Day 334

• 5.02 miles
• 7:43/mile pace
• 0630
• From/To home
• Longest run in weeks....not sure anyone would believe that I am doing marathon training, not sure if I even believe it, but I am, though I feel I need to restart now.   I mean like building mileage back up slowly etc.   Not sure how I'm going to accomplish my goal, but perhaps I'll start feeling much better on runs soon...I do think I finally shook the virus I had...now to get the hip feeling better and stop getting hemoroid flare-ups.

Day 323

• 1.61 miles
• Hardish
• 0705
• From/To Home
• Streak extender.

Day 319

• 3.27 miles
• 8:55/mile pace
• 0535
• Honolulu (Waikiki), HI
• Quite a painful run...recovery from previous days long run was very poor, lots of things hurt.  Hemoroids have returned as well.   The steak goes on, damnit.

Day 316

• 1.85 miles
• 8:35/mile pace
• 0615
• Woodbury, NY
• Streak extenders in nice temperatures are welcomed.  

Day 247

• 3.09 miles
• 8:24/mile pace
• 0610
• From/To home
• Intending to do a very short and slow streak extender only, today's run turned out to be the most difficult and enjoyable short slow run of the year.  Here's the story:
• While hearing from Case the list of games we were going to play after I finished running I sat down to put on my shoes.   I clarified that a few were not going to be possible because I had to go to work today, which he understood and had no problem with...it was basically his wish list [Fight with noodles, football, Power Rangers, etc.].   When reciting he regularly tries to convince me that we should start immediately, which leads to me reiterating that we will play after I run, or eat, or whatever I've already told him was on the plan...he knows this and doesn't mind, but still tries to manipulate the schedule to suit his fancy whenever he can.   Well, this time he came up with a great idea all on his own..."Daddy, can I go in the lell-ow thing with you?"   The "lell-ow" thing being the yellow Burley running stroller thing meant that for the first time in months and possibly the first time without it first being suggested by Becca or I, he requested to go on a run with me.   This was cool, even though it meant my run would be a little tougher...dude's getting heavy.   But then it got cooler...he got excited when I said "sure" and added "and Baby Brother too!," which meant that I'd be able to take them both with me and give Becca a 20 minute break or so, which may not sound like much, unless you have 2 kids.   Becca's response, "break out the margaritas!"   Then she reconsidered and said, "maybe I should just run with you?"  (Many of her best decisions are derailed by her hyper-guilt disorder, as diagnosed by the writer)   So she asked Case....who said "....No...maybe not," which of course made me chuckle.   Becca clarified that he would still get to ride with Finn and she would just run "next to you," which got him excited again and he agreed.   So off we all went and I pushed (literally) a little harder than I otherwise would have and went probably a mile further than I would have and had much more fun that I would have.   A great way to start the morning for sure.
• Case ended up taking a salt bath with me afterwards instead of playing fighting games, but he didn't mind as he likes taking a bath too, as long as he doesn't have to wash his hair.
• His bath ended rather unfortunately however, as I left to go shower in the other bathroom he stayed to play in the tub....a while later he comes into the other bathroom spitting and making a scrunched up face.   He said something about maybe needing to take some medicine, which prompted a few questions.   As it turns out, he revealed that he was pointing his weener up while he tee tee'd in the bathtub and "it went right into my mouth."   Becca had a tough time containing her laugher, but while I did too, I quickly offered help with a little home remedy of adult tooth paste on his tongue followed by repeated rinsing.   He was happy after that, as was the rest of the family :). 

Day 242

• 15.23 miles
• 10:20/mile pace
• 0530
• South Mountain, AZ
• Ran the "National trail" from the end of San Juans road to the east end of South Mountain with Dean.  This run was absolutely fantastic, maybe my favorite trail in Phoenix...it was just really cool, well, except for the steep uphill stretch from mile 3 to 4 when I was pathetically reduced to walking/hiking.   The run across the top of the mountain was great though and worth it...as was the downhill, even though it seemed to take forever to get to it.   Overall another great long run with Dean, who likes point to point runs as much as I do, which, thanks to Kim was possible.   Very cool.  
• Carried 40 ounces of liquid (16 h2o, 24 Gatorade)
• Ate 3 Gu's.
• No issues experienced with relation to my issue, seems I have no excuses anymore, though that issue is not yet resolved.  

Day 241

• 4.58 miles
• 7:41/mile
• 0950
• Arrowhead Country Club
• Treadmill run for safety purposes.   Felt I needed to push a little further than the past few days and maybe even run 8 minute miles just to make sure I wasn't going to get all the way to South Mountain for my planned long trail run with Dean on Sunday, have a disaster and end up in the hospital.   So that's what I did...not the disaster/hospital part.   This run went really well, felt easy, gave me confidence that I could do the Sunday long run without hurting myself...that stated, I still decided to go to the doctor later in the day.   Doc said he thinks I will probably eventually need surgery, but first try to reduce swelling with salt baths and some prescription Preparation H kinda stuff.   I think the stuff works better than Preparation H, so on to the Sunday run I went...with half confidence at least.  (Oh, yes, I asked the doctor if running and running hard would have an effect, he said it would not...he cautioned against sit-ups though, which is fine with me for now)

Day 240

• 1.94 miles
• Slow
• 0630
• From/To home
• Streak extender.

Day 239

• 2.04 miles
• 8:41/mile pace
• 0610
• From/To home
• Considering aforementioned issues, I consider this a good enough effort -- it is not that I am dealing with much pain, as I am not, but I am significantly concerned about doing anything close to straining...hope is that tomorrow I can do what I was supposed to do today, which is run longer and faster, but we will see.   This streak extender means that the streak goes on.

Day 238

• 4.44 miles
• 8:26/mile pace
• 0610
• From/To home
• 30-40 minutes "easy" was on the schedule, I decided I would do short of 40 at a slow pace on account of the fact that I was/am worried about the fact that I've developed hemorroids.  Yeah, seriously, woke up fine yesterday, somewhere around mid-afternoon I started feeling something and by night and through to today I have I guess inflamation?   Anyway, this is a bad subject, I will stop typing about it now.