What a difference the Sun makes

So the unthinkable happened.  I did a double, 2 2 mile runs oddly enough both were done at the same temp and same humidity(according to weather.com after both runs).  In the morning I was a little sluggish but it seemed really hot/humid.  Tonight when I ran it seemed much cooler.

I was thinking during my run what the best way of going about training.  I was torn between doing a lot of doubles to get my mileage up or just trying to tough out doing some longer runs and trying to make sure I go slow enough to make it home.  Either way I need to make sure I am keeping hydrated all day and potassium intake.  I would really like to make it through the summer running and not have my calf problem come up again.

Blah Blah 2 miles Blah Blah

Dragged myself out for a 2 mile run this morning.  It again was a pretty good run considering how out of shape I am and that for some reason at 7am it was in the high 70's with humidity also in the high 70's.  As I ran I could feel the sweat building up like it does on real humid days.  It's almost like the moisture in the air is so much that it's keeping me from sweating until the pressure is too much.  Then I end up covered, even on a two mile run my shirt gets soaked through, half because I'm so out of shape and half because I've always sweat a lot on runs.

 I am going to have to start timing my runs though, I've just been assuming it's been around 9 minute pace because of how out of shape I am but this morning right after I started the 1 mile back home the song Knocked Up by Kings of Leon started playing.  That song has a play time of 7:10 and I'd say it couldn't have been much more than a minute that it wasn't playing on the way back.  It's pretty sad that I'm only running 2 miles at a time but if I am doing them at 8 to 8:15 pace then I'll feel a lot better about it.

Now if I could only find my stopwatch.

The last few days.

So I haven't blogged since Mt. Washington but I at least got in 2 runs.  It took me a while to recover from the weekend, I think today is the first day I actually don't feel tired.

Anyway I won't remember all the details from the week but I'll start with Monday.  I didn't run I worked almost 12 hours and by the time I got home my fatness had me purely focused on eating and not running so what can ya do.  Tuesday I made it out finally after work.  I was feeling really good, I have no idea the pace I was going but it felt quick(probably like 8 minute pace since i'm out of shape).  So I went for the typical out and back 2 miles but on the way back far up ahead I see a blond pony tail.  I wonder if it's actually blondie since I saw her yesterday running on my street when I was driving home.  So naturally I pick up the pace, as I get closer I notice the form is pretty bad and it couldn't be her, but I can't slow down.  I don't know what it was if my body just enjoyed actually running vs the shuffle/jog I've been doing or what but I wasn't slowing down even though I wanted to.  It really didn't take much to realize it wasn't blondie considering I'm probably too out of shape to catch her on a run anyway, but as I continued at my quickened pace I was starting to really get tired.  It was bad as I got closer I can see that it's someone that needs to run more than I do, what a disappointment.  Oh well, at least I got in a pretty hard run for me I'll take them whenever I can.

Wednesday I took off on purpose since I really pushed it on Tuesday and I'm trying to avoid any small injuries since last time I had a small injury I stopped running for months.  So Thursday I had a busy day, I was out of work really early but I had lots to do. I got in a run after the quick thunderstorm which I was hoping would be easier since it'd be a little cooler but it just seemed to make up for the lack in temp with added humidity.  I finished the run well and should probably add in a few 3 or even 4 mile runs soon.  I don't want to push the mileage too fast but I'll have to stop with these 2 milers eventually.  Though I still can't believe how sweaty I was from a 2 mile run.  gross

Mount Washington

So yesterday I made a trip up to Mt Washington to watch the 50th anniversary road race that was also the US mountain running championships.  The day didn't exactly have the best start, I didn't finish everything I had to do Friday night till sometime around midnight which was later then I wanted to go to bed.  It certainly didn't help that I could then not fall asleep, the last time I checked the time it was 2:30 so who knows when I actually did.

The 5am alarm wasn't as bad as I was expecting, I got up and was on the road by 5:30.  I am almost ashamed to say this was my first trip ever to Mt. Washington and even just the drive there was worth it, I took the route through Franoncia and was amazed.  I would have really liked to stop and take some pictures but I didn't really have time to do so and I take pretty awful pictures in general so it probably wouldn't have been worth it.

I made really good time and arrived at the base of the auto road just shy of 8:30 and met up with Jim Johnson.  Jim was nice enough to find a ride with a friend of his well he was running his girl friend I think was driving, maybe his wife I'm not sure.  Either way I can't remember her name but we had a nice chat on the way up so that was good.  There was plenty of time at the summit to enjoy the views before the runners made it up there so at least my first trip up there I had a chance to take my time.

Jim had a great race turning in his best time of 1:08 and change(I'm too lazy to look that up)  which was impressive considering it was pretty hot the whole way up the mountain.  Seeing some of the people finish was incredible, there were people completing it that I would say had no business running a flat race forget up a mountain.  It's one of those things that watching it made me think that it's a horrible experience that I wouldn't wish on anyone and that I should have been running too.

Maybe I'll add some more pictures later but I gotta run now so until then you'll just have to wait.

And Back.

So I broke my laziness that turned 1 planned day off into 3 but I didn't like it.  So I obviously watched the Celtics game last night only to be disappointed with the result.  I'm not sure if it was worth staying out late for considering I didn't finally get to bed around 2 needing to be up at 6am for work.  I thought I was going to be meeting up with someone at 7:30 then another person at 9, it turned into the 9 meeting at 10 and the 7:30 not until noonish.  I was forced to think of all the sleep I could have had or if I just made myself a real breakfast at least but no instead I had an ice coffee and 2 bottles of water to try to fight of the dehydration.

