Aim low

I started out the year with the idea that I might be able to run an 8-minute mile sometime this spring.  I'm not one for making New Year's resolutions but, hey, I was at the Crayola Factory and there was this station where the project was making resolution scrolls and, you know, when Crayola says to do something you don't say no.  So I got this idea and I wrote it down on the paper (in crayon, no less, and that stuff is permanent) and then got so bold as to hang it up in my office.  It's now just a little over 2 weeks until my first race of the year (and I only do 3 of them).  I like to think anything is possible but, honestly, I think there is a higher chance of monkeys flying out of my butt than me running an 8-minute mile on May 3rd.  We'll see.  Either way, somebody should bring a camera.  The week after that, on May 10th, I'll be running in the Philly Race for the Cure.  This is only a 5K and I'm planning to go for broke so I suppose there is an outside chance I could run 3 miles at an 8-minute pace before I collapse (or a monkey sneaks out).  However, I'm not going to hold my breath.  I think the lesson learned here is aim low.  Stupid crayons.

Casualties of Running?

I headed out for my 8 mile long run today not feeling very confident.  I haven't been keeping up with my workouts as much as I would like so I knew that today would be tough.  Turns out there was more in store for me than I realized.  First of all, I was trying out a new route.  I had looked it over on Google maps just to make sure I could get my distance in.  I didn't look at the details.  When the majority of the streets are named "something-or-other hill" that's your first clue that perhaps there are a lot of hills.  So there was that.  Then, at mile two, some flying insect slams into me at what had to be at least 50% the speed of light and hits me right in the eye.  !!!  I'm trying not to break stride while I pry this thing out of my eye, cursing the whole time because it hurts like you would NOT believe.  I finally peel the stupid bug off and now I'm thinking that it must have had a stinger because the pain is incredible and I'm imaging my eye swelling shut as I continue on my run.  (turns out there was no lasting damage to my eye but it still hurt like the bejeezus)  I plod along up and down the hills and try to distract myself from the pain in my eye by enjoying the beautiful weather (low 60's and sunny) and the expensive houses.  Gray clouds are coming in from the distance.  Thunder storms had been predicted for the evening but I was sure I would be home long before then.  Now I'm not so sure.  With just a little over 2 miles to go the sky is starting to look pretty threatening.  I decide I need to think about heading for home.  All the people who had been outside in their yards are taking notice of the clouds and are packing it up.  I try to run a little faster but it's hopeless after all those damn hills.  My iPod tells me I have one mile to go and I see the first flash of lightning.  Crap!  In the next few minutes the air temperature drops noticeably and the wind picks up.  At the half mile mark I hear the first clap of thunder and the rain starts.  When my iPod tells me I have 400 meters to go I can see my front door and I decide that this is good enough.  The skies open up just as I get my key out.  Whew!

In 7.7 miles I encountered brutal hills, almost lost an eye, and just missed getting soaked.  I think I prefer the easy, uneventful runs.

Blech

Sometimes a good run can be the cure for a bad mood.  Other times a bad mood can make for a horrible run.  The latter was the case today.  I was tired and weather.com said "feels like 37" when I headed out this afternoon.  It was a slow, plodding run around campus.  The occasion twinge of pain in my left knee only made matters worse.  When the best part of a run is the fact that it's over then it's definitely not a good day.  I'm hoping for a better frame of mind for my 7 mile run this weekend.

Minor improvements

The weather has changed for the better lately.  I actually got to run outside in shorts twice last week.  Shorts, people!  It was awesome.  I've managed to get my schedule a little more normal which means fewer workouts missed.  There's still room for more improvement but I'll take what I can get for now.  Tomorrow the high is only 47 but it's supposed to be sunny.  Let's hope we're done with the snow for the season.

Chaos

While the Broad Street Run is still over 2 months away, I'm starting to think that my 8-minute splits aren't going to happen.  I haven't been able to stick with my training at all these past few weeks.  Between the weather and life I'm lucky if I get in a couple of runs a week.  Oh sure, I try to make up for it with extra cross training but it's not the same.  I'm hoping that the weather will get a little better and that life will fall into more of a routine soon but I'm not convinced that either will happen.  It's a bit unsettling when something that has been your "happy place" for many years is suddenly not available to you.  I need to figure out a way to get some calmness back in my life so I can get back on track.  I'm open to suggestions.

Sanity or grading?

Life is crazy these days. If ever I needed to be running it's now. My head feels like it's 3 feet thick. Ironically, when you need it the most is when it's the hardest to find time to do. However, if you weigh the pros and cons, I think that keeping one's sanity wins out over grading 20 more papers. That's just my opinion. The weather has improved lately and I ran outside a couple of days ago. The first time running outside in probably at least a month. It was great! I think my feet had forgotten what real asphalt felt like. Today it's even warmer so I'll be out there again, even though it's technically a rest day. With life (and the weather) the way it has been I have to take every opportunity to get out on the pavement that I can get. I'm looking forward to it more than words can describe.

Cold, cold, cold

I haven't run outside in forever.  The weather sucks.  It's rarely above freezing these days, even when it's not snowing.  I've been to the Y a few times to run on the treadmill but logistically that's just much more difficult than running around campus before heading home for the day.  This just stinks.  I'm sick of winter already and it's not even February yet.  I have to start my training program for the Broad Street Run on Monday so I guess I'm going to have to figure something out since the forecast doesn't show any big changes on the horizon.

A side note... the other day a friend asked me how fast I thought I could run a mile.  Just a single mile.  I thought about it for a minute and decided 7:30 was probably doable.  Later, however, I started wondering if I had been a little too cocky so when I was on the treadmill the other night I decided to goof around a bit.  I ran a mile at 9:00 (my usual starting pace).  Then I bumped the speed up to 8:30 and ran another mile.  I ran the third mile at 8:00 and I was starting to feel the strain.  I then pushed it up to 7:30 and ran for as long as I could.  It didn't last too long - only about 0.15 miles - but realize that this was after already running 3 miles so I wasn't too disappointed.  I alternated between 7:30 and 9:00 for the rest of the last mile.  My conclusion was that I think my original declaration was probably correct.  One of my goals for this year is to run a race with 8:00 splits.  The Broad Street Run might be too ambitious (it's a 10-miler) but I think the Race for the Cure (5K) is possible.