32 in 2

Not sure yet if this was a smart choice.  After running 17 miles yesterday, I decided to run 15 miles today.  Hence the title - 32 in 2.

This could have been the smartest training decision I've made this year...or the worst idea I've had this year.  And I have had a lot of bad ideas.

I was looking at my mileage last night and was debating if I should run again (Saturday) or try and get some extra miles in today.  Saturday's run was a pretty easy pace and I didn't stress or strain anything.

With a 50 miler in 2 months, it should make sense to train my body to run tired.  What I didn't expect was to run a very hard tempo for 15 miles on tired legs.  I ended the run with an average pace of 6:33.  I'm not sure how smart that was either...I am feeling it big time.

The weather today was perfect.  Cool temps at 64 degrees, overcast, almost no wind.  I could not have had a better day for the run.

See info from the Garmin on today's run HERE.

I know you are sitting there reading this and asking, "Chris, what did you do to recover from this back to back beast of a week-end?"  Excellent question, and thank you for asking.

I took an ice bath for 10 painful minutes, had a chicken breast and G2.  Later I went to Fuel for a healthy Smoothie.  Goood.

Tomorrow might be a bad day...

17 miles to La Mie

First, I changed the main picture because people were concerned about looking at my half dressed picture while at work.  Okay, they didn't like looking at it at all.  I guess my Adonis like build was making people uncomfortable.  There is nothing uncomfortable about the picture up there now.  Don't worry Nick,  I will change my picture from time to time...let me know what picture you like the best.  It's all about you Nicki.

Today we ran 17 miles around greater Des Moines.  Actually it was just Des Moines, nothing greater about it.  

We ran a bit slower today only averaging 7:50 pace for the 17 miles.  That was with 4 sub 7:00 miles at the beginning and end.  Six of the miles were over 8:00 pace.

I ran 2 miles before the group run and 2.5 miles after.  With your great math skills you can tell that the group route was 12.5 miles.  Take a look at the Garmin info HERE.

After the run we met at La Mie for a big breakfast.  Nick, Lizzie, Curtis, Sam, Teresa and I sat down for some very good eats.  I forgot to order Teresa the potatoes the first time around.  Oops.

Lizzie had the idea that I should pick someone to "talk about" each week to improve readership.  Is it really possible to get more that 2 readers a week?  Dream big huh?  I told her I would highlight her the first time out...maybe next time.

Let's see, what did we learn today?  

1. Curtis had a date with Jenn
2. Teresa wants to start a  reality show called Surprise Wedding 
3. Sam hurt his Achilles during the run and needed to be at pictures for a wedding in 30 minutes...but needed to drive home, shower, change, and drive back first.  Good luck with that.  Oh yeah, and he got picked up by the Popo for running while intoxicated last week.
4. I am awesome.
5. Nick should have put the top on his Jeep this morning.
6. Lizzie should wear a jacket when she rides with Nick.
7. and I am awesome.  

Rain, Rain, go away...

The rain has been here for 2 straight days now.  I have run in the rain for 2 straight days.  My diet has been bad for 2 straight days.  The rain must be to blame for my diet choices.  I know it can't be my fault.

I met Curtis at the gym and we ran from there.  We ran a nice relaxing 7:52 minute pace for 6.5 miles.  I had better get my mileage up...and my eating in check.

The Garmin site is still down.  Boo.  Hopefully they get the download piece fixed soon so I can download my last 2 runs.  Until then you will just have to take my work for it I guess...or read about it HERE.

Are you ready for some football?

Wet Raccoon Mojo

As I put on my last post, Teresa and I went to eat at Mojo's with the Maddens last night.  It was pretty good.  Probably not the best I've ever had...but pretty good.

Today I had meetings in Cedar Rapids all day, so I ate M&Ms at the meeting.  I also cheated on the way home and ate a delicious Toblerone bar...very good...very bad.

Needless to say, I was not happy that it was raining and had been raining all day.  But my good friend Reno was happy to run.

We ran down at Raccoon in the rain for 6+ miles in the rain.  It was nice and cool, no wind, went pretty well.  My Garmin isn't downloading properly today so I can't share the link as usual.  We ran 6.13 miles at an average of 7:33 pace.  We dropped down and ran the 5th miles at 6:29...nice.  Well done Mr. Reno!

I will try and add the Garmin link later if I get it to load...and here it is

After that, Reno and I met Wang and Chadly at Buffalo Wild Wings.  More bad food, good food.  Bad food?

Too much Tempo

Uggh.  Today's run hurt.  I get a rest day tomorrow, so I thought about that when it got tough.  It got tough in the second mile by the way.

