5.73 miles (Motionbased link)
44:08
7:42 pace
This week has been a struggle for some reason. I think I started too fast today, knowing that I only had to do 5 and half to reach my goal for the week. Did the same route as Wednesday, but by four miles was feeling like throwing in the towel. As soon as I had safely passed my goal for the week (and month) I stopped and walked the last three quarter mile back to work.
Hard to believe that a month ago I was routinely doing twice this distance without much trouble. Hopefully this is just a phase that will pass, and not old age suddenly descending. On the bright side, even after slowing down for the second half, this is the fastest pace I've maintained in quite a while.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
6 Miles, 7 Bridges (794 total)
6.61 miles (Motionbased link)
52:26
7:56 pace
Was tired and feeling a little under the weather today, but forced myself to go out anyway. The weather was nice - sunny and close to 40. Weather might reach 60 by Friday. Right calf throbbing by the end of the run. It doesn't seem tender any particular place, just generally painful. Ran to the circular parking lot behind the Museum of Art. Noticed for the first time that the route from the start of the rec path to the Art Museum goes underneath seven Schuylkill bridges. Funny that in all this time I had never thought to count them. Trying to keep the pace under 8:00.
52:26
7:56 pace
Was tired and feeling a little under the weather today, but forced myself to go out anyway. The weather was nice - sunny and close to 40. Weather might reach 60 by Friday. Right calf throbbing by the end of the run. It doesn't seem tender any particular place, just generally painful. Ran to the circular parking lot behind the Museum of Art. Noticed for the first time that the route from the start of the rec path to the Art Museum goes underneath seven Schuylkill bridges. Funny that in all this time I had never thought to count them. Trying to keep the pace under 8:00.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Plodding - 7 miles (787 total)
7.46 miles (Motionbased link)
1:04:36
8:39 pace
Slow run, quite windy, and made the mistake of eating a big bowl of black bean soup with cheese and crackers about two hours before. Did not feel like running, but wanted to get seven miles in so that I wouldn't feel pressured to do longer runs later in the week. Went out to the Stone Age statue on Kelly Drive (which, until I looked it up just now, I always assumed was Sacajawea.)
Friday, February 20, 2009
Eight by Eight - 8 miles (780 total)
8.12 miles (Motionbased link)
1:03:32
7:49 pace
Goal today was eight miles at an 8-minute pace, and I made it, but had to speed up considerably for the second half of the run. Was slowed down by heavy wind, but it was sunny and pleasant, even with the temp in the upper 20s.
Almost decided to pull the plug on running today when my right leg was hurting climbing the steps to the office this morning, but decided to do at least a few miles. By 11:00, and with the help of some ibuprofen, the leg felt much better. Won't run again till Monday. Now I have a week to do the remaining 20 miles to make 800 by the end of the month.
Filled out the application for the New York City Marathon this morning. It is on 11/1, three weeks before the Philadelphia Marathon on 11/22. Getting a spot in NYC is not a sure thing; your application goes into a lottery. If I do have the opportunity, I would like to do the New York Marathon carefully, just to get one under my belt, then do the Philly Marathon for speed and try to qualify for Boston - although that is looking less and less likely. In my age class, I would have to keep an 8:00 pace. That looked within reach when I did the half-marathon at a 7:38 pace, but my improvement has leveled off since then. Still could happen though.
1:03:32
7:49 pace
Goal today was eight miles at an 8-minute pace, and I made it, but had to speed up considerably for the second half of the run. Was slowed down by heavy wind, but it was sunny and pleasant, even with the temp in the upper 20s.
Almost decided to pull the plug on running today when my right leg was hurting climbing the steps to the office this morning, but decided to do at least a few miles. By 11:00, and with the help of some ibuprofen, the leg felt much better. Won't run again till Monday. Now I have a week to do the remaining 20 miles to make 800 by the end of the month.
Filled out the application for the New York City Marathon this morning. It is on 11/1, three weeks before the Philadelphia Marathon on 11/22. Getting a spot in NYC is not a sure thing; your application goes into a lottery. If I do have the opportunity, I would like to do the New York Marathon carefully, just to get one under my belt, then do the Philly Marathon for speed and try to qualify for Boston - although that is looking less and less likely. In my age class, I would have to keep an 8:00 pace. That looked within reach when I did the half-marathon at a 7:38 pace, but my improvement has leveled off since then. Still could happen though.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Windy and Wet - 9 miles (772 total)
9.25 miles (MotionBased link)
1:15:53
8:12 pace
Rough run today - windy, blustery, rainy; temp in upper 30's. Legs were hurting more than Monday - about a 6 on my imaginary 10-point scale. Felt like I was breathing harder even while going noticeably more slow, but could not speed up much. Some days are just more difficult than others.
