14/40

Warm, windy, humid.
14 miles A great long run to cap a very good week (40 miles).
6:50 average out,6:17 on return. I ran 'car fartlek' on return which is why my time dropped so drastically. Very encouraging.

Heaven and Hill

Just lacing them up I could tell I was in for a great run. Early on it seemed almost effortless(i love it when it's like that), then as I approached the hills, I charged the systems up and pushed myself into hellish discomfort. When I came out of the hills, I was exhausted but pleased with the effort and the potential speed I am building.

5 and 10 make 20................

Sometimes running is that way. Like interest earned on a wad of cash. I ran 5 on Tuesday and 10 today and I'm feeling like I've progressed beyond the 15.

10k single age record

Single-age (55 male) 36:51 eclipses the old record (37:05) held by Alberto Rivas since 1995.
Unseasonably warm weather persuaded me to change races from the 20k to the 10k.
I had planned an attempt to run down the 20k record 1:16.09 but I am certain I made a wise choice after seeing the 20k finishers struggle in.
kilometer splits 3:40, 3:40, 3:46,3:44, 3:42, 3:40,3:37, 3:33, 3:36, 3:35
Around 5:55 per mile.
I need another minute to beat the age-group record.
Currently hold 49 state records.
The times to beat at every distance seem so easy on paper,(based on my past performances) but they are very difficult. I guess that's why they have been in the books for such a long time.

Flip Flop

One week ago Oklahoma was experiencing record cold temps.(Nowata actually had the coldest in the nation.... 30 something below zero). Today we were at record highs (low 80's).
The 2 runs (6 miles each) I've done this week were sluggish sweat fests. It's difficult for the mind and body to handle such a dramatic flip flop in temperature.
Planning on a race on Saturday, but the heat has my confidence at record lows!

15/45

Got a pretty decent 15 miler in this morning for a weeks total of 45. The chest congestion lingers (going on a good month now). I think it is holding me back from the full measure of O2 my muscles are begging for.
At least I don't have an associated cough or fever.
I am so tired of mucous !

Friday 10

Been out of school 8 of the last 10 days. Now with a warming trend , it's back at it (work, running, and all normal routines ). Got to reset the mind to normal sleep patterns, eating and everything else that goes out the window when you're on an 'open schedule'.
Got 10 more this afternoon. That's 30 for the week. Running 14-16 on Sunday to round out a pretty good week of running.

Surprise clearing

They hustled up and got the roads clear enough for a runner to venture out. I got a solid 10 in. This has been an unusual stretch of winter weather.
2 blizzards 4 work-outs.
Considering I usually run every other day, I really only missed out on 3 work-outs in the past 2 weeks. Not a real set-back. Moving on.

Ten more

Not nearly as 'smooth' as yesterdays run but managed to run longer than what I set out to do. Tomorrow another storm rolls in so maybe off the roads for several days. Losing ground on my winter fitness goals. Oh well, I'm still kicking ,that's what counts.

First run since Blizzard

I've been tossing snow around and walking to Walmart . That's pretty much been my fitness routine the past 6 days.The road finally opened up enough to leave the neighborhood without risk of slip-sliding away.
10 miles felt very good. Probably could have gone further but with spring right around a couple of corners, there should be plenty of time for that.
The weeks rest since the 20 miler made my legs feel light and eager to go.
I have a 20k marked on the calender for next week-end. When I scheduled it, I didn't foresee the blizzard and the disruption of training. We've got another snow-maker forecast this week so I'm not committing to the race just yet.

ZERO

Paralyzed from the sky down, this place is like a ghost town.
No one is able to get in any mileage outdoors.

Math formula:
20 inches of snow plus 7 degree temperature equals Zero running miles.
I may have to break down and mount the dread mill.
Mother Nature is the Boss.