"No Pressure"

08.17.14 - 14 miles

Another nice and easy run during my step back weekend. I decided to take it easy and run with Jenny again, as she had 20 on her schedule and figured that running with her would keep me slow. We ran 14.18 at an 8:34 pace, before she headed out for 6 more. It was a good run to keep putting time on my legs, but also freshen them up for next week.

08.18.14 - Cross Training

TO the gym I went after work to get in some light weight training and some core work before heading to softball. Finally, the last game of the season after multiple rain outs. The championship game!! Well, It really wasn't much of a game, as we pretty much controlled the whole game to cap off a dominating season with a 22-9 victory. Not bad for the toughest Monday Night Men's League in Madison and 6th toughest overall.

Now I can finally focus on some recovery runs on Monday nights.

08.20.14 - 9 miles

I am not sure why it happens, but every time I break in a new pair of shoes, my legs just want to run.  Tonight I broke in one of the new pairs of training shoes that bought (see below).  I started out fast and stayed fast, as I completed the first half of the run at a 7:24 pace.  The second half had an average of 7:28 to finish the 9.27 miles at an overall average pace of 7:26.  To top it off, all of this was done in muggy 85 degree weather.  Very sweaty and very satisfied at the end of this run.

It looks like summer finally arrived in Madison...at least for the next few days. Here is a look at our extended forecast. Looks like great running weather...

Enjoy those new shoes...they'll take your mind off the weather.  

Very nice run!

nkrichards wrote:Enjoy those new shoes...they'll take your mind off the weather.  

Thanks Nancy. I actually do not mind training in this type of weather. You just need to know when to back it down and always stay hydrated. Hope all is well with you

Jim Lentz wrote:Very nice run!

Thanks Jim. I was impressed with myself, too.

08.21.14 - Off Day

I ended up having to take the day off yesterday, as I had a day trip to Chicago to visit a client and didn't make it back until later in the evening. Plus, I was exhausted from "being on" all day and the 5 hours of travel in the car. It's amazing how much that stuff takes a toll on you. Oh well, that just means that I run on Friday, instead...

Nick Morris wrote:08.20.14 - 9 miles

I am not sure why it happens, but every time I break in a new pair of shoes, my legs just want to run.  Tonight I broke in one of the new pairs of training shoes that bought (see below).  I started out fast and stayed fast, as I completed the first half of the run at a 7:24 pace.  The second half had an average of 7:28 to finish the 9.27 miles at an overall average pace of 7:26.  To top it off, all of this was done in muggy 85 degree weather.  Very sweaty and very satisfied at the end of this run.

Maybe your feet are oh, so happy to mark their territory, especially with the added bonus of a humid, sweaty day to get the shoes overly moist. 

How do the times compare with your MP goal and do that day's times give you an inkling that your MP goal is conservative?

ounce wrote:

Nick Morris wrote:08.20.14 - 9 miles

I am not sure why it happens, but every time I break in a new pair of shoes, my legs just want to run.  Tonight I broke in one of the new pairs of training shoes that bought (see below).  I started out fast and stayed fast, as I completed the first half of the run at a 7:24 pace.  The second half had an average of 7:28 to finish the 9.27 miles at an overall average pace of 7:26.  To top it off, all of this was done in muggy 85 degree weather.  Very sweaty and very satisfied at the end of this run.

Maybe your feet are oh, so happy to mark their territory, especially with the added bonus of a humid, sweaty day to get the shoes overly moist. 

How do the times compare with your MP goal and do that day's times give you an inkling that your MP goal is conservative?

My MP is around 7:00/mile...I am not sure that I am at the point where I could hold that for 26.2. My HM on September 21st should give me an idea of where I am at.

08.22.14 - 6 miles

Since I had to switch up my off day to yesterday, I headed out this evening for 6 sweating miles. The warmest weather of this training cycle for me. I waited a little longer this evening to start my run. As soon as the temp dropped under 90, I headed out. The funny thing is that I tried to take it easy and in doing so, I ran 6.17 miles at a 7:35 pace in 89 degree, humid weather. Not too shabby...

08.23.14 - 10 miles

A balmy 76 degrees at 5am, with a dew point of 76 degrees as well. Add that together and you get 100% humidity. Pretty much an instant film of sweat as I stepped out the door. I wanted to keep this one easy (and much easier than yesterday), so I set out at a comfortable 8:15 pace and maintained that pace thoughoutnthe run. Knowing that I have 20 miles tomorrow morning in the same conditions, I didn't want to push it and then bonk tomorrow. I ended up finishing 10.43 miles at an 8:16 pace. Very sweaty, but feeling good...

