I've been running steady for more than five months now and I feel bad when I cannot get out for a run. I've focused on running for me, rather than training for a race. I find more satisfaction when I don't feel pressure to run faster and farther. I think my body is happier too. I've suffered some minor dings along the way, but for the most part I've been able to run injury free.

My garmin log is falling behind and I need to upload some data., but I have logged close to 400 miles since March. In addition to running, I've been playing some golf with friends over the summer. Playing is an exageration, but I'm working on it. Another friend wants to start playing tennis. My tennis game is also bad, but I'm sure I can run around the court without feeling like puking.

The summer is gone and I make it through the entire season, running all the way. Now for the beautiful Florida days of fall and winter. It will be nice to get a break from the heat.

On a steady path ...

I've been back in my running routine for 3 months. Sometimes it feels like more than that; so much has gone on since March. The weather is getting hotter all the time, but my daily noon runs continue. I feel like my conditioning is coming back nicely. I do not feel like I did during my marathon training program, but I have plenty of energy to run and feel motivated to get out their daily despite the weather, my workload, and any number of other reasons that usually derail my training.

I've logged 15.5 miles since Sunday this week. Today, I felt tired at the end of my run, but the feeling was no more than a minor irritation. I never felt like I could not finish. I'll run again tomorrow and take off Friday. Normally, I take off Tuesday's and Friday's, but last week I didn't run on Saturday and ran yesterday to make up.

I have no plans to enter any events. I enjoy running more than I enjoy the racing aspect of the sport. I rarely have the patients and poise to run my own race. This summer will be filled with runs for me. It looks like we may be doing some light hiking in the mountains of Utah as well, so my conditioning will pay off.

In the past, I've done a better job of maintaining the blog while I'm training. This time around, I feel less motivated to log entries. I'm not sure why, because re-reading my posts really helped me get back outside this spring. I can say that I feel busier now than ever before, both with work and family. I'm starting to think that "when I grow up" has occurred for me. I never did figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Still running

Usually a lapse in posts means that I've stumbled in my training efforts.  I have good news... I've just been on vacation and busy at work.  These too usually mean that I've stopped running.  Not this time.  

While my family was in town, my dad and I made it to the gym four days.  They were here for a 8 days.  Although I ate a bunch of junk, I ran (on a treadmill).  Today I ran outside at work.  It was too busy yesterday to even think about going to the gym.  Today was a great day to run.  I felt so good on my 4 mile run.  Runs like today are the reason I love to run.  I can't wait to get back outside tomorrow.

I returned my undersized Brooks to Road Runner Sports today.  I'm thankful they have a good policy for shoes that do not fit right.  I wish I would have tried them on first, but at least I bought them from the right place.  They run quite a bit smaller than my Asics.  

What pays the bills

I've always had conflict with my running schedule when it comes to my job. I like to run at lunch and I fit my workout into the hour I have for lunch each day. However, there are days when work is hectic and lunch gets pushed back. On days like this, I've always struggled with the will-power to go for a run during my late lunch. On days that I just don't get lunch, I find it even harder to motivate myself to run after work.

This week is a busy one in the office. Many people are out for spring break and our group is in the midst of a large project with a looming deadline. I'm wearing several hats this week, which means the likelihood of a workout interruption is high. I did manage to make my trip to the gym today, but I have a feeling that I'm not going to have such luck everyday this week.

I do have priorities in life. My family is first and my job is second. My commitment to my health is high, but it is frequently a lower priority than my job. I'll admit that my physical health should be equal to my job in commitment and has not been throughout the years. Almost all of my failures to continue training can be linked to a burst in activity at work. This is something that I need to work on. I'm not about to reduce my efforts at work, instead I need to work on my willpower to continue to train despite the extra effort required.

Finishing Kick

My week of running started off on a sour note. I felt drained almost every day this week. To top it off, one foot didn't like my new shoes for the first few runs and I suffered a stomache cramp after running too soon after lunch on Saturday. As I reviewed my running pace for the week, I noticed that the first mile of each run as been better than 8:30, a significant improvement from a few weeks ago. Of, course each run fell apart after the first mile.

