For Whom the Dogs Bark

89F, 43% humidity, wind SE 18-22 mph.  I am in Dallas for a wind power convention through Wednesday.  Finished up for the day and went out about 4:00 in the afternoon for a run through downtown to the American Airlines Center, then got on a path called the Katy Trail.  It is about 5K, 10K round trip.  Nice trail, with drinking fountains every mile or so.  I tried to hold marathon pace for as long as possible, but eventually the heat caught up with me, so I switched to holding a 175 bpm heart rate (92% of maximum), which eventually caused my pace to fall into the 10s.  I was very tired and my face was very red when I finished.  But it was a good workout, no dehydration issues, and I am glad I did it.  No ankle problems today, so pretty encouraging on that front.  Comparing this heat run to Saturday's altitude run, I think the heat was harder, but not sure whether it does any good except preparing to run in the heat.  I'll have to see if there is some information on that.

I really need new clothes, I am starting to look like a scarecrow man.  The old ones aren't worn out and it is against my nature to throw out perfectly good clothes.  Hopefully I will never need that size again.

AM, 6.0 on the treadmill at the hotel, about 11 minute pace, in flat shoes.  PM, ran the same 9.66 mile course as yesterday, regular shoes, 1:39:52, average pace about 10:30 per mile, 89F, 42% humidity.  Some fairly quick miles in there about marathon pace + 45, but overall 5 minutes slower than yesterday.  I forgot my heart rate monitor and I am a little afraid of working too hard in this heat.  I worked plenty hard anyway.

I found out there is a 5K race for conference participants in the morning on the Katy Trail, the same one I have been running, but I think it is too late to register.  Not sure I want to do any speed work right now anyway.  My ankle has held up pretty well the last few days and I probably shouldn't try to push my luck.

I have been hydrating well and my absorbtion rate has been good, no sloshing.  If nothing else, that one aspect of heat training should help me get through a marathon better than I have done in the past.  I can't believe anybody could run a marathon in this much heat, at any speed.  It is just beyond me.

75F, 70% humidity, very Houston-esque.  Ran the same route (Katy Trail) as the last two days in Dallas, 9.66 miles, but this time ran it in the morning and at low heart rate, regular shoes.  Took about 2 hours.  Much easier but my legs needed it.

The trail in the morning is very crowded, great for people watching.  I guess the strangest thing I saw was coming up on a lady with a baby stroller.  I saw everybody coming the other way looking into her stroller.  As I passed I glanced back and it was the strangest looking baby, actually it was a dog.  Something is very wrong there.

I passed on the 5K this morning, no way to register and probably wasn't a good idea anyway.  They were just putting everything away except the outhouses as I ran past the start line.  Coming back the other way toward the end of my run I decided that the port o potty placement was very strategic.

So last night after returning from Dallas I turned around and drove to Temple, Texas, about 2-1/2 hours from here, to meet my daughter and her family who had just arrived from Utah with their moving van.  My son-in-law and I unloaded the whole thing by ourselves.  He is a clever guy and strong but he needed me and my wisdom acquired through the ages, especially when it was time to unload the piano.  (Into the living room without a scratch.)  We finished at 1 a.m.  I slept on the floor, got up and drove back to Houston.  Then put in almost a full day at work.

Bottom line, 6 on the treadmill tonight, 4% decline, 6 mph as I watched the Lakers steal one from the Suns, texting with my brother who lives in the Phoenix area.  Sorry Burt, but I think your team still has a chance, they look good right now.

70F, 98% humidity, wind 0 mph.  Ran 10.16 in 1:43:34, average pace 10:12.  Started out in flat shoes and ran 3 miles at low heart rate, 12:34, 11:37, 11:37.  Flat shoes felt really good this morning, especially in my knees, it was like there was no pressure whatsoever in that area, very encouraging.  Then I switched to regular shoes and sped up to 10 minute miles through mile 8, then the last two at marathon pace, 8:36 and 8:26, heart rate 175 on the last one, then jogged it in.  Got back just in time to take my daughter to the bus stop.  Grabbed a new water bottle on my way out the door.  I was never in a fraternity but I chugged it all waiting for her bus.  She got out silently and walked away.  I think I may have caused some psychological damage there.

72F, 80% humidity, clear.  Great morning for running under a full moon.  I had to make a trip to the airport to drop off my daughter and her husband for an early flight, so no long run today.  I will do it on Monday, which is still 12 days out from UVM and should be OK.

Ran 10.06 miles in 1:38:40, average pace 9:49 per mile, most splits between 9:38 and 9:55, which is MP + 1:10 or 1:15.  I ran in regular shoes today.  I was hurting in multiple places when I went to bed last night, but woke up early and felt good so I went out and got the run in before I had to leave.  Basically I ran the first half of the planned long run, the second half would be at marathon pace.  Monday will prove whether I can put it all together.  My heart rate started at 138 for the first mile, progressed rapidly to 155, then held steady until the last two or three miles, ending at 159 on a 9:37 final mile.  I can hold a 178-182 pace for 10K, so I can see some possibilities here.  If I can stay below 165 through the first half of UVM, I might just have a shot at my BQ.  But if I am at 175 at the half I don't think it will happen, because I would be at 185 or higher for the last 10K, too high to sustain.  I'll get more data on Monday.

My daughter and son-in-law left on a post-graduation vacation, leaving our two granddaughters here.  It is a reliable sign you are getting old when you would rather watch grandkids for 10 days than go on vacation.  Also when you wake up at 3:30 without an alarm clock, ready to run.