Freethinker ~ Freerunner

This was my first run of the new year.  I decided to take one week off to recover from a mileage build up towards the end of the year.  I need to focus on creating a training schedule that includes more trail runs, hills, and intervals for my upcoming trail races.  

Kevin and I ran this morning for the first time in three weeks.  He had not run since our last time so he ended up dragging the last 1 to 2 miles.  I was fresh off my week of rest, but I took it easy.  I felt my left knee a little as I usually do on my first run back after some time off.  

I ran Turkey Mountain solo today.  It was only my third time out there and my first time on my own.  After today I feel I've gotten my bearings and sense of direction a little bit out there for the first time.  

With more training runs planned out at Turkey Mountain and two trail races upcoming, I'm looking forward to the first half of 2012 being my foray into trail running.  

I wore my Nike Pro Combat tights underneath my regular cold weather running pants this morning.  I put a nylon jacket over my Nike turtle neck cold weather top.  I wore my Trail Head full head mask as well.  This morning the temperature was 21 with winds of 12 to 17 miles per hour.  Because of that I kept my time close to 30 minutes since the wind chill chart shows frost bite can occur within that time frame.  We got a light dusting of snow last night, and there were a few icy patched on some of the sidewalks, but nothing too bad.  

I'm planning on fartlek running tomorrow at a distance of about 4 miles. 

 This morning was just as cold as yesterday, but fortunately the wind was not blowing very hard.  So that made it not feel nearly as cold.  I thought my thumbs were going numb up until about the half way point. 

I ran fartleks this morning.  I did not gauge the distance between each one I just picked random markers up ahead along my path and ran hard until I got there.  I really have never done fartleks that much.  It is definitely are more fun, although less structured way to get in your speed workouts. 

Easy 6 at 35 degrees.  It looks like it's going to be a nice weekend.  

Kevin and I ran our usual Sunday easy 10.  He talked about having slacked this week and was thus not feeling his best.  He did pretty good to hang in with me the whole time though at an 8:17 pace.  I told him I've been ready to hit a higher gear since the start of last week.  I plan to gradually increase my mileage and include once weekly trail runs.  

We are running Turkey Mountain on Tuesday. 

Kevin and I had a really nice run on Turkey Mountain today.  This is the longest trail training run I think I've accomplished so far.  I should add that the hills out there are brutal.  I should also add that because Kevin took three weeks off around the holidays he has fallen a little out of shape, his own admission, and therefore we averaged a pace a little slower than I would have had I been alone.  

I'm looking forward to making my Tuesday run a regular trail running day. 

I was going to run a 45 minute tempo run this morning, but when I awoke the temperature was only 18 degrees.  I was also feeling a little bit sore from my hour long trail run yesterday.  Those two things together almost were enough to make me take a rest day today.  I compromised on a 30 minute tempo instead of a 45 minute tempo.  As is always the case, I was glad that I ultimately decided on running versus not running by the time I was nearing the end of my workout.  

I ran 8 400's today at about a 6:40 mile pace.  I ran 1 warm up mile and 1 cool down mile.  I jogged for 30 seconds between each set.

The temperature was bitterly cold this morning at 19 with a wind chill of only 7.  I wore only my Nike turtle neck and hat with ear warmers.  I really should have worn my Trail Heads ski mask.  About half way through my 55 minute run I really began to think about the wind chill chart and the dangers of frost bite.  I decided that when running sub 8 minute miles the body must be generating enough heat to counter act the standard model, hopefully.  Then I started to wonder if I did get frost bite how that might effect my scheduled dental implant surgery for Wednesday.  Would I have to delay?  Hopefully not as I've been waiting about two years to get to this point. 

I was going to run seven miles easy today, but due to the bitterly cold wind I could not make myself run any slower than about a 7:52 pace for most of the run. 

This morning only 24 hours after yesterday morning was a whole 28 degrees warmer.  We went from 18 feels like 7 to 46 feels like 34.  Crazy Oklahoma weather!   We locals say that so much that it has become a cliche. 

Kevin and I averaged an 8:05 pace this morning.  

It was a nice breezy 32 degrees this morning.  I ran 4 miles at a 7:49 pace.  I'm going to be off for the next three days minimum due to dental implant surgery.  I will see how I feel on Friday and may decide to run an easy 3.  Hopefully I will feel up to making my scheduled 90 minute run on Sunday.  

I ran an easy three miles this morning a 7:46 pace in a beautiful 29 degree sunrise.  There was hardly any breeze.  The morning truly was nice.  I came home and told my wife how nice it is out, and she asked me if I had been correct when I told her it was 29 degrees before I left.  She was just telling me last night that she will run when the weather gets  nicer.  I have a hard time convincing her that this weather is the nice running weather.  

I am just coming off of three days rest due to my dental implant surgery.  I am feeling really good and looking forward to running 90 minutes tomorrow morning with Kevin.  

I ran 90 minutes this morning in a nice 7:55 pace.  I will call it slightly faster than easy.  My fastest mile was the last one at a 7:24 pace followed by .32 miles at a 7:05 pace.  I was feeling a little sore in my legs and upper body from my weights workout on Friday, the first such workout I had done in over five weeks if my training log is correct.  I thought it had been closer to two weeks.  

Tomorrow I'm either resting or running an easy three.  I may decide to rest since I felt and feel a little sore today.  I will run three tomorrow, because if I don't I will not hit 30 miles this week.  I'd like to keep my mileage at or above that level throughout the rest of my half marathon trail run training.  I really like to break out into higher mileage this year and set my self up for a BQ at the Route 66 in November.  

Easy 3.  I dressed too warm for 39 degrees.  We have been experiencing unusually warm temperatures for this time of year these past couple of days.  

I ran Turkey Mountain by my self today.  It was absolutely beautiful at 62 degrees and partly cloudy.  I really can't believe it is late January.  I'm getting more excited about my upcoming trail runs in February and in March.