Runner's tonenails

I ran my first 20 miler  (at a pace faster than I'd ever expected) on Saturday and I'm sad to report to those that were around 4 years ago that I'm not yet losing any toenails. As soon as I peel one away I'll be sure to post pictures again.




I ended up running 55 miles last week, and finished September off with 184 miles. 44 more than any other month I've done. I hope to hit 200 miles this month, though I bagged today's lunch run because I'm too damn tired from the Phillies and Eagles sucking.

training

Saturday morning my parents picked up the kids and I went out for a 19 mile run.  It wasn't easy.  The weather in the Philly area is not yet being marathon friendly as it was about 75 degrees with 100% humidity.  This week I'm scheduled to have my biggest week ever - 50 total miles with a 20 miler on Saturday.  REALLY hoping the weather cools down as they say it will.

I just went back and looked at some of my posts during my runstreak and figured out that since March I've lost 16.5 pounds.  None of my pants fit me anymore and I'm way too lazy to go buy new ones.  I'll probably just start tying them around my waist with an extension cord as my belts don't fit either.

It can't all be wedding cake

Yesterday I ran the best race of my life. A half marathon that I ran 8 minutes faster than I ever have before. I'm still kind of on an emotional high about it.



Tomorrow could be one of the longest days of my life. Kym will be undergoing surgery to remove a tumor from her parotid gland. She/we will be detailing her journey here


Praying for a full recovery.

It's your fault

Anyone still got my blog in their feeds?  If so, remember that time I live-blogged me ripping my toenails off?  Then bonked during a marathon and made you all promise to never let me do another one?  Well, I'm two and a half month out from doing my 3rd marathon, and I blame you all for not stopping me.  I guess I get a four year itch with these things.

But, this time is different I say!  I'm running about twice as many miles.  I've got twice as many kids, I'm twice as awesome, and twice of two of things I can't remember right now.  So, this is me putting it out there so I can't go back on my word.

Oh, I just remembered something else - I have twice as much fun running now.  How can you double zero fun?  Not sure... but I actually have fun running now.  I know, it's odd.

Hurricane Irene Trail run

As the winds of hurricane Irene died down I went out for an ill-advised trail run. The winds had died down, and based on what I saw the waters had died down considerably as well... though they were still extremely high.

There's not normally water here.

One other (barefoot) runner preceded me on the trails:

1 month

Day 22 - 6.85
23 - 2.14
24 - 5.02
25 - 5
26 - 1.08
27 - 3.12
28 - 7.84
29 - 3.17
30 - 5.5
31 - 5
1 month down, 123.34 miles. Feeling stronger than ever. Generally have been going out for 1 in mind and doing 3 to 5. Knee pains gone. Disney next week could be my downfall.

Day 21 update

Day 16 - 1.02 miles
Day 17 - 3 miles
Day 18 - 5.37 miles
Day 19 - 2.31 miles
Day 20 - 8 miles
Day 21 - 3 miles

Weekly totals
Week 1 - 29.02
Week 2 - 21.88
Week 3 - 27.72

21 straight days of running and feeling good. There was one run last week when it was 40 degrees and raining that I didn't feel up to it, but I got out there for a mile. Kym goes away this weekend, so I'm going to have to find a way to get a run in with the kids. I'm thinking I'll either put them in child watch and run at the gym or have them ride bikes around the neighborhood with me running next to them.

Weight loss update - no change. 21 days of running and I haven't lost a pound since day 3. Is this proof that working out isn't good for you? I think I'm on to something.

RunStreak Day 15

5 miles in 35:54 on the schukyll

A revolutionary War era trading house on the river. Or maybe not. This is in Valley Forge, but there's no sign saying what it is.

This could be the last of my picture posts. I'm running out of anything interesting to post. It will degenerate to me posting pictures of the horseshit I have to avoid on the trails and I'd rather not go there.

RunStreak Day 14

2.95 miles in 27:54

4 days of nice weather down the drain after one night of rain.

21.88 miles in my 2nd week. I wish I reversed them and did 21 in the 1st and 29 in the second. My knee is still sore, but it hasn't gotten any worse. I blame it on the combo of running on streets last Saturday, then bowling Saturday night, then doing 10 the next morning. Hopefully it gets better soon.

RunStreak Day 13

1.16 miles in 10:54 after a 1.5 mile family hike

RunStreak Day 12

7.20 miles at Evansburg in 1:08:21


This portion of the trail has been washed away. Just out of view is a giant sticker bush to prevent you from going left at all.

RunStreak Day 11

1.15 miles in 10:01 around the neighborhood before the sunrise

RunStreak day 10

5.42 miles at Evnasburg in 52:26

Found a lucky horseshoe on the trail on St. Patty's day. I just looked it up and saw they're good luck unless you hold them upside down and the luck runs out. Oh well.

RunStreak day 9

3.00 miles in 24:45 on the schukyll path

RunStreak Day 8

1 mile in 9 minutes on the perkiomen trail

week 1 thoughts

-Going for a run was a lot easier than expected. I never dreading going out to run, even when it was raining.
-I ran 29 miles, the most in one week since I ran a marathon 4 years ago.
-I didn't plan any runs out, and ran more than expected every time.
-My legs have been tired walking up stairs, but weren't when running.
-I weighed myself after my long run on Sunday and had lost 2 pounds since I started. (184.5-182.5)
-My left knee was hurting after my run yesterday, felt fine this morning, and is now killing me. Could derail this whole thing early.

RunStreak day 7

2.04 miles along the schukyll in 17:20

The Schukyll Trail is a paved path that runs from center city philly to about 30 miles outside the city along the Schukyll River. I've run the "trail" 100 times. During my run the other day I noticed this dirt path next to it, and tried it out at lunch today.

RunStreak Day 6

10.10 Evansburg trail miles in 1:36:42.


Ran through this calf deep/knee creek twice

RunStreak Day 5

1.4 miles in 12:07 around the neighborhood



My day: running and brewing



And a bonus lap around the block with my favorite 2 year old

RunStreak day 4

4.00 miles at Evansburg in heavy mud in 38:35

I took a landscape pic, but then though I'd be doing an injustice to trail running to not show how muddy you get after it rains