Saturday 6.5 Miles

I ran 6.5 this afternoon, through the next development over. I ran really slow, around 58 minutes. The only thing of consequence about this run is that I did go over 100 miles for the month of June!

Friday Morning Long Run

I've been talking with Kevin D for months about coming in early on Fridays for a long run. Well the company picnic is today so the fitness center is closed from 11-3. So I finally decided today would be the day. We planned to meet at 6:30 AM.

I was able to get up and get in on time and shortly after 6:30 we were on the road. We ran a little loop downtown before heading north to Lakeside and then back around the Rock Hall / Science Center / Browns Stadium and into the flats. Mid-run there was a hill out of the flats and onto the Detroit-Superior bridge.

We ran the whole run at what seemed like a pretty brisk pace but Kevin started to get away from me on that part of the run. We ran the extra part after crossing the bridge, then Kevin picked up the pace quite a bit crossing back over the 2nd bridge.

Total distance was 7.5 miles. Kevin timed himself at 57 minutes and me at 59 minutes. He said by himself he usually runs that route in about 63 minutes. For me today's run was about 7:50 pace, and a 7:35 pace for Kevin D.

This gives me 27 miles for the week, which is the most I've run in at least the past 3 years. Also, I have run at least 4 times per week for 7 consecutive weeks.

Weight = 182 lbs

Thursday 4 Miles

We had a group today for the first time in several weeks. Kevin D, Milica, Vicki, and I all ran just over 4 miles. (4.16 according to the Gmaps Pedometer webiste)

Rick started with us also but he had run longer last night (9 miles) so he quickly turned off and went on his own. Milica also had run 7 this morning so on the 2nd bridge she fell back and Vicki slowed to run with her.

Tomorrow is the company picnic, so I won't be able to run at lunch. I'm considering coming in early (6:30 AM) and running with Kevin D.

Weight = 181 lbs

Wednesday Speedwork - Short Track

I ran speedwork today with Marty. Marty likes to run intervals on the track at St. Ignatius HS. The strange thing about this track is it is not a 400m track. The inside lane is short. The 4th lane is actually 400m. There are wierd starting lines spaced out all over this track. The 1600m start is at the start of the home straightaway and the 3200m is near the normal 200m start line.

Anyhow, the warm-up and cool-down is about 1 3/4 miles each way. We ran 4 x 800 but I only ran 3 x 800 and a 400 on the last one. The heat was sweltering! We did a 400 jog in between each 800 for recovery.

• 2:59
• 3:10
• 3:13
• 1:37

Total distance 6 miles.

Weight = 178 lbs

Hoodwinked and Bamboozled

I was a little late to run today and Rick was about to leave the fitness center when I arrived to change into my gear. I asked him which way he was going, and he said "Lakefront. You'll probably catch me."

So I changed quick and was on my way shortly. I kept a brisk pace. Every turn I looked up ahead but I never caught Rick or even saw him.

When I got back to the locker room, Rick was getting changed. "I saw you" he said.

"Where?" I asked.

"Well I was going to let you catch up so I ran out towards the pier. But when I turned around you were already going past. I would have yelled but I didn't think you'd hear."

So I was ahead of him the whole time. This of course, made me wonder how he got back first, so I asked him.

"I just came straight back 9th street."

It was kind of funny, me all the time thinking I needed to run hard to catch him, and him seeing me go past and then taking the short way back to the office.

Oh well.

Monday 5 Miles

Rick and I started out to run the modified homeless route today, but Rick was having right knee and left calf issues and bailed out around 1-2 miles, so I ran most of the route alone (and slow).

Weight = 181 lbs

Thursday Bloody Thursday

Thursday was the day the Bloodmobile came to my place of employment. I was scheduled for a 1:45 appointment, so that I could still run at lunch (which I did).

I went and read the information, and got checked in. While waiting for my turn, there was a minor emergency. A girl from the cookie table became very pale and looked as if she was about to pass out. This got everyone's attention as they moved her to a cot, put her feet up, and covered her with a blanket. Her whole body was shaking! Getting her under control took several minutes of time for all the medical personnel and slowed things down significantly.

Finally it was my turn. The nurse first marked my arm (with a magic marker) to give herself a target. She then went away to tend to another patient. When she came back and looked again, she decided she needed to mark a different spot, a few millimeters over.

She stuck the needle in and the blood started to flow, and then it stopped for some reason. She came back and wiggled the needle, getting the blood flowing again, but while she poked around it felt all of a sudden like I had a charley-horse on my arm.

After a minute or so the blood stopped again. Now I have given blood every 2 months, this would have been my 4th time and I've never had any trouble before. But this time another blood-worker came over and they decided to stop and give up. They gave me a small ice-pack to hold on my arm.

I did get to have juice and cookies but it was very frustrating to spend that much time over there and not be able to successfully give blood.