Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 34:52
Pace: 8:42 minutes/mile

Comments: Running under the supermoon! Got out a little earlier than usual and kinda knew from the start this would be a solid run. Tried to hold it back a little on the first mile but sipped into a solid pace early so I just tried to maintain. Honestly, this is the first real "run" I have had in as long as I can remember.

Judged by that, though, I have a long way to go. My concentration was not as strong as it needs to be and my form was flat awful in stretches. Still, there was good consistency in my pace from mile to mile, particularly the second half of the run. As always, the real key is keeping up the training rather than the individual runs.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:00 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 78 degrees
Humidity: 76 percent
Wind: slight breeze
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 36:08
Pace: 9:01 miles/minute

Comments: With slightly cooler temperatures I had a corresponding uptick in production. Finished this one just a shade off the 9:00 pace to put me into "training" mode. That's easily accountable with the pauses in the run and other factors but I'll wait till I get it fair and square before I claim it. That should be relatively soon since there's supposed to be a significant cooling later this week.

The bigger issue is consistency right now. It's been a struggle to keep on a regular schedule and I desperately need to resume my conditioning efforts. The goal this week is to get that back on track and hold it through the end of the month at the very least. Not unrelated, the likelihood of the October half-marathon is diminishing rapidly.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:15 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 73 degrees
Humidity: 80%
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 36:24
Pace: 9:05 min/mi

Comments: Best run in quite awhile. I actually had to concentrate on keeping the pace down on the first mile or so since I knew I would burn myself out otherwise. That mile came in the slowest of all four and my last mile was the fastest. More importantly, there was a real consistency, less than 10 seconds difference between the fastest and the slowest.

The weather was probably worse today than yesterday; both hotter and more humid. The biggest difference probably had to be eating worth a damn yesterday. And getting a full night sleep in my own bed now that the management has told my neighbor to not be a dick playing his television loud at night. The next step is getting back into the conditioning routine.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:15 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 78 degrees
Humidity: 80 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14
Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 38:08
Pace: 9:31 min/mi

Comments: The Labor Day holiday was supposed to be for catching up on all this stuff I've been intending to do and getting back into the exercise routine. Didn't work out that way. But August is over (and good riddance) so time to get back on track in September.

This run as much a slog as the last few and about the same pace. The weather conditions have still not relented -- it remains uncomfortably hot and brutally humid even at the time I'm getting out the door. So sticking with it will remain a challenge for the time being.

Conditions:
Hour: 5:30 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 79 degrees
Humidity: 73 percent
Wind: 5 mph
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 38:36
Pace: 9:36 min/mi

Comments: About what I expected, really. It was an uncomfortable run that started at an uninspiring pace and got progressively slower. I ate reasonably well yesterday and got some sleep (no thanks to my asshole neighbor) but the spark just wasn't there.

Add the ongoing issues of heat and humidity and it pretty much came in where most of my recent runs have -- sub 10 minute/mile pace but that's about it. I'm hoping to suffer through the rest of this week and hit it hard in September.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:15 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 77 degrees
Humidity: 75 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 39:08
Pace: 9:46 min/mi

Comments: I knew it would be rough and it was. A bit hotter and more humid and my diet yesterday wasn't optimum. Still, the key this week is getting back into the routine despite a crazy work schedule. I gotta stop using that as an excuse to skip workouts.

I was late out the door and a lot slower than I would like but I got it done. The plan is to get another tomorrow for three-in-a-row and see how the legs hold up with that. If they do OK then try it again on the back end of the week.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:40 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 80 degrees
Humidity: 65%
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 38:35
Pace: 9:38 min/mi

Comments: Thought about doing a longer run on one of my weekend routes but decided to stick to the circuit and the usual four miles. I don't need to be cutting off any more runs and that's a temptation on a long out and back if things get rough.

Things didn't get rough today though. I ate pretty good yesterday and got out after the sun came up but before the heat got started. While the temperatures have been pretty hot, the humidity hasn't been as brutal and that makes a huge difference. The pace wasn't spectactular but it was the distance I wanted so all is well.

Conditions:
Hour: 7:15 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 79 degrees
Humidity: 65%
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 2.5 miles
Time: 23:53
Pace: 9:33 min/mi

Comments: It was a bit tough getting up this morning and I thought I'd have to skip the run but decided to go for it anyway. Unlike yesterday, I was cool with having to limit the distance to 2.5 miles partly because I am a little pressed for time.

This went better than yesterday but that could have as much to do with starting at a more reasonable pace as the weather. Still, the humidity was formidable and by the end of mile one it was clear pushing beyond the 2.5 mile limit might not be advisable. I'm gonna try and eat well today and put in a five-miler tomorrow if possible.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:40 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: partly cloudy
Temperature: 76 degrees
Humidity: 81%
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada

Easy Run

Distance: 2.5 miles
Time: 23:06
Pace: 9:13 min/mi

Comments: So I have taken a few days break from workouts/running because of reasons I really don't want to get into. I didn't really intend to kick-start things this afternoon but, when I got home after work I really couldn't think of any reason not to go get a run in.

The initial intent was the usual four-miler but I had a suspicion the heat/sun/humidity would conspire to curtail that. Sure enough, I had to settle for 2.5 miles. Of course I started out with a 9 min/mi pace which is probably a bit fast for me in these conditions right now. Sometimes having rested legs can be it's own set of challenges.

Conditions:
Hour: 5:30 p.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: partly cloudy
Temperature: 88 degrees
Humidity: 60 percent
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: Tightness in my lower outside right calf.

Tempo Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 34:04
Pace: 8:30 min/mi

Comments: With conditions a tad cooler and less humid I was determined to knock out a good one this morning. I started overfast and made myself focus on foot turnover the first mile, clearing it just under the 9 min/mi mark. Then I opened it up a little.

The next mile was probably a little fast on the front end. I slowed considerably the last quarter but then found my groove. The last two miles were almost identical pace which was precisely what I was aiming for. Yes, knocking one out at a respectable speed is satisfying but the consistency matters far more.

Conditions:
Hour: 6:15 a.m.
Surface: concrete
Weather: clear
Temperature: 70 degrees
Humidity: 60%
Wind: calm
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GT 14

Injury update: nada