Halloween 17-miler

Garmin Link
17.01 miles
7:51 pace

Didn't get out for a run until early afternoon - had to go to election training this morning, and fixed chili and greens for tonight's dinner. I'm working on the election board at our neighborhood polling place Tuesday.

Run went well - especially considering that I did a good bit of running yesterday. This was my longest run since last year's marathon, but I still would like to get a 20-miler in before the Philly Marathon on the 21st. Foot seems to be healing and had zero leg pain! I ran into a physical therapist friend last week who recommended new shoes, and that seems to have helped. Kept the pace pretty consistent - nearly all miles between 7:45 and 8:00. (I also notice that the average time for today's run was exactly the same as that of the two runs to South Philly and back yesterday.) Finished strong with mile 17 at 7:39. Would have liked to have done 20, but had to get home in time to set up tables for the Halloween block party at 4:00.

We had a fun but tiring Halloween. Some friends stopped by for chili, and we prepared a batch of 50 hot dogs for the party. Had everything cleared up and out of treats by 8:00. We had about 200 trick-or-treaters this year, which is a bit more than the past couple of years. Weather was nice, Phillies weren't playing, and it was a weekend, all of which helped the turnout, I'm sure.

Run, Jog, Run - 13 miles

Run to Paul's
Garmin Link
3.61 miles
7:51 pace

Jog With Paul
Garmin Link
5.02 miles

Home From Paul's
Garmin Link
4.5 miles
7:51 pace

Did my normal Saturday jog with Paul today, but ran there and back - not a long distance, but made a decent pace for running through the city. Traffic wasn't bad on a Saturday. Foot was not too bad. I tried a new pair of shoes on the advice of a friend who's a physical therapist. Would like to get in a long run tomorrow to finish off the month - still haven't done the traditional 20-mile run before the marathon. We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

Back on the Street - 8 miles

Garmin Link
8.02 miles
7:45 pace

That last run, as magic and in the zone as it was, was a really bad move. I ended up hurting my right foot, and it still isn't right. I did a couple of three-mile jogs with Paul the past two Saturdays, but otherwise haven't run at all until today. It really hasn't gotten much better, but I only have 3 and a half weeks until the marathon, so I've got to either keep up my fitness or fail trying.

Things will be alright if it doesn't get worse - although the foot was still hurting today, it wasn't enough to slow me up much - time was respectable - and did not seem to get worse during the course of the run.

On Monday got an acceptance letter from the Boston Athletic Association re: the marathon! It is in April during Doug's spring break, so I think we'll make a family vacation out of it and see New England, or at least Boston.

Fast Run inside a Slow Run - 13 miles

Garmin Link
13.1 miles
7:58 pace overall; 7:25 pace miles 4 through 13

Started out on a 5-mile jog with Raminder and Susan Wednesday afternoon. Had taken four days off after a 56-mile week ending Friday. Legs were a little achy through the weekend, although I wouldn't say injured.

By the time we got to the turnaround point, at 2.5, I was feeling good and wanted to run a bit more, so I split off and increased pace. First split on my own, mile 4, was 7:27 - quite fast for me - but felt comfortable. Kept under 7:30 for the next 9 miles - two splits considerably faster - under 7:10. I think that was my fastest ten mile stretch since the 2009 Broad Street Run.

Hope that bodes well for the marathon next month.

Friday 10/8
Garmin Link
8.51 miles
8:01 pace

Realized that I forgot to blog Friday's morning run. Not very fast and unremarkable except that it broke 56 miles for the week, which I think might be a 7-day record for me. While I still have to manage some leg pain, I think my threshold for mileage has definitely increased in the past year. I just have to be careful to know when to pull back.
8:01 pace

I realize that I forgot to blog a run Friday morning before work

Two Runs - 17 miles

Garmin Link
11.08 miles
7:56 pace

Wasn't as chipper this morning as on Monday, but managed to get out and keep the pace under 8:00 for eleven miles. The temperature was perfect - low fifties - and although I could feel some discomfort in the shins, Monday's fast 15-miler did not bring on full-fledged shin splints as I had feared.

Lunchtime run With Raminder
Garmin Link
6.24 miles
9:38 pace

Relaxed lunchtime run with my old friend Raminder. She is one of three people in my office, along with me and Chris, who have been Mississippi residents. She is from India, but got her graduate degree at Ole Miss. Chris spent his elementary school years at a military base in Meridian, MS.

Fastest Fifteen

Garmin Link
15.01 miles
7:39 pace

Had an unexpectedly great run today! Got up at 4:30 hoping to get to work then be on the road by 6:00, but it was raining. Ended up waiting until after 11:00. Felt pretty good once I got going. No longer raining, but overcast and cool - mid 50's. Did just the west side of the East Falls loop, crossing over to the east side for about half a mile before retracing my steps back. The trail on the east side was so muddy Saturday, it wasn't going to be any better after this morning's rain. Kept surprising myself as the splits were very good, and running felt pretty easy. Maybe it was taking last week off. Fastest split was mile 13 at 7:16. Seven miles were under 7:35, which is pretty fast for me. I'm certain I've never done a 15-miler this fast. So this gives me some confidence for the marathon, which is about 7 weeks away - 11/21.

Saturday Run (12.5) and Jog (3 miles)

Garmin Link
12.52 miles
8:03 pace

Got out at 6:15 this morning (temp was about 50) and decided to do the East Falls loop before meeting Paul at 8:00 for our usual Saturday morning jog. Started out slow to gauge how the leg felt, and after the first three miles settled into a ~8:00 pace. Leg felt OK, and actually felt better after the run than before.

The river had flooded over the path in many places and I had to dodge and splash through some mud and debris. We'll see how the Nike Lunarlites do in the washer.

Jog with Paul
Garmin Link
3.28 miles
9:40 pace

Made it up to Paul's door at 7:58 - lucky timing after 12.5 miles. We did a little less than our usual 3.5-4 miles since Paul had an errand to run at the Barnes & Noble. We met Marie for lunch at the Italian Market - shared a couple of delicious panini sandwiches. I got some Italian loaves from Sarcone's Bakery and sausage and pancetta from D'Angelo Bros Meats.

Thursday Jog at Work - 5 miles

Took most of last week off as right shin had a sharp pain. Tested the waters Thursday with a lunchtime jog with Raminder, Susan and Steve. Didn't have the Forerunner, but I think Raminder and I were doing about a 9:00 pace. Injury felt OK after the first mile or so. Wasn't able to try again on Friday because of torrential rains. (I neglected to clear the storm drain in the back yard, so was up at 4:00am Friday bailing about 45 gallons of water from the basement.)