Lake Park Recovery

Distance: 2.96 mi.
Time: 22:2.3.
Pace: 7:35.

For today's extended cooldown run I found myself in my parents' subdivision for some miles that went by a little too quickly. The good news is I absolutely love my Karhus. Again, I want to see how many miles I get out of them before fully converting, but they are far more comfortable than any Nikes I've worn, and this particular model feels very light for a trainer. 

Rejuvenating Miles

Distance: 14.34 mi.
Time: 1:48:55.83 mi.
Pace: 7:36.

I did not feel the slightest bit motivated to go long today, but changing the mindset was exactly the goal as I slapped on the Karhus. I wanted something to get my mind back in the mood to run. My achilles has been feeling remarkably better of late, but I've also experienced a good bit of tightness in the left hamstring-glute-groin areas. Some icing, stretching, massaging, and hydrating has helped but this was a bit of a tough run to get through.

I met Adrienne nearly four miles in at Freedom Park, and running with her for six miles made this one go by significantly faster. We toured through the neighborhoods, making a point to stay on the side streets and take in the scenery. I bid her adieu back at the park and set off down the greenway for the rest of my run. Despite some serious tightness earlier on, I rebounded and felt better near the end. I would love to heal the ailments, but I clearly haven't lost much in the way of fitness.

I didn't know it at the time, but this would be the last time I set out my door to run from Eastover. It was a good way to end four years of running from this neighborhood, the final 18 months of which have been significantly more purposeful.

Matthews Double

Distance: 6.76 mi.
Time: 49:39.59.
Pace: 7:21.

After a total of three hours in the car, I was more than ready for run number two. I had planned to help my sister's hubby move some stuff, so I was stationed at my parents' house in Lake Park waiting for his call. When the call came that he was going to be an hour late, I decided to head over to downtown Matthews to get in some more miles.

I enjoyed a pleasant stroll down the Four Mile Creek Greenway that cuts a swath through downtown/suburban  Matthews, all the while enjoying my Karhus. It's honestly hard to run slow in these things; I'm going to have to work on that.

Truth be told, I was pretty beat up when I got down. My groin and glutes were so tight that I wanted to stop and walk, or perhaps beg my girlfriend for a massage. Instead I downed a protein shake and spent the next three hours lifting heavy furniture. That helps, right?

Karhu Test Run

Distance: 2.14 mi.
Time: 15:25.9.
Pace: 7:13.

Yesterday, I finally found my size and a reasonable price for a pair of shoes I've been lusting after since last June: the bright green Karhu Fast Ride. This forward-moving, stylish, lightweight trainer will be my introduction to the Karhu family. While Nikes have never really let me down, I have always felt there was something better out there for me. The true verdict will be read when these bad boys kick the bucket and the odometer is read, but I have high hopes based on the reviews. I like the fact that Karhu has been around awhile (since 1916) and hails from a nation (Finland) with a long tradition of distance running success (Paavo Nurmi, Lasse Viren, et al.).

I enjoyed the test run today. The shoes felt odd at first but quickly grew comfortable. They have a fulcrum built into the midsole that encourages - almost forces, really - a midfoot or toe strike. I think this could be a tough adjustment for someone seeking a stride change; I believe one should work to improve mechanics instead of relying on a shoe. I have been doing exactly that for awhile now, so these feel pretty natural.

My first pair of Karhus. Is this what first-time parents feel like?

Did I Learn How to Pace?

Distance: 5.61 mi
Time: 00:41:58 - 7:29 ppm
Running Buddy

Don't ask me how this happened, but I ran the same time - 7:28 - for three of my five-plus miles today. The proof is right there in the Running Buddy link. Surely, this must be an accident, right? Or did someone who is horrible at pacing himself finally learn how to do it? Considering I'm starting to figure out how to use the Garmin, this could be a breakthrough...but let's not get too excited until it starts happening on a regular basis.

On a side note, I did some shoe shopping today - again - and found what I want: the Karhu Fast 2. These bad boys are light, they're comfortable - and they look sick!! The only problem is they're not cheap, and my size (13) is hard to find because it's not a popular shoe. I may hold off and whip 'em out when marathon training starts.