not a "hole" lot going on?

After a great run on Sunday, I got out on Tuesday after work for a somewhat easy 3 mile run. I say somewhat because it was suppose to be my recovery run, but I ended up running it much faster than I should have, but it felt good. Afterwards some stretching and a quick bite of dinner.

Last night I got home and decided to cut a large hole in my front door.

It seemed like the thing to do at the time... Actually I was installing a glass lite so it won't be so dark inside our house at the front...

Here is what it looks like:

So there I am sawing a hole in my front door last night and all of a sudden tornado sirens are going off... not much I could do at that point so I finished cutting the hole and got the glass installed. Boy, I sure know how to have fun...

On the schedule for tonight is a 4 mile run. I will probably keep it at an easy pace tonight since I ran too hard on Tuesday. I am also trying to figure out what to do about my run this weekend... I have 6 scheduled, but I am installing flooring at my parents most of the weekend. Saturday already sounds like a so-so day anyway, but Sunday sounds perfect... I guess I have motivation to get it done quickly.

Happy running to all.

over the river and through the woods...

and don't forget about the hills...

First of all - Happy Easter to all!

Today was the day for my long run. I managed two runs during the week - a 3 mile recovery run on Monday and a 4 mile run on the dreadmill on Wednesday. Both runs were good - I felt good and the knee felt good. (I think I am going to keep commenting on my knee for a little while longer, but it seems that all is well and I am using caution during my runs - honest.)

It was another typical week for me up in Michigan on Wednesday and then up in Lafayette, Indiana on Friday. Didn't leave much time to get work done or any more runs in and it left me tired. I slept in until 10am on Saturday and I felt tired all day. I questioned whether I would feel good enough to run today, but when I woke up I was ready, but I took my time getting ready.

On the schedule was a 5 miler. My last 5 mile run was anything but great. I finished completely drained and thought I had reached my maximum endurance. Today was a new day.

I even decided that I would add some hills to my route, so I headed to Fort Harrison State Park and chose the Delaware Trace Trail Loop where I could run amongst the trees. At first I thought I would do two laps to get my 5 miles in, but after the first lap I didn't want to repeat the hills again - trying to be cautious...

I finished my run strong and felt good. And when I checked my splits I was pleasantly surprised...

• Mile 1: 9:04/mile
• Mile 2: 9:01/mile
• Mile 3: 9:05/mile
• Mile 4: 9:11/mile
• Mile 5: 9:01/mile

Pretty consistent and the pace felt relatively easy - even on the hills.

It was a good run - just what I needed.

The weather looks like it will be warming up during the middle of the week to the low 50's. I can deal with that. Below freezing is just not right for this time of year...

More changes are coming into my life and my fall marathon plans will probably be changing, not to mention my running in general. But it will all be good. I will reveal more later on... until then, Happy running to all!

trail run race report

So the question is: Was it a big mistake to do a trail run with my knee periodically "acting up"?

Answer: NO

In fact, it seems to be just what I needed. My knee did not hurt one bit during the run, not after, and not even the next day! I am not sure why, perhaps the ultra-soft ground on which I ran? Seems somewhat logical, but at any rate, it was a great decision.

The weather had forecasted rain and thunderstorms for most of the day, but when I woke up it had not rained yet and it was a cool, crisp 55 degrees. I got ready and picked up Brooke and we headed up to Mounds State Park in Anderson, IN. We arrived in plenty of time to get registered and still have time to relax, do some light stretching and get ready for the 5k race.

When we lined up for the race, we started in an open field that was an out and back configuration which then went right into the woods and onto a well maintained path. The first mile was not bad, some minor hills, but nothing compared to my first trail run last year. Our pace was a little faster than what I thought it would be, but it seemed okay at the time. It seemed mile 2 took a little longer to get to and our pace settled to a more comfortable pace for the terrain.

We had been warned that at mile 3 there would be a set of stairs to climb to get to the finish and to make sure we had some energy left... at each stair we came across on the course I wondered if they would be worse than these (because they did not seem all that bad).

Well, they didn't disappoint. These stairs took every ounce of strength I had left to get up to the top and be able to run to the finish. I was spent. I was very glad I did not choose to do the 15k run - especially since it began raining just as we started our climb at mile 3. I finished in 26:54 - 55th out of 117 - not bad. Roughly 8:41/mile pace...

This was a great end to my step-back week and I am looking forward to this week where I will start building my mileage again. With a cold spell coming in on Wednesday, I will be sure to get out tonight and/or Tuesday for a run. Hope everyone's weekend was a good one.

Happy running to all!

stretching my legs

So it was decided yesterday to definitely run a trail run on Saturday - rain or shine. It is time to baptize my bright yellow trail shoes into the mud.

So, with the weather being nice yesterday and me feeling sluggish, I headed out before dinner for a quick trip around the neighborhood. I felt the need to push it - no slow and steady today. I wanted to give my legs a little more of a challenge. I didn't break any speed records, but it was still a good pace and fairly consistent.

Mile 1: 8:29/mile

Mile 2: 8:31/mile

Last .5: 8:17/mile

The knee felt a little sore at the beginning of the run, but it loosened up and felt just fine. It is feeling good today too. Funny thing is, it will act up every now and then for no particular reason, mainly noticed when I walk down stairs, but other times it is normal... can't figure it out, but it is not affecting my running like before, so I am moving on.

slow and steady

I had decided it was time to get serious about my running again. Having been miserable without running I knew I had to get something started. After 5 miles on Sunday and working in the yard all day, I was a little tired and a little sore. This week is a perfect time for a step back week, but with a couple of short, easy mid-week runs in to get a routine established again.

So it began this morning. The alarm went off at 4:30 am and I was up and out the door by 5:00. It was dark and a very cool, comfortable 61 degrees. I told myself that this was a recovery run and just to take it easy. So I started out very comfortably at about a 10:30/mile pace. It felt great, I was surprised how easy it was to maintain an even pace. There were a few times I wanted to push it a little more, but I was able to keep my pace in check, telling myself I had nothing to prove, I knew I could pick up the pace if I wanted, but that was not the goal of the run. Mission accomplished. I think I am getting wiser with each run and certainly stronger.

Happy running to all.