Cool Runnings!

Yes!  Early morning run!  It was absolutely gorgeous out this morning, probably about 70 degrees with the sun just barely starting to light up the horizon when I left.  It was actually very nice to have a little bit of light to allow me to better see where I was running.  It was also nice that there were quite a few people on the canal bank running, even though I wasn't running with them.  I started off very easy, around 9:00 pace, to warm up my muscles, and slowly picked it up.  Once I warmed up, the pace progressed to sub-8:00 pace, and felt very good.  First mile was 8:00 on the nose.  Second mile was mostly on the canal bank (packed dirt) and ended up being 7:37.  This mile felt a little more difficult, but overall very good.  Third mile was also mostly on the canal bank, and I unintentionally picked up the pace even a little more - third mile was 7:27.  Once I hit the 3 mile split, I consiously slowed down a bit to get in control and slow down my breathing, which wasn't really bad, but was a little bit labored.  The fourth mile ended up being 8:01.  Average pace for the run was 7:46/mile.

On a side note, I have decided to start drinking a couple of slimfast (generic) shakes in the morning - one when I leave for work, and another a couple hours later.  I am hoping this will help me to eat healthier in the morning while getting enough calories to keep me going, and allow me to drop the extra weight that I have been carrying.  I REALLY want to get back down to about 170 and stay there.

AM - easy four miles this morning.  I made an effort to keep the pace slower today to take it easy.  It was still nice this morning, but not quite as cool as it was yesterday.  However, much preferable to running in the evening.  Hopefully I can keep it up.  Average pace of 8:20/mile.

After taking yesterday off, I went running again this morning.  I am unfortunately not going to be able to do the free RRS 5K this evening - it is our ward temple night, which takes a higher priority than a free 5K.  The run this morning felt pretty good.  I got out the door and was expecting to start off nice and easy again, around 9:00/mile pace, and was a bit surprised to look at the Garmin at the 1/4 mile mark and see that I was close the 8:00/mile.  Oops - slowed down a bit to give my legs a chance to warm up.  First mile in 8:20, that's better.  Hit the canal bank and went south instead of north this time.  Second mile ended up being 8:05, still felt very good.  Third mile back along the canal bank and a small bit on the sidewalk.  Third mile I found out after the run was 7:51.  Last mile I was trying to keep it steady and nice and easy, then with 1/4 mile to go, I picked up the pace significantly.  Last mile was 7:34.

PM - ran with the boys today.  It was still kind of hot, but I ran with Sam on his bike so he could fulfill one of his Cub Scout requirements, and then ran with Joey, and took Adam on his scooter for a cooldown.  It was too easy for Sam riding his bike with me running alongside him, and I had to keep asking him to slow down.  Go figure . . . on the last hill, he took off back towards home and I sprinted after him, hitting sub-5:00 pace at some point.  Average pace of 7:44 for 2.3 miles with Sam.  I took a quick breather and then it was off with Joey.  He hasn't run in a while, so I wasn't expecting him to run too fast.  But he took off on me, and any hopes of taking it easy were lost.  He was breathing kind of hard at the end, but he kept up the pace all by himself.  Average of 9:01/mile for 0.7 miles with Joey.  Then I took Adam out and finally got to chillax with him and just cooled down running about 0.4 miles with him (approx, I didn't use the Garmin).  Not bad.