Month: July 2023

Last full week of work before starting to taper a bit next week. I decided to tack on a few miles today since I skipped yesterday. It was a fantastic, cool early morning. Temperature around 56 degrees.

The route I run often goes by some low-lying areas which are rather swampy. Lots of what sound like bullfrogs. Today I had to step around a few small snakes on the side of the road. Never a dull moment.

Today’s run was a 14.74 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 9:47. Weight was 145.8.

Another day of steep climbing work. If you leave off the last 250 feet or so, which are about a 3% grade, the remaining 0.81 mile climb has an average grade of over 14%. There are always some other runners on the hill — it’s the nearest (and I bet the steepest) hill around.

What I’m finding now is that it’s primarily an issue of breath and not so much the legs. That classic “can’t get enough air.” It’ll get better.

Today’s run was an approximately one mile warm-up run and two climbs of a 0.87 mile hill. Pace overall was 11:14. Weight was 146.6.

One more mild/warm and humid early morning. Temperature around 69 degrees and 89% humidity. Good training weather — the humidity saps your energy. It’s also getting light later. Harder to see the skunks.

Today’s run was a 12.5 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 9:36. Weight was 145.2.

A mild, rather humid early morning for a run. Temperature around 67 degrees and some fog. Good training weather. It’s getting light later now, so the first few miles now are in the dark. Back to keeping a sharp eye out for potholes, rocks, sticks, etc., etc. It only takes one twist to lose six months.

Today’s run was an 8.05 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 9:33. Weight was a strange 148.0.

Nice, easy, short recovery run this morning. Just get out and loosen up.

Today’s run was a short 1.04 mile rather flat (one 7% climb) route. Pace was an easy 9:49. Weight was 146.8.

Long run Sunday. Glad to get out in the Sun. Didn’t feel too bad after yesterday. Temperatures crept up and the humidity was there (but not too bad). Joints and back started to complain, so I trimmed the distance back a bit.

Dehydration is still a challenge. I need to be drinking more. I lost a solid two pounds of fluid. Not ideal.

Today’s run was a 17.32 mile rolling hills route. Pace was right about 10:00. Weight was 145.2.

Back to pounding out miles. Today is “climbing Saturday.” A mile or so warm-up and then the hill. It’s an 0.87 mile climb at an average 9% grade. Good work.

Today I managed about one a half climbs. I didn’t want to put everything into it, since tomorrow is “long run Sunday.” Good work.

Today’s run was a 2.46 mile hills route. Pace was 10:39. Weight was 144.6.

One more steamy early morning. Temperature about 72, humidity over 90%. Great training weather. The next race in August is in Wyoming and the temperature/humidity is more like low 60’s and 48%.

It takes over 30 minutes to cool down after a run. Getting ready for the day after an early morning run takes a while. Ugh.

Today’s run was an 8.05 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 9:16. Weight was 146.4.

A morning that is great for training but is torture out on the roads. Temperature was about 76 degrees and 90+% humidity. The planned 19 mile run went right out the window. Just get out and did what I could.

The heat and humidity really saps the energy. I bet that figuring out how to carry some cold water, in addition to the regular mix in the Camelbak, would be really helpful. Cold water on the head/forehead to stay cool(er).

Today’s run was an estimated 11.5 mile rolling hills route. Pace was a guess at 10:00. Weight was 146.4.

Saturday is steep climbing day. There’s one hill not too far away with several sections at 18% or so grades and is 0.87 miles long. Whew. Good work, though. Had to stop about four times. The goal is to climb it with no stops. It’s as much a mental exercise.

Today’s run was a 2.22 mile hills route with a mile warm-up. Overall pace was 10:46. Weight was 145.2.