CTS 912: Checkpoint, half-year

Five miles in what seems like an unseasonably cool morning out of the way to close out the month of June and half the year.

Stats through 181 days of first six months: 615.92 miles, average of 3.4 miles a day.

CTS 911: Morning Middlebear

I got up a little later than I wanted but got a 7:30 a.m. start. I felt like the humidity was fine but my shirt got soaked pretty quickly.

I wanted to get this run in as a last-minute tune up for Saturday's Peachtree. I don't think I'll run another 10K distance for a training run before the race and in fact I hope to get my miles in doing very easy runs the rest of the week.

The Middlebear hills were fine and I hope that everything is similar on race day. I don't think I've run this kind of volume of running before any race. I may be over-prepared but it feels like a good luxury to have.

Time: 7:30 a.m.
Temp: 74 degrees
Gear: SST (dk blue Carolina), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D3.

CTS 908: Unlocked -- Heat acclimatization

Today I got up extremely late and was out the door at 11 a.m. The last few weeks I would have dreaded this because it's been so brutally hot but I think I'm pretty much acclimated to it now.

It's awesome because now I can get more sleep! lol. I noticed this yesterday and today, both days when I've had late starts.

I'll probably still try to run as early as I can but it's nice to know this is doable now.

Time: 11:15 a.m.
Temp: 85 degrees
Gear: SST (Surgeon General's 5K), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D3.

CTS 906: A Peachtree-ready cat

Today I got out at 6:50 a.m., not as early as I would like but early enough. The weather was pretty cool and there was a good amount of anti-Kryll effect (daylight instead of darkness) still.

I didn't have my first sip of Gatorade until after all three Middlebear hills, at the 5.22 mile mark on North Highland by Fritti, by the time I'd nearly finished the entire route. I drank the rest of the 12-ounce bottle at North Highland and Freedom Parkway, waiting for the light.

I guess I've been ready for the Peachtree for a while but I really felt extremely good today, on the attack on all 9 hills of the route.

Temp: 73 degrees
Gear: SST (Race for Research), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D3.

CTS 905: Slightly late start, new equipment

Today I didn't get out until 7:15 a.m. It was fine but I want to make sure I'm out a lot earlier in the future.

Yesterday at REI I bought an Ultimate Direction waist belt that has a space to carry a bottle. I tested it out today with small 12oz. Gatorade. It can carry the 20oz bottles but I just happened to get this one today.

I also was wearing a new pair of Mizuno shorts that I found on sale at Big Peach Running Store in Decatur. They fit pretty good and it's nice to get a pair of shorts for under $40.

Normally after a long run the day before I don't really run so fast the next day. I was fine today and attacked the long hills at the end of the route with ease.

Time: 7:15 a.m.
Temp: 75 degrees
Gear: SST (Braves, gray), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D3.

CTS 904: Early enough to do Middlebear (H-Loop)

Today I finally got up early for a change and it was really nice. For one, it was cool and the sun wasn't shining oppressively yet.

There wasn't much traffic out on the road, either.

After three days of shorter runs in really killer heat, my legs were ready to run today. I had a nice pace for the first couple of miles. Then I settled in. The big McClendon hills aren't much of a big deal anymore.

I drank about half of my Gatorade at mile 3 and then the rest at the Little Five Points intersection.

I hope I can get up more often.

Time: 7 a.m.
Temp: 72 degrees
Gear: SST (Atlanta Falcons white), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D3.

CTS 900: Milestone, Middlebear

I really procrastinated today, until it was pretty late mid-day. I thought about running to Atlantic Station but knew that the run I would want on my 900th day of running would be my hardest course -- Middlebear.

I was pretty happy. Yesterday, coming off a 9-mile run on the last half of the ING half marathon course (and a 3-mile shortcut home), my legs were tired and I turned away before I got to Mpx.

Today I felt pretty good and ran up the three tall hills on McClendon before needing to get into the Gatorade I carried.

That said, I had to stop for another bottle at a convenience store. While I was drinking that, and was totally soaked, my ego was bolstered by a cute 20-something girl who said "You're brave to run in this heat. I always try but can't."

Can't wait to make it 1,000 days in a row.

Time: 11:30 a.m.
Temp: 82-87 degrees
Gear: SST (Va-Hi Summmerfest 5K 2009), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D3.

CTS 898: 1/2 of the ING Georgia half-marathon course

I guess I don't like to let things go the way they are. I struggled in the last half of March's ING Georgia Half-Marathon so when I woke up pretty early this morning (6:30 a.m.) I knew what route I would do.

I started out in my Virginia-Highland neighborhood, went through Piedmont Park and up 10th Street. The rolling hills on Juniper are brutal but I managed OK. I turned on 5th Street and went through Georgia Tech, which is pretty nice. Then I turned and passed the Bobby Dodd Stadium before heading up North Ave.

When I ran the race I told myself this was a brutal hill. But it wasn't so bad. Neither was the Tech Parkway part that led to Marietta St. On the last mile of the half marathon, I was fortunate to just finish but this time I made it to my office building and drank the entire bottle of Gatorade that I brought.

I used my regular Cornerstone route back home, stopping at the Boulevard CVS for another bottle of Gatorade that I drank half of during the run back.

I felt really fresh the whole way. It's good to get that mental hurdle out of the way, of a last part of the race that almost beat me.

Time: 7:15 a.m.
Temp: 72 degrees
Gear: SST (Nike Peachtree '04), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D3.

CTS 895: Middlebear hills

I got up too late to do the Army Hooah 10K race, although I didn't set an alarm clock to try to be down in College Park at 6 a.m.

