My week in Review

We'll, I know for some it is just a single day of running, but I am happy I got in 2o miles this week. I did 6 miles on Monday night and then 4 more miles on Tuesday morning. I am pretty sure this qualifies for 2-a-days since they were only about 1o hrs apart...hehehe. Anyway, I rested on Wednesday, but really wanted to run again. Rich and I did 4 on Thursday morning together. I really wanted to do 4 more on Friday, but rested again. I don't want to over do it like I have twice already and get injuried again. Saturday morning I met up with Rich for another 6 mile run. It went well and we averaged a 9:22 pace. We have plans to do the Franklin Classic 10k on Labor Day this year. Anyway, I got on the scale at my mom's yesterday and weighed in at 183!!! I was stoked. Not a month or so again I was back up to about 192 or so. I think I can probably in in the 170's by the Franklin Classic 10k. I am starting to shop for a new pair of kicks. I got about 250 miles on this pair, so I need to pick up another pair. My shin on my left leg just above my ankle is staying alitte tender. I am hoping a new pair of shoes will help that out. I plan on using my foam roller more this time around too. When I get done with this blog entry, I plan on using it for awhile while watching the Phillies/Braves game on ESPN. I got 4 to 6 miles planned in the morning with Rich, so I want to be good and loose for it. I hope to atleast get in another 20 mile week this week if not more.

My wife's birthday is tomorrow. I have taken the day off work to spend with her. We were going to work out together for the 1st time, but I think she is going to go work out while I am running. We actually went out on a date last night for her birthday and had a blast!!! Hope to do it again in a few weeks.

Well, I am going to get off here and roll out my IT bands. Everyone have a safe and happy running week.

Got in a 6 miler this evening!!!!

Well, I had plans to get up at 5:30am and do 4 solo miles this morning. I had in my mind to start this week off right and get up and run on Monday morning like I am supposed too. Well, the dog woke me up at 6:45am wanting to go out!!! I barely had time to get up and showered, get the kids up, get them dressed and feed, and get out the door to drop them at school and head to work. I had to get my wife up after 2 hrs of sleep (she works until 3am in the ER and gets home around 3:45-4:00am) to help. I was bummed all day that I didn't get a run in, but I knew I could get it in this evening. I got home and ate a light supper and then chilled for an hour or so. My son and I went out and he practiced pitching to get ready for this fall's baseball season. He did well tonight and I can't wait for games to actually start. Anyway, after we practiced, I came in and got dressed. It was still alittle hot outside and really humid, but if I waited until sun down I knew I would not get done running until the kids were already in bed. I headed out and planned on 4 miles or so. When I got to around the 2 mile mark, I decided to turn and run through the park and hit the 1.2 mile loop inside. It was nice running through there and watching the pee wee football teams practicing. I came out of the park and checked my Garmin, I had in 3.17 miles so far. I walked for about 30 seconds and took some slips of water. Then I headed back towards my house on my usual running route. I ended up having to run up and down my street to get in the last remaining 1/2 mile or so for a total of 6 miles. My legs felt good during the run. The heat at times affected my breathing, but I kept a pretty good handle on it. I got the same side stitch on this run as I did on Saturday. I am beginning to think I might have a knot in one of my muscles on that side that needs to be worked out. Anyway, I was happy to get in another 6 miler and work towards a good week of mileage. I do need to pick up another pair of compression socks since I lost mine on vacation. I really think they help my shins. the inside of my left shin above my ankle is getting alittle tender again. Last time it done this, I picked up the compression socks and started wearing them. After about 2 weeks, the pain was pretty much gone. Now that I think about it, I did start wearing new shoes then too. I got about 230-240 miles on my Saucony's. I am planning on picking up a new pair at the 1st of Sept. My son gets his braces on his teeth next week, so my extra $$$$ for running gear is going to be cut down to almost nothing!!!!

Happy running and I hope to see you guys and gals at a race soon!!!!

