Runch Break

Distance: 3.05 mi.
Time: 22:26.60.
Pace: 7:22.

I had to do some work from home before today's runner's lunch aka "runch," the group that meets at the Burger Company every Friday. I rolled up to one of my accounts to pick something up and then ran from there. Mike Kahn needed a ride to the runch so I ended up cutting my run short. Running through the Southpark area made me feel grateful for the areas in which I normally run. Wide, safe neighborhood streets are nothing to take for granted. This was not an enjoyable run. I really enjoyed the runch, however. We had a lively group today. I was also able to pick Mike's brain on the ride over about web design, networking, and computer logistics. You can find Mike's web design resources here.

I have also been talked into pacing Brinkley for tomorrow's 10-mile race. I have improved but I'm not on Dave's level right now, so this is going to be a pretty hard effort for me. I better start hydrating...

CRC Help

Distance: 13.21 mi.
Time: 1:37:44 - 7:24 ppm.

I had tentative plans to meet Eggers and Brinkley at 8:00 at Old Bell. The possibility of a missed connection was detailed the night before, so I wasn't that surprised when I got to the lot and neither of them were there. I was glad I was there, though. I wanted to get this thing out of the way. My plan was to run up the road and try to find the CRC group of Aaron, Megan, Jason, and Kahn. I had a long-sleeve dry-fit on top of a short-sleeve dry-fit with my longer running shorts and a hat. I honestly felt fine except for my hands: I hadn't been able to locate my running gloves, a problem that will need to be rectified sooner rather than later. I took off down the greenway and hadn't yet made it to the park when I found Megan Hovis and Jason Martin. It felt like a reunion: I really enjoyed running with them over the summer, and it had been awhile.

Megan told me later that she barely recognized me at first on account of how much weight I had lost. Truth be told, it's a lot. I weighed 218 in March, before I had recovered from my injury; I weighed 205 this summer, even when I was training hard; today, before my run I weighed 187. I don't think I have weighed under 190 since right after college. This is an accomplishment. Body fat, not weight, is the important thing for health reasons, but when it comes to moving fast, I need to be light! Kahn said something about my weight earlier, as well: "I can tell even with layers on that you've lost a lot of weight. Your face is still ugly, but thinner, ya know?" Love that guy.

At various parts of this run, I found myself with Jason and Megan; Jason, Megan, Ben, and Compton; Aaron and the Matenas plus the rest and Mike Mitchell; and towards the end, just Mitchell and Compton. I greatly enjoyed the conversation and the faster pace. It's a good group. I ran my last mile - solo - in 6:45.

CRC "party run"

3.93 mi in 00:30:16 - 7:42 ppm

I decided to show up for one of the Charlotte Running Club's planned "fun runs," this one being at Freedom Park and including some sponsorship from EarthFare and LuluLemon. About 30 people showed up, including Stan and Jinnie Austin, John Fillette, Eric and Jessica Bilbrey, Thomas, Kahn, Jaskot, and others I didn't know. We just ran a four-mile loop from the park entrance through the surrounding neighborhoods.

I felt odd. I think the pinched nerve really affected me more than I've let on and will be something to continue monitoring even though it feels a lot better today.

First Miners' Run

5.97 mi in 00:45:17 - 7:35 ppm

Well, I finally showed up for a "Miners' Run," named for the fact that everyone is supposed to wear a headlamp so they can see in the dark. I um..don't have a headlamp, but figured others would, and it usually gets light before 6 this time of year, anyway.

I was the first to arrive at Old Bell. I stood next to my car and watched curiously as a car sped past the turn on Sardis, hit the brakes, threw it in reverse, and barreled towards me backwards before stopping right in front of the gate...then pulling up and rapidly parallel-parking right behind me. Mike Kahn got out and exclaimed, "See man, I can do this valet stuff, too! Just hire me now!" We were shortly joined by Stan Austin, Alex, Megan Hovis (sans Ben), and a guy named Matt from Boston.

Between the early hours and some stomach issues (yes, again) I didn't feel all that great this morning. We met Jamaar at the park and I turned back, followed by Kahn, who was worried about being late for work. I truly felt all right but I ate a big July 4th dinner a little later than I normally would eat and that doesn't work when you have to run at 5:30 a.m. It was a fun group and I must say it's nice to have the run done with before 6:30 in the morning.

