Great way to end January

I did two laps of the trail around the high school, past the pond on Linden Drive, and down Linden Drive tto home. Then I ran around the block in our neighborhood. It felt great, especially on the second lap. I did a surge up the hills on the trail, feelilng very strong. It was a total of 5.3 miles, 47 minutes.

Friday morning at 5:45 a.m., 30 minutes.

124.4 miles on new shoes.

Rough winter run

Tonight, in about 15-degree weather and a light snow, I ran 5.2 miles in Columbus. I ran from the school, .6 down the hill toward the golf course and back, then out to the White Way road and back. I did it in 45:42, so about 8:47 a mile. It was manageable. It was quite hilly and I hit the snow a few times. But I was OK. It gives me hope I can make 36 minutes for my 8K in 3 months.

Monday, 29 minutes. 16 minutes on the treadmill, then 13 minutes outside in the worst wind and blowing snow and icy cold you can imagine.

8.2 miles for these two runs.

116 miles on shoes.

Spirited run in IC

Today I ran for a half-hour on the Rec Building track. I warmed up at about 8:30ish pace, joined Will Harte and his son on the track for maybe two miles, at close to 8-minute pace, then scaled it back to 8:20s or so. It was great, my legs felt fine -- although a little tired after back to back runs. No knee pain, or very little. It was excellent.

3.7 miles. Miles on new shoes -- 107.7.

Good indoor run

I felt very strong tonight running at Wesleyan. I truly believe I was going about 8 minute pace, which means I probably cranked out 4 miles. I ran 32 minutes -- round and round. I turned counterclockwise, so my left hip was a little tired. But otherwise, it went great. No pain anywhere -- not even in my knee.

Miles on shoes -- 104

Good stretch

I have done well the last three runs. Today, I ran 30 minutes, albeit on the Wesleyan Indoor Track on this icy day. My pace is excellent -- probably just below 9 minute pace. And I had very little to no pain.

Tuesday, I ran 35 minutes outside around the high school path and through East Lake Park. Also an excellent pace -- probably 4 miles.

Sunday, I ran very well for 40 minutes. It was a longer run, probably 4.5 miles around the high school trail and then around the trail around East Lake. Longer trail run. I twinged the lower right calf in the last 5 minutes and just eased in. Happily, it hasn't caused any problems since then. I'm just watching it.

Running is coming quite easily -- and quite a part of my routine. I'm motivated to stay in shape -- I just go out and do it, even if I don't feel like it. That's part of it. The other part is that I want to coach the middle school girls' track team and I want to serve as a good role model for them.

Miles on shoes -- 100

Winter run

Last night, I did about 3.5 miles in a snowstorm. It was great, softly striding out on the newly fallen snow. I went around the high school on the trail (2.5 miles), then back up the trail to the high school and back. It was a relaxed pace -- a nice winter run.

Monday, I ran 15 minutes on the treadmill -- about 1.5 miles.

Miles for week -- 5

Miles on shoes -- 87

Hard run at Rec Building

We went to Iowa City to take Brooklyn home and went to the Recreation Building. I had planned to run 4.5 miles -- 40 minutes. I ended up starting with Terry Coleman, ex-City High girls' track coach and administrator at City High. He was running a fairly good pace, and I just kind of stuck with that. I times two miles -- one in 8:14 and the other in 8:13. I felt great. It might have been a little too fast on that track -- the foot and knee hurt, but they are recovering nicely today. The first 35 minutes had to have been 4.25 miles, then the last 5 minutes, I eased back to about 9-minute pace.

4.8 miles.

Miles for week -- 16

Total on shoes --82

Fieldhouse Track

I ran 30 minutes on the Fieldhouse track (1-10 mile) Thursday. I was doing 54-55 second laps in the outside lane, so I was running 9 minutes and and below for a mile. I like my steadiness and perseverance. My knee hurt a little, but then again, I ran back to back days.

3.4 miles.

Miles on new shoes -- 77