-eight, 3.53 miles.  While I still have the cold I'm not doing anything very long.  I probably shouldn't run very hard, either, so I'm limiting my run/walk ratio to no faster than 1 to 1, except I might run more on a long, gentle downhill.  Those are rare.

Today was a lovely day to be outdoors, plenty warm for running but a pleasure to be out there.  No problems I finished in 38:23, which is a pace of 10:53.  Not bad.

Friday, June 6:

I ran the figure-eight on the park's paved trails today, the normal (not extended) version.  I would have liked to run longer, but still have the cold and prefer not to tax my immune system any more than necessary.  I believe that a modest amount of exercise may be beneficial, but more than that may divert resources needlessly from vital functions to muscles.

Distance was 3.19 miles, time about 36 minutes, pace about 11:17.  Time is an estimate, as is pace.  I didn't feel very strong today, still dealing with the worsening cold, but I ran fairly well anyway for this short distance.  I can't wait until the cold is gone and I can run for an hour or two.  Or three.

Whining: Nothing except the nasty cold.

Thursday, June 5:

The grass trails were a bit soggy today, after 2 3/4 inches of rain over the weekend, but I enjoyed them anyway.  3.01miles in 34:48, for a pace of 11:34, which is actually better than I intended.  I still have yesterday's cold, and in fact it is worse today, but I do feel better after the run than before.

Wednesday, June 4:

One loop with the Klondike extension.  I caught a cold after the trip back from Chicago, and didn't want to run too far today.  2.53 miles in 28:30, for a pace of about 11:16 minutes per mile.  Then home, shower, nap.

Chicago Lakefront Trail

Sunday, June 1, 2014:

We three met up with a friend and ran down Chicago's riverside trail and then the Lakefront Trail once again.  Downtown Chicago is such a nice place to run. We went south to the aquarium again, as  yesterday, but there is another whole world of running to the north of the river.  I'll do that another time.

Three guys in a booth, trying to
persuade insurance companies
that our lives are worth it

More than five miles, according to my friend's GPS, in about an hour.

No whining - very nice time.  It's a masterpiece.

Saturday, May 31:

Lovely morning run on the lakefront.  Starting at State & Wacker, down the stairs, out to the lake and south, then part way around the aquarium.  After showers and breakfast we took the shuttle to the ASCO conference and did booth duty for the rest of the day.  See Myeloma Hope.

No whining.  It's a masterpiece.