Chad's Runs

I wondered in a previous post if I would get in another run before December.  Well, the answer unfortunately was no.  But I only missed it by a day.  Still pretty pathetic.  I went to the Legacy center for the first time in I don't know how long, a year maybe?  4 miles on the treadmill in 34:43, whatever that pace is.  My ambitious plans for this week are basketball tomorrow and running Friday and Saturday mornings.  My resolve always weakens the night before when I want to sleep in the next morning.

Treadmill miles are SO LONG.  I don't remember how fast I ran 'em. 8:30 - 8:45 probably.  It doesn't really translate though; my treadmill pace is always a lot faster.

This was my first outdoor winter run of the season, pretty pathetic actually.  I bought some Yaktrax that allie recommended but roads are dry so I have yet to try them out.  The weather hasn't been very cold and was nice this morning as well, cloudy but in the upper 20s.  After a mile or two I'm already too warm for the hat and gloves.  Winter outdoor running is always more intimidating than actually cold and difficult.

I'm back baby!  I've ran 4 out of the last 6 days, and one of those days off was Sunday.  Sweet!

I'm slow.  I had a hard time getting my pace down below 10 minute miles.  It also took a while to get warmed up.  I didn't want to be out there until about mile two, then I started to feel good.  Even so, my endurance is suffering from my 2 1/2 month slack off.  Saturday's mile 6 was a tough one.  I hope things come back soon.

Basketball this morning (its been years and you can tell).  I'm on a roll (not on the court).  I've only slept in and skipped a workout once in the last week.  I've got three more runs and another morning of basketball this week.  

No run this morning.  My three-year-old was up all night coughing.  She has had this nagging cough for several weeks now.  She has asthma and even a small cold goes straight to her lungs.  Last night was especially bad and we had to give her the nebulizer at 3:30.  She obviously didn't want to be up and cried through the whole thing, poor girl.  So my alarm was set for 4:30, we got her settled back in close to 4 and I just added an hour so I'd just get to work on time.  I thought at the time that I might leave work a little early to get it in, but my office mate is out with the flu (really) so I have to cover.  Crap, there goes my 5 day (woopdy-doo) streak.

5 miles, beautiful day.  Nothing else to say.

Put in 5 miles this morning.  Weather has been nice.  27 at 4:45 which is colder than I thought it would be, but still comfortable.  I did some 1/2 mile repeats.  I ran 'em at 7:40 - 8:00 minutes per mile pace.  I was huffing and puffing after each one which is bad because I could have run the whole 5 miles at that pace 4 months ago.  I need to lose the 10 pounds I gained during the 2 1/2 months I took off.  That will probable help.

Basketball this morning.  I didn't notice until after playing and cooled down a little, but my knee is a little sore.  I want to run tomorrow, especially if there's snow.  I bought some Yaktrax and haven't tried them out yet.

No running today or yesterday.  My knee hurts.  I don't know exactly what happened.  It didn't hurt while I was playing basketball Tuesday morning.  I had no idea I'd hurt it until after I'd cooled down.  It feels a little better today, but it's still swollen.  I'm sad because I wanted to try out my Yaktrax but didn't get the chance.  I don't know when I'll be back out.  Next week maybe?

I got up planning a walk to get the knee loosened up and see if there was anyway  I could run on it.  I was also excited to put on the Yaktrax.  So I walked out into 4-5 inches of snow at about 5:30 and still snowing and got to the end of my drive way and tried to run and it felt great.  I ran the whole two miles without any pain.  I felt a little feedback from my knee at one point then realized it was the wrong knee.  Weird.  I only did two because that's all I had time for.  I got up later than the usual morning run because I anticipated only walking this morning.  Plus I had a mountain of heavy snow to shovel.

It sure was light out this morning.  I know the moon is full but with all the clouds there was no way it was peeking through.  Does it light up the clouds enough to provide a nice even light across the whole sky?  Just a random thought. 

What fun this was.  Great run with fellow bloggers.  RAD put it together (Thanks Rachael!), and just down the trail from my house.  How convienent.  Since my knee has been giving me problems, I had the option of dropping off at my house at 3 or 7 miles, but it felt great so I finished all 10.  That may have been a mistake because my knee swelled up like a balloon.  It was definitely a mistake not to ice it when I was done; but I have a couple of desks I'm making for my kids bedrooms.  I worked on them the rest of the day, more on Sunday and I'm still not done.  So I'm going to take all the next week off from running and maybe try it on the 3rd (if it is above 10 degrees).