Longest Run of the Season

Distance: 14.14 mi
Time: 01:43:25 - 7:18 ppm
Running Buddy

Two weeks ago I hit 14, for a season-long, and last week I went back down to just over 10, so I wanted to hit 14 or more today. I would have been okay with doing at least 12, but I told myself I'd keep going if I felt all right. The CRC group options for the day were either 6:30 a.m. at Providence Day or 7:00 a.m. at Old Bell (with the same group). I almost made the 6:30 option. I wanted to be able to run the first few miles with them so as not to have to join in when they were already doing sub-7:20 pace. Alas, 7:00 it was.

The group was huge today. Caitlin, Paul, Alex, Jason Martin, Beigay, and a couple more joined us at Old Bell after starting at PDS. Waiting with me at Old Bell were Aaron, Kahn, Boriana, Caleb, Compton, Alana Hadley, both Fillnows - I can't remember everyone. The Hovises met us later down the greenway. I love it when Kahn shows up because he's freakin' hilarious, and this was the first time I got to run with El Presidente, Senor Linz.

After we made it to the park, Paul and Alex took off for a tempo run. We came back through "lower Boyce," as they call it, where I badly turned my left ankle on the trail. Sprained ankles never heal, so it's a recurring issue for me - the left one, especially - not a big deal but it means I'm in for a not-so-fun week. We went back to Old Bell to pick up Meagan Nedlo - who wasn't there - and Boriana called it a day.

I'm still a little weird about running in large groups, so I normally end up setting the pace. It was Caitlin, Jason, and I up front for most of it and we kept it under 7:10 for a good portion. The funny thing about group long runs is how people just drop off and go home one-by-one. You'll be talking to someone, and then all of a sudden they're gone - out of your life again. Very strange. I ran with Caitlin and Jason almost all the way back to Sardis before turning around and heading back to my car all by my lonesome. I got in just over 14 for the day, making this my longest run of the season so far by a hair. I ran a faster pace and felt much better than I did a couple weeks ago, when we ran through Matthews for 14. The slightly cooler weather definitely helped.

Touring Matthews

Distance: 14.00 mi
Time: 01:44:44 - 7:28 ppm
Running Buddy

I woke up at 5:30 this morning, unsure if I wanted to try a workout or join the CRC group of Paul and a few others for a long run...and it's this lack of organization that beckons a structured training plan in my life. I've been working on it through Athleticore, and researching some more ideas for workouts, but for right now I just need to get the discipline I'm displaying on weekends to carry over to the week.

I knew I'd end up joining the group after going back to sleep for a while, and I made it to the Sardis lot just before 7 a.m. Soon, I was joined by Ben Hovis, Paul, Jay Holder, Billy Shue, Mike Kahn - whom I met for the first time - and two other guys. I was wearing the Saucony trail shoes, so I was a little surprised when Hovis led the group up Sardis Road, away from the greenway. Billy and Paul later told me we'd be running through Matthews for a bit as a break from the park. Fair enough, but I had a feeling I'd be buying a second new pair of shoes after this run (and I was right).

Hovis looped us through downtown Matthews and eventually to a greenway just off Trade Street, where we all promptly got lost. The pace stayed conversational, though it did dip down below 7:10 for at least one mile after starting off easy. Our group wandered down the greenway and ended up right near the Matthews exit of I-485 - a little off the beaten path, for sure - before heading back into the town. I started to feel a bit rough about 10 miles into this. This pace is quicker than I used to do for long runs, sure, but it didn't bother me at all last week or the week before. I attribute it to poor nutrition for most of this week.

I stopped to re-lace my shoes as they were most definitely bothering me, being on the roads and all, but I caught back up to the group when they stopped to find water at a church. I led the way down Fullwood and back to 51 before slowing down for good. I was nearing that "barrier point" where I was about to reach recently-uncharted territory as far as distance is concerned. I definitely hit a major wall before mile 12, but I was pleasantly surprised to look at the watch afterward and find that I still kept those last 2 miles under 8-minute pace, despite the pain.

I was soon joined at the park by Jay and Kahn, and we sang Happy Birthday to Kahn's son rather enthusiastically. I have to say this run hurt but as I write this I have since done yard work, chased my niece around the yard a good bit, gone out and bought some new shoes, and grilled steaks and chicken for the whole family (sis goes back home tomorrow). So clearly, I recovered just fine. Hopefully I'll finally do what I've been saying I need to do for weeks - starting eating clean again. Either way, it's nice to once again up the distance barrier by a few miles. I'm really hoping the recent long runs will do wonders for me, especially since I've taken a two-week break from any kind of speed work.

It all gets going again this week.