In search of old age PRs

Nice group run from Solana Beach south to Torrey Pines with a couple of tempo miles mixed in.  The group decided to run the San Dieguto 1/2 marathon with me next Sunday as our training run.  It should be fun, but it puts some pressure on me to run well on a very difficult course.  The group is going to stay with the training schedule, so there will be no "rest" before or after the 1/2 marathon.  I'll probably go out 85% and see how it goes.  There are several 1:20ish people that I will have to let go.

I received some new shoes today, Adidas Super Novas.  I will have to test them this week.


 

Run in heavy rain.  I was going to go skiing today, but the upper part of the mountains are closed (high winds).

Track work out at Mt. Carmel High School.  Funny fact, this is the high school where the movie "Bring it On" was filmed.  

1 mile warm up and 2 mile cool down with 8 x 400 with 200 rest in-between.
 

Treadmill run in Houston.

The group wants to do the Half Marathon race "together" as a training run.  The plan is to have some tempo and surges mixed in.  The pace will be way slower than my planned race pace (training run=7:30/mile), so I am having a tough time deciding what I will do.  I will probably run it with the group.

Run in Park Village at night.  

It looks like Sunday's race will be a training run.  That's OK, I'll probably try to go surfing later that day since it is supposed to be nice. 

Group run in Carlsbad followed by a stretching seminar.  I rarely stretch after I run and it showed during our seminar.  I've read conflicting information on stretching, so I have not stretched much at all this running season. 

1/2 Marathon training run tomorrow.  There is a FREE beer garden afterwards for all runners!
 

Half marathon race on rolling hills run as a training run.  The course was an out and back with 3 large hills (San Dieguto).  There were 8-10 of us that started out at 7:45-8:00 minute slow pace.  At about mile 4 we split into two groups and sped up to 7:05 pace.  At mile 9, I wanted to run a better half-pace, so I dropped it down to a 6:15 pace for the remainder of the race.  I felt really fresh coming in and enjoyed the free beer garden.  At all the water stops there was beer available.  You had to check your cup before drinking.

Later that afternoon I had my first surfing experience in San Diego.  It was a blast.  We surfed for about 2 1/2 hours.
 

Treadmill at 24-HR Fitness in Denver.  My arms felt a little weak during the 1/2 Marathon yesterday, so I did a few minutes of weights after the run.  As dumb as it sounds, I really want to be careful and not add any body mass.  Last Winter, I lifted weights 3 times a week and gained 15 pounds from it.  I'm down to 165 and would like to be at 160 before Boston.

Treadmill in Denver followed by some lifting for arm strength.

Treadmill followed by weights in Denver.

Run in the neighborhood.  Nice to be back out on the streets.  I have to go to Calgary next week, so no outdoor running all week!

Run with group.  Nice hill work-out.  Finished last 3 miles in sub-6:10 pace.

Run with Lucas and Elizabeth pushing the stroller.  It was a trail run so a little difficult.  Surfed earlier that morning.

Treadmill run at Hotel in Calgary.  It was cold and dark outside.  I will probably run on the treadmill for the rest of the week...yuck.

Finally, a run!  I only had a chance to run once while in Calgary last week, so it was good to be back out..

Nice long run with group in La Jolla.  The course started with a 350 feet climb the first mile then into rolling hills.  Route stayed along the ocean for most of the way with some trails.  It was a large group today (250+).  Probably because the weather was so nice (mid 60's at finish).

We did a drop down mile at #10 at marathon pace (sub-7:00) and  decided to hold it the rest of the way in.  There were four other guys that were pushing the pack and able to maintain the pace.  It's been nice training with sub 3:00 runners.  I really need to make time for speed work.

I got the run in just between rain storms.  I took a short-cut through a dirt trail and became a little bogged down in the mud.  I will be in and out of town for the next two weeks, so its going to be hard to get the mileage in!

Treadmill at 24-Hour Fitness in Napa followed by weights.  I had to run after work, so the only choice was the treadmill at night.  It would have been a nice day to run outside (low 60's).

Another early morning run on the treadmill at 24-HR Fitness followed by weights.  They have a policy of 20-minutes on the treadmill if people are waiting...how can you only run for 20 minutes!  I greatly dislike gyms.

Speed/tempo workout.  1 mile warm up and 1 mile cool down with 4 x 1600.  I did the run in the canyon.  I believe Spring has arrived (80 degrees).

Rolling hills in the canyon.  Ran up and down some steep pitches and inclines.  It was a hot day for a run (80's).