A Little Icy - 11 miles (714 total)

11.35 miles (link)
1:33:36
8:14 pace

Yesterday was too slushy and rainy to run safely, but today was sunny and the sidewalks were mostly dry. The path was in pretty good shape except for a few shady parts near bridges, and the very end of the path, where it had not been cleared and was frozen solid slush. Had to tiptoe through a number of places, but had no mishaps.

Legs were feeling better after the extra day off, and I had to cut some of the meandering out of the run in order to keep on the clear pavement, so I went a bit farther today - turning around just past the Strawberry Mansion bridge where I hit 5.75. Ordinarily that would be six miles from work, assuming I take the long way down to the path. I will take 3 days off most likely, then try to get three runs in next week if the weather cooperates. I think January has been the lowest mileage month since August. But I figured that January and February would be tough.

Healing Up? 10 miles (702 total)

10.68 miles (link)
1:26:18
8:04 pace

Took the long way down to the path (1.93), then out almost to the St. Joe's boathouse (5.6). Hit 9.13 back at the beginning of the path, then took a more direct way back to campus and ended up at 36th and Spruce at 10.68.

Felt better than I have in a while; good enough to pick up the pace after 7 miles. This mid-20's temperature is not bad at all. With no wind it was perfectly comfortable. Pace is a little slower than what I was doing before the first of the year. Hope to get through this latest bout of leg pain and pick up the pace again, and/or do some longer runs again.

Fountain Drive - 8.6 miles (692 total)

8.59 miles (link)
1:09:40
8:06 pace

Perfect running day; mid-forties and sunny with no wind. Could not enjoy it, though, since my right leg was aching badly. Wanted to quit at about mile 3, but kept it up mile by mile after that. Went nearly the same route as Wednesday, but about half a mile farther down the path. Had originally planned to do 10-11 miles today.

Shox Blisters - 7 miles (683 total)

7.34 miles
58:57
8:01 pace

Somehow this felt like the first real, unremarkable regular run in several weeks. Temp was cold but sunny, about 23 degrees when I left, but not uncomfortable with long sleeves, gloves and earband. Since the recent round of trouble with my legs, I realized that my current shoes had passed the 500-mile mark. Hardly seems possible; I still think of them as "new."

So today I went back to the Nike Shox that I bought back in August, but have used probably only 25 or so miles. I now remember the reason that I used them so little - they give me blisters. I have another pair of nearly new Nikes at home, so maybe I'll trade them off and see if I can either break in the Shox or toughen up my feet.

The Schuylkill was frozen completely across nearly the whole way, and covered in places by snow. The path was mainly clear and dry, but I did not trust the ramp down to the path from Market Street, so took it gingerly. I always remember those signs out west that say "BRIDGE FREEZES BEFORE ROAD."

Testing Leg - 5 miles (676 total)

Stopped by work (because that's where all my running gear was) and ran out to the Art Museum and back. I still don't have the hang of the Forerunner, since none of the readings made sense (3.5 hours, .43 miles, 8:35 pace). I seem to have trouble uploading the data, too.

My right leg had been bothering me since the last run, so I took all last week off. The weather has been cold - not higher than about 25 until yesterday. Today in the thirties. Some light snow and ice on the ground. Leg was a little tender after the run - ankle, knee, and inside of shin. Will probably wait till Wednesday before trying again. Time to study the Forerunner manual and figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Recuperative Run - 10 miles (671 total)

9.81 miles
1:26:55
8:51 pace

Helped put together sets for Doug's school play this morning, then came in to work. After an hour or so, seeing all my running gear stashed here in the office, decided I needed a run, although still feeling sore and sluggish. The Forerunner was at home, but had the Nike+. Once on the road, decided I would try to do the shortest possible East Falls bridge loop. So went down 34th street past the Philadelphia Zoo, then down West River Drive to the East Falls Bridge (hit 5 miles at the bridge) and back on the familiar Kelly Drive path. Crossed back over the Spring Garden Bridge at the Art Museum instead of continuing on to the end of the path, so cut about 1.5 miles from the return trip.

Jogged slowly - trying to avoid aggravating leg pain. Stopped at about 7.2 for a mile or so, then again at Presbyterian Hospital on the way back to the office. If I had run the whole way, think it would have been 11-11.5 miles. If my legs would ever stop hurting, my goal would be to be able to do this route 4 or 5 times a week at a 7:30-8:00 pace. Was limping and and taking it gingerly today, but usually the only barrier to being able to do this is leg pain.

Making up Time - 11 miles (661 total)

11.01 miles
1:29:17
8:07 pace

Ran out just about to the St Joe's boathouse (5.55 on Forerunner) and back. Quite windy, but not too cold. Still a bit sore from Tuesday.

Had some trouble transmitting the data to Motionbased; I think because I did not stop the run correctly, but instead just stopped a "lap". The route on the link looks correct, but the mileage, speed, time and elevation are obviously all screwed up. The lap time on the watch itself is correct (above).

Forerunner vs. Nike+ - 6 miles (650 total)

6.15 miles
45:00
7:19 pace
(as recorded by the Forerunner)

Distance on Nike+ was 6.12, so at least on this run, the Nike+ was within few steps of the Forerunner.

Had to hurry today to make a "meeting" (Battlestar Galactica), so ran 6 instead of 10, but at a faster pace than usual. Even after 10 days off, I was disappointed to have some pain in my right shin after the run. Iced it right up for about half an hour.