 Lucky for me I didn't have to work too late today and made it home by 1:30ish I think at which point I decided I'd have some soup to get something in my stomach then head out for a run two hours or so later.  Well 5:30 rolls around and I find myself laying down struggling to stay awake.  I tried to motivate myself to get up and changed for a run and it wasn't working.  Finally two hours after that I manage to get out of bed and drink some more water hoping to hydrate before a run and somehow hoping that drinking water would some how stop the immense hunger I now felt having only had a bowl of soup and some coffee with some water mixed in since 6am now 13 hours later.

The water unfortunately did not stop the hunger even a tiny bit but the dedicated runner that I am I went for a run first since I know I wouldn't go back out if I had dinner first.  I stuck to the same 2 miles as usual and I felt much better than expected  the out i was running with an actual stride instead of the shuffle it turned into on the way back.  Between going out too fast and not being ideally prepared for a run when I'm this out of shape I knew it'd be not a fun finish.  Overall though the average pace was probably still as quick as any other run so something to be slightly pleased with I guess.

Overall though it was good to get back out, for me any time I get out for a run no matter how short it's a win. Just need to get back to doing 8-10 mile runs even if it is at 8minute pace, at least I could go a real distance then.

Now to shower, eat and prepare for the trip to Mt. Washington tomorrow to watch Double J run sub 1:05 for the 7.6 mile uphill race.  That is if I can get my lazy ass up early enough to make the drive.

Painful Reality

So as I went out for my run today it was just starting to rain.  There are some people who love rain and some who hate it.  I love rain sometimes and by sometimes I mean in the summer when I'm running.  Despite my current fitness I actually ran at least half of the run today like a real runner.  I no longer felt like someone that would struggle to run an 8 minute mile even if I was being chased by a bear.  My form was fluid, my stride open for a second I forgot how much of a douchebag I am for letting myself get thins far out of shape in such a short time.

The run was again just 2 miles, this time It was certainly quicker even though I struggled the second mile I was going much quicker the first.  I am hoping to be able to get in at least 1 8 mile run in before the end of the month.  It will be a stretch but we will see.

Small realization

Well this morning I got up around 8 and decided to go running, 3 and a half hours later I actually went.  Just another 2 miles nothing excited.  I did go faster this time, I didn't time it but it was noticeably quicker, either that or I really felt like garbage.

Anyway I had a small realization about my training, not something blog worthy but something I feel good about.  I suppose it was something I've known for a long time but never really thought much about it other than that.  Now I've spent some more time thinking about it.

I'm a long way out.

So I finally decided to see how far I had been running all this time.  Turns out the shortest of the previous runs I've done the last two weeks was just over 2 miles, the longest being 2.8.  I was pleasantly surprised by this as I figured for sure I'd be over estimating the distance.  Anyway so I did this before going out for my run today and I figured since I felt alright on the last run of 2.8 I might as well make this one 3.  As I got to the 3 mile mark which was just past a quick downhill I felt alright so decided to add on a bit more.  I struggled some on the way back(which I finally realized today is almost entirely uphill) but not too badly and I finished strong, well strong for me considering.  All in all a good run and another step closer to getting back to at least 5 mile runs.

I think I'll have to set that as my first goal I suppose being able to run 5 miles.   As pathetic as it is, gotta start small.  I just need to be able to run 8:30 pace for 5 miles then I might be able to find people to run with.

Today was a good day...

So I originally planned on running yesterday but things did not go as planned.  Sunday night I went to go to bed around midnight a little later than I wanted but what can ya do.  The only problem was I never fell asleep, laying in bed all night I tried reading watching movies etc... all the tricks to fall asleep minus getting really drunk.  So around 4am I gave up and went to make breakfast so I could run at 6.  Well I got side tracked then took longer to make breakfast so I didn't end up going before work.  I worked from 7 to 3, before I was done with work I kept zoning out and I'd get short bursts of energy where I could actually focus and get work done.

Anyway so Monday was a waste today was better except I didn't get to make myself a good breakfast before work.  I ran further than I have the past few runs I'll still count it as 2 until I feel like I deserve to count runs for more than 2 miles(probably when they start being 2 miles in the first place...kidding).  I felt good though my body is remembering what it's like to run which is nice.  It's going better than I expected after the first run.  I expect to be back up to 5 mile runs by the end of the month but we'll see.

I'd write more but I'm really hungry and I gotta go make dinner.

A small sign of progress

So, I managed to get out for a run again today with a little help form an encouraging(more like demanding) text message.  Now despite the two previous runs this week feeling like the first two runs I have ever done and that a 10 to 15 mile run at 7 minute pace was beyond possible in my lifetime, I felt better.  I still only ran 2 miles(I'm still guessing I haven't really timed or measured it I'm just going by distance from runs I did back when I was in shape.  Anyway, despite it being hot and humid I felt better today than the previous two runs. Even though it was probably 2 miles in 20 minutes I actually felt like a runner that was out of shape instead of someone that has never run before which was promising.  Now these little optimistic views won't really matter when it comes down to it considering my track record with running but it's progress and I'm happy about that.

Lets just hope it continues.

Twice in one week

This is going to be short because the Celtics game is about to start.  I did another 2 miles today, felt equally crappy to Sunday but oh well.  Maybe I'll edit this and make it longer later or just have a separate entry.