Scheduled Distance: 3 miles
Actual Distance: 3 miles
Time: 37:34
Gmaps Route
RPE: 5

After having done 4 miles yesterday, 3 miles was in no way daunting for me today.  However, I'm leaving the RPE up at 5 for two reasons: faster pace and hotter day.  I figure that my short days are the best days to add some bursts of speed every now and then and increase my overall pace.  Hopefully, by the end of October, I'll be comfortable running on my short days at a constant fast pace that I can only do in bursts now.  The reason heat was such a factor today was because of, um, well, my nipular region.  Yowch!  I'll try to avoid running in the afternoon on days this hot.  On a follow up note from last time, I think that taking longer strides does make it easier on my legs and harder on my cardiovascular and respiratory systems, which is a good thing, because my heart and lungs were getting off too easy.

This article from MSNBC tells us that Matsushita has developed a technology to turn every day electrical outlets into broadband connections.  This sounds like a great idea.  I've thought for a long time that the electrical outlets should send out a standard time beacon-type thing, so that whenever you plug in a clock or computer or oven or anything that plugs in and has a clock can set itself.  I'd be happy never to see a blinking 12:00 again.

Scheduled Distance: 4 miles
Actual Distance: 4 miles
Time: 53:28
Gmaps Route
RPE: 6

I decided to keep the watch on, not so much for obsessing about my pace now but so that I can hopefully see a trend towards improvement later on.  My left ankle is still a little tender, but hurt much less after I got through the first mile.  The Quit (TQ) was predominantly in my legs still, though my mind kept bringing up the longer distance.  I find that the second half of the run is always easier mentally.  I'm curious if my legs are really just the weakest link or if there's a way that I can displace some of the stress on my legs somehow, maybe by lengthening my stride or something.  Anybody have any ideas?

Scheduled Distance: 3 miles
Actual Distance: 3 miles
Time: 39:45
Gmaps Route
RPE: 5

I made the distance today.  It wasn't too bad, but I was a little disappointed in how long it took.  Not that it matters.  I'm training to do the distance not to do it in a certain time.  So, I may stop wearing a watch for awhile, so that I don't get distracted by that.  The Quit today was in my legs.  By "The Quit", I mean the element of my being that was trying to get me wuss out on the run.  I figure there are four elements where "The Quit" can come from: mental, heart, lungs, and legs.  I'm hoping that the legs were just still complaining about the hilly run on Saturday, but we'll see.  My left ankle is bothering me.  If it still hurts like this after Saturday, then I'm going to have to do some research on what to do there.

As I start to run longer distances, I eventually want to get the Garmin Forerunner 201, which has GPS in it, plus a whole bunch of other neat stuff that you can read about if you follow the link.  Until that purchase is made, I needed some way to measure out some routes, as I start running for distance tomorrow instead of time.  I did a little searching and found this little dandy that somebody did using Google Maps (http://www.sueandpaul.com/gmapPedometer/).  You can even permalink routes that you've built, so tomorrow, I'll be running this route.

UPDATE: The link has changed to http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/.

Scheduled Time: 30:00
Actual Time: 38:02 (some walking)
RPE: 7

Today started off great.  I headed down to Road Runner Sports in San Diego, so that I would have full confidence in someone helping me pick out some new running gear.  Jeff was supposed to meet me, but APPARENTLY being with his parents and future in-laws as they meet for the first time was more important.  And it's not like the groom really needs to be there to look at the church or potential reception venues.  Anywho, Jamie went with me, so I wasn't all by my lonesome.  The girl helping me took a look at my feet when standing still, then had me walk across the room and back.  She measured my feet and then went to the back to pull some shoes.  My right foot rolls in slightly, so she went with stability shoes.  I tried the first pair and like them.  The next two pair weren't as good as the first, so I tried the first pair on again to make sure, and I still liked them.  They are made by Brooks.  I'm not sure of the model.  The heel on my right foot slipped a little bit, and so she taught me a clever little way of lacing and tying my shoes that pulls the heel in.  I snagged some running socks and a CamelBak water dispenser thing that straps to my waist and has a long straw.  Pretty soon I'll be on long enough runs where I'm going to need some water along the way.  My helper also explained that the only differences between the Garmin Forerunner 201 and 301 was a heart rate monitor and the price, so when I get a GPS watch, I'll be going for the cheaper one.  Gear-buying mission accomplished!

