Archive for July, 2008

Turned a corner?

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

Has my running turned a corner?  FINALLY?   I think so!      Only a short run, a little over 4 miles, but for the first time in months, I REALLY felt good.  I ran hard, pushed the hills, and was very surprised that while I certainly wasn’t what I’d call fast, a couple 3 minutes off my best for that course, it was a time that fits in with a lot of training runs I’ve done when in much better shape.    

Keep in mind, I normally run in the hottest part of the Florida day(1-3 oclock), or evening thunderstorm conditions so humid I need gills to breath, so even when in good shape, it’s really difficult to run well in mid-summer.  Most runs this year have turned into a test of survival, slow jogging (badwater shuffle type stuff), or taking walk breaks.

This run was hot, muggy, and with humidity better suited for a catfish than a human, but I was truckin!   Pushed the pace,  push hard on a uphill, then back off and recover without almost stopping.

I’m sure it helps that I’ve lost 8 lbs in the last 3 weeks.  With Tamara’s help, I’ve been very focused on a quality diet. 

Well, that’s not much news, but it’s good news to me!

 Congratulations to all the Badwater runners that just finished the 31st Badwater Ultramarathon.  First time in three years that I have not been out there putting it all on the line.  I missed it.  A buddy of mine was wearing a SPOT GPS tracking device, so I could go online, and see his updated track every 10 minutes.  It was very cool.  

 OH, and good luck to the VOLSTATE runners that start their 500k (320 miles!!!) trek in Tennessee tomorrow.  Some supported with a crew, and some that, believe it or not, will go the whole 500 kilometers with NO support crew.  They carry what they need, and stop and buy anything else.  10 day time limit.   

THAT sounds like fun next year, huh?!

Oh, check this price of gas for folks going through Death Valley…

Panamint Springs Gasoline