I'd already pretty much hit my weekly mileage on Friday so if I happened to get up early, fine.

But I also liked the idea of sleeping in. When I got up, however, I did want to do a longer run -- so I did the Middlebear hills.

I carried a bottle of Gatorade and I think the difference in between this run and yesterday's run in which I didn't drink any of the 'ade was the intensity. The Middlebear hills are ferocious and I ended up drinking the entire bottle (half of it by the time I was near the Candler Park Market, where I usually pick up a bottle).

That said, I need to find a better way to carry it than the fanny pack that I use. It bounces too much, although it was a joy to run with it when it was empty and I'd already thrown away the bottle.

Time: 11 a.m.
Temp: 82 degrees
Gear: SST (Hillside 5K), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D3.

CTS 894: Packing Gatorade

Today for the first time I carried a bottle of Gatorade with me during my run. I figured it was the sensible thing, especially if I needed it in an area where there wasn't any water to be had.

It was interesting because it seemed like it was a psychological crutch. Because I knew I could drink whenever I wanted to I didn't drink it at all during the 4-mile run.

I also was very happy of my pace on the hilly Piedmont Park/Ansley/Morningside/Va-Hi route.

I'm pretty glad I thought of doing this. Maybe the day wasn't as hot as other days but it's a great idea for the days ahead.

-----------------------

Tonight my Peachtree 10K race number arrived! Time Group I biatches!

Time: noon
Temp: 82 degrees
Gear: SST (Bridge to Bridge), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D3.

CTS 892: New strategies in the heat

Today I decided to run on one of my old routes, to the Kroger and Borders in Buckhead. It runs along the last part of the Peachtree 10K route, so I thought it would be a good practice.

I'm finding that I need water as early as 2 miles in. I reached the shopping center around 3 miles and was surprised I didn't drink a lot of water and Powerade.

I bought a big Powerade as a last thought and really did drink almost all of it on the way back.

I felt like my pace was pretty good up the long double/triple hill from the I-75/85 overpass up to 14th Street.

It's still miserable running in the heat but pretty nice knowing that Powerade is at your fingertips. I may start wearing a belt that carries a bottle of something.

Time: 11 a.m.
Temp: 86 degrees
Gear: SST (Ketchikan), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D3.

CTS 891: Middlebear and heat

I ran and did my Middlebear course this morning but boy it's so hot.

I did the hills really well but just am wondering when, if ever, I'll get properly acclimated.

This is the first year that I've ever had problems with staying properly hydrated.

I just have to make sure I stick with the fluids, listen to myself and keep training the way I've been.

Time: 10:30 a.m.
Temp: 82 degrees
Gear: SST (Race for Research), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D3.

CTS 888: Virginia-Highland Summerfest 5K

I have a thing about running races that are literally outside my front door. They're hard to pass up.

I ran this race five years ago as a way to "see where I was at" regarding my training for the Peachtree. I ran fast the first two miles and then pretty much died for the third.

This time around, I pretty much took it easy. There were a lot of people and it was a jammed-up start.

Because of that, I just decided to have fun. I did pretty well on the hills and it wasn't too bad coming in.

It would have been nice if my time was better but it is what it is. I'm happy though I got a chance to participate in my neighborhood's run!

Time: 8 a.m.
Temp: 63 degrees
Gear: SST (Hillside 5K), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D2

CTS 885.5: Surgeon General's 5K

The Surgeon General's 5K was my fastest 5K in 5 years, dating back to the March 20, 2004 Downtown DASH for Diabetes.

It was also my second run of the day. I wasn't sure I'd be able to run in it so I did a run earlier in the morning just to make sure I'd have a run in if I didn't race.

I started out like usual- 3/4 in the back of the pack and not sure how fast the race would be. The good thing was it was in Piedmont Park, which is about as close to home court as a cat can have and, incidentally, part of the route I chose to run this morning.

In 2007, I participated in another public health run here, the EIS Prediction Run.

I just kept up a nice pace, knowing exactly where I was. I didn't want to run too fast because of the Va-Hi Summerfest 5K this weekend.

But I kept running, and passing a bunch of public health people. I could tell many of them weren't used to Atlanta's infamous humidity. Many of them were using their 'burners early, which meant I would just keep my pace and eventually pass them.

Even under the last 1/2 mile, I kept telling myself, 'No burners, no burners.' I did give in at the very last moment trying to catch up with the last person in front of me.

It was a strong finish and a great one. It's also telling that I'm really close to my great level of fitness 5 years ago.

I wore my old D2s because I had already worn the D3s earlier in the day and my feet felt fine.

Temp: 86 degrees
Gear: SST (Levi), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D2.

CTS 883: Decatur Square

This afternoon I knew I wanted to try for a long run. I thought about a lot of options but one had stuck in my mind for a while -- a run to Decatur.

The last time I ran there was April 22, 2008 and it was an extremely hard run because of the huge rolling hills in between where I live and there.

Also, last week on one of the long runs I think I bruised part of my right foot near the ball. My solution for this was to start wearing my third pair of Nike Air Pegasus shoes (I think I own two more), to give my foot as much cushioning possible.

I had intended to do a long run yesterday (Middlebear) but cut it short after it started to hurt after 2 miles.

So I thought I would just try it and come back if I was in pain.

But no, I just ran straight there. I bought a huge Powerade and drank it in the square before returning.

This is one of those runs that gives me huge confidence in any kind of race I might find myself in, because it's a huge edge to know you won't be defeated by any kind of hill.

Time: 6 p.m.
Temp: 90 degrees
Gear: SST (Firecracker 5K), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D3.