Cutting down

  Well I did run one really good mile today out of the eight I put in. So I'm enjoying my runs anyway and especially this week. I am cutting down, resting if you will....I have put in 13 miles so far this week and take tomorrow as a rest day. The Friday I will run the 13 miler. Take Saturday and Sunday off....then start another week! Peace!

Glad-

     Well yesterday started my cut-down week. I felt terrible! I actually listened to my body and skipped my run. It was supposed to be the 13 miler, too!
   Well I felt some better today and ran an easy 5 miler. It felt like I was going way faster than I actually was....still tired?
   However; I do feel much better. I hope to still get the 13 miler in and total 27 miles this week.
  Hope you are well! Peace!

All Downhill from here...

     As you may gather from reading this blog, I live in the hills! The Ozark Mountains to be exact. Everywhere you turn out here is a hill, rise, or some elevation change. Oh how I miss the flats!
  I even suffered terribly from Achilles tendonitis after moving here and still have persistent bouts with it and plantar fasciitis.
   I have learned to do supplemental exercises and learned that they do work! So I completed my plan for this week with an easy 4 miler today-tried to put some steady pace work in....barely succeeded....finished week with 36 miles logged!
  Now the plan is to do a cut down week-27 miles- and put more pace work in during cut down week and the (mini) taper the week after. I will still do a 13 miler next week regardless.
  Hope all is well with you! Peace!

Tired-fired

    I was yawning and fighting sleep during my lunch break. Then I decided to go run!?
The first mile was tough getting started but oddly....I started running pretty strong. The sky was overcast, 80's and humid. But finally! I felt good again! 6 miles today. All I need is a little 4 miler to achieve this weeks goal! Hope you are well! Peace

Overtrained

    Yes, I know better. I have over trained several times in my running career. Some clear signs are: Fatigue-lethargy-trouble sleeping-higher heart rate. Am I currently over trained? I am on the verge of being there....Even with only a 30+ mile a week training regime a person can push themselves too far. I think that being on the verge of over training is okay but now a person must be smart!
   If a day of rest is needed.....TAKE IT! Oh if I would only listen to my own advice!
   Out the door late again. Hot sticky and perfect weather for conditioning the engine for fall weather. 6 miles-slow but sure- Peace!

Fortitude

    One thing you discover if you are going to be a runner is fortitude. There are days you feel zapped, sapped and tapped out but you still have to run. You have set a goal and nothing except death will stop you!! You are driven and determined....fortitude is an attitude that wins!
   As the heat and humidity have returned (yay!) I had to exemplify this fortitude on my run. My shoes were drenched, my left shoulder aching? And still 2.5 miles left to go! I survived!!
   An 8 miler in the books. A happy and tired runner. Hope all is well with you! Peace!

An August to remember

    By all appearances we will be having an early Fall. The temps have been quite mild and rain has been regular and plentiful. The nut trees are full of produce and already dropping. The Squirrels are frantic in gathering and storing for the Winter.
   The signs all point to an early Winter, too. I sure enjoyed my 12 miler today. The temps are in the low 70's and humidity is moderate. I even waited until 11am to hit the roads today! Unheard of in August!
   This 12 miler was a good run as  I continue to do a 4 min run one min walk ratio. I averaged 11:51's and that is on an extremely hilly course. I am pleased. My last mile was actually the fastest, and I had to force myself to take the walk segments. I have found that these walk segments are very beneficial for us older runners. However, I do plan on weaning myself from the walk segments in shorter runs. Hope all is well with you! Peace!

Can you say whew!

    Yes I do love to run, and I am ever so thankful that I am able to run. This week has been a bear....even with the cool weather. I have one more hard week then I cut down. I would really like to cut down now! I am slightly fatigued. However, you cannot stop a driven runner! So 33 miles total this week and now on to 36 next week with a 12 miler on Monday! Peace!

Fatigue

     So I am feeling gassed! Worn out.....I sure hope I recover tonight so I can finish a strong week.
  5.3 miler today. Sweat and humidity returned. Hills and dells.....Peace!

Gugh!

