Never Again, Will I Take More Than a Week off of Running

Okay, the blisters from my 5-mile run in boots are almost gone! But after 11-days off my pace today wasn't much faster than running in boots! Ran with Kara today, we hit a few trails so it wasn't all road running, which was a good change of pace. Speaking of pace, it felt good for the first few miles and would've been more than manageable. However, the first big hill we hit at a touch over 3-miles (see elevation chart below) I hollered "last one up's a loser" and charged to the top! Big mistake, by the time she made it to the top of hill, I was light headed and running like a wounded gazelle. It really did feel like it was 90° with a dew point over 80°. At least a mile after cresting the hill, I regained some composure and wasn't running blind anymore. Then it was all down hill, till we hit another trail, man I was smoked, but never stopped. Finally, we got off the trail and headed towards another good sized hill. As we rounded the corner to this hill, (at about mile 7) I hollered "head all the way to the top" in an attempt to hide my struggle! I thought when we hit the hill, I would charge right past her and be king of the mountain; however, it was all I could do just to make it to the top! If ever, I felt like walking on a run it here, on this hill, today! Thankfully, I persevered and made it home! Nevertheless, this is a hill that I have run repeats on in the past and have never felt like I did today! Kara called me a "Sally" today. Well, I guess sometime, we will have to go for The Running of the Bulls, we'll see who the "Sally" is? Most likely though, after I get my mojo back. Which  I will, leave no doubt! It may be a few runs from now, but when I do get back in the rhythm, it's some not so "Sally" hill repeats...we'll be doing! Gotta love the ups an' downs of running, Chris Activity Route: -- Elev. Avg: 883 ft Location: Stoughton, WI Elev. Gain: -3 ft Date: 03/17/10 Up/Downhill: [+354/-357] Time: 12:26 PM Difficulty: 3.7 / 5.0 Weather: Clear 60 F temp; 22% humidity 60 F heat index; winds N 3 Performance Distance: 7.96 miles Time: 1:11:05 Speed: 6.7 mph Pace: 8' 56 /mi Calories: 1132 Map Elevation (ft) Pace (min/mile) Splits Mile Pace (min/mile) Speed (mph) Elevation Gain actual +/- avg actual +/- avg 1 8' 08 -0' 48 7.4 +0.7 +4 ft 2 8' 29 -0' 27 7.1 +0.3 +49 ft 3 8' 45 -0' 11 6.8 +0.1 -37 ft 4 9' 34 +0' 38 6.3 -0.4 +52 ft 5 8' 39 -0' 17 6.9 +0.2 -63 ft 6 9' 04 +0' 08 6.6 -0.1 -26 ft 7 9' 27 +0' 31 6.3 -0.4 +56 ft end 9' 18 +0' 22 6.5 -0.3 -40 ft Versus average of 8' 56 min/mile

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At 39° it's Shorts & T-Shirt Running Weather

The blisters from Wednesday's run in boots, didn't bother me much at all. With the exception of charging up hills, as my heels would dig into my shoes quite a bit. But besides that they were okay, can't say for sure how I would've fared on a longer run? All in all, I think the blisters are healing up just great and now my next run in boots should be a pleasant experience. Just like today, at 39° I decided to wear shorts and a t-shirt. And for the first time this year, I didn't feel like I was running in a monkey suit! Running pants, layers of shirts, hats, gloves, and etc...it gets old fast! I was also able to keep my pace in the high 7mm range. Although, it was just a short 3-mile run, it's a step or two in the right direction! I sure hope it stays nice out for a while, like until next fall! Fortunately, I never rely on hope, we all see where that got us! Gotta run, Chris Activity Route: -- Elev. Avg: 869 ft Location: Stoughton, WI Elev. Gain: +0 ft Date: 03/05/10 Up/Downhill: [+180/-180] Time: 11:39 AM Difficulty: 2.6 / 5.0 Weather: Clear 39 F temp; 50% humidity 39 F heat index; winds Calm Performance Distance: 3.04 miles Time: 0:23:33 Speed: 7.7 mph Pace: 7' 45 /mi Calories: 437 Map Elevation (ft) Pace (min/mile) Splits Mile Pace (min/mile) Speed (mph) Elevation Gain actual +/- avg actual +/- avg 1 7' 30 -0' 15 8.0 +0.3 -20 ft 2 8' 08 +0' 23 7.4 -0.4 +43 ft 3 7' 39 -0' 06 7.8 +0.1 -26 ft end 7' 13 -0' 32 8.3 +0.6 +3 ft Versus average of 7' 45 min/mile

