Month: February 2025

Wow. “Warm” out. Temperature was around 32 degrees and not much wind. It’s been getting above freezing during the day for the past few days, so the daytime melt is black ice the next morning. Hard to see in the dark on black asphalt.

The ribs and back felt fine at the start but started complaining mildly after about three miles. Time to get a wrap for bruised/fractured ribs. An ace bandage as a test worked, but better to get something made for the actual problem. I’ll try it out tomorrow.

Today’s run was a 9.05 mile rolling hills/skiing on ice route. Pace was 10:23. Total climb was about 465 feet.

Today’s run was a short test run with my ribs wrapped. It does help, but then it’s a bit harder to breathe. Today was also a test day to try to up the tempo. Increase the number of steps per minute but not increase the push per step. Take that the same.

Today’s run was a test 2.18 mile rather flat route. Pace was a faster 9:52. Total climb was about 90 feet.

As expected, there was lots of black ice on the roads, and especially in the berms. It’s manageable. Risky in a fee spots, though. There’s one stretch that has some traffic (even in the early morning) where the ice covers much of the lane. Glad I know how to ski.

The ribs and back are maybe a bit better, but each run seems to set it back to being a problem. A few days rest isn’t cutting it.

Today’s run was a 9.05 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 10:35. Total climb was around 465 feet.

A snow day. Spent a few hours digging out the driveway, then switched into running gear for a few miles. Not much traffic. The ribs and back are still complaining.

Today was my first opportunity to test running in trail shoes to handle the snowy conditions. Perfect. Didn’t slip once. They’re lined with Gore-Tex, so slushy stretches weren’t an issue.

Today’s run was a 4.33 mile rolling hills route. So much fun dancing around piles of snow in the berms left by plows clearing driveways and side streets. Pace was 10:25. Total climb was around 205 feet.

Today was a test run after a few days rest. Not encouraging. After the last run everything really complained, to the point where even standing up caused my back to spasm. I’ve never seen this before! Time to investigate a wrap for the ribs.

Today’s run was a short 2.18 mile rather flat route. Pace was 10:08. Total climb was only around 90 feet.

Nice early morning for a run. Temperatures probably around 20 degrees and just a breeze. I’ll take it.

The ribs and back complained throughout the run. OK, one more issue. Some rest and maybe a wrap for support.

Today’s run was an 11.22 mile hills route. Pace was 10:47. Total climb was about 600 feet.

First run after a few days off for recovery. Beats me what, where, and when I did it, but I somewhere bruised my ribs and pulled a muscle in my lower back. I was fine at and after the race on Saturday. I didn’t feel a thing Sunday schlepping luggage around airports (although I was really tired!).

Today’s run was a 4.33 mile somewhat rolling hills route. Pace was 10:21. Total climb was about 205 feet.

Race day. Death Valley is such an interesting place. Words and pictures don’t do it justice. The marathon route is a 13.1 mile out-and-back route run twice. About a mile and a half is on a rocky side road that snakes up through a small canyon. Night and day different than 13 days ago in Houston and it’s flat, paved streets. Out and back twice through the canyon is six miles of picking your feet up more than you’re used to when running on pavement. Lots of people tripping. Those miles were definitely slower.

I didn’t feel too bad through most of the race. Nice and easy and don’t push on the hamstring too much. The last four or so miles were tough. Those last four included one more time through the rocky canyon. I had just enough to finish.

Today’s run was the Death Valley Marathon. A cool race to do. Overall pace was about 11:11. I’ve wondered what the different paces were on the rocky six miles and the paved 20. Total climb was somewhere around 600 feet (just a guess).

Last run before hopping on a plane out west. This is going to be interesting on Saturday. Running a marathon 13 days after running Houston. No idea how those last miles will go.

Today’s run was a 7.15 somewhat rolling hills route. Pace was 10:30. Total climb was around 350 feeet.

A nice early morning, weather-wise. Not a great morning traffic-wise. Probably five or six stops for some time (not just a few seconds) waiting on an opportunity to cross roads. A few I expect, but today felt like start/stop, start/stop, start/stop for the entire run.

Today’s run was a 14.01 mile rolling hills route. No real idea on pace. Maybe around 10:52 but that’s just a guess. Total climb was about 710 feet.