Day 208

• 1.7 miles
• Slow
• 0720
• To/From Gran and Gramps house -- Mobile, AL
• Another streak extender...need to actually get a run in sometime as it has been about a week straight of streak extension runs only.   Perhaps tomorrow, though it will require me to feel a bit better -- think the late nights/early mornings have caught up to me.

Day 206 and Day 207

• 5.25 miles (1.87 and 3.38)
• 8:01/mile pace
• 2345 & 0000
• Seaside, FL
• A streak extending effort that was perhaps as efficient as a single run can be.   As I spent all day and night participating in wedding related activities with family and friends the only opportunity I could create to run was to leave the after party for a while, get in my run and return.   It worked out rather well and basically gave me a day off.   Wondering how often I will do this two for one type run...it seems like a good idea, except that I have to a) not run first thing in the morning as I prefer to do and b) be awake well past a time I would consider to be a preferred bed time for myself.  

Day 205

• 2.7 miles
• Medium pace
• 2215
• Seaside, FL
• A streak extender and nothing else, though it was a nice enough short easy run...running after dinner as others are preparing for bed, when it is after your normal bedtime is just that.
• First run in new pair of shoes -- logged 430 miles in previous pair, which fell apart during the last week.   New shoes seem a bit loose, but they were on sale so I will run at least 350 miles in them before moving on. 

Day 204

• 2.8 miles
• 6:47/mile pace
• 0540
• Westbury, NY
• A quick streak extender -- as is often the case when I travel within the U.S.A. I failed to look at any weather forecasts before beginning my trip.   Running fastish helped me tolerate the chilly temperature and additionally finish my 2.8 miles faster than I most probably would have.   Sure, I could've just run on the treadmill, but then, per previous promise to faithful reader and 2012 LMI Champion, JEC, I may have needed to run further or longer, neither of which I was eager to do this morning.   Anyway, happy enough with this run, probably mostly because it is now done.

Day 203

• 2.92 miles
• 8:30/mile pace
• 0310
• From/To home
• Suprisingly slow pace, felt quicker, though not quick...hmmm, maybe the especially early start had some effect...or should I say affect? 

Day 202

• 4.41 miles
• 7:40/mile pace
• 0635
• From/To home
• A very small volume of interval work today -- I call this work out the "Terrible 2's."   I do slow warm up jogging for about 10 minutes and then go hard for 2 minutes followed by easy for two minutes and repeat etc.   Today, as I am just starting to try to run with any speed to speak of, I decided I would do 5 terrible two's.  They were hard as I expected, but not too horrible.  I was probably too conservative with them, which I didn't feel bad about since it was my first time doing them in years.  Here's how they played out from a distance covered perspective:
• .33 mi
• .22 mi
• .33 mi
• .22 mi
• .33 mi
• .22 mi
• .33 mi
• .23 mi
• .33 mi
• .22 mi
• Adding the warm up and short cool down results in the overall mileage.   The interval figures (or "Terrible 2's") equate to roughly 6 minute per mile pace during the hard two minutes and 9 minutes per mile during the easier two minutes -- per my Garmin 305 watch there was some fluctuation in pace, but at such short distance/duration those were not enough to have much affect on the distances covered as you can deduce from reviewing figures above.   I will need to greatly increase my speed during the hard minutes and ideally also during the easy minutes I guess, but we'll have to see how that goes after monitoring perhaps monthly or so.  
• Yes, I should have run hills this morning instead, but I piddled around for too long after waking up and as a result only had time to do the above, which I've wanted to be able to convince myself to do for a while, so I guess it is better than nothing...and extended the streak, of course.

Day 201

• 3.67 miles
• 8:27/mile pace
• 0630
• From/To Home
• Tried to make up for the fact that I didn't run slow yesterday by concentrating on running slow today -- probably doesn't work that way, but whatever, I ran slow today, it was fine.  A streak extender.

Day 200

• 6.9 miles
• 7:37/mile pace
• 0930
• Some flat dirt road in Phoenix
• Flew in from LAX in the morning and then met up with Dean Rosenlof for what was supposed to be a nice relaxed conversational run, so we could catch up with each others lives and also discuss our plans to run the Tucson Marathon in December.   Well, it was great to see him for sure, but we fairly well butchered the idea of a relaxed run...no, it wasn't especially fast, but, for me at least, it was taxing to carry on conversation until I finally decided to slow down after maybe 4 miles just so that I could.   That fact is a good reminder of how far I need to go in terms of fitness as I'll probably need to be able to run 7 flat (on the clock and terrain) pace while carrying on conversation eventually, if I'm to meet the sub-3 hour goal.   Geez, getting ahead of myself again.   Happy to have hit 200. 