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Running 5-miles + Wearing Boots = Massive Blisters

First and foremost, I haven't run in these boots for at least a year. And amazingly after this 5-mile run, my feet don't hurt a bit. With the exception of the massive blisters on my heels. So I have concluded, I need new footbeds for my running shoes! (Referring to yesterdays run). Today I had to do my best at saying NO, whenever my dogs barked. In all honesty, the boots were actually quite comfortable to run in, at first! But then, all of a sudden, about 2-miles in, I knew it was game-on for the blisters. By the 3rd mile, it was an agonizing pain, a pain that was extremely hard to ignore. However, with every step, I was so wretchedly reminded and yelped like a dog in pain! And finally, the last half mile, the home stretch. I actually thought about taking my boots off and running barefoot in 25° weather, but my doggedness payed off and I endured the pain! The good news is the blisters popped on their own. The bad new is, my socks are bloody. To the contrary and despite the blisters, I'm going to continue to run in boots. At least here and there for a few miles at a time! I believe this will most definitely get my pace back into consistent low 7 minute miles. Winter sure sucks, it can be a red herring for runners! Gotta run, Chris P.S. Arbor the dog WAS NOT hurt in that picture, so get a life! Activity Route: -- Elev. Avg: 890 ft Location: Stoughton, WI Elev. Gain: +10 ft Date: 03/03/10 Up/Downhill: [+213/-203] Time: 9:05 AM Difficulty: 3.6 / 5.0 Weather: Clear 25 F temp; 67% humidity 25 F heat index; winds Calm Performance Distance: 5.24 miles Time: 0:48:54 Speed: 6.4 mph Pace: 9' 20 /mi Calories: 742 Map Elevation (ft) Pace (min/mile) Splits Mile Pace (min/mile) Speed (mph) Elevation Gain actual +/- avg actual +/- avg 1 8' 27 -0' 53 7.1 +0.7 +17 ft 2 8' 56 -0' 24 6.7 +0.3 +16 ft 3 9' 49 +0' 29 6.1 -0.3 -17 ft 4 10' 16 +0' 56 5.8 -0.6 +7 ft 5 9' 09 -0' 11 6.5 +0.1 -7 ft end 9' 22 +0' 02 6.4 -0.0 -6 ft Versus average of 9' 20 min/mile

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Over the River and 'Through the Woods'

Their was no horse to carry a sleigh, but to grandmothers house for lunch, I ran today. An 8-mile run for lunch at 3 in the afternoon. I was starving and my dogs were barking, the whole way. My feet should not hurt this bad; especially, running at such a relaxed pace.  It felt as if I were wearing lightweight boots, such as the SI 6" Assault Boot. Maybe it's time for new insoles? After 1,000+ miles since I bought them in May of '09, my custom footbeds may be toast! On a brighter note, my shoes have to be good yet! With just a tic over 200 miles, I gotta get another month out of them! However, I will definitely be picking up another pair of ASICS’ GEL-Nimbus 11's before to long. That will keep the dogs quiet! Gotta run, Chris P.S. A Few Rules To Run By: e.g. Sharks die when they stop moving. Runners do not. This article is spot-on! Activity Route: -- Elev. Avg: 866 ft Location: Stoughton, WI Elev. Gain: +7 ft Date: 03/02/10 Up/Downhill: [+354/-347] Time: 3:01 PM Difficulty: 4.1 / 5.0 Weather: Partly Cloudy 28 F temp; 64% humidity 28 F heat index; winds NE 8 Performance Distance: 8.20 miles Time: 1:15:07 Speed: 6.5 mph Pace: 9' 10 /mi Calories: 1161 Map Elevation (ft) Pace (min/mile) Splits Mile Pace (min/mile) Speed (mph) Elevation Gain actual +/- avg actual +/- avg 1 8' 24 -0' 46 7.1 +0.6 +39 ft 2 8' 54 -0' 16 6.7 +0.2 -23 ft 3 9' 10 +0' 00 6.5 -0.0 -7 ft 4 9' 34 +0' 24 6.3 -0.3 -20 ft 5 9' 07 -0' 03 6.6 +0.0 +13 ft 6 9' 25 +0' 15 6.4 -0.2 +6 ft 7 9' 24 +0' 14 6.4 -0.2 +3 ft 8 9' 26 +0' 16 6.3 -0.2 -13 ft end 8' 15 -0' 55 7.3 +0.7 +7 ft Versus average of 9' 10 min/mile

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