TGIF
i didn’t quite feel like running at 5AM today so i opted to bring gear (again) and run during lunch (again). temps were in the low 40’s and all i had with me was shorts. i didn’t want to hit the treadmill indoors so i put on what i had and headed out. near gateway tech i ran into 3 guys from work and ended up running with Rodney for the rest of the route. it’s great to run with others when it’s possible, time goes much faster. regardless, i ended up with a little over 5 miles at 7:30 pace and then hit the showers.
i’m finally getting my legs back from last weekends effort…just in time for my last long run.
15 minutes of fame
last night i got a phone call from the local paper wanting to do a highlight on a local runner prepping for the Trailbreaker races. of course i obliged. i’ve done a race at the Trailbreaker event 12 times in it’s 16 year history. Just at Trailbreaker, i’ve got 4 full marathons, 7 half marathons and a 5k under my belt. (the 5K was a prep for the Cherry Blossom 10M the next week) also, my fastest half marathon was also set at Trailbreaker in 2002.
overnight we had a big storm and none of us slept very well. i ended up bringing gear to work with me and ran during the lunch hour "off reservation." temps were in the low 50’s with a moderate northwest wind and not a cloud in the sky. i ran my normal 5 mile route but didn’t time it as my gps/hrm/watch needed charging.
i got my bib number for Boston today…4319. 4th corral…again. looks like i’ll be in town to do the Freedom Run (2.5 miles) on that sunday morning of race weekend.
spring rain
today, on the first full day of spring, i was greeted with 34 degrees and rain. i was meeting up with Double so i donned what gear i could and headed out. after catching up with Double, and stepping in one too many puddle, we opted to turn around at 2.5 miles and head back west. admittedly the rain had let up by that point but i was still soaked to the bone. i ended up with 5 miles at roughly 8:30 pace and headed for a hot shower.
around the world
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this morning i headed out for a 7 mile run with temps in the lower 20’s and a brisk east wind. on my way home, at the corner of madison and comanche, i officially rolled 24,901.5 on my running odometer which is also the distance around the earth at the equator. still needing to get home, i ran the next half mile which started me along my second lap.
admittedly, there’s many miles i never logged…especially during college. regardless, silly milestones (like this) is part of what keeps me motivated.
MTD – 162
YTD – 564
Odometer – 24,902
one way
saturday i headed west on the glacial drumlin trail on a one way trek to my wife’s uncle’s house which is located three towns west of our house. temps were in the lower 30’s and was fairly pleasant. i had run the first 9 miles or so on various training runs so that part of the effort was fairly unremarkable. after passing through Wales and getting out past Hwy C, i was in uncharted territory.
i rolled into Dousman at 12 miles and stopped at the BP gas station to use the bathroom. since i had a little cash on me, i bought a can of coke and stood inside the gas station while downing it. needless to say, i got a few strange looks as Dousman is a pretty rural area. the cashier asked what i was up to…to which i replied that i was running from Waukesha to Sullivan. the look on his face was priceless.
heading back out onto the trail, i headed through Dousman and at the edge of town the trail went from paved to dirt. unfortunately, much of the trail in this section is also shaded which means alot of ice/snow/puddles on a sloppy trail. i even put on my gloves as my hands were getting cold. it felt like i was climbing all the way to Sullivan and it was much slower running as i had to think about where to put each footstep. at 16 miles i used a gel and took a draw on my water bottle.
finally, i could see up ahead that there was a road crossing the trail and that cars were passing by on it. (a sure sign of civilization) i rolled into Sullivan and made a right turn onto hwy 18 and swung into the street that my wife’s uncle lives on. after a hot shower i was greeted with a corned beef sandwich and a heineken, thanks to my very supportive wife. in the end, the trek was 19 miles at about 8:30 pace.
sunday morning i planned to head out for an easy run. i woke up before the alarm and admittedly turned it off to go back to sleep. i was still pretty sore from that last 7 miles yesterday.
monday morning i headed out for an easy 5 miles. temps were in the upper 30’s with a bit of a wind from the south. i mustered 8:40 pace and felt like i was running in quicksand for most of the time.
i now stand 6.5 miles short of my first lap around the world.