No Excuses

The plan was to wake up at 3:30 AM and relax for a couple of hours then go for a 13 – 15 mile run at 5:30 AM. When my eyes opened this morning, I looked at the clock. It showed 5:37 AM. DOH!

Hmm, what to do – that’s a no brainer – bag the run. The decision was made even easier because my quads felt a little tired. I started do computer stuff. My guardian angel kept reminding me that I only get 1,360 on days when I sit on my behind all day. This is less of an issue when I am at work but spending the day at home makes things more difficult.

Around 7:30 I finally decided it would be in my best interest to go for a run. It was already stated to warm up outside so I decided to run modified-Emil style (all concrete but no benches). The sidewalks had the most shade and the lawns still were giving off some coolness. Not counting the stupid high school baseball field near the sidewalk near the end of my run – that felt like running in a steam bath (Andrea style)!

The first few miles were on my normal route but I wanted to try something new. I decided to run to Philadelphia. No, not PA to visit Sam but to E. Philadelphia St. To get there, I just needed to continue north about 0.5 miles. I made a right turn and Philadelphia and planned on going 2 miles east then make a right turn on Milliken. Milliken/Hamner is the life force draining street that I run near the end of most of my long runs. Normally, I run north 1.2 miles on the incline then make a left turn to head home. Today, I was almost 2 miles north so I would attack it from the north and run the decline – yeah!!!

After 1.75 miles on Philadelphia I was glad I only had about 0.25 miles until the base leg (pilot jargon). As I was getting ready to make my approach I looked up and realized I was in what I though was box canyon (more pilot jargon). I was heading toward a mountain. Actually, I think was the closed landfill. WTF! what’s that doing here? Where am I? I got closer and had to decide whether to turn left or right.

The blue arrow is how I thought the street went

I thought for a few seconds. I was heading east but now I needed to turn north or south when I knew I was still 0.25 west of where I needed to be. I chose right – E. Mission Blvd. Crap this is a fast moving street and there were 3 foot drops where the sidewalks should be. Looks like they are in the middle of construction. I made good use of my white line skills (no not the ‘80s stuff – I was never into that). I frequently have an out and back 0.25 dangerous stretch where I have to stay on the white line or get hit by a car (on the left) or tangle with dirt/gravel (on the right)! Anyhow, I lucked out. Sunday morning no traffic – only 1 or 2 cars passed me. I ran a short distance and found Milliken – hurray I’m saved.

I made a right turn onto the 0.5 mile base leg. Then a right turn for a 1.5 mile final.

Done - I get an extra 1,200 calories today! An added benefit is that with the getting ready, running, and shower, I was away from food for 2 hours.

I ran over 45 miles this week. I can't remember the last time I did that!

10.04 @ 9:29 1:35:22 HR 125.1 bpm  CAD 174.2 spm Avg. Strd. Len. 0.97 m GCT 232.9 ms Vert Osc 7.1 cm TE 3.2 Cal 1216 79.4 F 8/17/2014 7:36:47 AM

1 - 9:26 HR 106.2 CAD 86.6 Avg Vert Osc 7.5 Avg GCT 267.5 Avg Strd Len 0.98

2 - 9:32 HR 112.7 CAD 87.0 Avg Vert Osc 7.2 Avg GCT 245.8 Avg Strd Len 0.97

3 - 9:30 HR 121.4 CAD 87.0 Avg Vert Osc 7.2 Avg GCT 240.7 Avg Strd Len 0.97

4 - 9:46 HR 122.7 CAD 87.0 Avg Vert Osc 7.1 Avg GCT 231.0 Avg Strd Len 0.95

5 - 9:41 HR 126.7 CAD 87.1 Avg Vert Osc 7.0 Avg GCT 219.6 Avg Strd Len 0.95

6 - 9:20 HR 131.6 CAD 87.3 Avg Vert Osc 7.2 Avg GCT 226.8 Avg Strd Len 0.99

7 - 9:33 HR 130.8 CAD 87.0 Avg Vert Osc 7.1 Avg GCT 222.8 Avg Strd Len 0.97

8 - 9:31 HR 129.8 CAD 86.7 Avg Vert Osc 7.0 Avg GCT 222.9 Avg Strd Len 0.97

9 - 9:17 HR 132.6 CAD 87.6 Avg Vert Osc 7.1 Avg GCT 220.5 Avg Strd Len 0.99

10 - 9:16 HR 136.7 CAD 87.7 Avg Vert Osc 6.9 Avg GCT 224.2 Avg Strd Len 0.99

0.04 - 0:23 HR 140.0 CAD 87.1 Avg Vert Osc 6.8 Avg GCT 234.8 Avg Strd Len 0.99 pace 9:19