5.2 miles: I found some "speed"

Today I ran into town, checkout out the downtown festival set up, and ran back. I did this at a fast pace for me. I'm feeling good and well rested.

I'll be on full time kid duty this week so the taper will happen, plus work is rather busy right now. The weather for the Strolling Jim is not looking good for anything but melting.


*We also signed up for the Fiddlin' Fish Fun Run. My wife and son are going to run the 1 mile run together and I'll do the 5k. His school supports this run.

8.2 Miles: "Force a taper run"

(Photo: wind damage to park at mile 7 on map below, no damage at our place.)


Today I ran 8.2 miles. It was a nice day and work would have allowed for a longer run but I am to be tapering for the ultra. I was a bit concerned I would end up running to far, so I headed out the door without water as a way to limit the run. It worked. Very good pace run, I'm feeling strong.


The first forecast is out for the day of the Strolling Jim Ultra. The forecast for now is sunny and 85. Last year it was in the lower 70's and overcast. If it turns out to be in the mid 80's, my goal will only be to finish with my brain working, not to beat last year's time. I do not do well in the heat (Gigantothermy).  Hopefully a cold front will change things for that day.

10.4 Miles

Today I ran 10.4 miles. The taper is on. I ran this one at a faster pace to make up for the short distance. It was a good run (1.2 liters of water, 90 calories) if not a bit warm and sunny.

5 Miles Starbucks run (Sunday)

Last night I ran 5 miles into town and back. Did the first 3 at a fast 5k pace and then jogged the rest home.

6 mile run into town and a bit around and back.

Today I did a run into town and then a bit around downtown to get to 6 miles for the run. It was a good run as the weather was very cool.  I'm really hoping to move somewhere colder when my wife is done with school.

10.4: A true "I've got to run to the bank."

(photo from about mile 7.8 on map below)

Today I ran 10.4 miles. It went very well for running 26 miles two day ago, not feeling 100% and not sleeping well. It was my best paced run of any distance in a long while.  


I had to run to the bank today so I actually ran to the bank. Nobody was in line to smell me so that was good for them.

26.3: Marathon plus 0.1

(photo above taken around mile 4 on map below)

Today I ran 26.3 miles. It was a decent last long run with a good pace. I feel a tiny bit sick, maybe 10% off top condition. I'm not sure if I am coming down with something or if it is just a very bad pollen time.

Anyway, I wasn't sure how this run was going to go. It went really well till about mile 20. If I was close to home at 20 miles I would have stopped but I was about 4 miles away. By the time I got about a mile from home I was feeling better so I add one two loops at the local park. A marathon distance seemed like enough so I stopped.

5 mile starbucks run

Typical 5 mile run into town and back. Nothing eventful to report. Average run. This photo is at the half-way point (downtown).

Friday: 8.3 sneeze powered miles.

Friday I ran 8.3 miles. I could not stop sneezing for most of it. I had planned on around 12 but whatever pollen was out on Friday did me in.

It was an otherwise fun run but not that fun.

A great spring dozen

It was a real spring day for once. It was in the 50's and sunny. I ran my least favorite type of run (an out and back) because I wanted to run a specific amount. An out and back is a great way to run a specific number of miles (12 for today, 0 calories, maybe 1 liter of water). My pace was good, my legs felt good and the weather was great. A very good running day.

This is a planned low mileage week for some healing and work to occur. I'll do another 12 or so on Friday and then do a big run (25+) next Wednesday as the last very long run before the ultra.

Just trying a new layout.

A faster 5

Today I ran into town and back. I did more of a loop than my normal out and back. My leg was fine. I kept a good pace for the run. Nice morning, but more church traffic than normal kept me dodging cars more than a normal Sunday morning.

Easy 5

Tonight I ran around the local roads and paths instead of running into town. My right leg is being a little funny so I didn't push it. No sharp or shooting pains, just feels a bit off. I think it will go away with this up coming low mileage week.

8 miles with the wife.

My wife took off work today so after dropping off the boy at school and running an errand we were able to go for a run together (something we used to do a lot of). We ran to the park on the other side of town and back. My legs were fine from the 28 miles the other day.

It was a great day for a run and nice to run with her again (a faster 5k runner).

28.5 Miles

(Photo taken around mile 4 on map below. South side of Franklin, looking north.)

Today I ran 28.5 miles. It was a decent day but the Sun just would not fully go away. I was starting to melt and considered cutting the run short (20 or so) but clouds popped up enough to give the Sun a time out once in a while.

Again, I lost track of my fluid intake. It may have been about 6 liters; I took in about 800 calories (2 cliff bars and some Hammer gels). I ended up down about 3 pounds from the start of the run. I think that is to be expect on a warm day.

Up next: a low mileage next 10 days as I will be on full time kid duty next week. After that, I plan on one more long run (20+) followed by about two week taper.

5 miles and running schedule updates.

Tonight (my first future post) I'll be running to Starbucks and back. There is no plan to push it because this week's really long run (25+) will have to be on Wednesday rather than Friday so just an easy run is on tap for today.

Running schedule updates:

The running schedule is coming together for the rest of the year (See the events list to the right). I'll be doing the Strolling Jim 41.2 mile run in May, a 10 mile run (RC Cola-Moon Pie 10 Mile Run) in June, the Chattanooga Marathon in October and the Philly Marathon in November.

The ten mile run is a new one for me. It's about an hour away but fits just about perfectly with what I need. The four weeks leading up to it will be after the ultra and during a very busy work schedule. All day training runs will be out, so now I will be able to focus on shorter runs (5-12 miles) with a goal in mind. It will give me a month to work on increasing my pace with a good base of endurance from the ultra training. I'd still like to find mid-distance run (8-15 miles) for either July or August but the fall marathon schedule looks good. Both marathons will be repeats for me, so the focus will be improving my times.

The goal for next year is to do a 50 miler. I just need to find one that fits the work and family schedule and doesn't cost to much to get to and do. I'm not above just doing my own unofficial 50 miler if nothing official fits well. The goal however, and of course, is the LeGrizz 50 miler in Montana.