Just run

The first day of vacation.  I still had to go into work for a few minutes to take care of a potential schedule conflict a couple of weeks down the road.  Everything seems to be ok for now.  Trouble averted.

Ran two laps around El Estero park.  I just felt lighter when I started out.  It could have been my mind playing tricks on me but my legs did not feel like lead.  I felt really good.  Picked up the pace just a little on the second lap and even managed to catch the traffic lights in my favor.  It was a good way to start the week.

16:08.52 (Lap 1)  14:31.44 (Lap 2) = 30:39.96

Got out the door at 0430.  There was nobody out on the trail but me and one cyclist and a skunk.  The skunk laid claim to the middle of the trail.  He heard me coming and lifted his tail.  I stopped and considered my options very carefully.  I just made sure there was no oncoming traffic and then gave him a really wide berth.  I think he was following me because I ran into him again on the way back and gave him that extra wide berth again because his tail was up.

Ran the fast University route.  (55:24)

2 sets: 20 pu, 30 su, 20 squats (Just ran out of time to do more.)

It is rather unbelievable that I am feeling so good this week.  I guess rest and relaxation really is good for the soul every now and then.  I have enjoyed the past two days watching my girls play with each other and just run around and laugh.  I have also been exposed to all the fighting and crying, but just having the opportunity to observe them and interact with them is all I can ask for.

Hit the turkey trot route today and followed that up with four 30 second sprints.  The first sprint seemed kind of long as I tried to gauge how much distance I could actually cover.  I thought I was faster than I truly am.  The last three were awesome as I simply tried to cover more distance than I had in the previous sprint.  It would be no surprise that I covered the shortest distance in my first sprint.

Turkey trot - 31:07.09

Woke up in the middle of the night for no reason and should've just gotten up and went running.  Instead, I read a little about sports and then went back to bed and overslept.  I woke up at the same time as my little girl and that was that.  Got a couple sprints in chasing my oldest around the building but that was it.

Took the trail all the way down to Seaside Beach.  The twists and curves make the trail a little longer.  Took the beach all the way back to the wharf then turned for home.  Love running on the beach near the water with no worries about traffic.  Weather was overcast with a hint of fog.  Perfect for running.

33:09.79 (Out)  32:08.00 (Back) = 1 hr 5:17

Ooohhh yeah!  I'm counting it.  Every little bit counts.  I did end up walking a mile for every lap I ran around the track because I had to drop off my car for repair which meant I was walking to work.  Good thing I live so close to the dealer and to work.  No matter what speed I use to get up that hill to work, I always end up sweating and breathing hard.  I hate that hill.  I'm sure the feeling is mutual.  Oh well.

I'm home for jury duty which gave me the opportunity to get out and run the University route.  I love getting out on that route in the morning before all the real runners hit it.  Warmed up about half way through the first leg and felt good coming back.  I feel like I could run all day.  I love that feeling.  It beats feeling like my legs have turned to stone and the sky is falling and this run really sucks days.

26:33.87 (Out)  24:51.90 (Back) = 51:25.77

Today our run was cancelled due to air conditions.  Smoke from the forest fire had blown into our area and you could actually smell it.  Our instructions were to limit our exertion outdoors.  I decided to run by myself but at a really slow pace to control my breathing.  Ran to the 1.25 mile marker and back.

24:54.01 (Out)  25:18.74 (Back) = 50:12.75

Walked 3 miles in the morning because of the smoke from the forest fire.  It actually wasn't that bad, but it got worse as the morning progressed until it cleared up in the afternoon.  I jumped on the opportunity to breathe in some seemingly fresh air this evening and ran to Seaside Beach and back.  Used the Monterey trail to get to the beach and took the beach back.  The sand was a little more wet and the high tide forced me to run a little higher up in the softer sand.  However, once I got to the wharf and got back on the pavement, it was like getting a power up in a video game.  I suddenly felt so much faster.

32:32.35 (Out)  33:28.05 (Back) = 1 hr 6:00

The air quality was supposed to be bad today as well.  I started walking but couldn't smell any smoke so I started a slow jog.  After a few minutes, I just decided to proceed with the workout I had planned which was intervals with 3 minutes of running followed by 2 minutes of jogging.  I felt really good.  I think I'm going to cut the recovery time by just a little and try a sprint over the third minute of each iteration.  We'll see how that goes.

22:38.68 (Out)  18:56.54 (Back) = 41:35.22

Now if I can just get out the door tomorrow, I can finally hit that elusive 20 mile mark for the week.

