The Free Market Jogger

Ran 8 miles at an AP of 8:22.  I reached a bit of a milestone day.  This is the first week since I've started blogging that I've broken the 30 total miles in a week mark.  In fact, I rocked it by accumulating 34 miles.  Legs feel strong so maybe 40 total miles/week is just down the road (lame pun intended).

2 miles at 8:13/mi, 3 miles at 7:38/mi, and 1 cool-down mile, all wearing shorts and a t-shirt in CT on December third.   

Another unseasonably warm day in western CT.  Ran 3 miles, mostly uphill, at an average pace of 8:35/mi, then 3 miles, mostly downhill, at an average pace of 7:33/mi.  Finished with a cool-down mile.  

5 miles in the afternoon.  8:47, 8:42, 7:57, 7:30, and last one at 7:10 (avg 8:07).  

Ran 6 or so miles at an AP of 8:06/mi at 5 am.  Two warmup miles, followed by four miles at a stable pace of less than 8:00.  Cold and rainy day here in CT, blah. 

My goal was to run 12 miles at an avg pace of <=8:00mm.  I eventually stopped after the tenth mile (avg pace of 8:40mm).   Woof, that was hard.  The route mostly comprised of rolling hills, with four or so steep inclines and one long downhill.  I didn't have the strength to pick up the pace at any point during the run, so I just put my legs on cruise control and jogged until I could see my house.  

I'm still hoping to reach this goal but I'll have to wait until next Saturday, or the next Saturday, or the next... 

I celebrated yesterday's 10 miler with tons, well, maybe just one ton, of blueberry pancakes, coffee, whipped cream, etc.. at a great little brunch spot in Westville, Ct.  All those carbs and caffeine propelled me today to my fastest five miler of the year (5 miles in 36:22).  

Ran at night into some serious fog.

5 miles @ avg 8:19/mi. Miles 1 thru 5: 8:43; 8:18; 9:08; 8:00; 7:57.  

4 sluggish miles.

7 miles @ avg. 8:20/mi.  Miles 1 thru 7: 8:43; 8:18; 9:08; 8:00; 7:57; 7:52; 8:21.  

Last week, my wife and I both caught this stomach bug that's been going around Yale (the source of which being a slew of poorly-nourished, highly-stressed out undergraduates).  It left me in bed for 48 hours and on a saltine and ginger ale diet for three days.  With that said, I finally have my legs underneath me, so I managed 3 miles at a 9:30m pace. 

Another short run.  3 miles at a slightly faster pace than yesterday (9:10/mi).  Still recovering from a stomach bug, which was wonderful for my waistline, but not so great on my stamina.

11 miles (8:19/mi avg.) in the afternoon.  Best run of the semester (... and best day of the semester, i.e, the last one). Here are my splits: 8:55; 8:46; 9:31; 8:14; 8:15; 8:01; 8:03; 8:17; 7:50; 7:38; 8:01.  I was thrilled to jog miles 9 and 10 at under 8mm. 

Ran 3 slow miles (9:00 AP) in the dark.

Six very casual miles (AP 9:10) around the neighborhood.  I'm going to spend next week scanning the net for training program that works with my spring semester schedule and fitness level with the intended purpose of running in the Providence Marathon in May.  I've been injury free since the start of the summer and feel pretty good about the chances of staying injury free while dialing it up a notch in the winter. 

7 miles, 8:22 AP around Edgewood Park.  Merry Christmas runners.

7 miles, hilly for the first 3, then leveled off for the last 4. Splits were... 8:34; 8:01; 8:07; 8:01; 7:52; 8:13; 7:47. Avg. pace of 8:05/mi.  

Same route as yesterday, except I used my 5-fingers on this run.  First two miles are uphill, and last 5 are easy-peasy.  Splits are 9:09; 8:42; 7:50; 7:55; 7:43; 8:15; 8:08.  Avg pace of 8:15, a tad slower than yesterday.

On a related note, I'm thoroughly enjoying reading this book.  I can totally relate to Murakimi's thoughts about running into the void.  I  

7 miles on the same route as yesterday, and the day before.  I must be a provincial jogger.  I even wore the same clothes [insert disgusted facial expression].  

Two miles uphill and the rest down or flat.  Splits:

9:04; 8:38; 7:54; 8:06; 7:39; 8:00; 8:09.  Avg. pace of 8:13/mi. 

4 miles at 8:45/mi in the snow.  

AM: 3 miles with my wife around Edgeworth Park in about 6 inches of snow. 

PM: 5 miles at avg. pace of 8:12/mi.  I added 8x100m strides at the end. Woof, that was tough.  I was so nauseous after the last 100m.  The plan is to incorporate more speed work in January.  There, it's in writing.