I haven't posted anything in a couple weeks and in my head I had pretty much decided to give up blogging after only a few posts. For some reason I feel like I have to write this thing for other people to read but really why should I give a shit. i should be writing it more for myself, a way to look back over my training and my life as the year progresses so I'll give it another shot.
Tuesday nights are a "Group Run" night with the Philly runners. It seems since the new year every Tuesday night a small group of us head off for 8 miles while the majority of the group does a 4.4 mile run. I am loving the longer runs for the not only the training benifit but the company. I really do enjoy running with other people and if you had to pick people to run with this group would definitely be a good choice. The 8 mile group varies from week to week but you can always count on varied conversation and a good run.
Talk was a little lighter than normal tonight. Ian, a regular on this run, and one that is very good at starting conversation was absent. Our group headed out with the regulars Anglo Mike, Chem Steve, and Jim. We had a couple others including and older runner who I met for the first time. His name escapes me but I was surprised to see him stick around with us for the longer run, turns out he has run a couple marathons a year since 1978. I am sure that he would have been able to run all of us into the ground. The run was easy at about 8:00 pace over Spring Garden, Zoological Drive, lansdowne, sweetbriar, belomnt, chamioux, strawbery mansion bridge and then back on the resevoir drives. 10 miles in all and every one felt great.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Up and Down
I found out on last Thursdays run that the mapping tool, Gmap-Pedometer, I use to plan out my running routes through the city now has an elevation function. So when you are mapping out your route a small elevation chart pops up at the bottom of the screen. How cool!!. I live in a very hilly section of Philadelphia called Manayunk and this will allow me to see just how far up and down I am going when I hit those hills. See that link. http://tinyurl.com/cgemb.
These runs are very difficult but I really look forward to them. I pride myself on my ability to run hills and every time I do these routes I only get better at it. There are three very major hills on this route that make me want to cry by the time I reach the top and few smaller hills. I am always totally spent after these runs. I steamed a for a few minutes in the cold January air as I cooled down on my steps after the run. The 5.4 miles took 45 minutes so it wasn't the fastest run but the hills just knock all of the speed out of it. A few more runs like this before the Ugly Mudder and I should be in good shape for that run.
These runs are very difficult but I really look forward to them. I pride myself on my ability to run hills and every time I do these routes I only get better at it. There are three very major hills on this route that make me want to cry by the time I reach the top and few smaller hills. I am always totally spent after these runs. I steamed a for a few minutes in the cold January air as I cooled down on my steps after the run. The 5.4 miles took 45 minutes so it wasn't the fastest run but the hills just knock all of the speed out of it. A few more runs like this before the Ugly Mudder and I should be in good shape for that run.
Friday, January 13, 2006
In Reverse
Often a run is started in the PR group on Thursday night and one person picks a route. Last night I chose a route that was pretty much the opposite of the Tuesday night route. Started up Lemon Hill over Girard, Lansdowne, Belmont, Monygomery, Belmont Mansion Drive, George's Hill, back down Lansdowne to West River and ending back in front of the Art Museum. It was Chem Steve, Jenn, Russ, Elizabeth and I. Another great run like Tueday night. The weather has been unbelievably warm for January and it continued last night. It's crazy that at 6:30 on a Saturday night in mid-January I can start a run in shorts and shortsleeves.
My running has started to come back into form after a couple nights off and it was nice to just cruise along at 8m/m and talk to some friends. A lot of discussion about spring and winter runs and what everybody was planning to do. On my plate is the Caesar Rodney 1/2 Marathon in Wilimington the middle of March. Also the Ugly Mudder, an incredibly difficult 7 mile trail run out by Reading at the end of Februaury. Shoudl be fun. Gotta keep up those miles so I can solidly break 1:30 in the half-marathon.
