No run today, third in a row yesterday

Yesterday I did a long base run of 8.5 mi. It was good, I think I am really settling into a pace, which is sort of a good thing, but I want to go faster. I really want to work some speed workouts into my runs. Maybe I'll go to the track tomorrow or Sunday and do straights and curves, where I sprint the straights and really slow down, almost walk the curves. Two miles will do me in especially with the trips there and back.

My friend invited me to go snow shoeing with her which I think would be really fun to do. And what a good workout! Speaking of shoes, I am looking forward to cracking open the new pair of shoes. I have been glad to have resisted this long and I actually think I have more miles on the old ones. That's it.

The perfect snow run

As I was going to bed I made the decision to run this morning. I knew we were expecting snow, but it was unclear when it would hit. So I figured I would see what the weather was like when I got up. When the alarm went off I took a peak out the window before making my final commitment. Everything was clear, though it was very cloudy. Those low thick clouds that make mornings look red. But it wasn't enough to keep me from turning on the coffee pot and pulling on my tights. Off I went.

It was cold out, actually really cold. But not bad enough to make me turn back and no flakes at all. About a half mile into my run, that changed. At first very slowly and gently, but soon it picked up and was coming down pretty good. I stuck to the roads as I had more traction there and continued on.

As I ran on it kept coming down, beautiful and quiet. It was a great run because of the snow and I never had enough that stuck to where it was slippery. It was the perfect snow run and I loved every minute of it. I saw a few others out there who were loving it as well, or at least I thought they were. As I crossed the canyon it was so cold that the snow was piling up on the water, I think the fact we had no winf helped out with that also.

Tomorrow will be a wet run, if I decide to do it. We'll see.

Chilly but willing

Yesterday it was 23 degrees when I left in the dark to go for a base run. Actually, and I say this to grasp for a glimmer of hope for brighter days, the sun was just starting to peak out in the East. One of the hardest things about winter running is the lack of light. Dark in the morning, dark in the early evening. It was really nice to see that touch of brightness making its way. I still used my flashing clip-on light, green to distinguish me from bikes and road signs. I clip it to the back of my hat. A bonus is that I discourage tailgaiters! No one wants to follow me!

I had a nice peaceful run, saw a few of the regulars out there. I didn't push the pace or try any visualization tricks, just a basic run. I am glad I did as I won't be able to run today or tomorrow, but at least I am on pace for a close to 30 week if I got Sat and Sun. I also returned to my newer (or I guess I should say less-old) Mizuno shoes. I have been looking for my cushioned inserts, but I think I may have accidentally donated them to Goodwill in a pair of old shoes. Oh well, someone's feet will be happy.

Windy run and welcome Barak

We have had crazy wind for a week now. Cold and windy. Well other than one day, I have hibernated during the wind. I decided last night that I NEEDED to go for a run regardless of the wind. So I set the alarm and made the commitment. When my alarm went off I didn't hear any wind. It wasn't until I breathed a sigh of relief that a huge gust blew through the neighborhood. But I had made up mu mind to run and I was awake, so I headed for the coffee pot.

The first part of the run went really great. I have run the last couple of runs with my old shoes. I thought to myself, wow, these shoes are fast! Then I realized, duh, it was the wind at my back pushing me along. I ran my base run in reverse so I could go use my newly found open bathroom at the college. I haven't done that in a long time. It is amazing how much longer the run seems when you aren't used to the route.

On the last half of the run I started listening to the start of the inauguration. I got back to the house with about 5 minutes before the amazing event. The crowds were insane. So many people, so much emotion. Have to say I was really irritated with Rick Warren. But I am so happy for the change, that it didn't take long for me to forget about him (much like the first time I heard about him.)

Hopefully another run tomorrow. Work has to mellow out too. It is also getting in the way of my running.

Running with a full belly

Today I ate a pretty solid lunch around 1:00. As the afternoon wore on I got to a point where I was waiting for stuff on all of my projects. And it was actually sunny out, what a great time for a run. Except for the full belly. But I decided to go anyway. Since I didn't want to run into someone on my base route, I decided to head up to Mt Tabor which is in the opposite direction. After about 10 blocks my belly was really yelling at me. In addition I wore a tight first layer which made me feel even fuller. Ugg, soon I felt like I could barely move, but I kept going. Once I got to the foot of the volcano, I decided to take a gel I had brought just in case and I am glad I had it. I needed all the energy I could muster.

