For Whom the Dogs Bark

45F, 71%, E 9 mph.  Got out early and ran 8.7 before the seminary run, including 18 sprints, each about 150 meters.  I didn't try to time them, the Garmin isn't accurate enough to get a good measurement anyway.  When I got back from the seminary run I went another 6.5 at long-run pace.  I was going to do weights but my legs were feeling beat up and I didn't think that weights would do me much good at that point.  Overall 15.24 miles in 2:15:27, average 8:53 per mile.  My left foot is hurting on the inside behind my toes.  Not panicking or anything, but it was certainly noticeable on the second part of the run, and it didn't go away after getting warmed up.  This happens sometimes when I do a lot of speed work, of which Saturday and this morning would both qualify.  Hopefully that's all it is.

Two more good things about the setup they had for the race on Saturday.  The course measured exactly right according to Wade's Garmin, don't see that very often.  Second, the course had guidance at every turn, somebody to stop traffic and point the way, impossible to get lost or run over.  Almost more volunteers than racers, and almost enough to forgive the long climb up the Fred Hartman bridge:

61F, 100%, E 5 mph.

2.5 miles without Garmin or HR monitor.  I took yesterday off to rest my left foot.  It was still sore when I got up but loosened up quite a bit during the day.  Took a long walk to a restaurant for lunch which helped considerably.  This morning the injury was still 60% there when I started, but was down to 10% by the time I finished, which was encouraging.  If today goes well I will do 5 tomorrow and if that goes well I'll try 10 on Friday and see where I am.  Finished up with a pretty good weight session, legs and a little bit of core.  Still glowing and gloating about my half on Saturday -- I'm about ready to retire.

57F, 100% and calm.  Tons of rain yesterday, it was foggy outside under the streetlamps, like a bad vampire movie.  I ran 5.01 miles in 42:34, 8:30 average pace.  Pushed the pace just a little to test theleft foot, which felt fine.  If that holds I'll do 10 tomorrow.

55F, 88%, NE 6 mph.  Good running weather.  Ran a little less than 6, 8:29 pace, then seminary trip, then finished up.  Stopped exactly at 10 and walked to the clubhouse for weights and walked home.  Left foot seemed like it was complaining a little but it doesn't feel too bad today.  I finally figured out that once you stop and go back out again, my body is complaining for a reason.  It is not good to run fast when you are stiff and sore, and my old joints seem to freeze up within a few seconds of stopping.  I think most of my injuries happen on re-starts, I've just been lucky in the last two years to not have any bad ones.  In any event, I probably ran Part I a little faster than I should have.  Overall, 10.00 miles in 1:26:35, average 8:39 per mile.  Planning to go long tomorrow with Wade, but it will be a game time decision.

60F, 100%, violent thunderstorms.  Got up at 4:00 ready for 20, by the time I got to the door a ferocious thunderstorm was underway, thunder shaking the house, retreated to bed.  We are really good at thunderstorms here in Houston.  Tried again at 7:30, got a little over 4 miles, lightning and thunder again, so I gave up. 4.36 miles in 38:59, 8:56 per mile.  Call it a recovery day, but not much to recover from this week.