I've been a terrible blogger, but I've been running regularly (see Garmin uploads). Yesterday was the Chicago Half Marathon, and I did well. It was sort of warm and humid (especially for this year) and the last miles were south on LSD into direct sun, which was rough. But I got a PR (2:06:58), and by 4+ minutes! I don't know if I'll be able to beat it in two weeks in Ft. Wayne, but we'll see. I'm sore now.

I'm afraid the Brooks Adrenaline are croaking.

Wednesday, 8/5: forgot Garmin, 3/30. Core exercises.

Thursday, 8/6: 4/39:57/9:59. PT exercises.

Tired legs today!

Yesterday, Sunday, 8/2: Ran 8/1:22:35/10:18

Then, an afternoon of hiking at White Pines Forest and Lowden State Parks.

Bad blogger!

Friday, 7/17: Ran 3.79/39:08/10:19

Saturday, 7/18: To the fabulous Warren dunes for a day of walking, climbing, etc.

Monday, 7/20: Long run delayed by soreness following the dunes trip--7/1:14:25/10:38

Wednesday, 7/22: Still sore! 3/31:39/10:33

Friday, 7/24: 3.01/29:28/9:48

Saturday, 7/25: Biked to Green City Market, carried home 5 lb. box of blueberries, 1 qt. peaches, 1 qt. sour cherries and small Hoosier Mama cherry berry pie (bad idea, poor choice of bags!). 11:114/1:06:34.

Sunday, 7/26: Watch died. 5 or so miles???

Tuesday, 7/28: 3.02/30:34/10:08

Friday, 7/31: 4.26/40:49/9:35; PT exercises

I've been gone too much! Went to Seattle, which was nice, but didn't run at all! However, it was hilly as hell and we walked quite a lot (though none was recorded). Actually got sore and stiff after a couple of days.

Before we left, I ran early one morning (Wed., 7/1): 3/29:49/9:56

When we got back, I took an easy bike ride the next morning to loosen up (Tue., 7/7): 8.29/43:49/11.4

Decided to sign up for the Chicago Trail Series 10k this Saturday. I'm looking forward to it.

Ran this morning, Thursday, 7/9, for the first time in a week! 4/39:56/9:58

3.5 mi./35:04/10:01

Just starting to get used to the idea of running anywhere since I don't have to worry about figuring out my distance...

PT exercises

6.34 mi./1:00:22/9:32

In St. Paul visiting baby! Ran w/Mike on Sunday, along the Mississippi River. Ran alongside the Minnesota Marathon course for a bit.

Ran 2/20--no time for more. Cricket Hill 1x.

Tuesday, 5/26: took kids to Chase Park to check out track w/Garmin. Ran/walked 3 laps.

After days of junking up my diet (sodas! birthday cupcakes! Local Shack!) and being lazy, I ran on Friday (5/22) morning. Awakened at 5:45 by a text from Mike that they were at the hospital, I was unable to go back to sleep, so I got up and ran. I went with my new Garmin, and after scanning the instructions and going out sleepy was unprepared to work with it. I ran 3 in 31 or so, and was surprised that my knees still felt a little beat up by the end. Cool, with a hard wind.

Fri., 5/15: 2/22 or so. A little sore. PT exercises

Sun., 5/17: Magellan Development Chicago Spring Half Marathon. The inaugural year, unseasonably cool (high 40s-low 50s) and sunny. 2-loop course from Lakeshore East down by McCormick Place. Went in with sort of low expectations, after having felt flat for a while, but finished with a PR of 2:11:11. Thought along the way about the effects of long runs at faster pace--maybe making me feel more flat all the time, but did it net the faster time? Concluded that I need more variety in training paces.

Weekly total: 18

Garmin arrived Saturday, but didn't get charged, etc. in time for race.

Thur., 5/7, missed group run, T in Atlanta.

Fri., 5/8. Ran--3/30 + Cricket Hill 2x.

Sun., 5/10, Mother's Day. Ran 5/50 or so, stopwatch function stopped working. Ordered Garmin Forerunner 205.

Weekly total: 11

Tue., 5/12: turned off alarm clock, didn't run. Core exercises.

Wed., 5/13. "My first track workout"? At the gym, warmed up for 10 min., noticed paper signs taped to the wall around the track. Concluded that the track was pretty close to 400m. Ran 4x400 @ 2:20, 1600 @8:34.


Feeling tired and lazy. Probably need a break or a change, but I'm afraid I'll just get fat. Got an e-mail with $20 off Chicago Half, so I signed up. $10 off for CARA membership too.

3/29. Found my watch!

Last long group run... 12/2:14. Didn't feel overly great (see time of month). Beautiful weather, waded into lake afterward.

Weekly total: 18.5

Trying to make a plan for the summer, and it's already May.

Back to the beginning running group... 3.5/38 (w/traffic lights).

Cool and very windy today. 1.5 w/Mats on bike, varying speed, from brisk walking to moderately slow running. Another 1.5 or so alone, with Cricket Hill 4x.

Bought a new exercise ball; Mats popped the old one.

PT exercises.

Lakefront 10! 1:42:16, 10:14 pace.

The first warm and humid run of the year. Cloudy enough so as not to be oppressive. A few sprinkles helped.

Still fighting a cold, I didn't feel particularly strong, but never felt bad either. An ok day.

Weekly total: 16.5

Legs felt tired from last night, but still dragged through 4/42 or so.

Ran this evening--rainy, cold, windy. Around 2.5/22? Kinda fast. Plan to run tomorrow a.m. so didn't go long.

Not a good week for running. Missed Beginning Running (T worked late) and only ran once during the week--just kind of bogged down by stress. Bought new shoes Friday instead of running--needed to be done. New Brooks Trance 8 was a giant disappointment. Tried on current Kayanos and Nirvana--wasn't excited by either. Ended up with Brooks Adrenaline 8, the step-down from the Trance. It wasn't ideal that their first run was 8 mi., but it was ok. I really did need new shoes, even though I didn't want to admit it.

Saturday: 8/1:21. Ran to Magellan development, got free breakfast and a ride back to Montrose. First outdoor run in shorts this year--took off windbreaker and wore short sleeves most of the way. Very nice!!

Took kids to swimming while T worked out, then we all took the train downtown to ride the ferris wheel.

Weekly total: 11