So I know that I've been running too fast in that first mile for my current condition, but I'm also happy to see that I can rattle off those miles. I mean, those are the type of miles I expect to run throughout my runs as I get into better condition. Four years ago, I was running sub 8 minute miles, mile after mile, after mile. I know I can get there.

Today I went for a final run of the week. I noticed a few things right away. I had energy... My foot seemed to be getting along with my new shoe... No sign of cramping... Again, my first mile was quick, but this time miles two and three were right at 9 minutes. It felt good to finish off the week on a good note. The run gave me confidence that I am getting better despite a poor start to the week.

The weather is supposed to be bad the first few days of the week. I plan to run outside unless it's too bad.

Piss Poor

That's how I would describe my week of running. I did manage to get out every day this week (Monday through Thursday), but I felt bad just about every run. I also got a new pair of shoes this week and I'm not sure if they are the right pair for me. I'll give them a few more miles, otherwise they will be going back to Roadrunner sports for a half size larger. I could easily order a pair of Asics with confidence online, but this is my first pair of Brooks. I probably should have gone into a store to try them on first.

I'm going to go for another run at home tomorrow and hopefully I will have more energy. I'm sure this is just part of the process, but I enjoy running more when the miles don't feel so long. It's been quite hot this week too, which is always tough; more so when I'm not in top shape.

I'll just try to keep a positive attitude and push through the feelings. I can see light at the end of this short tunnel.

New Shades

My old sunglasses have been with me through thick and thin and have seen better days. I purchased my polarized Ray Ban's in 2005 and I ran many miles with the glasses. I've noticed that sun gets in above my eye's and causes glare, exactly what a polarized glass should stop.

This time around, I decided to get something built for sport and I tried out several pairs before choosing a pair of Oakley Polarized Flak Jacket Sunglasses. I wasn't sure about getting a pair of polarized lenses this time, especially since my old pair didn't seem to stop the glare. I googled like mad looking for pro's and con's of a polarized lense. Of course, the lenses are toughted by fishermen, and even golfers, because they refract the glare from water.

My runs are not usually near water, although the Florida sun is extremely bright. My wife's eye doctor recommends polarized lenses because she says glare causes damage to the eye, and protecting against UVa and UVb are not enough to assure healthy eyes. I've been fortunate to have adequate eye site without prescription lenses and I look at my sunglasses as a measure to protect my eyes.

My first run with the glasses was a huge change from my old pair. No more glare, the sun can't get in above the rim, because the frame fits snug. I'm glad I went with a new pair of glasses, even though I didn't want to spend the money on them.

Saturday, I ended my with with a 4 mile run, bringing my total miles for the week to 20. I'm feeling my conditioning improve significantly already. It feels so good to run and not feel like your legs are going to give out at any minute.

Today, I ran another 4 mile loop at home. It was rainy this morning - (we really need it), so I ran in the afternoon. The wind from yesterday died down and the four miles clipped by very nicely. Can't wait to get back out tomorrow :)

I went for a run around Lettuce Lake Park today. This was a milestone day in my return to running.  I completed the run, feeling good and I maintained a 9 minute pace.  Two weeks ago I would have felt like vomiting when I crossed the line.  

So far this week I've logged 16 miles.  I plan to take Friday off as usual and pick up with a 4 mile loop here at home.  I have an idea about my route, but it will be interesting to see how it measures out on the forerunner.

Today was probably the best I've felt since I started running again. My pace was sub nine minute and I did not feel my legs giving out at any point during my 3 mile run. I've been feeling better almost every day this week. Most of the feeling is mental instead of physical, because it is very easy to tell yourself that you are tired.

The weather was nice again, it's unfortunate that the heat will be coming soon. I seem to pick up my running when the weather gets hot. I guess I like to sweat. Once again, I left my gps at home. I know the loop very well and can judge my pace with decent accuracy, so it's not a huge loss. However, I like to have that data as a permanent record of my run. Looking at the data helps motivate me to run farther and faster.

