More Muddy Miles! Week of 1-19 to 1-25

No snow, some ice, but mostly mud this winter thus far.  Two weeks to the Super 5k, and I'm getting some good runs in: some roads, lots of trails, and everything at a seemingly faster pace.  I think I'm in good shape for the race, and as it's an out-and-back that I know very well, I'll be shooting for a 10-minute midway.  It's very slightly ascending for the first half, and descending the second half, so if I make the split at 10, I've pretty much got the sub-20 5k I've been looking to snag...we'll see!

Monday, 1-19 - 9.6 Miles (Trail/Road/Beach) - 8 Mile group run with some of the crew, and a dog jog with Henry later.  Run #1:  Met at Jeff's place for a run planned by Mike B., which included a cruise to Watch Hill, then a high-tide beach run back to Misquamicut.  I was suckin' wind on this run.  Partly because my legs were fatigued from the run the day before, and partly because the group's "conversational pace" is just a bit slower than my race pace...so I gasped out answers to questions when I could, and wasn't quite as chatty as I'd normally be.  Fun, but I was working hard (especially on the beach!) and was thankful for the short break after the beach where Shara snapped this picture:

Don't slip!

In the afternoon, I took Henry out for a jog and played around with the GoPro, but didn't like the footage I got.  He had fun though!  Needs to be a more epic run to translate well in video...

Tuesday, 1-20 - 4 Miles (Road) - Watch Hill cruisin'.  Dropped the dog off at the groomers and had some time to kill, so I hit Watch Hill and meandered around.  Chilly, but a bright sunny day, and lots of cool sights to see!

Watch Hill lighthouse

Napatree Point!

Henry!

(Added another nearly 2 miles on sloppy Wheeler XC trails, along with a few parking lot pickups, while I waited for my daughter's basketball practice to finish.  Thought I had more time, apparently not!  Got home to find this in the mail:

Following the lead of some of my fast friends, I'm gonna check this book out...)

Wednesday, 1-21 - 0 Miles - Planned 0, and got a bunch of things done 'round the house, along with work in the a.m.  Needed a day off anyway to let some soreness/fatigue subside.  Started reading the book, and the good doctor stresses rest time as a crucial component of training...agreed, and noted, and way too easy to forget.  Funny, I also recognize myself as one of those without natural ability, but with an inherent desire to perform well, so I suppose that's a good thing?

Thursday, 1-22 - 4 Miles (Road) - Watch Hill again!  My last three runs have been in Watch Hill...gorgeous place, and I notice something different every time I'm there.  For example, local running friends, has anyone noticed the disturbing as Hell bunker built into the hill in the backyard of one of the houses on Yosemite Valley Road, with the green cast-iron doors, barred windows, and a deathcamp-style industrial sized exhaust vent?  It's creepy, awesome, and I need to get a picture of it...there's also just so many cool architectural features in Watch Hill, and the Ocean to run along.  Great place.  I also managed a peppy segment attempt on the Taylor Swift segment and got it!  33 seconds from the carousel to the corner in front of her driveway.  Not bad!

Friday, 1-23 - 0 Miles - Visit to the Doc to have the knee checked out, and I'll likely be going for a visit to a specialist and getting an MRI in the near future.  Still doesn't hurt when I'm running, so the Doc said I can continue to run until we know what the deal is.

Saturday, 1-24 - 0 Miles - Chillin' with the family.

Sunday, 1-25 - 3 Miles (Trail) - Local trails with Henry.  Crunchy, snow covered trails, mid-late afternoon and perfect...

Crunchy winter trail run...

Hetchel Swamp/Pendleton streams converge

Sun getting low...

Let's go!