1st run of 2009

Well I FINALLY logged my first run of 2009 last night. I would have logged it sooner, but Comcast allegedly had "a server down" which caused all of Middle Tennessee and Central Kentucky to lose internet service for several hours. It's ok though, they gave me a credit of $1.06!

So anyways, after work in what I consider to be perfect running temps (42ish) and not so perfect weather (super windy) I went for my first run of 2009. A drastically different route at the beginning with a lot more elevation for the first .75 mile which helped me not pay attention to the Garmin as much. It also gave me my first slight knee pain in a long time which I'm hoping was just the elevation.

Now I just need to see if L & N finally owned up to their resolution to start running :)

Total: 3 Miles, 28:02 (9:20)

Easy 3.5 + hills

Yesterday after sleeping until noon I was headed out to West End for a run until my Uncle called me with tickets for the Radio City Rockettes at the Opry House. I didn't have enough time to drive all the way across town so I went to the greenway by my house (and barely had enough time for that). Somehow I found the strength (stupidity) to not turn around at the 1.5 mile mark and instead head for the hills (literally). After going over the huge hill I turned around at the 2 mile mark and did it all again. A quarter mile of walking at the beginning and end of the run (which I'm trying to get in the habit of doing a lot more) left me with a 3.5 mile run overall. I almost went without the knee brace yesterday, which would have kept me from going over the hill, but changed my mind at the last minute.

Total: 3.5 miles, Time unknown cause I haven't plugged up the Garmin yet

Cool Runnings

Tonight was my 2nd run in sub-50 degree temps and my 1st since the metal pole incident. My leg is still tender to touch, but walking/running on it doesn't hurt at all and it didn't give me any problems during the run. We went 5 miles with some decent hills at a pretty slow pace. I will soon be purchasing gloves and a new running hat :)

A night of "Firsts"

Tonight I started at Centennial Park, but ran a different route than normal going all the way down to music row by Tin Roof and actually getting lost for probably a mile or 2 before figuring out where I was. I also ran more hills (total Ascent of 1964 feet.. over 500 more than any other run) than I've ever run including the ridiculous hill by Vandy not once, but twice! Tonight's 7.1 mile run gave me these firsts:

- Longest run to date
- Longest run with a pace faster than 9:00 mpm (1:03:45 total which is an 8:59 pace)
- Passed the 100 mile mark on my shoes
- Passed 50 miles for the 2nd month in a row (ok technically that's a "second" not a "first")

I finished with a loop around a dark Centennial Park wishing I could keep going, but it was dark and my knee was starting to bug me.

Today's 6 step plan

I've been waiting to run in somewhat cold weather (yes, I'm crazy) and today I finally got my chance. It was about 48 degrees when I got home from work and headed over to the greenway. This was my simple 6 step (mile) plan:

Mile 1) OMG IT'S F'ING COLD!!!
Mile 2) Maybe I should have worn a hat cause I sure don't have any hair trapping heat in
Mile 3) Finally got into my rhythm and felt like I could go forever
Mile 4) I've passed those 2 girls about 3 or 4 times now.. hope they don't think I'm stalking them
Mile 5) I was planning on 5 miles today, but now I'm just curious how many times I can pass those girls before they will run away from me
Mile 6) And that is my longest run at the greenway and the only one over 4 miles that included "the hill"

Oh, and on my way over the hill I almost caught up with a biker who had passed me about a minute before. Now THAT felt awesome to almost catch a bike while running up a hill :)

Last run before the race

Tonight was the last run before my race on Saturday. Another friend joined us tonight so we had 3 people for our 5 mile run to Belmont and back. I didn't realize it until I downloaded the Garmin stats, but there were no positive splits and miles 2, 3 and 4 were all at a 9:24 pace which was also my overall pace. Not too bad considering the number of hills on that route. I even mentioned to one of the guys that the hills that used to seem huge to me a month ago now seem like nothing. I guess the word of the day is consistency!