Day 199

• 5 miles
• 6:54 mins/mile pace
• 0710
• From/To home
• Ran hard this morning.   Started off thinking I needed to average sub 7:15/mi pace since I won't be doing a long run this weekend (traveling for work), I at least needed to make myself hurt a little bit.  Well, first mile was 7:10, so I figured I needed to hold onto that...then I relaxed a bit and sped up.  Legs felt fine, but the lungs weren't very strong, I was breathing pretty hard and was unable to push the pace on the last mile beyond what I settled into during miles 2-4...I take this to mean that I was pretty much done as I wasn't averse to making myself hurt the final mile, I just couldn't sustain an increased effort.   Anyway, I was very pleased with the overall pace considering I didn't believe I could hold sub-7 minute miles for more than about 2 miles, but then I started realizing things like:   I need to average 4 seconds per mile faster than that, for 5 times as long and then for 1.2 miles after that if I'm going to break 3 hours in a marathon.  Being unable to push the pace at the end means that I was done, so, while I stopped the run because I didn't have time to run anymore and still make Case's soccer game, it's just as well since I wouldn't have made it much farther anyway.  Not sure how I'm going to get the speed aspect of my sub-3 hour goal down, but at least I have some time [Still targeting Tucson marathon in early December, though I haven't signed up yet]...and at least I finally decided to pick up the pace a bit.    That is also good in relation to the effort Craig and I will make in a few weeks, which is really what I should continue thinking about instead of some race months away, I guess. 
• Current shoes now have 417+ miles on them, need to get a new pair...

Day 198

• 2.05 miles
• Medium/slowish
• 0550
• From/To home
• Streak extender
• Only associated with the streak because it made me start above listed run earlier, the family went for a hike this morning.   Case is much heavier than he used to be.

Day 197

• 6.26 miles
• 7:58/mile pace
• 0630
• From/to home
• First half very slow, sped up on return -- 2:10 difference between halves.   Intended to run easy the whole time as I felt a bit tired, but I ran out of patience. 

Day 196

• 5.83 miles
• 7:59/mile pace
• 0611
• Thunderbird Park
• Above listed pace is very fast for me considering the paths taken -- this may be the hardest I have run in a long time, which is good, except that I am still experiencing shortness of breath some 2 hours later as I type this.  Believe the pace overall is greatly assisted by the fact that I pushed on the flat portions more than usual, but also by the fact that I maintained focus and pushed on most other sections as well...I guess I'm happy with that.   [Additional details:   2 loops, one each direction, plus effort to mid station plus hard running finish in parking lot]

Day 195

• 5 miles
• 8:07/mile pace
• 0631
• From/To home
• Slow and laborious.   The streak goes on.

Day 194

• 2.45 miles
• 7:55/mile pace
• 0710
• From/To home
• Mentally taxing as a result of yesterday's effort, but not any more difficult than it would appear I guess.   Streak extenders have their own special feel that often times could be mistaken for minor pain.

Day 193

• 11.11 miles
• 9:04/minutes per mile
• 1505
• Thunderbird Park
• Legs are tired as a result of this run, they don't hurt anything like they did after the LMI, but I'm hoping that's at least partly due to the fact that I am now more used to running off road hilly terrain, but hard to ever be sure about such things.  I do consider this a good effort though as I made a point of minimizing flat running through the complete run -- starting in the 67th Ave. parking lot I ran up the road side and over to the north mountain within Thunderbird Park, over that, back over it then to the car for hydration, around the south mountain within Thunderbird Park, culminating in a few short steep hills to make sure I was completely worn out.   Still don't feel like the hills were/are as steep as the Trail 100, but again, hopefully they're at least preparing me a bit more for my next try at that devastating route.  

Day 192

• 2.42 miles
• 7:59/mile pace
• 0520
• From/To home
• Incredibly windy this morning, somewhat shocking actually as I didn't realize it was blowing that hard.  I also didn't realize that the cats fighting in our driveway last night were apparently not playing around...chunks of cat fur and significant blood adorned our driveway this morning.   As it turns out, this morning was the neighborhood yard sale and Becca wanted to sell some junk, which means the only day of the season that we would actually need to use our driveway it was stained with blood and had chucks of feline on it.   Since it wasn't at all hard to clean up with a hose I am at least happy thinking that there may be one less cat on the loose in the hood.

Day 191

• 4.23 miles
• 8:07/mile pace
• 0534
• From/To Home
• Had time so went a bit further than I usually do on Friday, but did so at such a relaxed pace that the run was not difficult -- wondering what, if any, benefit there is from "extra" mileage if/when it is basically lazily accomplished. 

Day 190

• 8.29 miles
• 8:06/mile pace
• 0531
• From/to home inclusive of one Thunderbird Park lap
• Wasn't as tired this morning, though my legs weren't spinning with any speed, so to speak.   Felt OK I guess, though had to stop for a bathroom break, which I never like to have to do.   Anyway, glad I got in a little hill running and think the overall mileage for a work-week day is pretty good, but still not an impressive effort, so perhaps I am just fatigued?   I did think about the fact that if I feel like I felt this morning...just slow and tired...I would probably fail in my effort to complete the 2012 LMI course in under an hour three weeks and 2-3 days from now as is my hope, but I guess I won't worry about that right now, just have to keep training.   I feel fine, the streak goes on.