I've made it through a week of running regularly and I'm starting to feel better already. This weekend I ran two seperate loops in our new community (Stonebrier , Lutz FL). Both loops wound up being 3 miles, which worked well into my current training plan.

For last week (Sunday - Saturday), I ran 18.8 miles. I kicked this week off with a nice 3 mile run at home today. Feeling good and glad to be running again. It's also nice to see the progress in the area. From the map below, it is obvious that we live in a new development. Even in the down turn of the housing market, there seems to be hope in this area.

Today was a critical day in my return to training.  I've had several false starts along the way, but I've not been able to coax myself to the gym three days in a row in a very long time.  Although my body felt tired today, I set out at lunch to the gym.  The weather was beautiful again and once I started running I felt more energetic than earlier in the morning.  

My run was a three mile loop around the park and I did a good job of reminding myself to finish the run, rather than worry about the snails pace at which I was running.  It always feels good to finish a run whilst still running.  I think it builds more confidence.

I've noticed a few things about getting back into the training mode.  First, the usual side pains didn't happen.  I think that pain was psychological rather than physical before.  I know that my body is capable of running these distances and paces and I've been able to push past the quitter in me.  It almost feels like riding a bicycle.

So far this week I've run 15.8 miles.  I plan to run again tomorrow and take Friday off.  

I headed to the gym at noon today.  This is later than I like to go, but I managed to make my way despite my stomach's grumbling noises.  Today one of the staff at the gym mentioned that she had not seen me in the gym before.  Nothing says you've been away too long more than a statement like that.  

I ran a 3 mile loop today and felt pretty good for someone that hasn't been doing anything athletic in ages.  Tonight I am a bit stiff and my legs feel tired, but I know these feelings are the price of laziness.   The weather was overcast, which made the weather feel even nicer.  I love this time of year in Florida.  

What is rock bottom?

I'm not sure if I hit rock bottom or not. My weight hasn't ballooned, my close still fit, my excuses for not running are more convincing every day. I usually know that I need to get back on the streets when I start to drink Pepsi. I started that routine almost a year and a half ago now.

My energy levels have been lower than normal lately. I feel the strain of concentrating on my many tasks in the office. It's this feeling that convinced me to start running on the weekends in February. I ran every weekend, at least one day around our new subdivision in Lutz, FL. The area is beautiful and I enjoyed getting out for a run.

Still, I continued to think of all the reasons that I should not use my lunch break to run. This weekend I was searching for a cable for a video camera and I stumbled across my garmin forerunner. After I charged it, I saw the last recorded run was May 23, 2007. I was on a business trip in Atlanta that day, and I recall it was a nice run. I felt bad that my forerunner was lost among the junk piles in my new house.

I ran Saturday and Sunday at home. I didn't wear the garmin, so I can't be sure how far the runs were. I'm guessing 3 miles. Last night I spent time looking at a new pair of sunglasses, since my pair has seen better days. I was looking at models good for running. Then I thought, why? I've not committed to run, so why should I commit to the expense of a pair of expensive sunglasses for running. In today's market, I think about every penny I spend.

While I was researching the glasses, I visited my blog. Man, the dust is thick over here. I read my old posts. I recalled the fun I had running, how good it made me feel. I also recalled the pain I suffered from my Achilles injury in the final stages of preparation for the Gasparilla Marathon.

This morning I committed to go to the gym at lunch. I didn't have to pack anything; my gym bag has been sitting at my desk for 9 months. When lunch time came around I headed to the gym, no excuses today. I felt like a stranger in the gym. Almost everything had changed. Gone was the computer to sign in with. Gone were the staff I remembered from my days as a daily runner. Gone was the parking lot outside of the gym... Yet, the lockers were still there, and some of the same gym rats were there too. The sun was shining outside.

I started outside with the intention of running 3 miles, but when I got to a fork in the road, I chose the longer path. Today's run was momentous for me. I didn't run well; didn't feel good; definitely, didn't look good; but I ran.

When I returned to my cube, I felt so good. I don't think I hit rock bottom this time, but I'm so glad that I woke up and laced up my shoes today.