My knee had the usual twinge for the first .5 mi then it was fine and this time the pain didn't come back around the 4 mile mark like normal which is good. I'm still planning on taking the next 2 days off just to be safe so my next post will be my first 5 mile race report :)

Unofficial 5k

As planned I went for a 3 mile run after work today. My buddy started off at around an 8 minute pace, but I do that half the time anyways until I've settled into a slower pace. Well he didn't slow down much and kept it between 8 and 8:30 until we hit the llllllooooonnnnnngggg steady hill up Hillsboro Pike (even then we kept it under 9:00). But since we were only running 3 miles I figured what the hell, let's see what kind of 5k time I can get. So I kept running until I hit 3.1 miles and ended up with a time of 26:59.. 9 seconds away from beating my 5k PR!

Now anyone who has a Garmin knows that it usually takes a few seconds for it to auto-pause the time if you stop to wait for a light. So technically I think I really did beat my previous time if you take into account the 2 or 3 times we had to stop for a light/traffic, but regardless I'm happy with that time given the number of hills we ran up. My knee has been feeling better the past several days (since I took the insoles out) and it feels better post-run, but it actually hurt just a tad more than normal during the first .5 mile.

I'm planning on a 5 mile run on Wednesday, then my 5 mile race on Saturday followed by a celebratory beer :)

Running Backwards

Ok not literally running backwards. I decided to start today's run at a different trailhead on the same greenway. As it turns out I think it's actually a little closer of a drive from my apartment, but starting where I did means the hills start just past the 1 mile mark. Unfortunately I'm an idiot and got all the way over there before I realized my knee brace was still at home.

So after going back home to get the knee brace I was ready to start my run. The hills may have come sooner, but there were 2 things about the hills that were awesome today. First, as I ran up the first hill I passed somebody which made me feel good (and she was cute which helped too). Second, as I ran down that same hill on my way back I realized I was done with hills for the day. Normally I'm running the other direction and going down it just makes me think about how I have to run right back up it after turning around.

In other news it looks like one of my sisters and my friend that ran the 5k with me are both going to run a 5 mile race with me @ Long Hunter State Park in just over 2 weeks! I'm excited and trying to be optimistic about my knee holding up. Assuming all is fine there I've also signed up for a 5 mile race on Thanksgiving day in Belle Meade to benefit a plethora of local charities.

Cross-training? What a concept!

More than 1 person has suggested that if I had cross trained like I should have then I might have avoided my knee problem or at least it wouldn't be as bad. So after several conversations with myself and my knee I made it back to the bike at my apartment fitness center today.

I thought I'd try it on the Hill setting for the first time and that kicked my butt. I rode up and down virtual hills for 7 miles which took me 26:30. Most importantly it didn't hurt my knee.. and I far outlasted the guy running on the treadmill next to me :)

Must.Make.Myself.Stop

Today I decided to take the trail right towards the big winding hill and see how my knee (and the rest of me) fared since I haven't gone that way in a couple of weeks. I'm happy to report that all of me did just fine going up and down the hill twice. The stupid side of me decided to run 3 straight before taking a break today, but it seems to be ok so far. So I ran 3.0 and 0.25 separately with walking in between. It's getting harder and harder to make myself stop and not go for a 4-6 mile run.. hopefully soon.

My knee still has that little twinge every once in a while if I step the wrong way (as if to say "don't forget I can eff you up at any moment"), but so far it has behaved while running. I'm guessing the shorter, slower runs plus my knee brace have probably contributed to that as well.

Tomorrow I will take off and yell at my TV as the Presidential Debate rages on a few miles from me. Then Wednesday the rain moves in.. so I might have a wet run to report later this week.

Cool Springs: Not so much "cool" as "hilly"

Today was my first day running in Cool Springs after work. It probably didn't help that I just took 2 days off for my knee and I'm always a little sluggish after not running for 2 days. It probably also didn't help that most of the route I ran today was a hill of some kind. Overall it was an ok run, but I don't think I'll make a habit of running out there because of all the car fumes. It was the first time running in my new knee brace and I didn't feel any pain at all which was great.

Total: 3.32 miles at a 9:15 pace.