Jamie and I are still in Fallbrook, and I knew I _had_ to run today since I missed day 7.  One problem: hills.  Her parents' neighborhood is very hilly compared to our flat Playa Vista.  On the way out, Don decided to join me for the run.  He's been running these hills for a long time, so it was a cake walk for him.  He started us off at a pretty brisk pace, which I foolishly matched.  Eventually, I slowed down a little, and he just started zig-zagging back and forth to stay back with me.  I actually made it further than I thought I would before walking.  At minute eighteen, ascending a particularly long hill, I broke my barely even jogging pace down to a walk.  I tried to keep my walk a fast one at least.  I walked to the top of the hill in 2:30 and then started running again.  I maintained a more measured pace, and was able to keep going to 38:02 total time.  The shoes were great.  Tomorrow, my legs will be sore.  But I learned a couple of important things: 1) When running up a hill, don't look at the top of the hill, because progress seems slow.  Instead look down.  2) Don't try to keep up with Don.

UPDATE: The shoes are Brooks Adrenaline GTS 6.

I ordered a new car today.  It's a Mini Cooper, and I bought it in Dallas.  Yes, that means that I'll have to fly out there and drive it back, but the California dealerships add thousands of dollars in dealer markup to their cars.  I'm attaching the PDF file of the configuration.  I won't get the car until December, but we've made it for more than 2 years without a second car, so what's a couple more months?

Scheduled Time: 30:00
Actual Time: 30:34
RPE: 4

Still feeling pretty good.  It's funny how the first couple of minutes of running my body and mind want to revolt.  I keep trying to procrastinate until I've been at it for about 5 minutes.  Then, I finally get in a rhythm and it's not such a big deal.

Scheduled Time: 30:00
Actual Time: 30:38
RPE: 4

No time to explain, just report.

Scheduled Time: 30:00
Actual Time: 37:58
RPE: 5

Unfettered by time constraints, I ran a little longer than necessary today, since Saturdays will soon become my long run days.  I'm happy that I successfully fit 4 runs in this week, because it was a busy week, and it's a good sign that I'll be able to keep it up for the next 17 weeks.  A very small blister is forming on my left big toe.  I'm really looking forward to getting some new running shoes and socks next weekend.

Scheduled Time: 30:00
Actual Time: 30:00
RPE: 3

A bunch of stuff came up yesterday, so I didn't get a chance to run.  I managed to squeeze it in this morning, and it went fairly smoothly.  After the long run on Monday, that dull ache stayed with me all through Tuesday, and I was worried that it was the beginnings of some sort of injury.  But after running for just 30 minutes on Wednesday, it didn't bother me at all yesterday, so I'll attribute that to soreness.  Tomorrow will be my first back-to-back pre-training days.

Jeff, now you can breathe again.

Scheduled Time: 30:00
Actual Time: 30:00
RPE: 4

Today was a little bit rougher, because Of time constraints.  I had to be in the office at MRM around 9-ish this morning, so I had to get up early, immediately eat a Balance bar and hydrate, let it settle while I stretched and read email, and then hit the trail.  The route and pace worked out perfectly, so that I finished up at my starting point at almost exactly 30 minutes.  Tomorrow is my first day to do back-to-back running, so I'm a little nervous.  At least tomorrow, I don't have to force it all in to a schedule.

