run, run, run

Meridian, ID 6:15 am

Pace: 8:24 Avg HR: 148

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:34 Avg HR: 141

I went out and ran down the street this morning to find Randy standing in his driveway wearing a bath robe -- never a good sign. He said his whole family was sick so I was on my own this morning. That was nice of him. I probably would have stayed in bed and let him figure it out on his own.

I ran the usual MWF route but did it in reverse for a change of pace. It was cold this morning, but better than yesterday.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:24 Avg HR: 154

This morning Randy was standing in his driveway again. Not in a bathrobe this time. In his running clothes, but holding a baby. "Sorry, you're on your own again this morning. I was all ready to run and then he woke up." Oh well, maybe Wednesday.

It was cold and rainy this morning, but a pretty good run. I'm already tired of running in the dark. This is going to be a long winter.

iPod song of the day: "Beautiful World" -- Devo

Boise, ID 6:00 am

Pace: 8:53 Avg HR: 147

Got up and did a slow ten this morning. It was dark, so I didn't check my pace at all, just kept it comfortable. Kind of chilly this morning, mid 30s. I went up Cloverdale to Overland to Maple Grove and then cut across at Emerald and back up Cloverdale to home.

I signed up for a little 5k on Saturday. I haven't done one since New Year's day. Curious to see if I've gotten faster or slower in 9 months.

iPod song of the day: "Fantasy" -- Earth Wind & Fire

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:47 Avg HR: 144

Apparently Randy is easing his way back into it. He was in his running clothes this morning and not holding a child, but he told me that the child was awake inside and that he was only going to run a mile or two. So we ran a couple of miles then I ran three more. It's probably best for me anyway. I didn't sleep much last night so I felt like crap and I had a bunch of unpleasant stuff on my mind. Some people say that running is a great opportunity to think through things and process information etc. Not me. I'd rather plug in some music and check out. More of an escape for me.

Slogged my way through the run and got back early -- so I napped for about an hour before starting to work. I'm still tired.

Boise, ID 6:00 am

Pace: 8:25 Avg HR: 151

Felt really good running this morning. Thought my pace would be faster, but I didn't look at my watch until I finished because it was dark. I went down Cloverdale to Executive/Pine to Locust Grove and back home on Ustick.

So a week ago I was still thinking that I was getting old and should just be content to run one Marathon per year just to make sure I keep running but not worry about new challenges. Then, yesterday I got this idea in my head to try the Utah Grand Slam next year. I have a friend that wants me to do Ogden and another set of friends that are talking about St. George. Then there are just two more, right? Still thinking about it. Talked to my wife about it. She can't imagine why I would want to do such a thing. I can't either, but I do. We'll see.

iPod song of the day: "The Man In Me" -- Bob Dylan

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:01 Avg HR: 153

So Randy actually ran the whole route this morning. Just in time to take all of next week off to go hunting. We took the usual course but did it in reverse. Had a good run. Kept the pace up pretty good.

People (businesses) really need to be turning off their sprinklers. I hate getting wet when it's freezing out.

Really small community races are good because they give slow guys like me a chance to win their age group. They didn't record finishing times or reward winners. I only know I came in fifth because I counted four people in front of me and I assume I won my age group because the four other guys looked younger. But it was a nice run on the greenbelt and I came close to my top 5k time. And they had free hamburgers and hot dogs at the finish line.

Boise, ID 6:00am

Pace: 8:42 Avg HR: 146

Wasn't really feeling into it this morning, but I went out anyway. I want to get my mileage in early in the week, so I can take it easy on Friday before Barber to Boise. I was doing pretty well, picking up the pace each mile, but then I started feeling some rumbling going on inside. I thought I could make it home. I couldn't. I had to stop off at the Albertsons and find the public restroom. After that, I was feeling much better.

iPod song of the day: "Canned Heat" -- Jamiroquai

Meridian, ID 6:00 am

Pace: 8:16 Avg HR: 151

It wasn't quite as chilly this morning, low 40s and dark the whole way. Good pace throughout, but I didn't finish very strong.

I decided to mix things up and try listening to some Podcasts on the iPod instead of music. It worked out really well, I listened to a few segments of the Dennis Miller Show. It helped the time pass quickly and not having music certainly didn't hurt my pace -- it might have even helped.

