Second of the sixes

And it was faster than yesterday.  I was able to get out earlier (10:30 AM or so) and that made a difference.  Also, the weather was a nice overcast 68 degrees; it was misty rain downtown, but unfortunately, not in my area.

Tomorrow: 6 miles @ 10:30 pace

First of the triple 6

or "How I ran the devil's number in three days"

Today, tomorrow, and the next day are all 6 mile runs, and there you go, Mr. Schedule is evil.  Not the scheduler or the schedule maker, just Mr. Schedule.

Anyways, no recovery period for the marathon trainee; I'm back at it and banking 40 miles this week.  All of the rest of my runs this week are at a 10:30 pace; no long run pacing...sad face.

Tomorrow: 6 miles @ 10:30 pace.

Belated post

I forgot to post this yesterday, so while the date of the post is yesterday, and the run is dated for yesterday, I am actually writing this and posting this on Monday.  So much for my ability to go back in time.

Monday: Off
Tuesday: 6 miles @ 10:30 pace

All running and no recipies make Rusty a dull boy

Tonight, I made broiled flounder on a bed of multi-grain rice with mango avocado salsa; it was delicious enough that I decided to share it with you all.

The Fish:
I used flounder, but almost any white fish will do - tilapia, swordfish, even orange roughy.  I seasoned the fillets with Old Bay seasoning and broiled them at 500 degrees F for about 4 minutes (they were very thin).

The Rice:
I used Target's brand of multi-grain rice, which had a little of everything in it: wild and brown rice, quinoa, bulgar wheat, etc.  Any rice will do, but the nutty texture of the multi-grain really added a lot to the dish.  I cooked the rice according to the package directions.

The Salsa:
1 mango, firm and ripe, diced into 1/2 inch cubes
1 avocado, firm and almost ripe, diced into 1/2 inch cubes
1 green onion, chopped (I used only the dark green part)
1 half inch piece of ginger, minced
1 half red bell pepper, diced into quarter inch cubes
1 quarter cup sliced almonds
1 tsp cider vinegar
Cilantro to taste
Salt to taste
1 tbsp Corn syrup to add sweetness if necessary

Mix all ingredients. Note, there wasn't any standing liquid in my mixed batch; your results may vary.

The Presentation:
Make a bed of rice, lay the fish gently on the rice, and spoon the salsa over the fish.  Garnish with cilantro if desired. Eat.

Another race, another land speed record for humans with my DNA match

After I got home from the race, it was such a nice day that I had to get out for a run.  I set my pace alarms for the recovery run at 10:10 and 10:50 and, as you can see, didn't obey the watch.

For the race, I set my pace alarms at 8:25 and 9:05 (8:45 pace) and did obey the watch, well, except for the last mile.  At the (very) end of the race, I was cruising at a 4:37 pace! In fact, the last .06, I averaged a 5:02 min pace! Now, that is running!

I had to thank two guys that were ahead of me the entire race until I shot past them at the end.  I knew if I could keep them close, I might be able to beat them with my kick, and sure enough, I did.  I think I passed 4 or 5 people in the last tenth.  8~P

As soon as the results are posted, I'll follow up with placement and the such.  Or I should say, whenever I get around to it, I'll look up the results and probably just post them on my next run...

Tomorrow (Sunday, what is this Mr. Schedule???): 4 miles @ 10:15 pace

UPDATE: Results are in!
Age group (45-49): 7/10
Overall: 69/161 Top half!

Mixing it up

My original plan was to ride for an hour and see how far I got; unfortunately, a nail ended that dream.  I suppose it's just as well as I could use the rest for this Saturday's 5K.

Tomorrow: nothing
Saturday: 3.1 miles @ 9ish pace

Everything is much better outside

when it's not stinkin' hot, that is. (Rusty's definition of stinkin' hot: anything over 80 degrees F)

There was a nice cool, stiff breeze coming out of the north east, so that made it much nicer to run north and east.  Otherwise, it was just nice to be outside enjoying the run.

I may blow off tomorrow's run in addition to Friday's in order to rest up for Saturday, although, I did shake off the tired legs for today's run.  I'll just see how everything is feeling tomorrow.

Tomorrow: 6 miles @ 10:30 pace or not.

Almost quit...on a treadmill run!

I stopped at 1.5 miles to take care of some business, and then for some reason, I had a hard time getting back into this run.  I thought about quitting at 3 miles, then convinced myself that I'd take a break at 4. 

At 4 miles, I sucked it up, put on my big girl panties (figuratively...of course), and ran it out.  I guess some days you feel it and some days you don't.  Anyways, done.

Tomorrow: 6 miles @ 10:30 pace.

Cutting through the air

with a knife.  It's no secret that I don't like the heat, and I'm sure by extension, everyone would apply that to very humid days.  Today was one of the latter.  It was only about 81 or so, but after a brief sprinkle, the humidity shot the day into the unrunnable category.  Of course, I was on my third mile by that time and decided that it was better to finish on the treadmill than to melt down.