08.24.14 - 20 miles

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. I had a bad training run. I normally have at least one per cycle were something goes wrong or I bonk. It was humid, but a couple of degrees cooler than Saturday when I headed out the door. With the warm air and humidity, I had decided to take this run a little easy in the beginning and see what if I had anything left to pick it up a little on the second half. I started out with an 8:15 first mile and continued to plug along around the 8:15 pace and then I got to mile 6 and everything started to go wrong. My stomach was in knots and I started feeling nauseous. I thought to myself, "Am I going to throw up?" I kept going until I made it to the 7 12 mile mark. That is when I decided to cut my run short and head back home. With my stomach still balled in knots, I continued on my way back home. The grueling run back home was slower than the first part, but I made it back with all of my insides still in me. I ended up completing only 15.17 miles at an average pace of 8:21. I am not sure what happened. Whether the heat and humidity finally got to me or if I got a bit of a stomach bug. I am guessing the latter, as my stomach still ached for most of the day, but got better as the day went on. I actually felt ok enough to go for a light 2 1/2 mile jog with the little lady, but I knew that something still was not right. I feel better today, but there is still a little bit of a ball in my guts. It's not bad enough to keep me from running, so hopefully it'll feel better in the next day or two.

Nick Morris wrote:08.21.14 - Off Day

I ended up having to take the day off yesterday, as I had a day trip to Chicago to visit a client and didn't make it back until later in the evening.  Plus, I was exhausted from "being on" all day and the 5 hours of travel in the car.  It's amazing how much that stuff takes a toll on you.  Oh well, that just means that I run on Friday, instead...

...and you didn't stop by to say hello...

Jim Lentz wrote:

Nick Morris wrote:08.21.14 - Off Day

I ended up having to take the day off yesterday, as I had a day trip to Chicago to visit a client and didn't make it back until later in the evening.  Plus, I was exhausted from "being on" all day and the 5 hours of travel in the car.  It's amazing how much that stuff takes a toll on you.  Oh well, that just means that I run on Friday, instead...

...and you didn't stop by to say hello...

Nick used to be so thoughtful. 

ounce wrote:

Jim Lentz wrote:

Nick Morris wrote:08.21.14 - Off Day

I ended up having to take the day off yesterday, as I had a day trip to Chicago to visit a client and didn't make it back until later in the evening.  Plus, I was exhausted from "being on" all day and the 5 hours of travel in the car.  It's amazing how much that stuff takes a toll on you.  Oh well, that just means that I run on Friday, instead...

...and you didn't stop by to say hello...

Nick used to be so thoughtful. 

I wasn't driving

Hope you're feeling better and have that bad training run behind you for this cycle.  Take care.

08.25.14 - Cross Training

I was still feeling the affects of the stomach issues on Monday. So I did some light weight training and core work at the gym. Hoping to feel better soon.

08.26.14 - Off

Took Tuesday off, as I was feeling a little better, but not quite there yet. I'll give it a go on Wednesday.

08.27.14 - 12 miles

Finally feeling run worthy, so I headed out for a 12 mile run tonight. I wanted to take it easy and see what happens. I was also prepared to cut it short if things acted up again. To my delight they didn't and I was able to get in the whole run. The run itself was pretty decent, too. I completed a pretty easy 12.35 miles at a 7:45 pace. So, as Nancy said a couple of posts above, let's put that bad run behind me and move on.

nkrichards wrote:Hope you're feeling better and have that bad training run behind you for this cycle.  Take care.

Thanks Nancy. I think after tonight's run, everything is hopefully behind me and I can move on.

Nick Morris wrote:08.27.14 - 12 miles

Finally feeling run worthy, so I headed out for a 12 mile run tonight.  I wanted to take it easy and see what happens.  I was also prepared to cut it short if things acted up again.  To my delight they didn't and I was able to get in the whole run.  The run itself was pretty decent, too.  I completed a pretty easy 12.35 miles at a 7:45 pace.  So, as Nancy said a couple of posts above, let's put that bad run behind me and move on.

Cool!

08.29.14 - Scheduled off day

Off day, as I rest up for another weekend of long runs. I also used the off time to gather everything that I need for my trip to Europe. I leave on Wednesday...

08.30.14 - 12 miles

The air was heavy this morning as I headed out for my 12 mile run. Temp of 72 with a dew point of 71 = moistness. I wanted to take it easy, knowing that I have 20 more miles tomorrow. Through the first 7.5 miles I was averaging an 8:05 pace, when I decided to stop looking at my watch for the final 4.5 miles. I rely on my Garmin a lot for my runs and normally look at it every 1/4 mile or so. I ended up finishing my run at an average pace of 8:07. So, I was able to keep relatively the same pace going off of feel, as I did with the watch. That's always nice...

Heading to the Taste of Madison later today and then resting up for my 20 miler tomorrow.