Clawing My Way Back

With my son watching Spongebob, I threw in a quick 5 miles. First, I did not shower ( I usually do on morning runs), I did not stretch ( I always do on morning runs) and I felt like crud. Yep, the run was crud. I am so glad it is over. My left soleus started to cramp a little, but nothing fluids and the stick will not help. It was a sweat box today. I ran a 38:55, but it is days like these I am so glad it is over. Whew. I have 5 miles this week. Oh by the way, Monday will be a doozie. Interviews all day long, then run for one hour ( I have one hour to run, that is it), then go home, pick up my son ( my wife has patients all day and night), feed him, bathe him, then my mother in law is coming over to sit with him while he is asleep, leave at 8:30 pm to go back to work to work the 9 pm to 12 am shift for Finals Mania at the library. Fun.

I did not. Just did not feel like it. Sigh. Today was weird. After 4 hours of sleep, I was on fumes. I had to deal with three fires before my run. I started at a 7:36 pace because I just felt tired and worn out. The first 40 minutes, I was tired and worn out. Then something perked up, but I stayed at that pace because the calves were trying to cramp. Before my compression socks, it totally would have pulled, but now, it just warns me and goes away. Again, 53:12 for 7 miles and I am sure tomorrow will be the same. I have 12 miles this week.

I was not tired today, just kinda lukewarm. I mean this week has been weird. I am weird. The whole day was weird. I wanted to run at 12 noon, but talked myself into 3 pm, then 4 pm, then 4:40 when I finally shoved off. The first three miles were at a 7:36 pace and the last 4 were at a 7:30 pace. I was watching triathlon on television at home just half-heartedly doing it. The run is over and I want to sleep. Oh the time, 52:45 for 7 miles. Tomorrow and Friday, YMCA runs and Saturday at home. I have 21 miles this week ( due to the 2 miles early this morning)

Yep, found out the YMCA I frequent is over 60 years old. No wonder the humidity is so bad. Also, I found out the temperature is a constant 77 degrees. Humm. Today, 53:12 (7 miles)all the way. No fuss, no muss. I thought about 7:30 pace, but said, nahh, I will do it Friday. Otherwise, I am tired and have shows to watch. I have 28 miles this week.

42 miles. Finally. It is tough with, dissertation, teaching 3 classes a semester, running a library and co-raising a toddler. Sheesh. Friday was at the YMCA. 53:02 for 7 miles. Actually nice. Sweaty, but nice. Today, a struggle. Not sure why. Both days were at 90 and above. I just felt off all day long. 52:30, which is good, but I just felt off. Oh well. 42 miles this week and off to next week I go.

Michael Mitchell wrote:42 miles. Finally. It is tough with, dissertation, teaching 3 classes a semester, running a library and co-raising a toddler. Sheesh. Friday was at the YMCA. 53:02 for 7 miles. Actually nice. Sweaty, but nice. Today, a struggle. Not sure why. Both days were at 90 and above. I just felt off all day long. 52:30, which is good, but I just felt off. Oh well. 42 miles this week and off to next week I go.

Your dance card is significantly full, Michael. Congrats on finding the time to to squeeze in that many miles!

And it's 77 and humid inside the Y? Yipes. Are you sure you're not running in the sauna?

Yeah, they set it at the environment outside. So, mostly it is 77-78 in the basement gym. Yeah, basement. So, in Houston, basements get soggy. The YMCA (Cossaboom Branch, still has dorms by the way) was built in the 1950's, so insulation is not great either. So, as the executive director states, "It can be a journey any day you run". That is so true. That is why I do start out at a 7:35-7:36 pace for I am not sure what to expect. I can be sweating when I start, cold as ice or in between. That is why I gas up with fluids and GU to cover me. It does make for an adventure.

The dorms, as it were...

http://www.shelterlistings.org/details/31517/

Michael Mitchell wrote:Yeah, they set it at the environment outside. So, mostly it is 77-78 in the basement gym. Yeah, basement. So, in Houston, basements get soggy. The YMCA (Cossaboom Branch, still has dorms by the way) was built in the 1950's, so insulation is not great either. So, as the executive director states, "It can be a journey any day you run". That is so true. That is why I do start out at a 7:35-7:36 pace for I am not sure what to expect. I can be sweating when I start, cold as ice or in between. That is why I gas up with fluids and GU to cover me. It does make for an adventure.

The dorms, as it were...

http://www.shelterlistings.org/details/31517/

I'm guessing that gym has the ever familiar humid basement smell that I affectionately call "Cape Cod Smell" since everything down the Cape use to be buttoned up for the winter when I was a kid, and you would come back to stuffy, wet, humid and warm houses in June.