We have a 5K race this Saturday, so I'll be skipping the scheduled 4 miles on Friday to rest for that.

Tomorrow: 6 miles @ 10:30 pace

Not my best work

Breaks:

2 miles: Evacuate the intestines, top off water bottle.

8 miles: Reload water bottle with G2 and ice, cool off.

11 miles: Reload with G2 and ice, cool off.

14 miles: done.

Total time spent on break: 28 minutes!  Yeah, like I said, not my best work.  We're going to call this one "Longest I've ever run in one day" and leave it at that.  At least I did it outside and did get my lazy butt out of bed to start at 6:11 am.

It's the little successes.

Monday: 5 miles @ 10:30 pace.

(Almost) Didn't break a sweat

Short and sweet.  Hopefully, I'll be able to drag my sorry butt out of bed tomorrow morning around 5:30 am and get to running by 6 at the latest.  I want to be done with 14 miles before 9 am.  BTW, tomorrow's run, assuming I don't take a significant break, will be my longest run to date.

Tomorrow: 14 miles @ 11:00 pace

Second verse, same as the first

Looks remarkably like yesterday, except I wore shorts over my spandex undies.   Remember, the key to shocking your kids is being unpredictable; that way when you do something soul searing, it comes out of the blue and has that added extra impact.

Tomorrow: 2 miles @ 10:15 pace

(Really?  Two miles??  Someone has entirely too much time on their hands...oh, yeah, 14 on Saturday...ok.)

Same old, same old

This run was much like the last two runs: staring at a wall, keeping pace with the machine, looking down at the display after not looking at it for 50 minutes and seeing it's only been 5 seconds, same old, same old.

My older son stopped by to break up the monotony; I couldn't hear the doorbell from where I was and the noise of the machine, but thankfully, I have an automatic barking alarm that goes off every time someone rings the doorbell, knocks on the door, or passes by on the sidewalk in front of my house.  So, I had fair warning that someone might appear at the spare bedroom door (he also gave a courtesy shout up the stairs.)

What I'm sure he was not prepared for was the sight of his father running in nothing but some spandex shorts, a pair of socks, running shoes and a smile...well, more of a grimace, shrug.  Among all the things that I've done to scar him for life, this has to rank right up there in the top ten.  See, just because they're out of the house doesn't mean that a father's job is done.  You can keep on creating indelible, cringe worthy memories in your children right up to the time you pass on, and hopefully, that event will make a final, soul wrenching impact as an ultimate end to your legacy.

Remember, you can't legally induce psyche searing images in total strangers (and what would be the fun in that?), but there are no laws against showing up at your son's band practice with the dog dressed in a tutu and you in a leotard to match.

Tomorrow: 6 miles @ 10:30 pace

The Great Indoors

Another unrunnable (spell check says that's not a word, phooey on it) day here in central Indiana, and that is why I have a treadmill.  I have my space set up pretty nice with, as I've mentioned before, four air sources blowing in my direction, and I added a new twist today with cranking the thermostat down to 60 or so.

Whenever I adjust the temp manually, the thermostat will indicate that it is in a 'temp'(orary) state, which I have no idea how long that is (and am too lazy to look it up).  Anyways, the temp state lasted long enough so that I didn't notice a temperature rise during my run.

I'm looking ahead to my long run of 14 miles on Saturday and am really hoping to get it in in the morning, preferably before 9 am, which means I need to start around 6:30, which means I need to get to bed fairly early on Friday night, which means I need to get my 2 mile run on Friday in right after work, which means...oh, I guess it stops there.

Discipline, oh yeah, it means I must exercise discipline!  I must will myself out of my slug-a-bed and rouse my inner motivated runner.

grrrr...I'm totally sure it will happen.

Tomorrow: 6 miles @ 10:30 pace

Apologies

I am very sorry about giving you all the wrong schedule for today.  I edited Saturday's post to reflect the true schedule, and for those of you who haven't run yet, this is your notification that today's schedule is as above.

For the thousands of you who already or are in the midst of completing your now outdated running orders for today, take heart: all is not lost.  Just run backwards for one mile at a 10:00 pace to undo that fifth mile as well as make up for the four slower miles.

See? All better!

Tomorrow: 8 miles @ 10:30 pace.

First 12 of the training program

Eventually, I got this run in.  I started outside and ran for four miles.  Took a little potty break.  Ran another 3.07 miles and came indoors to cool down. Took about 20 or so minutes.  Ran on the treadmill for the last 4.93 miles.

Monday: 5 @ 10:30 pace
EDIT:
Monday: 4 @ 10:15 pace

First 12th of the Year

It took me just seven months to run on the 12th of the month; not too shabby, I suppose.  Thankfully, I only had to do three miles in the 81 degree sunny weather.  I didn't take any water as I knew it was a short one, and I also picked up the pace as per the schedule. 