    Yes, gugh! That's how I felt on todays run. I trudged on through and completed my gugh run of 5.4 miles. I guess there will be days like this....
    Maybe I will feel like a million bucks tomorrow? Peace!

Summer conditioning

    Today I see the payoff from hot weather running. It is so cool, overcast....fall-like, and my body naturally wants to push the pace because it is conditioned to work very hard and efficiently due to the hot weather running I've done.
   I love the payoff of diligence and sweat, but it isn't time to peak! No, need more Summer!
  So I did a nice, restrained, 7 miler today. Goal this week is 33 miles and I am on track! peace!

Missouri weather

     You never know about the weather here in the "Sho-me" state. It has cooled off drastically! How does 68 degrees sound! In the dead of Summer we are experiencing plentiful rain and cool temps. I will take what I can get!!
   So on my 11 mile run today, with all the wonderful hills, I simply ran slow and easy. Oddly my left shoulder started hurting, significantly, and that kind of put a damper on the run. I seem to be fine now. My time wasn't great but all I wanted was an LSD run with no pressure. It was fun! Peace!

Complete rest

    Wow! Did you see the Olympic women's marathon? Such amazing running!
  Even at my stage of life (old) I still love to have "visions of grandeur!
  I finished my week yesterday with a 5.1 miler. Giving me 30.1 miles for the week.
   I will increase by 10% next week with long run of 11 miles slated for tomorrow! I have a vision of winning my age group in my September 10th HM. Hope you are well! Peace!

Sweat galore!

 
    Mercy! The humidity is high! I managed to get out the door by 8 this morning and knock off a 5.1 miler. Needless to say I was drenched when I was done. The engine seems to be working well! I wonder what it will be like when the cooler temps roll in....hope all is well with you! Peace!

Natures air conditioning

     I ran a 4 miler late this morning. I was really feeling the humidity. I noticed every time I hit the shade there was sweet relief! Almost like an air-conditioned spot to enjoy.
   It was especially nice whenever there was a breeze added! Well, I hope to reach 30 for the week. I sit at 20 miles in so far this week with two more runs slated. I plan on an early out the door tomorrow!! The Summer heat is on!! Peace!

What day is it...?

  Man life is out of control! I need 28 hours in a day please!!! So I did manage a 10 mile run Monday. Because the temps were milder my pace was better. However; the humidity is back!
   The 6 miles I ran today were delightful but wet! It is hard to breathe when your body cannot dissipate the sweat.
   My week is in disarray because I had to take yesterday off from running. I was helping my son pack. He and his family will be moving to Omaha Nebraska! Sad for us exciting for them.
   Hope you all are well! Peace!

Feeling better-

    I love the Olympics! It is always great to see the finest athletes in the word gather and compete.
Go USA!!
    I had a better run today. Warmed up better with a 4-1 run walk ratio for the first 15 minutes. Then I proceeded to run a couple of decent miles and a nearly respectable pace.
   4 miles today. 23 for the week. Monday (that's when I start my week) will be a 10 miler! Excited!
          Peace-oh did I say, "Go USA!!"

Will I ever break through?

     Even though it's hot I still seem to be terribly slow and lethargic. Especially at the start of my runs.
  I would like to blame the heat and humidity but I really never had this problem before.
   I guess all I can do is keep trying. I logged a 5 miler today. Tomorrow will be 4 miles putting me in a 75% of last weeks miles, finishing the cut down week.
   I will aim for 30 miles next week. Peace!

Pick up....line

    Well I seem to be a slow starter anymore. It took about 3 miles for me to warmup today. The last two miles I felt in the groove and so the last mile decided to do some pickups. I ran 3 one minute spurts at 90% with a minute rest in between. To think I used to be able to sustain that 90% pace for 10K! Wow....getting old is kind of a downer at times but I guess it could be worse.
  I logged a decent 5 miler today. Since I'm on a cut down week tomorrow is an off day. Peace!

Boost

   So I fueled better for this mornings run and strategized a run walk warm up. I ran much better and finished the 9 miler alive and well.
    This is a cut down week so since in logged 29.4 last week I will put in around 22 this week. Looks like tomorrow will be a complete day off!!! Hope you are well! Peace