About 1/5 of the Way There

Thursday, March 26
Nike+: 4.81 @ 41:30 (8:37/mile)
I used this run to calibrate my watch. The actual distance was 5.0 on the trail with a 41:30 time (8:18/mile).
Weather:about 55 degrees
Gear: black shorts, white t-shirt, ear band to keep hair back
Ran this one with Posscoon after work. I wanted to calibrate my watch so I reset it to the factory settings before we started. It ended up being about .20 miles under the actual distance on a 5.0 mile run.
It's time to rest for the longest run of my life this weekend.
Posscoon saw some deer on the north side of the trail after we finished. They're keeping an eye on me.

Over the Hills and Far Away

Wednesday, March 25
Nike+: 10.24 @ 1:32:49 (9:03/mile)
Maymyrun: 10.36 @ 1:32:49 (8:56/mile)
Weather:about 50 degrees. The weather was perfect for a 10-miler. I hope it's similar in St. Louis at the Big Show, but who knows.
Gear: new Brooks shorts, white/black phoenix wicking tee, 1/2 Marathon St. Louis hat, gel in back pocket which I ate at mile 7.
Ran this one w/ Posscoon after work.
We took it fairly easy on this one and kept things at my steady pace of about a 9-minute mile which isn't to say that I wasn't hurting b/c I was. My damn knees and thighs were feeling it pretty good. I stretched out good last nite, but woke up a few times with leg pain. I just need my knees to heal up and I'll be alright. Maybe 3 weeks of tapering will help solve the problem (after our pending 20-miler this weekend).
On a sidenote, I realized earlier this morning that today is my dad's birthday. He was born on March 26th and died in his mid-50s. We never saw each other after I turned 16 years old. I could say a lot of things about him, but today, on his day of birth, I'll say that he loved me.
I'm fortunate to have been raised by a strong woman who kept me on the righteous path. As I've said before, any good that I have to offer, comes from my mom. I'll assume liability for the bad.

Throw some Hills on It

Tuesday, March 24
Nike+: 5.17 @ 44:16 (8:33/mile)
Mapmyrun: 5.24 miles @ 44:16 (8:26/mile)
Weather: about 55 degrees
Gear: black shorts, 'Beer is Good for Body' t-shirt, 1/2 Marathon Hat

14 in Omaha at Lake Zorinsky

Saturday, March 21
Nike+: 14.01 @ 2:04:30 (8:53/mile)
When I mapped this route on mapmyrun, it came out to be 14.3 miles which would be about an 8:42/mile.
Weather: 65-70 degrees
Gear: just short shorts
Got sun burned on this one.

5 with Posscoon and Dark Horse (briefly)

Thursday, March 19
Nike+: 5.01 @ 44:15 (8:49/mile)
Weather: mid-50s to about 50 degrees
Gear: black shorts, black wife beater, St. Louis 1/2 Marathon hat
I lost my necklace on this run (the puzzle piece that I bought for Mary several years ago in St. Louis). Bummer.

9 on a Treadmill

Wednesday, March 18
Nike+: 9.0 @ 1:20:29 (8:56/mile)
Treadmill: 1:17:40 @ the 9.0 mile mark (8:38/mile)
The treadmill actually read about 9.3 miles but I kept running until my watch hit 9.0
I thought it was going to rain outside so I ran on the treadmill. After I finished, I weighed 166.4 lbs at the gym and 166.0 at home. This means I lost 10 pounds since the previous Tuesday when I ran with Dark Horse at the Rec Center on the track. This run was much for difficult than my previous 9-miler on the trail. I don't trust the treadmill.

5 Miles Before The Eagles

Tuesday, March 17, St. Patrick's Day
Nike+: 5.01 @ 44.38 (8:53/mile)
Weather: warm, between 75-80 degrees
Gear: just short shorts