Tuesday, September 29, 2009

New headphones

When I first bought my iPod I bought a pair of neat looking running headphones that was advertised on the Apple site. Those lasted about 13 months.

Then I bought a second pair of Seinnheiser PMX-70 headphones. These are the current ones and they've lasted a little longer, about 20 months.

But now I think one of the wires is starting to short in one ear so today I decided to buy another pair. The good news is that now they only cost a fraction of what I bought the first two pair for. Yay!

CTS 1,003: First cool day of season

Up early for a 4-mile run with the girlfriend. It was 51 degrees out and I hadn't expected it would be that cool out.

Fortunately I warmed up pretty quickly and wasn't chilly. Some socks or gloves for the hands to start out with would have been nice.

Time: 6:30 a.m.
Temp: 51 degrees
Gear: SST (Climb Atlanta), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D4.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

CTS 1,001: Will run for ice cream

Today my gf and I wanted to do a light run after the 10K on Saturday so we decided to head out ... for ice cream! It's just a little more than 2 miles to Jake's Ice Cream.

We got there right after it opened, enjoyed a sugar cone and then ran home along the Atlanta-to-Stone Mountain PATH.

A pretty good running motivator, if you ask me.

Time: 11 a.m.
Temp: 75 degrees
Gear: SST (Falcons, red), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D4.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

CTS 1,000 -- Big Peach Sizzler 10K

CHAMBLEE, Ga. -- Today for my 1,000th consecutive day of running I ran in the Big Peach Sizzler 10K. It used to be called the Buckhead Sizzler.

It was interesting to start at nearly the same place where I started The Weather Channel Atlanta Half-Marathon last Thanksgiving.

I had some ghosts to chase away, namely starting really slow in that race with my muscles locked up.

But in this 10K, it was a different kind of start. It was a little humid. It was also the first race that I'd run with someone in a while. My gf is speedier than I am (she finished in the top 3 percent of female runners) so I told her to just run and not wait up for me and I'll reunite with her at the finish.

When the race started, I totally thought I'd be able to keep up with her. But soon, like a quick rabbit, she bounded through groups of runners and was out of sight.

I kept a pretty nice pace, though. The first two miles have rolling hills but nothing along the lines of what I'm used to in the 'hood, especially running at the gf's faster pace.

I just decided to run as fast as I could -- I picked runners up ahead that I would try to keep up with. It turned out I passed three of those people.

Near the end of the race I really didn't have it in me to kick like I probably should have in the last mile. No excuses really but I was a little congested and just didn't have it in me in today's humidity.

Near the finish line a younger guy was trying to encourage his buddy to finish strong. Instead of passing the buddy, I was encouraging the dude as well. I think that's what sportsmanship is all about.

I finished just a little over the time that would get me into Time Group 1A of the Peachtree -- by 25 seconds. At mile 2 I somehow turned the Hammer of Dawn off, so I didn't have an accurate read on my pace. I'm not too worried because I've made 1A with the Charles Harris 10K in February and I think a cooler race will be enough to get me over the line.

All in all, I'm happy that a nice race like this fell on my milestone day 1,000.

Time: 7:30 a.m.
Temp: 75 degrees, humid
Gear: CFLST (Charles Harris '09), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D4.

Friday, September 25, 2009

CTS 999: 1,000+ miles for year

Today a short run to drop off a rebate check at Chase bank only to find the doors to the lobby still shut even though they are supposed to be open at 7 a.m. Chase sucks.

It was 82 degrees out. Hot and humid but I'm glad I did the run in the morning.

I now have run 1,002.81 miles this year.

Temp: 82 degrees
Gear: SST (Va-Hi '04 Summerfest), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D4.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

CTS 996: getting over a cold

Today I passed up a chance to do an early morning 10K run with the gf. I'm still sick from over the weekend and when we did the distance on Sunday, it was brutal. I had no energy for the hill climbs and my pace reverted to a trot.

Yesterday wasn't any better. My legs still felt sore and I had no energy.

Today my legs had energy but I don't think I did mentally. It was the first time I've ever reached Clifton Road on the Middlebear run and not completed it. Instead, I turned back and crossed Ponce to run along the pretty Lullwater.

It was nice to recon the area because finally the sculpture in Freedom Park is finished and two of the three "feet" looking pieces now gush water.

On the other side of the run, the By Way and Springdale intersection is still being worked on but there was traffic access on Springdale only.

My pace felt ok. Hopefully soon I will too.

Time: noon
Temp: 74.5 degrees
Gear: SST (UNLV), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D4.

Monday, September 14, 2009

CTS 988: errands, still dogging it

Got up today, had some errands to do which helped me get out on the road early.

It was nice and cool but still so doggone humid! I was happy that I felt like I had a good pace in spots and overall it wasn't so bad.

Last night when I was finally able to get this desktop working, I downloaded a few months of Garmin data into it. I was able to see that when I run on my own I typically do so at a 9:40/mile pace and when I run with the gf, it's 8:40/mile!

Recently, though I've gotten my on-my-own pace down to 9:15/mile.

Time: 11 a.m.
Temp: 75 degrees
Gear: SST (Va-Hi '04), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D4.

Friday, September 11, 2009

CTS 985, dogging it on M's course

This morning I got up at the crack of dawn to go running with the gf before I had to take her to the airport.

I went to see the Clemson-Ga Tech game last night so I had been up late.

Needless to say I was dogging it during the 6.2 mile course but had a nice pace at the end.

It's a hard run but I have pretty much acclimated to it and the gf's pace.

Time: 6:45 a.m.
Temp: 65-70 degrees
Gear: SST (Climb Atlanta), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D4.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

CTS 983: Breaking out the D4s

Today I ran M's route with the gf and it was pretty good. The weather started out cool but got as humid as ever.

I wore my new D4s for the first time on a run of 10K distance. They were fine.

The course is a hard one but I am glad I am able to keep up now.

Time: 6:45 a.m.
Temp: 64 degrees
Gear: SST (Beltline), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D4.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

CTS 982, recovering

Last week was a pretty good week for running. It started out with doing my Middlebear course last Sunday (the 6th) with the gf, starting from her place, which added 1.4 miles to the already 7-mile course.

Then in the middle of the week I ran the cornerstone route two times to go to work to prepare express delivery mailers for Falcons and Georgia Tech tickets I sold.

On Sunday, it was a two-fer. The gf and I ran the Cherokee Trail at Stone Mountain Park, which was pretty strenuous given the double hill near the end. The same afternoon we got on bikes and then rode 20 miles on the Silver Comet Trail, from Hiram to Mableton. It was a gorgeous day.

Of course, come Monday, my legs had little gas in them. Same went for today, with added note that I feel that my Nike Air Pegasus/D3 shoes are done, with a little less than 400 miles on them. But I am enjoying the fact it's getting cooler.

If my calculations are correct, Day 1000 will be on Sept. 26, when I am running the Big Peach Sizzler 10K in Atlanta. W00t!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

CTS 976: M course, acclimated

Today I ran M's course with M. The weather was nice and cool (65 degrees) this morning and my legs felt pretty fresh.

It was the first time that I could accelerate at all points of the course. I attribute this to the cool weather plus my legs feeling pretty fresh. When I first started running the course with her, I thought it would take about 4-6 weeks to acclimate.

Well, that time is here and I am feeling pretty good about my ability to run the 10K distance.

Time: 7 a.m.
Temp: 65 degrees
Gear: SST (Va-Hi Summerfest '04), shorts, Nike Air Pegasus/D3.