I ran my "old" 8 mile route that I ran quite a bit last year training for the Dallas Marathon.  It starts out nice and flat and gets very hilly right through the middle.

I ran the first mile at 7:10...that was the last mile over 7:00 pace.  Six of the eight miles were under 6:35 pace.  I struggled through a 6:48 5th mile.  It had some big uphill sections that wore me down.

Today felt good, even though I was outside my "comfort zone" most of the time.  Tomorrow is an off day.  Teresa and I are going out to dinner with the Maddens at Mojo.  I am looking forward to it.

See my Garmin info on today's run here.

Reno 811

Yeah, lame title to the post I know.  But I ran 8 ish miles with Reno today, so it sounded good when I said it to myself.

After the 20 miles yesterday I wanted to get 10 miles in today to see how it felt.  Practice running with tired legs.

I talked Reno in to running with me.  He didn't make the run yesterday because apparently he has a personal life and doesn't obsess about running.  Good for him.  Well, I talked Reno in to running 10 miles at 5:00 p.m., and Reno talked me into running 8.4 miles with him at 5:15.

So, long blog short...Reno and I ran part of yesterday's run for a total of 8.4 miles at 8:02 pace.  We ran from Gays lake to Habib and A-Wad's house.  Once at HabWad's house we drove Mo back to Grays.

The run felt good, Reno ran lights out.  It was a tough route (hilly) and my old tired legs did okay.  Reno should be happy with his effort...he did good.

I thought about going to a movie with Reno and Chadly, but the show (District 9) didn't start until 9:00.  I am defiantly too old for that.

Garmin info on the run here.

20 miler

I should start by telling all three readers of this blog that I was slightly over-served last night.  Our neighborhood had its "Flamingo Friday" at the Pugh's.  It was a good time with a good turnout.  Turns out that new Bud Select 55 is pretty good and 6 of them are even better.  This choice would make my 20 miles interesting.

We started our Striders run Grays Lake at 7:00 a.m.  I started running with Curtis, Kristy (Feldman), and Nick.  Teresa was running as well...going for 18 miles.  

We got off to a late start  (maybe 2 minutes) but it put us in the back of the pack.  It was nice to pick people off as we went along.  As you can see from the chart below, my pace was all over the place as usual.

The pace started off in the mid 7:00s and stayed there through the rolling hills of the Des Moines Marathon.  We picked up Pete around mile 3 and he put the hammer down on the uphills.  I hope Feldman is okay today.  Her hamstring started to hurt, and I could tell she wasn't her normal killer self.

At mile six, Curtis, Feldman, and Pete headed back to Grays.  Nick and I kept on the course heading north towards Kingman.  At Kingman Nick left and ran straight home.  He had an AKL lunch deal in Ames.

So I decided to try and catch the front group of 4 and dropped the pace down.  I felt good as my pace dipped to the low 6:00 range.  It took about a mile to catch the 4 guys and learn that Bob has passed them...I had more work to do.

Bob could hear me coming because as I got faster, so did he.  It was fun chasing him through downtown Des Moines.  Eventually I asked him how long he would make me chase.  I think he was ready for a break too and we ran the last 2 miles back to Grays together.  Bob just did his first 50 miler this year...gave me some great advice.

After that I ran back to get Teresa.  She was doing great and we ran back to Grays together.  That's about it...when we got back to Grays again, I did two laps around the lake to total 20.  Teresa got to 18.

Great day for running. 

In case that wasn't enough info for you; here is more

Split	Time	Distance	Description				Calories
	02:27:40	20.10					2,379
1	00:08:01	1.00	Curtis / Kristy / Nick				127
2	00:07:27	1.00	Same				116
3	00:07:52	1.00	Pete joins us				122
4	00:07:33	1.00	Curtis / Kristy / Nick / Pete				119
5	00:08:15	1.00	Same				121
6	00:08:02	1.00	Me and Nick				120
7	00:08:17	1.00	Me and Nick				118
8	00:07:50	1.00	Same				120
9	00:07:07	1.00	Just me				117
10	00:06:21	1.00	Chasing lead guys				115
11	00:06:13	1.00	Chasing Bob				115
12	00:06:00	1.00	Still chasing Bob				118
13	00:06:50	1.00	with Bob				118
14	00:03:43	0.52	Bob				61
15	00:06:58	1.00	Circle back to Teresa				114
16	00:08:46	1.00	w/ Teresa				119
17	00:07:56	1.00	1/2 w/ Teresa 1/2  just me				116
18	00:06:57	1.00	around the lake				118
19	00:06:48	1.00	around the lake				118
20	00:06:37	1.00	once more around the lake				118
21	00:03:57	0.58	Done				69

I'm off to go boating with friends, and then a "back to school" picnic with old friends from the QC.