Easy Run

Distance: 3 miles
Time: 27:58
Pace: 9:18 min/mi

Comments: Every single thing about this run was not pleasant. It was overhot, overhumid and completely miserable. I started sweating before the end of the first quarter mile and was struggling by the end of the first mile and a half.

That became my halfway mark as I went to walking pace with two miles and about two thirds done. I got to the part were there was some shade and took care of the final third of a mile and walked the rest. Honestly, I was surprised I got three miles in.

Conditions:
Hour: 7:40 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 85 degrees
Humidity: 70 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: Had aches in my left hip and left knee at moments of the run.

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 37:38
Pace: 9:24 min/mi

Comments: That was a bit more difficult than I expected. I got up feeling pretty good and didn't have to battle myself to get out the door. I stepped outside and felt like I had walked into a sauna. Not good.

I got started OK and the first mile went well and the second quite well then it got difficult. I was very glad for choosing the out-and-back course because if I was on the loop, four miles probably wouldn't have happened.

Mile three was a slog and mile four straight up suuuuuuuucked. But I finished them both and I'm feeling pretty good about that.

Conditions:
Hour: 6 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 78 degrees
Humidity: 78 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 36:36
Pace: 9:09 min/mi

Comments: Slightly less humid this morning and that makes all the difference in the world. Things were actually quite pleasant starting out and didn't get torpid until after the halfway mark.

Although this effort left a lot to be desired, I felt better in this run than I really had any right to. I haven't been out except for the short run early in the week and my eating schedule has been uneven. But despite my reservations starting out, I fell into a very reasonable groove and didn't have to struggle to finish the full four miles.

Conditions:
Hour: 7 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 78 degrees
Humidity: 77 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 37:09
Pace: 9:17 min/mi

Comments: Overslept yesterday and missed the run. Then got shamed by my neighbor going out for her run under the sweltering sun at noon. So I got up early (a bit too early, probably) and out the door for four miles before the morning rains arrived.

As expected, it was hot and humid and uncomfortable. I never really got into a groove at all. But I pushed through the impulse to cut it short and got the full four miles.

Conditions:
Hour: 5 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: cloudy
Temperature: 80 degrees
Humidity: 80 percent
Wind: 10 mph
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 37:47
Pace: 9:26 min/mi

Comments: The so-called "cold" front moved in yesterday bringing a bit of rain and some relief from the sweltering conditions. It was enough of a change that I decided to try this run even though it would be in the sun.

It was about as rough as I expected and my splits were all over the map. My second mile was sub-9 minutes and my last one was almost 10 minutes. Not exactly the kind of consistency that suggests reasonable conditioning.

Overall though it wasn't an abysmal effort. I got the miles I wanted and, even though I did the out-and-back course, I never really had that urge to cut it short.

Conditions:
Hour: 8:30 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 85 degrees
Humidity: 60 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 38:15
Pace: 9:33

Comments: Another sweltering four miles. If nothing else, the runs this week clearly demonstrate that runs during the day in this weather are a really bad idea.

I got out the door about 15 minutes earlier than yesterday and hit that sweet spot where the temperatures are as low as they are gonna get and what sun I had to deal with was at my back.

But the effort clearly took its toll. I was a good fifteen seconds slower per mile. That had a bit to do with getting out of the way of a very young, very scared raccoon caught in between the sidewalk barriers.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:15 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 77 degrees
Humidity: 79 percent
Wind: nada
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

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

Comments: The minute I stepped out the door, I knew this would be brutal. Temperatures touching 80 degrees by the end with the humidity even higher. I broke out in a sweat locking my door.

Again, the primary goal was getting the four miles. And doing the loop was clearly too much of a temptation to cut it short so I went the out-and-back route again. Another upside of this course is I can gain a little momentum on the decline.

Still. The humidity was like running through the surf. In effort, anyway. I didn't even come close to my usual 9 min/mi pace but was very surprised I kept it under 9:30.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:30 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 78 degrees
Humidity: 83%
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 38:17
Pace: 9:38 min/mi

Comments: I have made an effort to eat a bit better in order to have the energy to run in the current sweltering conditions. It's clear my times are not going to be worth a damn but I'd like to be consistent on the mileage. The key to that, if I am not mistaken, is having the energy reserves to push through the fatigue.

I also did my there-and-back route today in an effort to ensure I got the full run in. The problem with the circuit course is the ease of cutting it short when I'm finishing each lap. This was a solid run. Nothing fancy. I wanted the miles and I got them.

Conditions:
Hour: 7:30 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: overcast
Temperature: 75 degrees
Humidity: 90%
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 2.5 miles
Time: 23:10
Pace: 9:16

Comments: Hot. Humid. Unpleasant. Slow.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:00 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: overcast
Temperature: 77 degrees
Humidity: 88 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 2.5 miles
Time: 22:33
Pace: 9:01 min/mi

Comments: It's probably time to admit to myself that my running is now a matter of occasional calisthenics and race training is a part of my past. Between the week-long delays and cutting runs short there's not a lot of conditioning being stored up to use in a competition.

So today I got out and ran a few mediocre miles and that was it. I'll try to do a few more tomorrow but it's not likely and my expectations aren't high if I do.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:30 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 80 degrees
Humidity: 76%
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 37:00
Pace: 9:15 min/mi

Comments: Yet another deluge arrived this morning but, by about 9 a.m., it had moved on. I waited a bit after and went out for the run. I decided to swing by the Elm Fork of the Trinity River up the road here to see how high the water had gotten. Quite a bit, it turns out.

I've posted a few more photos here: http://imgur.com/a/PbPj5

So the run was marked with lots of stops and pauses. And the route has noticeably more elevation changes than my usual loop. So I was understandably slower than normal but not excessively so. I also figured having a bit of caution would be wise since I'd like to get another one of these in tomorrow.