Yes, it does. It will be a swealter box today for sure. As long as I hydrate and GU, I should be ok. 7 miles at 3:15 pm, 7:30-7:35 pace....

Thank God for Sponge Bob! I remember not stretching and not showering and having to be super efficient.

It is an oven outside.

Yeah, it is a little cool. Humidity is down.

Well, I missed writing the past few days. Here we go. Sunday. Off day. I did not even try to run. I did mow however. Friggin weed eater. I bought a gas trimmer. Nice one. I go through string every five minutes. Takes one hour to do a yard. I must get a better string do-hickey. Monday. I had every intention of running. I was gassed up and ready to go. Right mix of fluids and GU. What happened? My Ipod died. You think, come on Mike, just run, geeze. Nope. Not in the YMCA with the humidity at 65 percent. I went home. I was going to put in a quick five. Nope, student calls me and then I have to pick up my son. Was going to do it at night. Nope wife comes home early to watch TV. No run. The last two days, 53:12 for 7 miles. It is so humid, I am soaked. I mean when I wrung out my clothes, water comes out on the tile floor in the showers. Sad. Just sad. Get this. I am acclimated. I am really not worn out by it. I have 14 miles this week. I have been trying to Pilates again. I am getting flabby again because I am not doing a 7 minute pace right now. Sigh. Also, I have got to get up early so I can work out with the wife on the 10 minute ab thingy. Fun times. Oh yeah, grading exams and papers too, adding to that 6 hours for graduation on Saturday. Fun.

Do-hickey, flabby?!?!?!?!?! I love your descriptions. Glad the oven is gone for a few days. I ran with my running group last night and did 5 miles in just under 44 minutes along with some fartleks, good times!

Good gosh almighty. I have not done fartleks in a long time. My running consists of surviving, pace and thank goodness it is over. Today, it is so looking like another 4 pm run. Oh well, I have the fluids (Powerade), GU and clean clothes. I should be ok. It will be a soaker in the YMCA.

So? Where ya been?

I am here. I ended with 36 miles this week. I will go into detail later. Had 5 straight days of 7 milers 53:12 and under.

Today was "getting grades in" day. As usual, my Eagle Online ( our Learning Management System) failed me again. Stupid gradebook. I had to do 90 grades by hand. I realize you all laugh, but heck, if we have a gradebook, then why will it not work. Sigh. The run is at 4 pm. It is really nice outside. The run should be ok. LOL. You know the YMCA. Still going to be muggy and sweaty. Then, I go pick up my son, feed him, bathe him and watch Scooby-Doo until bedtime. Then I have to get my employee's performance documents done. Fun. I took yesterday off. Yes, I am charging up my Ipod. I will not have a repeat of last Monday.

I so did not want to run. I just wanted to veg. I had 40 minutes to run and I did. It was ok. The first two miles were run at 15:45 and I ended with a 38:15 for 5 miles. The last three, 7:30 pace. Tomorrow, 7 miles at 12 noon. My left soleus tried to cramp, but fluids and stretching, plus recovery sock should do the trick. I have 5 miles this week.

It was ok. I ended up with 42 miles for the week. Saturday was a 52:30 for 7 miles, although I was uncomfortable the whole way. I mean not like, "Gosh, I wish this would just end now, but rather, well, I have 20 more minutes left of this..sigh". Oh well, it is done. I did, however, on my day off from running today, bike for an hour. It felt different. I have not biked in so long, my legs were just like logs when I got off. LOL. I will run 7 miles at 4 pm tomorrow afternoon.

Biking and running? Are you going to add in swimming to go for the Ironman Tri?

Joel H wrote:Biking and running? Are you going to add in swimming to go for the Ironman Tri?

Ha ha ha...No. First, the only triathlon I would do is a sprint. That is it. Second, I just thought it would give me a thing to do on my day off. Third, the folks that do Ironman are amazing. Just amazing. That is not me. I cannot even codger up a marathon, let only that. So, no I am never ( I can safely say that) ever do an Ironman. Randy can have them ( Tea and Liz too...LOL)

Yep Ironman athletes are amazing and definitely a bit on the crazy side.

Joel H wrote:Yep Ironman athletes are amazing and definitely a bit on the crazy side.

Now, that being said, my best friend Joel wants to do one. He states it will take a whole year to get where he wants to be Ironman wise. I know he has done three Half Ironmans...so..who knows. I told him, good luck with that. I will help him get things set up and I will cheer him on, but no go from me.

Training for that is such a time sink. I can't imagine training for it, much less spending money on a good bike.

ounce wrote:Training for that is such a time sink. I can't imagine training for it, much less spending money on a good bike.

I agree Oz, I agree. Maybe I will do a Sprint, but who knows.