Training Log

Strong headwind on sections of the run.  Chilly.  2 pm.  Rode 20 miles on the trainer before running and 5 miles after.  Legs felt a little sluggish at first on the run and was running into a very strong headwind.  Both factors worked themselves out as the run progressed, so felt pretty good by the last 2-3 miles. Happy New Year!

Moderate pace...not fast.   It is about 20 degrees at 7 pm.  This is probably the coldest night of the winter season so far.  Tomorrow's high is 38. By Sunday, it will be 65 again.  Strange weather here in Memphis!

Got home late from work - it was cold all day today again.  Getting ready to run, my bed actually looked more inviting for a long winter's nap than going out in the cold after a long day.  Dressed with two top layers, a long-sleeve Nike sphere shirt base layer and the top layer a hooded sweatshirt, a knit hat under the hood, running shorts and running tights, knit gloves.  Ran slow miles - felt a little sluggish.  7pm.  Temp outside is 30 degrees but starting out, it felt colder than last night even though the temp was warmer.  Right quad feels like I pulled a muscle or somthing.  Probably from ride-run-ride on Tuesday.  Stretched really well afterward.

7 very slow miles.  Felt very tired - there's a vicious stomach bug going around and I felt a little queasy so hoping that is not the cause.  Temperature in the upper 40s felt warm compared to the last two nights.  : )  Happy Friday!

Started out feeling tired but felt good toward the end of the run.  Moderate, steady pace. I think this is the first week I've been able to do 7 miles for 6 days!  I'm really happy about it.

Rest day from running, but it was a cycling day.  Early morning - tried out a newly-designed oval-shaped front sprocket that a local fellow is marketing.  It is supposed to give more power on the downstroke because of its shape.  No front derailleur is necessary since there is only one chainring (sprocket) on the front.  Rode his bike with the sprocket about 5-7 miles.  It was interesting.  After the first few yards of it feeling wobbly, I couldn't tell the difference in the way it feels to spin with it.  It was hard to tell if it gave any big improvement since I was riding his heavier Schwinn bike.  I told him I'd have to try it on my road bike and ride some hills and long flat roads to see if there is any benefit.

After a short nap and some houswork, rode 30 miles out in Lakeland and Arlington.  Rode the Memphis-Arlington hills twice, out and back to the Brunswick intersection.  Beautiful, somewhat windy day. 

Beautiful evening, a little windy. 70 degrees. Felt pretty strong, ran fast the last 2 miles.

7 pm - VERY Strong headwind first part of the run.  A storm front had just come through in the afternoon. Felt a little tired at first and then felt stronger the second half of the run and pushed hard toward the end.

7 miles later in evening.  Moderate pace.

Strong headwind again.  7 pm.  Moderate, steady pace.  Felt good enough the last mile or two to speed up a little.

Tight schedule so had to rush home and rush the run.  Fit in 6 miles.

Beautiful day!  Yes, I made up the one mile I missed yesterday.  Felt really good.  Out and back route through Schilling Farms to Winchester.

Rest day.  Only took the two big dogs to Shelby Farms park to run (them, not me). I walked Luke on the leash since he's aggressive toward other dogs.  Carbon ran on his own but then was bad and chased a mountain biker.  Even though it is the "dog area", I don't think he can be off leash there any more. I don't want to take the chance of him hurting someone, even by accident.  Seems like obedience school is in his near future.  : )

7 slow miles, 7 pm. 

Rode 10 miles on bike trainer then ran 7 miles.  Felt stronger toward the end of the run.

Rode 10.55 miles on bike trainer then ran 7 somewhat slow miles.  8 pm - cold and rainy.  Came back soaked but felt pretty good.

7 very, very slow miles.  Had to walk a little at halfway point...very tired tonight, maybe the extra miles on the bike.

6:30 pm.   Took a different route.  Felt better than yesterday.  Still a little slow.

Not able to run today.  Will run tomorrow which is usually the rest day and will be running on Sundays now since Saturday seems to hold so many obligations.

Cold day in the Memphis area!  Ran two loops of the 4-mile Peterson Lake - Byhalia Rd loop.  Felt good and could have gone farther but the whole week lies ahead, probably with some cycling combined with the running.

Rode 10.5 miles on the bike trainer before work.

After work - Ran with the big dogs.  4 miles with Carbon who is a bundle of energy, then dropped him off in the yard and ran 3 miles with Luke, who is very laid back and would rather take a walk than run.  It is hard to believe they are brothers - like night and day.  Carbon would be a great agility dog if he could learn to behave himself.  P.M. Yoga workout (DVD) afterward to stretch.

Rode 10 miles on the bike trainer before work.

6 pm.  Ran the Peterson Lake - Byhalia Rd loop, no dogs tonight.  Felt a little tired midway but picked back up the last couple miles.

Rode 10.61 miles on the stationary bike at the gym before work - turned out to be a harder workout than on the bike trainer at home.  I'll try to fit this into my schedule more often.

7 miles at 6 pm.  Felt pretty strong for most of the run.  35 degrees with not much wind - temp felt comfortable.

PM Yoga DVD workout afterward, about 20 - 25 min.

4 miles at 6 a.m. with Carbon - felt a little tired since I just ran 7 last night. 

3 miles at 5:30 after work without any dogs. 

Rushed out to see the Memphis screening of Spirit of the Marathon movie at 7.  Awesome - I highly recommend it!  Lots of interviews with marathon greats and it follows 2 elite marathoners and 4 "regular" athletes as they train for the Chicago marathon.  Very inspiring! Played to a packed house of mostly Memphis Runners Track Club members.  Memphis won the screening by voting on the movie website to bring the movie here.

Makes ya wanna run!  : )

Rode 11.01 miles on a bike at the gym before work, 6 a.m.  Planned to run after work but worked late, and by the time I got out it was freezing rain and quite dark.  Not that I mind running in the dark, but it was the freezing rain that kept me home.  Will have to run tomorrow morning before babysitting if its not too icy.  Have to work tomorrow night too.  Trying to fit it all in...

Ran 4 fast miles before babysitting.  Pushed it pretty hard and felt it later in my IT band, which I haven't felt in a while.  Ran after work at 9 pm, slower pace.

Rode 13.01 miles on the stationary bike at the gym then ran 7 miles out and back from the gym.  Felt tired before riding and a little tired after riding but once I got out on the road running, felt great and  really Enjoyed the run!

Still daydreaming about Boston and hope to qualify someday.  ; )

4 fast miles with Carbon who wanted to pull ahead on the leash the whole way.  Dropped him off at the yard and did 3 miles on my own.

Ran right after work - the wind was gusting up to 35 mph, and it was a little scary out there - jumping over twigs and debris.  Eveyone's garbage cans are sliding down the street (they are square, not round).  Felt pretty beat up by the wind, so left out the last 0.4 mile for today.

Rode 10.37 miles on the bike at the gym before work.  Ran moderately slow 7 miles after work - out and back Schilling Farms route.  Felt very tired at first but better the second half of the run.

Book club night and really bad weather.  No run today.