Conditions:
Hour: 9:45 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: rain/overcast
Temperature: 70 degrees
Humidity: 95 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 2 miles
Time: 18:11
Pace: 9:04 min/mi

Comments: For as much as I hate the return to the running regimen, you would think I would make myself stick with it better. After another month hiatus I finally went back out and it was as awful as I expected. I am sloppy, slow and unable to finish my usual four miles.

Right now the weather still allows some good mornings to run. I really need to take advantage of these to get back into a semblance of conditioning for when the temperatures get truly brutal.

Conditions:
Hour: 8:30 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: cloudy
Temperature:
Humidity: 60 degrees
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: just out of shape

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 37:02
Pace: 9:15 min/mi

Comments: And that was a lot better.

The Tuesday run was not only brutal, it wiped me out for a good 24 hours. It was tough getting up the next day and it wasn't till mid-afternoon that I seemed to finally catch up with the exhaustion. So when I woke up this morning and my legs felt a little tired, I considered adding another rest day to be on the safe side.

At 6 a.m. I changed my mind and headed out. The big reason being I really want to get back into the running routine. Even a shortened run would be important for that.

Starting out, I didn't have a bit of the soreness like Tuesday and by the end of the first lap around the block I felt warmed up and rather good. I still didn't push myself out of caution (thus missing my training run threshold) but the last lap around the block felt as good as any run as I've done this year.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:15 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: light rain
Temperature: 60 degrees
Humidity: 100%
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 36:17
Pace: 9:04 min/mi

Comments: Getting out the door over Christmas was tougher than I expected. The weather was cool, if dour, which tends to make ideal running conditions. But I didn't feel well most of the past week and, to be honest, my motivation levels were at rock bottom.

But New Year's is just around the corner with the requisite resolutions. It's pretty clear getting back in the swing of this is gonna be mine and might as well get started early.

This was a decent run. I waited until the temperatures got out of the 30s before going out and that seemed to be exactly the time the sun came out. It was pleasantly warm by the time I finished. Can't say this was a banner effort by any means but a solid start is all I was looking for.

Conditions:
Hour: noon
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 45 degrees
Humidity:
Wind: ca;,
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 36:31
Pace: 9:07 min/mi

Comments: This is one of those weird things about running. Went out this morning and felt like I just nailed it. Slightly creaky start, warmed up quickly, hit a solid pace and held it pretty much the whole way. Ran the last mile as smooth as I've been able to muster in months.

Then I look at the watch and it's just two seconds better than yesterday's run which felt terrible. Whatever. I just want to keep at it this whole week and this is a great start.

Conditions:
Hour: 6 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 55 degrees
Humidity: 63 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 36:39
Pace: 9:09 min/mi

Comments: It has been a busy week and finding the time to run has not been easy. I wanted to get out the door earlier this morning but there was too much stuff to do and when the one opportunity opened up... it started raining. I figured that was it but things cleared up at 3 p.m. so I headed out before the next round of showers could arrive.

This wasn't a spectacular run. I felt sloppy and slow the whole way. Part of that is probably the weirdness of running in the afternoon for once. But the goal was get in the miles and not settle for a partial effort. Mission accomplished.

Conditions:
Hour: 3:30 p.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: overcast/cloudy
Temperature: 66 degrees
Humidity: 93 percent
Wind: 10 mph
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 38:12
Pace: 9:32 min/mi

Comments: First mile was overslow. Feeling a little creaky from yesterday's run and the humidity made it feel chillier than it actually was. I warmed up pretty well by the end of the first mile and then actually felt pretty smooth after the halfway mark.

The last two miles went very well and I felt the pace was about perfect for this run (but I could have pushed it harder if necessary). That showed up in the splits as last three miles came in within three seconds of each other.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:20
Surface: concrete
Weather: slightly foggy
Temperature: 40 degrees
Humidity: 99 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 38:15
Pace: 9:33 min/mi

Comments: As few intentions as I had to run when I awoke this morning, I finally decided to do it. I didn't feel particularly great -- both down both physically and a bit mentally -- but that sort of matched the fog and the cool temperatures that had settled over the area.

The run was no great shakes. With visibility down to maybe 20 feet, I kept a slow pace and stopped a lot whenever there were any cars nearby; I just assumed they couldn't see me and didn't particularly care. I also kept an eye on the ground to make sure I didn't take a misstep in the haze. Finishing the effort I have to say I was glad I did it.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:20 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: foggy
Temperature: 38 degrees
Humidity: 99 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 39:20
Pace: 9:49 min/mi

Comments: With the cold front moving in early this week, I wasn't intensely inclined to get out the door. That things got busy with work made it all the easier to skip a day or two. But temperatures climbed back into the ideal range this morning so back to the grind.

I deliberately did this one overslow. Mile three was north of ten minutes, which has been a ceiling for me even with my start/stop routine. The reason is that I'm going to try and restart my conditioning workouts this week, tomorrow if at all possible. And I know that's gonna kick my ass. So no need to wear myself out today.

This said, the run went rather well. A nice comfortable pace and no real issues.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:15 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: overcast
Temperature: 50 degrees
Humidity: 90 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 36:32
Pace: 9:07 min/mi

Comments: Well that was certainly bracing. I thought the temperature was going to be in the 40s but it turned out to be just kissing freezing. Been awhile since I took a run with frost on the ground. As one might expect, the first mile was not particularly pleasant. And, as one also might expect, it got a lot better after that. While the overall pace wasn't earth-shattering, I did do each mile faster than the one before; one of the nice upshots of cold weather running and a solid day off.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:30 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 34 degrees
Humidity: 88 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada