Scheduled Distance: 5 miles
Actual Distance: 5 miles
Time: 1:01:36
Gmaps Route
RPE: 4

Today's run went well.  The temp outside was pretty chilly.  It actually took me a half-mile just to warm myself.  I didn't hit a rhythm today until after 2 miles or so.  My 5th mile was actually my best.  I wish I could figure out how to get into a rhythm quicker.  Overall, I was pleased, but I've got to get up earlier to start this, since I need to be at my desk at 9:00 a.m.

Every now and then I hear somebody tell a story about their hard drive crashing, and I'm reminded of my own loss back in college.  While I'm probably glad that I lost the lame songs that I wrote back then, there are a lot of things that I would love to still have around.  All of this reminds me that I need to back up my files.  Important business files and personal photos would be a disaster to lose at this point.  I looked a little bit at online backup storage, but current broadband transfer speeds, plus the cost of online storage, makes that a bit impractical at this point.  Then I read this article from MSNBC this morning, and I discovered exactly the type of solution that I would like to have--a networked external hard drive system.  Here's links to three of the solutions that I found via the article.

Mirra Personal Server - http://www.mirra.com/buy/index.html
$399.99 for 160 GB
At first perusal, this one seems to offer the most in the way of software features.

NetGear Storage Central - http://www.netgear.com/products/details/SC101.php
~$110
The upside is that it's expandable.  The downside is that IDE hard drives are sold separately.

LaCie Ethernet Disk mini - http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10594
$229-$599 for 250GB, 300GB, 400GB, or 500GB

While the Mirra solution looks pretty cool, the sheer affordability of the LaCie solution will probably win out for me.  Does anyone have any experience with Mirra or LaCie worth sharing?

For those who haven't heard already, I started a new job today with a company called MRM Worldwide.  I am going to be a Senior Software Developer.  (I can't wait to haze the Freshman Software Developers.)  I'll be telecommuting exclusively until I bring my new car back from Texas in December.  After that, I'll still work most of the time from home.  Exciting times as I enter a new chapter in my career...

Scheduled Distance: 3 miles
Actual Distance: 3 miles
Time: 33:20
Gmaps Route
RPE: 5

My best time yet for the short run.  I ran it pretty hard, and my left ankle only bothered me a little bit.  I was really crunched for time today, but made sure to get my run in early.

Scheduled Distance: 7 miles
Actual Distance: 7 miles
Time: 1:37:58
Gmaps Route
RPE: 5

The first mile started off rough.  My right shin was hurting in a different way than either leg had hurt before.  Once I got past the first mile and a half or so and I stretched again, my legs stopped bothering me.  I started out doing the steepest climb of the run, so I wouldn't have to do that at the end.  Since it's my longest run to date, I paced myself just to finish.  I still had plenty left by the time I finished, so I definitely could have hit a faster pace.  The problem is that the pain from the first mile lingers in my mind, and I worry about pushing myself too fast.  Ah well, I made it.

Scheduled Distance: 3 miles
Actual Distance: 3 miles
Time: 41:24
Gmaps Route
RPE: 1

Today started out great.  After the first two miles, I was on pace to have my best 3 miles yet.  Then, both shins started slowing me down.  After another half mile, I was reduced to walking, and even that hurt.  I managed to get back into a jog for the last quarter mile or so, but it was rough.  Notice the RPE is just 1 though.  Every other part of me was rarin' to go, so I was pretty disappointed.  I'm going to speculate some more on this later.  Expect an update on this post.

Scheduled Distance: 4 miles
Actual Distance: 4 miles
Time: 48:36
Gmaps Route
RPE: 5

I thought that I started out pretty slowly, so I was surprised I finished the whole distance so quickly.  My legs hurt for the first 2 miles or so, but didn't bother me the rest of the time, and I turned it up a notch.

I shaved my face on Sunday.  Jamie got a few shots of the progression for your viewing pleasure.

   

Scheduled Distance: 3 miles
Actual Distance: 3 miles
Time: 35:19
Gmaps Route
RPE: 4

I ran without my headphones today.  My book suggests it, and my right arm and shoulder were tense after the 6-mile run on Saturday.  I don't think I'll do that again, because I need something to fill in the gaps between things that my thoughts wander off towards.  Otherwise, I think too much about breathing or hurting or sweating.  Instead, I just need to find a portable audio device that I can strap to my arm.

Scheduled Distance: 6 miles
Actual Distance: 6 miles
Time: 1:20:00
Gmaps Route (3 mile route doubled)
RPE: 5

I kept it pretty slow to make sure that I would finish, and I stopped to stretch out my calves a couple of times.  Fortunately, my legs didn't hurt as badly as they did on Wednesday and Thursday.  After the 3 mile mark, I was in a pretty good rhythm, and my legs were feeling great, so hopefully my stretching has paid off.  So, I ran a total of 16 miles this week, and tonight's run was the longest run I've ever done.  At least until next week...