Running The Race

Fay has visited Middle Tennessee the last two days. We haven’t had a lot of rain but after being so dry for most of August the rain was much needed.

When I got home Monday afternoon only light rain was falling. But a look and at the radar and I knew it would pick up soon. I needed to do strides and I really didn’t want to do them on the treadmill, so I headed out to the door. I really don’t mind running in the rain as long as it is not cold or storming.

By the time I got ready to run the strides, my socks were so wet I felt like I had weights on my feet. Needless to say, it was not the fastest workout.

When I got home, I had to wring out my clothes. I think I got close to a cup of water out of my socks!

Didn’t make it to the Y today because I had to attend a division management lunch. So I was ready to run when I got home. Most of the storm had moved to the east so I was able to get my 5 miles in between showers.

Training for the week
Sun: Bike 20 miles w/ Amy
Mon: 8 miles w/ 10 x 100m strides – 1:12:07, 9:01 pace
Tues: 5 miles – 45:40, 9:07 pace

I’m slowly getting into the training groove with week 3 now behind me.

We moved middle daughter, Sara, back to college Friday. It is always interesting to me how each year the girls seem to have less stuff. The freshman year, they take everything. After that, they start packing only what they will use.

Had a good run Saturday morning. It was a little warmer and more humid than last week as Fay provided some cloud cover.

The best part of the run was meeting up with Joe and running with him at mile 11 for a mile or so. He helped me pick up my pace so I could finish strong. My last mile split was 8:51.

Training for the week
Sun: Bike 18 miles w/ Amy
Mon: 8 miles w/ 4 @ tempo – 1:09:38, 8:42 pace
Tues: 4 miles – 36:23, 9:04 pace/800m swim
Wed: 10 miles – 1:35:20, 9:31 pace
Thur: Rest / 800m Swim
Fri: 4 miles – 37:24, 9:20 pace
Sat: 14 miles – 2:14:12, 9:34 pace

Total for the week: 40 miles

Today was the first “tempo” run of the cycle. It was 92 F when I headed out the door this afternoon. Luckily, there was nice breeze from the North and the humidity wasn’t too high.

Ran two miles to warm up, then 4 at half marathon pace (8:07, 8:15, 8:09, 7:56), then 2 miles to cool down.

Felt it was a good test, especially in the heat.

Training for the week
Sun: Bike 18 miles w/ Amy
Mon: 8 miles w/ 4 @ tempo – 1:09:38, 8:42 pace

I don’t watch a lot of television other than sports certain times of the year. Most evenings, if I watch anything, it is the news. But since last Friday, that has changed.

I come home from work, run, shower, eat and then park in front of the tv until bed time. I am hooked on the watching the Olympics. From beach volleyball to swimming, from synchro diving to gymnastics, it doesn’t matter, I sit and watch it.

I am just amazed at the ability, skill and dedication of these athletes. I know what it takes to reach my meager level of fitness and can only imagine what it takes to train to be an Olympian.

So for the next, you know were I will be every evening, parked in front of the TV cheering Team USA!

Training for the week
Sun: Rest
Mon: 8 miles w/ 10 x 100m strides – 1:11:03, 8:53 pace
Tues: Rest/800m swim
Wed: 10 miles – 1:33:18, 9:19 pace
Thur: Rest / Swim

Today was one of those runs that I was ready to be done before the half way point. It was not the hottest day of the summer but the temperature was in the 90s. So it must have been the humidity. But any way, I was ready to be done long before I stopped my watch at 9 miles.

The Y closed the pool today and tomorrow for repairs, so no swimming a lunch.

Eighteen weeks from today is the St. Jude Memphis marathon, 125 days. What better way to start training than with a rest/cross training day.

It was just getting light when I left the house at 5:20 this morning. Rode to Franklin and back for an easy 18 miles.

Congrats to Lana and Michele for placing 1st and 2nd at the Staggewing Duathlon yesterday.

Ran 15 miles Saturday morning. I left the house about with hopes of beating the heat. Is was a slow run but with the temperature at 82 degress and the humidity at 74 percent, the heat indext was 87 F. I was just glad to be done.

In looking at my times for last week, I can see the impact of running in 90 plus degrees and high humidty.

Training for Last Week
Sun: Rest
Mon: 7 miles – 1:06:20, 9:29 pace, swim @ lunch
Tues: 5 miles – 47:21, 9:27 pace, swim @ lunch
Wed: Rest
Thur: 8 miles w/ 8 x 100m strides – 1:16:09, 9:30 pace, swim @ lunch
Fri: 4 miles – 37:57, 9:29 pace, swim @ lunch
Sat: 15 miles – 2:33:11, 10:13 pace

Total for the week: 39 miles

Easy day…did swim drills at lunch and then ran 4 miles this afternoon.

It seems like it was just yesterday that we were getting ready for the 4th. July seemed to fly by. Now it is almost time for school to start. I know because I’ve already got the bill from MTSU for Sara.

The forecast was for rain this afternoon but it never showed up. The air was full of moisture but none of it fell, very humid but the temperature was only in the 80s. Swam at lunch. This afternoon ran 8 with 8 x 100m strides.

One of the things that keeps me going in the heat of the Summer is something I read several years ago in Runner’s World about training in the heat. The article told about all the usual things to be careful about but ended by stating that if you can make it through the summer’s heat you will feel super charged in Fall with the cooler temperatures.

I don’t know about begin super charged but I do know that I have seen my times drop after suffering through the heat and humidity.

Today was another hot and humid day with the temperatures in the mid-90s. Swam at lunch and did a 5 miles recovery run after work.

I was in the kitchen eating a banana and drinking chocolate milk when Gayle walked in from work. She grabbed a paper towel and started wiping the floor. It seems I was leaving a puddle of sweat where ever I stood. Needless to say, it was a hot afternoon to run.

Another hot and humid July afternoon with the temperature in the mid-90s. Ran 7 miles. Also, did a short swim at lunch.