Seinfeld.

Last night I ran 3.25 miles in 1/2 hour on the treadmill. I ran the first 10 minutes at 6.8 mph pace, then the next 15 at 6.2 mph pace, then the last 5 at 7.0 mph pace. I shouldn't have done that. I should have started at 6.2 for 10, gone up to 6.8 for 10 or 15, and either finish at 7.0 or continue at 6.8. I don't know why I did that. I think I thought I could keep up the 6.8 mph pace the entire time. I couldn't.

I wasn't tired, physically. And I could breath fine, but I just was so frustrated with running on the treadmill, and I am going to get over that and change my attitude about that, and that is good....but last night it was a tough go. If Seinfeld wasn't on the TV I would have gone crazy. I really need to find headphones, I don't know why I am not doing that.

The thought of listening to one disc of Mellon Collie during a run really excites me.

Workout: 3.2 miles, 1/2 hour run.
Wednesday off - Thursday 35-40 minutes on treadmill.

Swim.

Last night was one of my better nights swimming, ever. My endurance in the pool is greatly increased. I swam 3 laps to start off, which was fun. I took a break, and wanted to do 5 more. I did 6 more (i think) and then stopped. Then I just felt real good so I did 6 more, short break, then 3 more, then 3 more...I just kept going.

I swam 21 laps total in just about a 1/2 hour. 36 laps is a mile, so I swam over 1/2 mile (.58 miles) in right around a 1/2 hour, which is my best ever.

I am going to do 4 miles tonight on the treadmill, which is going to be absolute HELL...i can't stand it in there, its so boring it makes me want to puke, but I have to do it.

Funny story of the night, I went to the doctor real quick for a checkup and they took my pulse and she looked at me and said, "are you a runner?" and I didn't know how to answer it. I guess I am, so I said, "yah?" and she said, you have a low pulse...most runners have a low pulse...

I was astounded. NEVER, EVER would I have thought a nurse would call me, or even ask if i was, a runner.

Awesome how things change so significantly in someone's life...

Workout: .58 miles, 1/2 hour
Tonight: 4 miles on treadmill, 9+ pace

Ten.

Sorry it has been so long - there is a good reason for that.
I took last week off...

I really didn't do anything to speak of at all. I had plans to do SOMETHING a few days in the week, but nothing happened and I didn't run or nothing all week.

That is until yesterday. We had a 10 mile run on our schedule and it was scary. The weather cooperated and it was an awesome morning. Muggy, but I cannot complain at all given it is the 2nd (almost 3rd) week in November and I ran in a t-shirt and shorts and sweat...a lot.

We were in New York at Alison's place in Scarsdale for this run - 5 miles out and 5 miles back from Scarsdale to the Kensico Dam, which is a pretty big structure. Alison and Andy seemed to think that if this 150 foot tall dam were to break, they could outrun, outwit or outlast the water as it rushed over us...I told them I wouldn't run, I 'd just close my eyes. For some reason, having my eyes closed would make me feel more comfortable.

But back to the run...the first 5 miles out was fun, to be honest. It felt easy, just about as easy as four miles out on our 9 mile run...and the first 2 miles back, so miles 6 and 7 were awesome. But then it started to get a bit harder.

Mile 8 was okay, honestly it was fine and normal, some leg fatigue started to settle in. Mile 8.5 was when it really started to get tough. It wasn't impossible, and it wasn't incredibly painful, it was tolerable, but it seemed that slight elevation changes irked me, and made it difficult to adjust. I wasn't out of breath, ever, that wasn't an issue, but it was difficult, and that was sorta not fun.

But the last mile was just flat out difficult, not impossible, just difficult. I am real happy I banged out 10 miles, it was a great accomplishment, never thought I'd EVER do that kind of thing, so I am pretty pumped.

To break down our times:
5 miles out - 48 minutes
5 miles back - 46 minutes
10 miles - 94 minutes

Faster on the way back, which is really awesome.
Swim tonight, should be fun and a good exercise.

Workout: 10 miles - 94 minutes

Ooops!

Sorry all - for everyone still reading.

This last week was admittedly a light training week, but I want to be more on top of this this upcoming week.

On Thursday, 11/2 I went to the gym for a run, 1/2 hour on the treadmill. I don't remember the distance but it was on par with the rest. I need new earphones, someone suggest something good for running with an iPod - i can't stand those buds slipping out of my ears every 2 seconds.

On Sunday, 11/5 Alison and I went on our scheduled 5 mile run, whcih was excellent. I felt GREAT from start to finish, ran it in around 46 minutes (not including a 2 minute stretch session at 2.5 miles. It was a great run, feel very strong.

I am amazed that we aren't even 1/2 way into training, I feel like I could, if forced, pull off a 1/2 marathon at this point, but I have a LOT of running ahead of me, with no injury or real pain. My hip still gets sore at mile 5 or so, but its okay, its not bad and I think its still growing pains.

This week I want to run 40 minutes both Tuesday and Thursday, then the big 10 miler on Sunday. WISH ME LUCK!