Day 189

• 2.05 miles
• 7:45/mile pace
• 1950
• From/To home
• Overly tired in the morning and decided to sleep in instead of going for a run, even though I don't at all like to do that.  It was odd the fatigure I was feeling as it didn't feel like illness at all.   Pretty sure it was just stress related, but whatever, has passed now.   Work and so forth shortened this run, but thanks to Becca's willingness to let me run before eating dinner, while Case was still awake, it was taken care of without negatively affecting my preferred bedtime [2100].  

Day 188

• 5.06 miles
• 8:04/mile pace
• 0645
• From/To home
• Legs were pretty tight this morning, especially hamstrings.   Believe this is a result of dehyrdration, but of course impossible for me to be sure...that stated, I will remember to drink water today at work as I do not believe I drank anything from breakfast until dinner yesterday.  
• Saw a young lady that did not look much like the sterotype of a runner doing interval work while carrying a large water bottle.  This reminded me that I should really start doing some actual training, inclusive of speed work.   It did not inspire me enough to start this morning however.

Day 187

• 3.1 miles
• 7:58/mile pace
• 0538
• From/To home
• Legs felt tired from yesterdays hilly effort, but lungs felt fine so this run was pretty easy.  Definitely feeling better during short streak extenders than I was 5 months ago.  
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/187_(slang)    

Day 186

• 10.51 miles
• 8:42/mile pace
• 0905
• Thunderbird Park
• Pretty hard overall effort, though not much serious hard running during, if that makes sense.  3.5 lower hills loops and one summit, lots of people out on this Easter Sunday.  Definitely past halfway to one year now :).

Day 185

• 2.55 miles
• Medium
• 1850
• From/To home
• The streak goes on....dot blogspot dot com.

Day 184

• 2.41 miles
• 7:53/mile pace
• 0645
• From/To home
• Short easy run thinking about how many hilly miles I may be able to get in tomorrow or Sunday.

Day 183

• 6.26 miles
• 7:36/mile
• 0625
• From/To home
• Nearing what I consider irrefutably the half year mark...technically I guess 183 days exceeds half of 365 days, but as I tend to think in terms of months, I have been thinking that I can't really consider it 6 months until the streak reaches 186 days, on the impossible chance that the six consecutive months are all 31 day months...yeah, running every morning makes you think in weird ways.   Anyway, getting there.   This was just an easy run out and then a negative split return -- hmmm...runner speak, have to try to nip that in the bud again.  

Day 182

• 4.25 miles
• Slowish
• 0535
• Thunderbird Park loops
• Actually got out of bed this morning and went to Thunderbird Park to run some hills.   I didn't go especially hard, though it was hard simply because, and I didn't go far, but still pleased that I actually got up and went to the hills.   Hopefully this will have some positive impact on my fitness/strength etc., which I imagine it will, provided that I make a regular habit of it. 
• Next time I hope I remember my watch so that I can have a more precise distance measurement and some idea what kinda pace I averaged -- this run would more accurately be measured at around 4.5 miles, which I know because I've done the same run before with necessary technology to obtain a more precise measurement, but since I can't be exactly precise I underestimated purposely so that I can know at the end of the month/year/whatever that I have done at least as much mileage as I have recorded on this blog.

Day 181

• 5.13 miles
• 8:07/mile pace
• 0645
• From/To home
• Slow cruise run, felt fine, just didn't feel like putting in any real effort...think I may have still been tired from the soccer related trip to the field with Case last night...he doesn't like kicking the ball as much as he likes just running, so we did a lot of running.   I look forward to him acting like me in some way someday as to date he seems to follow his Mothers crazy practices, like enjoying just running....??? -- says the idiot with a running streak blog.

Day 180

• 3.28 miles
• 8:02/mile pace
• 0648
• From/To Home
• Legs felt a bit sluggish/tired from yesterday's run I suppose and I'm also a little sunburned as a result of the fact that it took Bec and I four and a half hours to put together the worlds most basic swingset yesterday, but, of course, well worth it when Case's first words this morning were "When the sun comes up I'm gunna go play on my playground, would that be a good idea?!"  

Day 179

• 10.08 miles
• 8:28/mile pace
• 0725
• From/To Home
• Woke up this morning without potential cold symptoms, so had no excuse not to run some hills...so off to Thunderbird Park I went.   Ran pretty hard, though not fast and struggled more than expected on first summit effort, but hopefully that will improve as I do it more often.   These hills are quite tame in comparison to last Sunday's run, but hopefully they'll prepare me a bit more for the next time I try last Sunday's route (Dreamy Draw to North Mountain summit).  Trails were well populated this morning during my run, which can be attributed the excellent, though windy, weather and the fact that I was too lazy to get started before 6am as I should have.  Much room for improvement, as always.