Waiting and Wading

Last night, I was hoping to head home after work and get in a quick 5 mile run in order to beat the forecasted humidity in the morning... but I had to wait. Being a technical director in tv that I am, you sometimes have to stay late into the night during the summer months when severe weather is prone to happen. Last night was one of those nights. Severe weather was whipping through the area and I had to stay late to help put the severe weather alerts on the air. I was finally able to leave the station and head home at around midnight, but by that time, I was pretty much worn out from the days events. So I decided to wait until morning, even if that meant running in a steam bath. When I got up this morning, I was pleasantly surprised to see (and to feel) that the humidity and heat that was predicted yesterday was no where to be found. It was actually overcast and cool... my favorite. With that, I strapped on my running shoes and headed outside to get in my run. But... again I had to wait. As soon as I stepped outside, the skies darkened up pretty quickly and got somewhat ominous looking. I headed back inside to wait a couple minutes to see what would transpire, and almost immediately the clouds started gushing water from the heavens... tick tock, tick tock... more waiting. Finally, at around 10am this morning, the rain let up and the thunder stopped booming to where I felt it was safe enough to try and get in my run. When I stepped outside for a second time, I was still pleasantly surprised that the humidity still was not there. It was still very cool and overcast and there was actually a light, refreshing rain falling. No more waiting... It was time to go. My opening miles were quite enjoyable. It had been so long since I had started out a run in a nice, relaxing rain and the pure enjoyment of running in the morning mist made me click off the first three miles at 7:35, 7:24 and 7:15. A little over a minute into my fourth mile, I was running on the Capitol City Bike Path when I encountered a huge section of standing water that had pooled from last nights rain storm. It was at least ankle deep if not higher. If you remember, this is the same area that I had written about in my June 9th post, where I decided to batten down the hatches and plow right through it, leaving my shoes and socks totally soaked and squishing for my remaining miles. Once again, I was waiting... this time to decide what to do. I really didn't feel like doubling back because I've always hated running the same route that I just came from. Plus the traffic was fairly busy from whence I just came. Plowing through the water wasn't much of an option either. It was fun, almost exhilirating, to do that on the June the 9th, but I still had three miles to go, and the thought of running those final miles with soaked shoes was far less appealing than it was a month ago. So... instead of wating, I waded. I just decided to stop, smell the proverbial roses, and take off my shoes and socks to wade through the waterhole of a bike path... and you know what... I really loved it. By that time the light rain had ceased and the cool rainwater that was lapping up again my feet and ankles felt equally as refreshing as the rain shower I had been running in. It was really heavenly. Once I crossed through and got to dry land, I just sat down in the middle of the bike path, put on my socks and shoes, and continued on my way. Sometimes when you stop for several minutes during a run as I did this morning, it's sometimes hard to get that pace and rhythm you were running with earlier back. That was not the case today. In fact, it had the reverse effect. I actually picked up the pace and ran faster. My last three mile splits were 7:25, 7:07 and 7:04. It's amazing what a little walk through the water can do to lift your spirits. Maybe that's something we all need to keep in mind in our every day life. I don't mean just the act of walking through a cool puddle of water. I'm talking about just taking some time to enjoy the simple things this world has to offer... life's little pleasures. I truly believe that the world as a whole forgets to do that. Everybody gets so caught up in keeping their schedules and appointments, sending text messages and making calls on their cell phones that they forget to enjoy those special little moments in life. It really can make a world of difference to just stop and smell the roses once in awhile... it did the trick for me.

Today's workout: 6.2 miles > 45:34 > 7:18 pace

Miles this week: 23.4

Cool, But Sluggish

This morning I finally got what I wished for... a nice, cool morning to go for a run around the lake. That last couple of days that I've run have been real steam baths, so today was a nice reprieve from that. The run started out pretty good. For the first six miles, I was running at or near 7:30 pace. By the the time I got to the Yahara River Parkway on Madison's eastside, I was feeling a little tired and sluggish. I stopped at the park to get a drink of water and stretch out a bit and then continued on my way. By the time I got near the eight mile mark, my left foot/ankle started to hurt a bit, almost like if I had twisted it. The pain would come and go, but it was something I was able to run through, even though it caused me to slow down just a tad at times. I did finish up with a good final mile, though, by running it at 7:30. After the run, the foot didn't seem to be bothering me all that much, but it has been a little achy since then, just walking around. The aches and pains you accrue sometimes running long distances... ah, I tell ya...

Today's workout: 11.1 miles > 1:25:38 > 7:43 pace

Miles this week: 17.2

Another Humid One

After taking a day off yesterday, I was back out on the road this morning to get in my first miles of the week. Like Sunday's run, this morning was pretty humid but that was offset a bit by the overcast skies and a nice breeze. I was originally only going to do a 5 miler but was feeling pretty good so Ithought I would throw in an extra mile and go six. I was very pleased with my pacing today considering how warm it was. For the 6 miles, I ended up averaging 7:29 per mile. Starting tomorrow, the humidity is supposed to ease up for a couple days and get a little cooler, so I am hoping to get in a good run around the lake in the morning.

Today's workout: 6.1 miles > 45:36 > 7:29 pace

Miles this week: 6.1

A Sultry Night

This afternoon, I headed back to Madison from my parents farm in Coon Valley, and since I was a little too tired to run this morning, I thought I would head out for a late night run. For nighttime, though, it wasn't the typical cool weather that I have been getting accustomed to the last few weeks. It was actually very warm and muggy out and I actually couldn't wait for the run to be over. Tonight, it was almost hard to breath because of the thickness and heaviness of the muggy nighttime air. Even though it was far from ideal running weather, it didn't deter me one iota from wanting to run at night. I know it was more of an abberation than anything else. I'm sure there will be more than enough cool nights to come in the weeks and months ahead.