2009 Garden Spot 5K Race Review

Well yesterday was the Garden Spot 5k in Franklin, KY. This was the race that I PR'ed in last year. I have been running this summer, but not like I was last summer. At this point last year, I believe I was running 4-6 miles every other day. I need to work on that now since I have like 5 1/2 marathons planned starting in October. Anyway, Rich agreed to run this race with me this year. I picked him up at 6:30am and we headed out. Got to the start at about 10 minutes til 7am and got signed up. I should have known when I didn't get a race shirt because they were out of them that today was not going to be my day. I guess my 1st mistake was not eatting my usual 2 Special K cereal bars for breakfast. So I guess the T-shirt thing was #2. Any yes, for me anyway, bad things happen in 3s. Rich and I stretched out and ran a bit to get warmed up. I was feeling good and felt like I could get close to my secret goal of 24 minutes. I was wanting to go under 26 minutes for sure, but was hoping to put up a good time again this year. Rich and I talked about paces and he was planning an 8:45/mile pace. I told him to grab me and drag me to the finish if I crashed and burned in my attempt for a good time. Everyone got lined up at the starting line and I slide in behind the "shirtless" fast guys. I still don't understand why a person would want to run a race shirtless!!! Anyway, the siren sounds and we take off. About 1/2 mile in I glance down at my Garmin and I am running under a 6:30 pace. I felt ok with it and was hoping to atleast finish out the 1st mile quick and then settle into an 8:00/mile pace for the last 2.1 miles. I cross the 1 mile mark in 7:01. I was starting to feel that quick mile too. Last year I did a 7:04 1st mile and was probably 15th at that point. This year, I was probably 30th. This was a waaaaaaay faster group this year. About 1/2 mile into mile #2 I was starting to feel the effects of going out way to fast. I slowed my pace and tried to control my breathing. I got to mile #2 and crossed it at an 8:23/mile pace. That is when the wall was crashed into mentally by me (bad thing #3). I got a side stitch and all of a sudden I felt like I was running in an oven. I ended up stopping and walking for 20 seconds or so to try and catch my breath. I was trying to pump myself up mentally to finish strong and push for the sub-24 minute finish, but I had NOTHING left in the tank. On the 2nd short walk break I took I heard someone call out "Come on boy, don't stop now!!" I looked up and Rich was coming up beside me. I was excited to see him and knew he was going to pull me into the finish. But after about 0.2 miles, I told him to go on without me. HE WAS FLYING!!! I felt like I was having to almost sprint to keep up with him. So with about 1/2 mile to go, I watched Rich run off and leave me. I was thinking I would try to pick it up and sprint to the end to catch him, but I knew that I had nothing left to accomplish it. Come to find out, he passed like 4 people on the last straight and finished in 24:30ish. He ran an 8:04, 8:04, and then a 7:30-7:45 min/mile for the last mile. That is why there was no way I was going to be able to keep up with him. He had a GREAT race and I should have just ran with him instead of trying to do something crazy. I ended up coasting down the last straight and then having to sprint the last 20 yards to keep from getting passed by 2 people. The last mile was at a 9:11/mile pace. Kinda sad after running the 1st one in 7:01!!!! I ended up finishing 49th out of 166 runners. I was 9th out of 18 in my age group (30-34). I had a time of 25:18. I did accomplish my goal of under 26 minutes, but I should have paced myself way better and I might have accomplished it. I was not happy with my run and I will try and learn from it for the future.

On a brighter note, I did come home and hop on my road bike for a ride. I did 10 miles in 45 mins. It felt good to get out and ride my bike, but I think I have a low back tire. The bike felt funny when I took turns or curves at speed, so I had to slow way down to make sure I didn't crash.

I plan on running 4 miles in the morning and sometime this week getting in a 6-miler. I would really like to do 4 on Monday, 6 on Tues, 4 on Thursday, and then 6 0r 7 on Saturday. My next planned race in the Franklin Classic 10K on Labor Day. I hope to have a good race then.

Happy running to all and I hope everyone's races or runs went better than my did this weekend.

Great run this morning...

Got up at 5:15am to get in a quick run before getting the kids off to school. I met Rich at 5:45am for a 3 mile run. It was a perfect morning to run even though it was slightly humid. It didn't seem like no time and we were finished with the 3 miler. We discussed running the Garden Spot 5k in Franklin, Ky this weekend. I ran it last year and it is currently my 5k PR race. I did it in 23:33 last year!! I am fairly sure I can do it again. The only hill in the course is during the 1st mile when you are still good and fresh. The rest is through quite neighborhoods. I am currently planning on running it either way, but it will be cool if Rich runs it with me. Or course I have not found if my son has baseball practice on Saturday morning. That might throw a monkey wrench in there. Anyway, we are planning on 4 miles in the morning, so I am getting ready to hit the hay and get some sleep before getting up at 5am.

Happy Running tomorrrow!!!

Here we go...

Well, I have not been doing very well with my training the past few weeks. I have had very small numbers the past few weeks. It has been crazy busy at work and I have just not wanted to get up and run. I plan on changing it, but I have to get mentally ready too. I did get a good run in this morning. I only did 4 miles, but it was AWESOME. I think this is my 1st run where I had a negative split too. My 1st mile was 8:50. the next was 8:43 (or something like that). I then decided that I could probably step it up a bit (Plus it was looking like rain at any minute). I then sped up and got mile 3 in 8:30. The last mile I sped up again and concentrated on running strong. I finished the last mile and looked down at my Garmin. The last mile was in 8:08!!! I was stoked. The whole run had an average of 8:36!!! I know this was not totally correct though. I plan on running the Garden Spot 5k in Franklin, KY this next weekend, so I hope to keep an 8 minute mile up for 3.1!!! I want to come in under 24 minutes again if I can push myself. Well, I am off to finish this TV show I am watching and hit the bed. I hope to get in 4 more miles tomorrow.

SHOUT OUT TOO CRAIG & AMY !!! They finished the Grizzly Marathon yesterday, and then surprised everyone with a 2nd, that's right I said 2nd, marathon today!!!! You guys rock!!!

Happy running to all....