Fitness Run

Distance: nfi
Time: nfi
Surface: concrete/asphalt
Weather Conditions: cool, overcast, 70s, late afternoon run
Location: Miraflores, Lima, Peru
Secret weapon: The Chemical Brothers

Comments: Started rough with an ache in the right side of my left knee rather than the left, as usual. I had done my usual 2 sets of 200 situps and thurough stretching beforehand but it didn't seem to help. So, I stilted my pace to compensate and it turned out to be almost perfect for the rest of the run. Of course then I almost got hit by some dumbass who had to pull out that extra three feet so he could dash out into traffic. Peruvian, as a rule, can't drive worth a damn.

A tad bit later, I discovered I didn't turn my chonometer in my watch on. And I did a slightly different route to start so I was unclear of the distance I usually run to make the 45 minutes. So I kind of winged it, guestimating the distance and time. I know I was somewhere in the 10K / 45 minute range and probably a bit over both.

Running wise, after that, things went very well. I had a good pace. I was focusing on the run (actually running with my head up for one of the first times) and not slogging through it. I am kind of glad I didn't have the timer otherwise I would have been tempted to go for the full hour and it's probably better just getting a solid run in.

Afterward there was an irritating development, though. I developed a cramp in my left calf that really sucked.

Fitness Run

Distance: not sure
Time: 45 minutes
Surface: concrete/asphalt
Weather Conditions: sunny with mists, 70s, noon run
Location: Miraflores, Lima, Peru
Secret weapon: Moby

Comments: After a week of feeling absolutely horrible about my progress and runs I just went out and did this one straight up. Sort of my "just do it" run. So I just concentrated on keeping a regular pace; no fast start, no late run heroics, no fretting about the knee. Just me vs the pavement, one on one.

The result was a somewhat satisfying effort. I got through the full 45 minutes at a respectable pace. My knee was stiff pretty much the whole way although not actually hurting.

I did put in my usual two full sets of sit-ups (400) as part of my stretching before the run and tossed in two sets of 30 pushups earlier in the day for shits and grins.

Fitness Run

Distance: not sure
Time: 42 minutes
Surface: concrete/asphalt
Weather Conditions: warm, 70s, afternoon run
Location: Miraflores, Lima, Peru
Secret weapon: Love & Rockets

Comments: Psychotic run. Started great. I felt strong. Good pace. I was upbeat and feeling great. Most of the run was workmanlike and professional. Pushing a good pace and concentrating on the technique. 

But it ended like crap. I was planning to go 45 minutes but there just wasn't enough in the tank. at about the half-hour mark I started dragging and really struggling. I was deterimined to see it through but I had a stitch in my side and that weird flutter in my knee showed up. 

So I cut it short. Only three minutes but it's the point of the thing that bothers me. I have been at this since January. I really should be showing some kind of progress but my knee continues to be a problem and I can't seem to even get the routine runs done without struggling. When the hell am I supposed to show progress?