Today's workout: 4.1 miles > 31:58 > 7:44 pace

Miles this week: 28.6

The Jaeger Boys Take a Couple Medals at Chileda

This morning, me and my family got up early to head to La Crosse to run in the annual La Crosse Chileda Classic. I believe this was the 28th or 29th year it has been going on. It's gotten to be a pretty big event over the years and the race is always followed up by a nice breakfast in the park along the Mississippi River. In past years, it has usually been pretty warm and humid for the race, but this morning it was pretty ideal out. It was mostly sunny and cool out and a little breezy. I was excited about running this morning because I was going to get to race with my brother Pete, which I hadn't done in awhile, and I also felt like I had a good shot at breaking the 40 minute barrier for the 10K, which I had never done before. The gun sounded at 7:30am and the lead pack went out at a typical quick pace. Pete and I settled into a nice pace fairly quickly and we hit the first mile at about 6:11. The next mile slowed a bit but it was still a solid mile at 6:20. The third mile was a little tougher because we were running into a fairly strong breeze which made the pace slow down just a tad. We still hit the 3 mile mark at 6:27, and that would end up being our slowest mile. Mile 4 was lot nicer because we were able to get out of the wind a bit, and the streets we were running on were fairly shaded. We hit the 4 mile mark with a 6:20 split. Around 4.5 miles I started to tire a bit and Pete surged ahead a tad, but not my too much. He was always within shouting distance and kept encouraging me by saying that I was right on pace to crack 40 minutes. Despite feeling a tad spent, I still hit the 5 mile mark with another 6:20 mile. The end was now in sight and all I had to do was run with a little guts and I would get my mark. The early part of the 6th mile was a little slow, but almost halfway through it, I got a little strength back and was able to pick up my pace again. I was never able close the gap with my brother, but that's ok, because when I rounded the final corner and could see the finish line, I knew I had done what I set out to do. I crossed the finish line in 39:09, averaging 6:18 pace, and was extremely proud of myself. I had run a very smart race, and having my brother there to pace me and work off of, really helped me a lot. Pete finished the race in 38:55, just 14 seconds ahead of me. That is the closest I've ever gotten to him in a race so that was a good feeling too. Granted, he isn't in his usual super fit mode, but that just shows you how talented he is to be able to average 6:16 per mile over 6 miles when he hasn't been running a ton of mileage. I think it's kind of funny to think that one of his slower times is my best. That's ok, though... I'd be happy to run that anyday. Our times were good enough to place us 23rd and 26th respectively out of 279 runners and we also were able to win 2nd and 3rd place medals in our age group. Pete's wife Dannie also ran the 10k and she placed 171st overall and 8th in her age group with a time of 53:26. Our dad did the 5k and finished 550th out off 774 with a time of 35:44. Dad just missed getting a medal in his age group by placing 4th. We all ran great races and it made the pancakes and sausage taste even better afterwards. The morning was topped by watching the kids race in which Pete and Dannie's kids to part of. I had a lot of fun watching them and cheering them on. Actually, it really was fun watching all the kids run... they really ran their hearts out and tried their best, and that is what we should all aspire to do.

Warm up before race: 1 mile > 8:11

Today's race: 10K > 39:09 > 6:18 pace

Miles this week: 24.5

Another Cool Night

Because I was heading out sometime this morning to my parents for the weekend and it was such a perfectly cool night, I decided to go for a little 3 mile run when I got home from work last night. I tell ya, I am really getting used to this nighttime running... you really can't beat it, especially when there have been some fairly warm mornings this week. There is always a small part of me that really doesn't want to run at night but that is only because I just finished work, am a little tired and drained, and just want to take it easy and go to bed. However, once I will myself to lace up my shoes and I step outside into that cool, nighttime air, all that hesitation goes away and I generally always have a great run and feel re-energized. That is the way it was last night. The nighttime air totally reinvigorated me and the 3 miles I did just seemed to fly by. My legs felt very fresh and I even did the last mile at 6:49 pace. That's always a good feeling. Hopefully that is a good sign and means I'm ready for Saturday's 10k race in La Crosse. We will see.

Last night's workout: 3.1 miles > 21:56 > 7:17 pace

Miles this week: 17.3 miles

Back to Running Around the Lake

Last night when I got home from work, it was close to 11:30pm but I was still seriously thinking about going out for another nighttime lake run. It was so peaceful and cool out and I know I would have gotten in a good quality run. I was fairly tired though and I just wanted to sit back, relax and doze off while watching tv. After getting up early this morning to get in my first long run since the marathon, I really wished I would have gone last night. It was just way too warm for my taste to run 11 miles. But... I did it anyway. The run started off pretty good, with me running some fairly consistent splits near 7:30 pace for the first 5 miles. But after stopping at the Monona Terrace to get a drink of water and to strip off my soaked running shirt, the last 6 miles seemed like it would take an eternity to finish. I was still running under 8 minute pace but I just felt so sluggish... like I was carrying a piano on my back at times. I grinded out my remaining miles and actually did the 11 at 7:44 pace, which is pretty good considering how warm it was out. At least there was a somewhat cool breeze at times to give me a little relief. I learned my lesson, though... the next time I get home from work and it's a nice night out, I just might be cruising around the lake... especially during the summer months.

Today's workout: 11.1 miles > 1:26:12 > 7:44 pace

Miles this week: 14.2