For Whom the Dogs Bark

40F, 79% (WC 30F), WSW 18 mph, very blustery, about 35 degrees colder than Saturday, 45 counting wind chill. Originally planned to go long but didn't feel like battling the wind for 3 hours. Joints are still very creaky, average stride length was under 1 meter today. Overall 11 miles at 8:45/mile, average heart rate 144, max 153. So my heart rate is back down in the cold weather, something else must be to blame. I'm thinking it might be my weight, planning to get on the scales sometime in the next month to check it out.

39F, 91% NE calm breeze. Perfect running weather, took the opportunkty and went long, 20 in 2.53:10, 8:39/mile, 147 bpm average, 154 max. Still very stiff and sore, legs felt like logs throughout. I checked my 30-miler earlier in the month and the stride length for that one was 1.04 average, finishing up at 1.10, compared to 0.98 today, finishing up a 0.96, a 5-1/2-inch difference at the end, which is a lot. But at least I could run it.

Took off my outer layer halfway through, finished in short sleeves. Without wind and rain one can tolerate a lot of cold.

48F, NE 5 mph. Ran a mile and a half and my knee started bothering me, which  hasn't happened since I switched to minimal shoes about 5 years ago. Walked home, jogging a little bit on the way. I think I altered my stride to compensate for my sore calf. It isn't too bad, but I don't even remember how to treat knees.

46F and dry. Intended to go long, depending on my knee. It started acting up at 4.5; pushed through to 5 and then quit. It didn't get worse but the extra miles aren't worth it. 5 is better than the 2 I got yesterday though. It is looking like this is going to be a temporary thing. 8:44 average, stride length short, heart rate somewhat high for this pace: 147/154. I think I am fat, but not getting on the scales. 

2759.14 miles for the year, better than last, and race results showed it generally, though Boston was the only race I ran all year where I was maximum trained. Traveling and work pressures prevented getting to 3000.

46F, cloudy, N 10 mph.  Ran the Kingwood Half Marathon today. Woke up two hours early after not much sleep, just because that's how I do it. Took two Ibuprofen to ward off knee pain, and ate a small breakfast, no dairly or citrus. Wade and I drove out together, planned to run together but he took off because he was having an unexpectedly good day, beat me by about 1:20 and got 11th place overall. I did better than I expected as well, and had fun racing someone in the last few miles. She started catching me at mile 9.5. I knew I was a dead man, because I am not a fast finisher. But it was fun holding off the inevitable as long as possible. I talked to her afterwards. She was a nice lady and not all that young (50, as I look at the official results), though I didn't offer that particular compliment. Then I ate a piece of pizza. Then I drove home and packed the Christmas decorations. The holidays are now over.

Splits:  7:39 (152), 7:32 (164), 7:35 (167), 7:49 (167), 7:40 (169), 7:52 (170), 7:41(169), 7:37 (168), 7:47 (167), 7:58 (166), 7:57 (166), 7:43 (172), 7:40 (173), HR average 176, max 176. 7:33/mile based on a full 13.11 miles. But the split times are high because the course measured short. Wade and I aren't sure if it really is short or because it is a winding path mostly through the trees. I measured 12.85 and he measured 12.9. Usually we aren't that far off of each other, which is why I think the trees impair the measurement. But if my 12.85 is correct, I averaged 7:42 instead of 7:33. Pretty slow race, my PR at this distance would have given me 3rd overall. Official placement is 13th out of 276.

45F, N 5 mph. 10 in 1:26:33, 8:39/mile, 141 bpm, 148 max, so HR was pretty good. Legs are still not back though, which is keeping me slow. But this one was OK for the day after racing.