I also ran with my iPhone stashed in my water belt. It worked ok, but I am afraid it is going to get all scratched up in there. I think I will wait until I get some of the protective plastic sheets for the screen. The other thing I am really worried about is the headphone jack, the bane of all things MP3 player. As it presses against anything it starts to get loose, soon you have a connection where one side or both pop in and out. I have been pretty careful with my iPod and it has lasted a very respectful time, so I am going to treat the phone with kid gloves. Which apparently it needs anyway. Don't even talk bad about your iPhone while it is around or it will stop working. It just might anyway.

Apparently the Dilantin I am taking for the seizures (do I even have them anymore) is causing problems in my liver, elevated GGI levels which can lead to a medically induced case of hepatitis. Good news is that it goes away pretty quickly when you stop taking the medication that is causing it. Plus I have been wanting to try weaning myself from it anyway, so I am going to slowly decrease my dose and see what happens.

My last couple of runs have been great, I haven't written about them because I have been swamped by work. Now I intend to be swamped by sleep, so I am now signing off.

Early base run and a newly found toilet!

Today i did a solid base run, actually a little longer. I ran it pretty fast and used a visualization technique (or proprioceptive technique as the guy in my book calls it) of running on a treadmill and pushing the ground back behind you. I kept it up for some long stretches and did increase my time. The author, Matt Fitzgerald has 12 more, many of which I do anyway, that I am going to experiment with, BTW the book is called Brain Training for Runners.

So I found a building that is open early at Reed and they have nice bathrooms. Good thing cause the economy and weather is drying up my port-a-pots.

Long fast run

Today I had a great run. I had taken a couple of days off and was still feeling lazy this morning. But I had gotten a good nights sleep and I awoke this morning thinking about going for a run. So first thing, no bathrobe, no sweats, I just jumped into my cold weather running gear and poured myself a coffee. I usually have an emergen-C with my coffee before a run, this time I tried something different. I mixed my creatine into it and drank it before my run. I am nor sure if it made a difference or not, but it was a great run. Every opportunity I had to extend my run I took, so I ended up going 9.5 miles and felt great afterward.

One surprise that confronted me was a huge tree that had fallen down over the trail in the canyon. It must have been about 5 feet wide. So I doffed my parkour hat and didn't let it stop me. I climbed up the thing and hopped down to continue on my way. The folks with the reed grounds crew will probably cut a path for the trail, but I almost wish they wouldn't, it was sort of fun climbing over it.

I did tweak my ankle a couple of times, one I thought was going to be really bad but after a few minutes of walking it off it was fine and I continued on my way. I probably should have walked home from there, but it felt so good and the run was going so well that I just kept going.

All this after taking rebif last night too.

Volcano run sort of

I say sort of because I ran to Mt Tabor to meet a friend for a slow easy run. It was so dark that we decided to forego the trail run and take some laps around the lower reservoir instead. It was a good intro run for Amy and a good run for me with the run to a from the volcano and my running around waiting for my late partner. I ended up getting in 7.5 wih the last two+ miles into a stiff wind that made my pushing it to get a home a really good workout. Overall I felt a lot better about this run than my Monday romp.

My hope is to have time today to do another base run. I really want to keep going with establishing (errr, after the weather and in-laws, re-establishing) my base fitness level. Time, always an issue with running. I could have gotten up really early and gone out, but I didn't feel like it especially with the darkness and rain we are having (I still haven't bought those running flippers.)

On a side note, I bought an iPhone to replace my crummy old phone. I am not sure if I should take it out running with me. The guts are all solid state, so their won't be any jiggling of parts. My main concern is the water. Apparently water damage voids the warranty. The AT&T sales guy assured me (is assured the right word, is lied to strong?) that you really had to soak the phone underwater to get it to be damaged enough to void the warranty. I don't know, I sweat a lot when I run. SO I am looking for a solution to running with an iPhone, more to come on that.

Finally back from another break

Ah yes, back to the roads again after a cleaning marathon and the ensuing visit from the in-laws. It felt really good, though I was feeling some numb foot issues returning. I also woke up with a huge rebif hangover. I am not sure why it is that sometimes I feel totally fine in all regards after injecting, and others I feel like crap. Crappy nights sleep, hangover in the morning, chills... Gads. But the run felt really good.

It was really humid this morning and I am finding that to be a very troublesome for my runs. I had a similar reaction to the humidity that I felt in Seattle. Good thing for me this was only an hour as opposed to 2.5.

I have another run planned for tomorrow, easy run I hope.