Scheduled Time: 30:00
Actual Time: 45:54
RPE: 3

I'm feeling pretty good right now, because my run today was the longest I've ever run in my life (time-wise).  I could have kept going, but decided not to get too over-excited.  It's a relief, because my last run on Saturday, I pooped out before the 30 minutes was up.  I noticed that I had run a much faster pace than normal, and I just couldn't last.  Today, I concentrated on maintaining a slower pace, so that I could go the full 30 minutes.  Also, I read about running form in my book, and I had to pay attention to running more forward and less up-and-down.  Something else that may have contributed to the extended time was that I had a Balance bar about an hour before the run.  Normally, I eat one after the run, but I think I'm going to try this hour before thing for a while.  The RPE mentioned above is the rate of perceived exertion, where 0 is no exertion and 10 is maximal exertion.  My lungs had no problems with the run today; I only noticed my breathing once or twice.  My only physical complaint is my left leg.  There's kind of a dull ache somewhere in the lower portion; it's hard to pinpoint.  I'm hoping that this will be solved when I get new running shoes in two weeks when I visit Jeff and Road Runner Sports in San Diego.

Today I am officially starting my pre-training for a half-marathon.  Actually, I'm following the training for a full marathon (from this book), but my plan is to run the half-marathon in Carlsbad on January 15th with recently engaged Jeff Webdell.  Depending on how the whole process works out, I may then search out a marathon in which to attempt to murder myself.  I say pre-training, because the prerequisite for the book training program is that I be comfortable running for 2 weeks, 4 times a week for 30 minutes.  Now, I have been in pre-pre-training, during which time I have been running 3 times a week for 30 minutes or more.  I'm posting my training schedule here, and then I hope to report back on my progress as things move along.

Pre-training
9/12 - Run 30 minutes
9/14 - Run 30 minutes
9/15 - Run 30 minutes
9/17 - Run 30 minutes
9/19 - Run 30 minutes
9/21 - Run 30 minutes
9/22 - Run 30 minutes
9/24 - Run 30 minutes

Training
9/26 - 3 miles
9/28 - 4 miles
9/29 - 3 miles
10/1 - 5 miles
10/3 - 3 miles
10/5 - 4 miles
10/6 - 3 miles
10/8 - 6 miles
10/10 - 3 miles
10/12 - 4 miles
10/13 - 3 miles
10/15 - 7 miles
10/17 - 3 miles
10/19 - 5 miles
10/20 - 3 miles
10/22 - 8 miles
10/24 - 3 miles
10/26 - 5 miles
10/27 - 3 miles
10/29 - 10 miles
10/31 - 4 miles
11/2 - 5 miles
11/3 - 4 miles
11/5 - 11 miles
11/7 - 4 miles
11/9 - 6 miles
11/10 - 4 miles
11/12 - 12 miles
11/14 - 4 miles
11/16 - 6 miles
11/17 - 4 miles
11/19 - 14 miles
11/21 - 4 miles
11/23 - 7 miles (in Vegas)
11/24 - 4 miles
11/26 - 16 miles
11/28 - 5 miles
11/30 - 8 miles
12/1 - 5 miles
12/3 - 16 miles
12/5 - 5 miles
12/7 - 8 miles
12/8 - 5 miles
12/10 - 16 miles
12/12 - 5 miles
12/14 - 8 miles
12/15 - 5 miles
12/17 - 18 miles
12/19 - 5 miles
12/21 - 8 miles
12/22 - 5 miles
12/24 - 18 miles (Merry Christmas?)
12/26 - 5 miles
12/28 - 8 miles
12/29 - 5 miles
12/31 - 9 miles
1/2 - 3 miles
1/4 - 5 miles
1/5 - 3 miles
1/7 - 8 miles
1/9 - 3 miles
1/11 - 3 miles
1/13 - Walk 3 miles
1/15 - Run 13.1 miles at the San Diego Half Marathon

Jamie made it into IMDB!  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2003565/.