My running has started to come back into form after a couple nights off and it was nice to just cruise along at 8m/m and talk to some friends. A lot of discussion about spring and winter runs and what everybody was planning to do. On my plate is the Caesar Rodney 1/2 Marathon in Wilimington the middle of March. Also the Ugly Mudder, an incredibly difficult 7 mile trail run out by Reading at the end of Februaury. Shoudl be fun. Gotta keep up those miles so I can solidly break 1:30 in the half-marathon.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
From Bad to Good
Going into this run a headache and a sleepy ride home from work combined to make me think the run just wasn't going to go to well. I met up with Seeb, Erin, LL at 6:00 in front of the museum for an 8 mile loop through Fairmount park that, as LL called it, was very "sweet". Down Kelly, up over Girard Bridge, over through Fairmount Park, the Belmont Loop and then back the same way. Just a little over 8 mile in exactly an hour. A decent pace for me and I really felt great the entire way. It was nice running with this group, some good chatter back and forth over a variety of topics, the time flew. This was seriously one of teh best runs runs I have had in a while.
After the run I hung out in front of the Art Museum for 15 minutes and met up with the rest of the PR's on their Tuesday night run. I saw a couple people who I hadn't seen in a while and it was nice to chat it up. A cold 1/4 jog back to my car and I was on my way home. A good night.
After the run I hung out in front of the Art Museum for 15 minutes and met up with the rest of the PR's on their Tuesday night run. I saw a couple people who I hadn't seen in a while and it was nice to chat it up. A cold 1/4 jog back to my car and I was on my way home. A good night.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Here We Go
My first post. I am not really sure if I will post this link for anyone to read for a while. I always feel that my writing, spelling, and grammar are horrible but maybe I will get comfortable with it. Since I haven't run yet today I will talk about my run from yesterday morning.
Decided to give morning running a shot. With a new work location and a shorter commute I now have time in the morning to get in a decent run. This will open up nights for friends and family, it will also give me a better shot at logging more miles each week. My plan as of now is to run Monday and Thursday mornings. Eventually I may run more mornings but I'll have to see how it goes.
The alarm went off ar 5:45 and at first I thought "No way in hell." but I was able to get out of bed, get a cup of coffee, a gronola bar and roll out the door. My plan was 5 mile at an easy pace and that is exactly what happened. Down my hill to Manayunk Ave., wound my way down to Main Street, and I followed to Umbria st. Took Umbria to the Domino Diner and returned on pretty much the same route. 39 minutes meaning an easy 7:40 pace. This being my first morning run I was curious to see how I would feel and what I would see as far as people and other runners.
I felt good from the first step. It was a warm morning for early January and I had Radiohead going on my iPod so all was good. I am not really sure what I expected but it felt like just another run to me. I was comfortable and relaxed, I enjoyed the pace and kept my eye on the horizon for the sun. The sky did lighten a good bit by the time I returned at 7:00 but no sun. It should be nice to see it coming up earlier and earlier as the winter progresses.
I saw several people walking their dogs and one other runner along Main street. That was about it. The mornings are different then evening runs in that the streets feel more like your own. There aren't many people out, especially running, and you feel a little better about yourself for geting your ass out of bed and getting it done. I think and hope that these morning runs turn into a habit. Maybe this blog will turn into a habit too, who knows.
Decided to give morning running a shot. With a new work location and a shorter commute I now have time in the morning to get in a decent run. This will open up nights for friends and family, it will also give me a better shot at logging more miles each week. My plan as of now is to run Monday and Thursday mornings. Eventually I may run more mornings but I'll have to see how it goes.
The alarm went off ar 5:45 and at first I thought "No way in hell." but I was able to get out of bed, get a cup of coffee, a gronola bar and roll out the door. My plan was 5 mile at an easy pace and that is exactly what happened. Down my hill to Manayunk Ave., wound my way down to Main Street, and I followed to Umbria st. Took Umbria to the Domino Diner and returned on pretty much the same route. 39 minutes meaning an easy 7:40 pace. This being my first morning run I was curious to see how I would feel and what I would see as far as people and other runners.
I felt good from the first step. It was a warm morning for early January and I had Radiohead going on my iPod so all was good. I am not really sure what I expected but it felt like just another run to me. I was comfortable and relaxed, I enjoyed the pace and kept my eye on the horizon for the sun. The sky did lighten a good bit by the time I returned at 7:00 but no sun. It should be nice to see it coming up earlier and earlier as the winter progresses.
I saw several people walking their dogs and one other runner along Main street. That was about it. The mornings are different then evening runs in that the streets feel more like your own. There aren't many people out, especially running, and you feel a little better about yourself for geting your ass out of bed and getting it done. I think and hope that these morning runs turn into a habit. Maybe this blog will turn into a habit too, who knows.
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