For Whom the Dogs Bark

60F, 100%, N 1 mph.  Dramatically cooler this morning, but had a hard time sleeping due to a sore throat.  So I turned off my alarm and it was 5:13 before I got out the door, plus I could only run until 6:40 due to picking up my daughter from seminary and taking her to school.  My throat is still sore, but it didn't seem to affect my running, at least not as much as lower temperatures boosted it.  I ran 9.45 miles at an 8:33 pace, felt very easy.  Total running time was 80:55 after taking a time out for a mid-run GI break.  It is forecast to warm up throughout the week, but shouldn't get past the low 70s.  Fall is gradually arriving, but it will take a while for it to arrive completely, at least 6 weeks.  Speed work tomorrow, and if all goes well my first fast long run of this training cycle on Saturday.

62F, 100%, calm and clear.  I woke up in the middle of the night with a fever and raw throat, so I turned off the alarm and missed the track workout that the Y group did this morning.  Took aspirin and went back to bed, finally woke up for good about 6:00, took my daughter to seminary (she also slept in and missed her ride, we are not a very successful family), and came home.  By then I was fully awake and felt OK compliments of medical science.  So I decided to go out for a quick 6, but once I got going everything felt good so I kept running.  No Garmin so I was guessing at the distance, thought I had gone 10.5 when I finally called it.  But when I measured my route on the computer it was 12.16 miles in 1:40:15, so 8:25 per mile, no water.  I was trying to push it just a little today, but still comfortable, and that is about where it came out.  In the heat this would have been at least 30 seconds slower, maybe 45.

72F, 100%, calm and clear.  Out at 4:52 a.m., ran by feel again, Garmin is still broken.  18.05 miles in 1:55:00, 8:35 per mile.  Hotter than yesterday by 10 degrees, and my pace showed it.  I could have done 20 at the same pace, though, so I am happy with where I am right now.  Still have flu symptoms as well, but they don't feel like they will last much longer.  Hurried and showered and headed to chiro appointment, but there wasn't much for him to do.  I am healed, no hint of injury at this point.

74F, 97% and calm.  Cloud to cloud lightning to the south for a while, lit up pretty good, but they dissipated with no rain and minimal wind, no thunder.  Legs quite tired this morning.  Was supposed to run garages with Wade but I slept in because I stayed up late last night working.  Sleep is more important than garages.  Out the door at 6:20, slogging along for a while, legs freshened up in the middle of the run, then got really tired as the sun came up and the heat started bearing down.  Pace today was pretty similar to yesterday, but I worked harder for it.  14.05 miles in 2:00:15, 8:34/mile.  Chugged about a gallon of liquids, ate oatmeal and peanut butter, then took the dog for a barefoot walk (both of us).

71F, 100%, N 3 mph.  Cooler weather, but felt hot for some reason.  Object today was to let off the gas pedal a little bit, succeeded admirably.  10.02 miles in 92:30, 9:14 per mile.  Should be well-rested for tomorrow's long run.

71F, 100% N 5-15 mph, temperature may have dropped a couple of degrees during the run.  I have been building to this run all week, got so excited I woke up at 2:30 and couldn't go back to sleep.  But going slow yesterday really helped, I had glycogen in my legs this morning.  Finally got up at 3:45 and got to the Y at 4:15, ran 7 on my own at an 8:00 pace.  I mapped the distance out ahead of time, ran it totally by feel, not knowing if I was fast or slow.  Right as I hit the 7-mile mark, the clock on my phone turned to 56 minutes, so I paced it exactly.

By this time the group was there, scheduled for 13.  I asked if anybody was willing to pace me at 8:00 for the whole 13.  They looked at me like I was nuts, but a couple of guys finally said they would do it, so we took off.  First mile was 7:52 and after that we were all over the map, 7:40 all the way up to 8:16.  Eric, the coach and Thanh, a new runner, were with me.  Thanh had the only Garmin.  Eric peeled off after a while, but Thanh and I kept going, we talked the whole way, so the pace was hard but conversational.  Turns out he has a 2:56 PR, used to run cross-country for SMU.  He is in the middle of his career with three young kids, so he doesn't train much right now, only 30-40 per week.  But very helpful and very friendly, I much appreciated his company and his Garmin.  With one mile to go he slowed down as planned to protect a hip injury and I booked it in, ended up about 2 minutes ahead of him but no idea how fast it was, probably somewhere between 7:15 and 7:45.  He said he averaged right at 8:00 for his 13, so I think it is pretty safe to call mine 20 at 8.  In two more weeks I will try for 7:45