run, run, run

Boise, ID 8:00 am

Pace: 8:39

Had a lot to do today, so I went out earlier than usual. I like getting the run in early, but hate the cold, so I've been running at noon most days. This morning wasn't bad except for a few miles runing into the wind down McMillian.

iPod song of the day: "Sam Hall" -- Johnny Cash

Meridian, ID Noon

Pace: 8:00

Did my T-Th workout alternating fast and slow quarters for three miles then finished up with two comfortable miles. Actually, I kind of pushed myself for the final two. My average pace is going up on these. Maybe next week I'll bump it up to four miles.

Weather was pretty nice today, but started raining during the last half mile.

iPod song of the day: "Crazy On You" -- Heart

Boise, ID Noon

Pace: 7:48

Grrrrrr. This was supposed to be an easy run today -- a snack as my neighbor calls it. But no. It snowed the whole time. Those big flakes that get in your eyes. And for some reason, I decided to pick up the pace. I think I was bugged because I was hoping to come in under 8 minute pace yesterday and was at 8:00 exactly. Or, maybe I was just cold and wanted to finish as quickly as possible.

I picked up some funky new socks at the Nike store yesterday. The kind that are really low and have a left and right foot. They were pretty comfy, and only 4 bucks. I guess I'll have to buy up a few more.

iPod song of the day: "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" -- They Might Be Giants

Boise, ID 8:00am

Pace: 9:02

I've been to the summit.

Ran along the Robie Creek course today. I started about a mile and a half up on Rocky Canyon road where the houses end and went to the top and back. It was a great day for a run, chilly but the sun was out and the road was dry. Lots of folks out there today with only two weeks before the race. My New Year's race friend Tony was starting just as I was finishing up.

I finished in 2:01 last year, so my goal is to finish under 2 hours this time. Based on my time today, it will be close, but doable. Running up there gave me some confidence that I can get to the top this year without totally tanking it -- although tanking it certainly isn't out of the question.

iPod song of the day: "Sympathy for the Devil" -- The Rolling Stones (on conference weekend. I am going to burn in hell)

Boise, ID 7:00 am

Pace: 8:49

So I finally bit the bullet and got up early in the morning (early for me) to run. Decided to put in 15 today. I'll only be able to run M-F this week, so I'll need to get in a couple of longer ones.

The weather was great, except that it is still a little chilly at 7am. I went Cloverdale, Executive, Maple Grove, McMillian, Meridian, Ustick.

iPod song of the day: "Small Town" -- John Cougar Mellencamp

Meridian, ID Noon

Pace: 8:11

Alternated slow and fast quarters for three and a half miles. Ran one more fast quarter than last week. It was kind of rough today, feeling kind of sluggish. Not sure why, maybe leftover from yesterday's longish run.

Weather was awesome. 63 degrees, sunny and no wind. Best weather of the year so far. I'm ready for more of this.

iPod song of the day: "Men Who Ride Mountains" -- Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Meridian, ID 7:30 am

Pace: 8:37

Feeling kind of sore today. My lower back was hurting last night and today my left butt cheek felt like it had a knot in it for most of the run. It didn't really work its way out until about mile 9.

FYI: Running with a sore left butt cheek isn't as fun as it sounds.

The weather was nice, 50 and overcast. I ran Cloverdale, McMillian, Meridian, Pine, Cloverdale.

iPod song of the day: "Runnin' With The Devil" -- Van Halen

Boise, ID 11:00am

Pace: 8:45

Not a good run today. I was feeling kind of sore so I knew a speed workout wasn't going to happen, so I decided to just do an easy five miler to work out some of the kinks. After my first step I knew I was in trouble. The upper part of my left leg was hurting. I actually stopped and debated whether to even run at all. But I took off again and after about 100 yards the pain moved around and then decided to congregate right where it left off yesterday -- in my left butt cheek. So, I hobbled along taking it easy and after about two miles it wasn't as bad. By the time I finished up I could still feel it, but it was bearable. I don't know what caused it. I suspect it probably had to do with my 6-mile uphill run on the Robie course last Saturday.

I'll probably take it easy again tomorrow, maybe just a 7-miler and then take the weekend off. See if I can be 100% by next Saturday for Robie Creek.

iPod song of the day: "Let It Bleed" -- The Rolling Stones

Boise, ID 7:30am

Pace: 8:50

Well, I didn't run on Friday. I decided I needed to take a few days off to let my body heal a bit. This morning's run felt better, but not 100% yet. My hips and lower back felt kind of sore. More like sore than like pain. I'm still planning on keeping things kind of easy this week and hope to get a number for Robie Creek on Wednesday night.

iPod song of the day: "Proud Mary" -- Creedence Clearwater Revival

Boise, ID 8:00am

Pace: 8:38

I felt a little bit sore starting out, but felt a lot better after about a half mile or so. A little chilly this morning. I didn't push myself too hard. I'm kind of taking it easy this week hoping to be 100% on Saturday.