Woke up on time but was so tired so I rolled over.  Got up a few minutes later and looked at my clock and still estimated that I had enough time to run a 5K and make it to my appointment by 0630.  Got out the door at 0458 and jogged to the start point and then had to adjust my route for the closed gates.  Still thought everything was ok.  Almost 39 minutes later, I finished.  I thought I was faster than I really was.  That made me just a few minutes late to my appointment.  Everything worked out.  I'll just have to cut my route short next time.

38:47.44

Had to wake up really early for a 200 mile drive.  Upon reaching my destination, I saw that I still had 90 minutes before my hit time.  Should I go for a quick run or take a nap?  That nap was awfully tempting but as I did a little reasoning in my head, I realized that this would be my only chance for a run today.  Out the door it was.

Turkey Trot route 31:16.72

Call it 3 miles, but it was the adjusted Turkey Trot route when the gates are closed.  Finally figured it out.  The gates open around 6 when the grounds workers get in.  Or maybe it was 7.  No pretty sure it is 6.  Anyway, got out the door at 4 and I wasn't the only one out and about.  The guys at the pier were already getting on their boats and getting underway.

34:30.25

Easy run today.  Yesterday was the attempt to run fast.  Tomorrow is the almost 5 mile run.

Just couldn't get my hand to hit the timer.  Yes, that little movement required to start the countdown and also start my intervals was a huge impassable chasm this morning.  I just opted to run like I felt.  University route and back, but I hit a new milestone today.  I actually crossed over University avenue and then turned around and came back.  Felt really good at the end like I could just keep running forever.

27:03.47 (Out)  25:35.14 (Back) = 52:38.61

Call it 5 miles.  Ran the usual University route at an enjoy the scenery pace and took a left over the little pedestrian bridge to the first crosswalk past the intersection leading to the park.  Was going to do some intervals, but my left knee was saying that I should be careful so I opted for a fun run instead.  I want to run all the way to the park next time.  We will see.

33:23.67 (Out)  31:58.39 (Back)  (Pause 3:21.30) = 1 hr 8:43

Oh yeah.  Not sure why my stomach started acting up on the way back, but I had to take a short break to allow everything to settle back down.  Maybe it didn't like my detour.

Easy pace this morning.  I was surprised by a whole group of runners out on the trail besides me.

22:39.82 (Out)  23:52.30 (Back) = 46:32.12

Judgement day is fast approaching.  As always, it comes sooner rather than later.  This one is gonna be close.

Jogged out and looped around the pond twice.  Looked like some young runners were out on the trail today.  They were just oozing speed.  I just kept chugging along.

31:38.04 (Out)  34:27.19 (Back) = 1 hr 6:05

Felt good running but I might pay for this in the morning.  We'll see.

About a mile and a half.  We did a couple of sprints in the sand.  It is amazing how fast you feel once you hit the pavement after having run in the sand.

Didn't really feel like running but ran anyway.  Jogged anyway.  Out to the hotel and two times around the pond then back.

33:24.61 (Out)  35:05.36 (Back) = 1 hr 8:29

Felt like I could've pushed it a little bit but held back.  I'll make that push on Saturday over the 5K route.

Felt like the hardest run ever.  Woke up at 0230 to give my body time to wake up.  Hit the road at 0255 with an expected time of about 50 to 55 minutes.  It took a little longer.  Slow jog all the way to knock off those last few pounds before the weigh in.  I don't know if I will continue to have this luxury of time before a weigh in.  Felt good to finish even though I'm sure there are walkers out there who can complete the route a lot faster.

30:09.47 (Out)  27:39.35 (Back) = 57:48.82

I was going to take this morning off, but an easy run is better than no run.  Ran the Turkey Trot loop and felt good about it.  Actually, about two thirds of the way through the route I pass by my house, I thought about just calling it a good week and going home.  I had to think of a distraction in my head to get me past that point.  "Wake up Lachy" by The Wiggles is what popped into my head especially since it has a good tempo.  I only know the chorus though and so that is what recycled continuously in a loop through my head.

32:16.69

And now I can call it a good week.

Didn't run.  Pulled away to grade a test.  Afterwards, stuck on a 24 hour shift.

Slept a couple of hours to make up for no sleep then headed home to be with the family.

Managed to finally get on the board this week.  A bunch of assumptions worked against me when I wrongfully assumed things would work out according to my logic.  Ran out to the 1.25 mile marker and back when we were released early.

22:31.98 (Out)  20:21.37 (Back) = 42:53.35