DMZ guest of the day: James Brown

Boise, ID 6:00 am

Pace: 8:51 Avg HR: 146

Just took it easy this morning. Didn't try to push it. Had a nice run except that three garbage trucks came in my direction as I was crossing the Five Mile overpass. I thought I was going to be smashed for a minute there, but I just gritted my teeth, hugged the rail and let them pass by.

DMZ guest of the day: Frank Caliendo

Sick. I better be over it by Saturday.

A fun race. I was sick for most of the week and hoped to be better by Saturday. I wasn't, but I'd paid the money so I went to the race anyway. I rode with Neil and enjoyed having someone to chat with before and after the race. It was a little crowded at the starting line, but weaving in and out of the crowd is kind of fun. By the time we were a half mile into it things spread out a bit. I did pretty good for the first three miles or so, but the congestion started building up and I had a hard time breathing. Neil took off about the time we passed through the golf course and was out of sight by the time I got to the stadium.

The finish area was really cool. The course looped once around the BSU stadium and then once around the track. By the time it was over I was hacking up phlegm and feeling kind of rotten, but that went away soon and they served pancakes.

I finished with my second best 10k time (out of four). I think the race made me even sicker, but I had fun and took it easy the rest of the day.

Boise, ID 6:00 am

Pace: 8:49

Still sick. But I went out and ran anyway. Probably will again tomorrow. It seems when I get sick it is fun to take a few days off, but then I get sick of it and just try to pretend I'm well again. it doesn't work, but that's what I do. I dont' think Saturday's race did me any favors.

I took it slow and easy this morning and had a nice run in the dark with cool weather.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:40 Avg HR: 149

First time running with Randy in over a week. Pretty slow by his standards, but I was still feeling it in my lungs. Usually I take an extra trip around the block to get my mileage up to an even seven. Today I got to my street and called it quits.

Boise, ID 6:00 am

Pace: 8:49 Avg HR: 144

Feeling a bit better today. I didn't feel like I was going to cough up a lung this time. Kept the pace slow and easy. Gotta ease my way back into it. Probably won't push it until next week.

DMZ guest of the day: Garry Shandling

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:27 Avg HR: 152

This morning's run was a comedy of errors. I started out by crossing Ustick too close to an oncoming car. Randy held up but I took off and had to sprint across the street to avoid dying. Then a mile later we got lost. Somehow we turned when we should have gone straight. And in the dark it is easy to get turned around. Randy looked at his GPS and we were going South. I could have sworn we were going West -- and we were trying to go North.

Finally, after a little more confusion in an attempted short cut, a big dog scared the crap out of me. A car was stopped at a light and we ran past. The big dog in the back seat started barking and tried to climb out the window. I thought I was going to lose an ear.

But I made it home and lived to run another day.

Boise, ID 8:00 am

Pace: 8:08

Finally feeling good again. I went out to run a few miles just to get my weekly mileage over 30 for no particular reason. Felt really good and was able to increase the pace with each mile, getting 7:46 in my last mile. Feels good to feel good again.

DMZ guest of the day: Eugene Levy

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:06

It was almost warm this morning. 50 degrees. Just shorts, two shirts, no hat or gloves. Tried to keep the pace up. Was able to progress each mile. Didn't get lost. A good day.

My Garmin gave me the battery low sign at about mile 3, but held on for the whole run, so that was nice too.

Meridian, ID 6:00 am

Pace: 8:45

Kind of chilly this morning. 39 degrees with a breeze blowing. Kept it slow and easy this morning.

DMZ guest of the day: Meat Loaf

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:07

Even colder today. 32 and still windy. It's going to be a long winter.

Boise, ID 6:00 am

Pace: 8:46

Another chilly morning. The run was uneventful except for a big dog that barked at me while running along Ustick. I've gotten used to being barked at through fences. No problem, right? Except this time the dog jumped the fence and came after me. I peed a little, but he ended up being harmless, just wanted to play.

Boise, ID 4:10 pm

Pace: 7:51

A great run. Weather was perfect, around 60. I felt good starting out. Usually my first mile is around 9 minutes, but about a quarter mile into it I looked down and was at 7:55. So I kept up the pace the whole way. I haven't had a run that wasn't a race where every mile was under 8 in a long time. Felt great.

Boise, ID 10 am

Running hard yesterday afternoon took more out of me than I thought. After about a mile my legs felt like mush. So, I cut down Fairview and called it good. I forgot to turn on my Garmin for about a mile or so, but I know the route well enough to call it five miles.