I got a number for Robie Creek. I posted on the message board and got an email from a guy who signed up and then forgot to train. Now I'm getting excited. It's going to be a fun race.

iPod song of the day: "Joy to the World" -- Three Dog Night

Boise, ID Noon

Pace: 8:13

I decided to get out for one more easy run before Saturday. I'm still feeling kind of sore across the tops of my legs and hips. It only lasted for about a half a mile, then I felt better. I still felt it during the whole run but I kept a decent pace and wasn't at all what I would call pain. So I think I'm good to go for Robie Creek.

iPod song of the day: "Tragedy" -- Bee Gees (Here's hoping Saturday's race isn't one)

Robie Creek was great this year. Weather was awesome and I was able to beat my goal.

I got to the start about an hour early and picked up my chip peed a couple of times and just relaxed. I even fell asleep for a few minutes lying on the grass. When the race started I wanted to make sure I didn't repeat any of last year's mistakes, so I didn't push myself at all at the start (that would have been hard to do with the crowd anyway). My first mile was just about 8 minutes. Then, as the hills started, I just tried to keep my cumulitive pace close to 9 minutes per mile. I kept my pace steady and comfortable and made it to the top averaging just over 9 minutes per mile.

 I had three goals going into it this year. 1: Finish under two hours. 2: Run the whole way. 3: Pick up my pace on the back of the mountain better than I did last year. I met all three goals, so I was really happy when I crossed the finish line.

Then came my second race. I had an appointment at 4pm in Meridian that I didn't really expect to keep, but I wanted to try. So, after I crossed the finish line I grabbed a bit to eat, some Gatorade and a Diet Pepsi (not sure what I was thinking there, except that it was cold), and took off for the bus. I hitched a ride with a stranger that just happened to live about a mile from my house, so I made it back home by 3:45. That's got to be some kind of a record.

Overall a really good time and I can't wait 'till next year.

iPod song of the day: "It's a Long Way To The Top If You Want To Rock and Roll" -- AC/DC

Boise, ID 6:30am

Pace: 8:15

So I ran into my friend Randy on Saturday and he suggested we start running in the mornings again. And like a fool I said, ok. Six-thirty is really early for me.

It's good though. Gets me out early and he runs faster than I probably would on my own. He's been sitting around a lot so we only did a five miler this morning. My hamstrings were pretty sore from Robie Creek, but overall I felt really good. I'm ready to crank up the mileage again. I'm going to shoot for 50 per week for the next couple of months.

Boise, ID 6:30am

Pace: 8:47

I got up and ran at 6:30 again, but this time it was my own fault. Work has gotten a bit less flexible, so I guess I have to just get up early in the morning now. I hate rolling out of bed, but once I'm out there I love it.

I decided to do a longer run at an easy pace this morning. It was pretty uneventful except that for the last couple of miles my porcelain buddy was calling pretty bad. But I made it back, we reaquainted ourselves and I lived to run another day.

iPod song of the day: "Police and Thieves" -- The Clash

Boise, ID 6:30am

Pace: 8:20

Ran the full route with Randy this morning. He is a lot faster than I am, so he pulls me along at a faster pace than I would normally run. It will get faster after he has been running a few more times.

Weather was great. I wore shorts and a t-shirt. My upper leg and butt still hurt when I start out and kind of nag at my the whole time, but not enough to stop me. I'm ready for the summer.

Meridian, ID 6:45am

Pace: 8:56

Cooler this morning. I went up Ustick to McMillian, then to Linder and Pine. Not a very eventful run. I tried to stop at a Walgreens to relieve myself but found that it wasn't open yet. What am I doing out before the Walgreens is even open? Actually, I'm really enjoying getting out early.

iPod song of the day: "Beautiful Day" -- U2

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: ?

My iPod stopped on me somewhere along the way, so I used the data from Wednesday's run.

I felt a lot better starting out this morning. For the past couple of weeks the top of my leg, like where the leg bone's connected to the hip bone, has been sore for the first half mile or so. I felt it a bit today, but not much. I won't be running much this weekend, so maybe I can get it fully healed soon.

A cool 38 degree morning. Neither Randy or I were in the mood to push it, so we just put in the miles, about an 8:30 pace I think.

Meridian, ID 8:30am

Pace: 8:53

Ran a mile with my daughter to train for the Capitol Kid's Race. Did the mile in 10:20, then I went and ran another mile and a half at about a 7:45 pace just to get my weekly total over 50. I know it makes no sense, but that's the kind of thing you do when you obsess.

Boise, ID 6:30am

7 miles

Pace: 8:07

A good run on a brisk morning. We went on the usual 7-mile route. Nothing eventful except that I felt better starting out than I have in weeks. None of the initial pain at all. A little sore in the hips as I ran, but not bad at all.

 Eagle, ID 5:00pm

6.8 miles

Pace: 8:28

My daughter had a softball game in Eagle tonight, so I thought I would run to it. That might have been a mistake. My leg/hip was feeling it the whole way. I'm kind of dumb that way. I think I'll take tomorrow off and see if some rest will help.

It was a great run though. Upper 60s and overcast. Plus it was a different route and I always like that.

Riley did awesome in her game again. 4 for 5 and some good fielding plays. She grounded into the third out on her final at-bat, ending her hitting streak at 10 in a row.