Everything's good

(Monday: run 4.05 miles)
Wednesday: run 4.05 miles
Thursday: run 5 miles
Saturday: run 4 miles
Sunday: run 12 miles

Total: 29.1 miles

Last week was the first week in a long time that I've run five days a week. The last time I did that was my peak week of marathon training. I'm trying to increase back to my five days a week, but it'll have to wait until I get back from England.

For now, all I can think about is packing, flying for 7 hours (yuck), and seeing all I can in the limited time I'm there. It's Mike's first time staying at a Four Seasons hotel and my second, so I'm pretty excited about that too.

Unexpected warmth

Thursday: run 4.05 miles
Friday and Saturday: rest. Suns win at home.
Sunday: run 11 miles. Pats win in Miami.
Monday: run 4.05 miles. Big Papi does not get MVP.

Yesterday was a fabulous day for running. Warm, sunny, and breezy. Mike joined me for an easy eleven along Broadway and Mass. Avenue. I never checked when the Pats were going to play on TV, so we missed most of the game. But I saw some of the last quarter and in this game that's what counted.

Today was another warm day and I had to go running outside and enjoy it. Tomorrow it's supposed to turn nasty and cold. My legs were a little tired from yesterday, but after five minutes they felt great. I picked up the pace and concentrated on pumping my arms. Usually I let them swing carelessly by my side, but today I made them work. I felt like I was running faster and it felt effortless. Hmmmm, something to consider in my future training.

Oh yeah, the Suns won their first home game this season. Woohoo!

Between fall and winter

Monday: rest
Tuesday: run 4.05 miles
Wednesday: run 5 miles

My legs are feeling a little tired from this weekend's efforts. It's not the distance, but the speed. I'm used to running 10-10:30's for my long run, but we ran a 9:30-10:00 pace.

Today is my favorite running weather. Overcast, breezy, and in the mid-40's. I can wear my running shirt and shorts with my favorite cotton (gasp!) long sleeve T-shirt. I feel cold for the first five minutes, but then I'm comfortable for the rest of the run. The temperature is just above the point where my legs sting from the cold.

I run through Belmont and up Belmont Hill. It's been a long time (pre-marathon as a matter of fact) since I've done this run. I manage to get up the mile long hill without too much trouble. I fly on the downhill and stretch my arms out and let my legs go. It's a great day to be a runner.

The streak continues

Friday: bike 7.01 miles
Saturday: run 5 miles
Sunday: run 9.7 miles

On Saturday, Mike and I head to Fresh Pond for the weekly race. Fresh Pond is a free race every Saturday no matter what the weather (although if it's a blizzard the guy might decide to not time past the first loop). You can run one or two loops for 2.5 miles or 5.0 miles. The top five men and women for each respective distance is listed in the sports section of the Sunday Boston Globe.

We arrive seconds before the race starts and there's quite a crowd. Our friends, Mitch and Betsy, are already there. I warn them I'm not in the mood to run fast, so they'll have to wait for me. If it's a good day, I figure to run about a 9:30 pace. Mike runs the first loop with me and I hear my split of 22:10. That's just under a 9 minute mile and it felt okay. Maybe I'll try to run a negative split. Second loop feels great; I'm just a tad bit tired with 0.5 miles left. Final time 38:21. My second loop is 56 seconds faster than the first. Woohoo!

I'm very pleased. First loop I averaged an 8:50 pace and the second loop I ran 8:30's. It's been a long time since I've run a sub-9 minute mile. Now if I could just sneak in a little speedwork.

And I forgot to mention, I did make it to the paper for 2nd place in the 5 miler. My streak continues.

Easy, breezy

I wasn't sure if I wanted to run during work or after work, so I complained to my co-worker that I didn't know what to do. She immediately replied, "it's sunny outside, so you have to go out and enjoy it."

It was sunny, a bit windy, and the perfect temperature. The sidewalk was littered with fall leaves. I was passed by two men riding hand-cranked bicycles (I don't really know what they're called), but I ended up passing them on the next hill. I ran by a couple of landscaping guys cleaning a yard. I was tempted to run through the leaves they piled in the middle of the sidewalk, but I decided against it. It wouldn't be very nice.

When I clocked back into work, I noticed it took me 41 minutes for my 4.05 mile journey. Hmmmm, that includes stretching and getting caught at a long stop light twice. My total running time must be around 38 minutes. And to think I couldn't decide if I wanted to run or not.

The first loss of the season

Monday: Bike 7.41 miles.
Tuesday: Bike 8.45 miles. Run 4 miles.

What is it that makes us so passionate about a sports team? I can't pinpoint the moment that I became a Phoenix Suns fan, but I've been loyal since I've declared them my team. I loved Charles Barkley, Thunder Dan, and KJ. I grudgingly accepted the end of each season (without a championship) and the changes it brought. I remember when Jason Kidd came to the Suns and was mesmerized by his speed and agility. And then we traded him for Marbury. That was tough. But I bought into Marbury's ability and in a flash he was gone. My team had sunk to the lowest depths in quite some time. We were buried in the bottom of the league.

But then last season happened and it was glorious. My team became #1 in the NBA. They were fascinating to watch--a blur of amazing passes, baskets, and dunks. Yes, I know we didn't have defense, but man was it fun to watch.

Now we only have a few players left from my magical team, but I'll still cheer for them. I miss Amare's presence, JJ's shooting, and Q's 3 pointers. But just as every other season has brought new players--and the glaring absence of others--I'll grow to love another Suns team.

And you know what? The commentators can spew that losing the home opener game is not a good sign for the Suns. They were the #1 team in the NBA last year and this is a new season with an almost entirely new roster. Yeah, so we gave up a 17 point lead and lost in double overtime to the Mavericks. But in my book, we almost beat the Mavericks with a team that's still trying to find it's rhythm. And that's not a bad place for my new team to be.