Tomorrow: 12 miles @ 11:00 pace

Happy Convienience Store Day

Temp was somewhere around 80, but it wasn't near as muggy as it has been.  Also, there was a nice breeze out of the north that was nice to feel on my face...when I was running that direction.  On the warmer days, I much prefer a headwind to a tailwind.

Tomorrow: 3 miles @ 10:15 pace.

Cool Consistency

All miles within a 4 second window, I would say that's pretty consistent.  Today's 5 miles was a tad slower than yesterdays, but then again, I didn't have the cooling rain today.  I did have a nice wind that occasionally felt cool; unfortunately, other times it felt like a hot, humid fist in my face, which is multiple times better than a hot, humid fish in the face.

Tomorrow: 5 (again!) @ 10:30 pace (again!)

Start in the rain...end in the mug

If I would have started about 20-30 minutes earlier, I would have finished in the rain.  As it was, I started in it, and it was glorious!  You can probably tell by that first mile.  After mile 2, the rain had pretty much stopped, and the steam began to rise.

Thankfully, it was still overcast so the sun wasn't a big player in my cooking, but the stored up heat in the asphalt was enough that I was certainly glad to shut it down at 5 miles.

Tomorrow: 5 @ 10:30 pace

3 and 3

I thought I was going to get lucky like I did on Saturday and run some of this in the rain.  I thought wrong.  In fact, as I started, I felt a drop or two, then the clouds parted and the sun rained down its cruel rays upon my noggin.  87 degrees isn't fun in the shade and is even less fun out in the merciless burning ball of gas that moves through sky.

Inside, it's a different matter.  72 degrees with three (four if you count the HVAC vent aimed at where I run on the treadmill) fans blowing on me and no shirt = fairly comfortable.  Denali is somewhat traumatized by seeing me without a shirt, but I'm sure with the proper counseling, she'll be fine.

Tomorrow: 5 @ 10:30 pace

Ending on a high note

I was grinding this one out - the temp was fairly comfortable at 70ish with a little mugginess - when on the last 3/4 mile, the skies opened up and the rain fell.  I took off my shirt and reveled in the soaking!  It was awesome to finish in a steady downpour, not to mention, soothing and cooling.

Next week, I should be able to get in all scheduled 36 miles, with 12 of them on my long run next Saturday.

Monday: 6 miles @ 10:30 pace.

You knew it was coming

Ah, the first week of training, and I'm already cutting runs short.  That's my modus operani: Set the bar low and fail to achieve it.  Woot.

Now for a list of valid excuses:
I did not have enough of a base of running in the previous weeks for 35 miles this week.

I didn't want to cut short my 8 mile run tomorrow.

It's too dang hot! (79 degrees F and humid)

And the invalid excuses:
I didn't want to show up my father in law, who, on his 67th birthday (July 2nd), ran 26 miles in Boston qualifying time...on a training run!

I didn't want Denali to miss me for a whole hour, so I cut it to a half an hour.

I didn't want to take my shirt off to cool down and scare the children be shot for a zombie.

Anyways, I don't feel too bad about cutting this run in half; hopefully I'll be able to get in all of the runs for the rest of the schedule now that I have two consecutive weeks of higher mileage.

Tomorrow: 8 miles @ 11:00 pace.

I didn't wanna

But I did.  It's 76 degrees out, "feels like" 80, and I don't feel too bad.  Of course, I only had to spend 40 minutes out in it, and unfortunately, I didn't get rained on as the skies threatened to do (Oh, Plueeeze don't throw me in that briar patch!)

Anyways, Happy 4th of July to all you Americans and Happy Just Another Day in July to everyone else.  It's a good thing to look back and read one of our greatest founding documents, The Declaration of Independence, and I highly encourage you all to do so.

Tomorrow: 6 miles @ 10:30 pace

Erk

Sunny and 78 out today with a slight breeze from the south.  Thankfully!  If it wasn't for that breeze (and pouring my water over my head), I might have bailed after three miles and did the rest on the treadmill.

I'm just not one for the heat, and yes, I realize, 78 is not hot to most people.  I ended up taking my shirt off for the last half mile to frighten the children stay cool.

Tomorrow: 4 miles @ 10:15 pace.

It's not the heat...

(let's all say it together)...It's the humidity!  Current temp is 74 degrees F, but HooooEeeee, it's muggy.  Weather like this just saps the energy out of me; I really had to push myself those last two miles.  Thankfully, the sun went back behind the clouds, or I'm sure I would have melted down somewhere along the way.

Tomorrow: 5 miles @ 10:30 pace.

And so it begins

I highly recommend listening to either the LotR, the Hobbit, or any of the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks while reading this post; it will only add to the epicness that is the beginning of my marathon journey.

In fact, just plan on throwing one of those on for all my future posts.  When you see Frodo, you'll think of this nutjob, and I'm ok with that.

Anyways, I breezed through this run; I hit both pace alarms (at 10:50 and 10:10) as well as my scheduled target.  The last two miles seemed to be the easiest; I'm not sure what to make of that.  shrug.

Tomorrow: Same as today.  6 @ 10:30.