New Shoes: Asics Gel-Kayano 21

I have had a soreness in my hips the last couple of runs and, on one occasion, it persisted for more than a day. I haven't been doing anything extreme in these runs so the most likely culprit are my shoes.

I'm not sure how long I've been using that pair of Brooks Adrenalines but it's more than a year and possibly pushing up on two. Way too long.

So I went to the RunOn over in Flower Mound and got a new pair of wheels. I tried a number of different brands and styles but went with the latest version of the Asics Kayano. I trained in a pair of these for my first marathon and they are a solid shoe. Back then, there was an issue with the stitching that would give me blisters on the base of my big toe when mileage got up there. But they've changed that and I sure ain't looking at 40 mile weeks any time soon.

Fitness Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 34:55
Pace: 8:43 min/mi

Comments: The humidity this morning was about 20% less than it's been over the past two weeks and the difference was astonishing. While it was not  cool it was not stifling and I was able to actually run this workout.

I started a little cautiously but clearly moving at a quicker pace than I have been recently then held it steady for the second mile. On the third mile I made a conscious effort to push things; setting shorter goals every quarter mile or so to keep myself focused.

That got me a very nice 8:30 min/pace for the split and then I just tried to ride out the final mile. It was significantly slower than the first three miles but well under my 9:00 min/mile benchmark. I know all I need to be aiming at with my runs right now is getting the miles in with regularity but it was nice revisiting my training routines for one morning.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:45 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 80 degrees
Humidity: 63 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: Soreness in my right hip at the three-mile mark.

Fitness Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 38:02
Pace: 9:30 min/mi

Comments: Another struggle but at least this time I felt like I could survive it. This run was my slowest in awhile. And although the temperature and humidity were supposedly on par with my other recent runs, it felt significantly more uncomfortable out there from the start. I was drenched in sweat by the halfway mark.

On a positive note, I never really wavered in my commitment to complete the run and felt reasonably in control of it despite the plodding pace. And while I've been unhappy with my ability to keep to my planned runs, looking back at these past two weeks, I've been remarkably consistent. Hoping to keep that up.


Conditions
Hour: 6:00 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 80 degrees
Humidity: 67 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Fitness Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 38:03
Pace: 9:30 min/mi

Comments: For every step forward, take two steps back. This run was everything the last one was not. Slow, arduous, unpleasant and unsatisfying. I was apprehensive at the start and it pretty much delivered on every negative point I was concerned about.

The one upshot is that I got the full four miles in without just saying "fuck it" and walking the rest of the way. I'm not completely sure how I managed to accomplish that so I'll take that as the single encouraging sign from this pathetic effort.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:15 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 80 degrees
Humidity: 75 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: My left hip was still a little sore this morning and my right lower calf was a bit during the run as well.

Fitness Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 37:08
Pace: 9:16 min/mi

Comments: I was kind of dreading this run when I got up this morning. I really didn't feel I was ready for it and didn't want to slog through another one. I started very very slow and let myself warm up and then was happily surprised to feel good.

It was slightly cooler this morning, which helped and maybe the fact my route turned out to be the course for a race did as well. I didn't set any speed records but felt strong the whole way and didn't feel wiped out when it was over. A very good run.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:25 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 79 degrees
Humidity: 74 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: My left hip was sore all yesterday and still a bit this morning. It didn't give me any problems during the run, though. I think I might need to get a new pair of shoes.