I think I've reached a plateau in terms of distance and speed. Haven't made any real progress in a couple of months, and in fact have slowed down. Hopefully my leg issues will resolve themselves before long and I'll be able to make some improvement in the spring. Once I pass the 1000-mile mark I will feel more free to vary the training and not focus so much on racking up the miles.
1:15:53
8:12 pace
Rough run today - windy, blustery, rainy; temp in upper 30's. Legs were hurting more than Monday - about a 6 on my imaginary 10-point scale. Felt like I was breathing harder even while going noticeably more slow, but could not speed up much. Some days are just more difficult than others.
I think I've reached a plateau in terms of distance and speed. Haven't made any real progress in a couple of months, and in fact have slowed down. Hopefully my leg issues will resolve themselves before long and I'll be able to make some improvement in the spring. Once I pass the 1000-mile mark I will feel more free to vary the training and not focus so much on racking up the miles.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Presidents' Day - 10 miles (763 total)
10.26 miles (link)
1:21:25
7:56 pace
Took a vacation day and stayed home with Doug. Ran from home down to about a hundred yards past the rock climbing spot in the photo. (Took the photo from a web site) Cooler - in the 30s, I think - but the sun is starting to warm up. Legs hurt at about a 3 or 4 out of 10.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Three Quarters There - 9 miles (752 total)
9.25 miles (link)
1:16:00
8:12 pace
Windy, overcast, temp in the low 40s. I think this is the highest mileage week in a couple of months. Very happy to exceed my goal of 25 miles, and to cross the 750 milestone. Leg hurt only about the same as yesterday, which was a relief, because it was aching bad last night. (I picked up Doug at school after his 8th grade dance, and Jacky, who gets nervous around kids, slipped off her leash. I had to chase her down for a couple of blocks, and my leg was throbbing the rest of the night.)
Will take the weekend off, and hope to do about the same distance for the next two weeks to break 800 by the end of February.
1:16:00
8:12 pace
Windy, overcast, temp in the low 40s. I think this is the highest mileage week in a couple of months. Very happy to exceed my goal of 25 miles, and to cross the 750 milestone. Leg hurt only about the same as yesterday, which was a relief, because it was aching bad last night. (I picked up Doug at school after his 8th grade dance, and Jacky, who gets nervous around kids, slipped off her leash. I had to chase her down for a couple of blocks, and my leg was throbbing the rest of the night.)
Will take the weekend off, and hope to do about the same distance for the next two weeks to break 800 by the end of February.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
63 Degrees - 9 miles (743 total)
9.02 miles (link)
1:12:44
8:03 pace
Another beautiful, unseasonably warm day. Lots of people running, strolling and biking on the rec path. Right leg was hurting, but loosened up after the third mile. Was warm enough to work up a pretty good sweat even in shorts and t-shirt.
1:12:44
8:03 pace
Another beautiful, unseasonably warm day. Lots of people running, strolling and biking on the rec path. Right leg was hurting, but loosened up after the third mile. Was warm enough to work up a pretty good sweat even in shorts and t-shirt.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sunny run to Fountain Drive - 9 miles (734 total)
8.92 miles (link)
1:10:56
7:56 pace
First run in a week. Last week was pretty messy with snow and ice that all melted in a beautiful 60 degree day yesterday.
Legs were not completely pain-free after a week off, but not too bad. I'm hoping to do 3 8-milers this week and for each of the next 3 weeks to break 800 by the end of the month.
Beautiful weather today, though not as warm as yesterday - at around 50 degrees I'm not complaining at all.
1:10:56
7:56 pace
First run in a week. Last week was pretty messy with snow and ice that all melted in a beautiful 60 degree day yesterday.
Legs were not completely pain-free after a week off, but not too bad. I'm hoping to do 3 8-milers this week and for each of the next 3 weeks to break 800 by the end of the month.
Beautiful weather today, though not as warm as yesterday - at around 50 degrees I'm not complaining at all.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Warm for a Change - 11 miles (725 total)
11.46 miles (link)
1:31:43
8:00 pace
Sunny and low 50s today - an unexpected surprise to start February, which I think is usually the worst weather month for Philadelphia. If we get a good snowfall, it is usually in February, and often we will have ice and hard frozen slush on the ground for most of the month.
Leg was not hurting walking today, but found that once I started running it was still sore. Might wait till Thursday to run again, then strictly keep myself to 8.5 miles, so that I can get 20 for the week, but still give the leg an opportunity to heal.
1:31:43
8:00 pace
Sunny and low 50s today - an unexpected surprise to start February, which I think is usually the worst weather month for Philadelphia. If we get a good snowfall, it is usually in February, and often we will have ice and hard frozen slush on the ground for most of the month.
Leg was not hurting walking today, but found that once I started running it was still sore. Might wait till Thursday to run again, then strictly keep myself to 8.5 miles, so that I can get 20 for the week, but still give the leg an opportunity to heal.
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