In search of old age PRs

11 miles in Rancho Bernardo and Poway.  I was tired of running in Carlsbad, so I meet another runner at RB High School.  It was a nice loop and we took it slow (sub-9 pace).  Next week I will meet up with the Carlsbad group for 18-20 miles.

The High School had a nice track.  I will have to start speed work up again in January after the Holidays.
 

I didn't have a chance to run earlier in the week, so I tried to cram it all in today.  I'm running with a group on Saturday going 18 miles, so I didn't want to over do it.

I think I found a trail that goes under I-5.  I will check it out on my next long run.  If successful, I will have a way of getting to the beach on all dirt trails.

I also received a cool book today from one of my friends, "26 Miles to Boston."  This will keep me motivated for April.
 

Ran with the arlsbad training group.  I attended an Office Christmas party on Friday night with an open bar, so I was a little worried about running 18 miles on Saturday.  I ran with a sub-8:30 group for most of the way and then the last few miles at about race pace.  The course followed the marathon route.  There was a hill up to the airport that seem to drag on for at least 2 miles.  It was nice coming down it.  In the marathon, I believe you run the hill at about mile 7 or 8, but we were running it much later in our training run.  The last hill up to the park (not part of the marathon course) was a challenging last mile.  Some of the other runners said it was very similar to Heartbreak Hill in Boston.    If that is true, then its a great hill to finish all the runs on.

Tried out a new model of the Fila Providence shoe, so I tried to stay on the road (no dirt).  The shoe felt pretty good considering I ran 18 on Saturday.  I will try to run with it all week and see how it holds up.

Good run today on a new course through some neighborhoods.  Nice hill workout. 

Did a mixed trail/road run.  I found a way into a gated golf community.  There are no sidewalks, but there are dirt trails next to the streets.  I believe everyone in the neighborhood owns a horse.  The homes are pretty incredible...must be $5-$10 million.  It was a good run, but temperature started to dip below 60 around 4 PM.  I'll have to try running on the golf course some early morning.

Run through the older part of the neighborhood (80's).  Nice rolling hills.  I had to mow the yard when I finished...its crazy to be cutting grass this close to Christmas!

Run in Carlsbad with group.  A couple of new sub 3-hour runners showed up.  They were getting ready for the Arizona Rock-n-Roll in January.  We ran the first 6 mile easy and the second half at race pace.  I tried some different shoes today and they caused my right leg to hurt.  It was a weird pain right above my inside ankle.  It didn't slow me down and it stopped hurting a couple of hours after finishing the run.  Maybe I will just use the shoes for distances 10K or less.

Followed a new canyon trail next to Park Village elementary school.  The trail came to a dead end at another elementary school.  There was dirt track at this school and it was actually 400 meters long, but was not exactly a "round" track.  It will be good for speed work in the future since it is dirt.

I sat in LA traffic for most of the day, so I did not have a chance to run until late in the evening.  Not much energy, but at least I got a short run in.

Going out of town, so I was glad to get a longer run in.  Found a nice paved trail that approaches the ocean. 

Read an interesting article on running form.  The author suggest you lean back going up hill and lean forward going downhill.  It seems naturally going downhill, but I feel slow lean back while going uphill.  Any comments?
 

Run in Dawsonville, Georgia around a park while my wife and kid played with relatives on the playground.  Nice, warm day.

Run in Bryson City, North Carolina at a park again.  My mother, wife and kid played on the playground while I ran.  A very hill course.  As feared, this was my last run of the holidays.  I must have gained 10 pounds.  I hope to begin running again in January.

Run through the canyon then the neighborhood.  Lots of people out today because of the holiday.  It was about 80 degrees when I started, but cooled of to 70 when I finished.  It was a nice, flat run.  It may be time to retire my shoes.  I'm starting to get some inside lower leg pain.