Back on Track with "MiCoach"!

Time:  13:20
Distance:  1.34 miles
Location:  Apple Valley Road

Well, I've started something new.  July 3 was my last run, and at that time I thought I'd be training for another 5K up in the mountains throughout July.  Instead, my wife and I embarked on what became a 3-week road trip up to Canada (which was awesome), got back and stopped training altogether.  I had to cancel plans for the 5K.  I then started back up at work, which, historically speaking, is an automatic training killer.  Normally, I don't run during this time of year.  Two years ago I was able to get a couple of runs in during September, but that was it.  Last year I went from July to the following May without running.  This year I knew I needed to try something new, so that's where the MiCoach comes in! 

I read an article about this device made by Adidas called a MiCoach, a little gadget you insert into your shoe that tracks your runs and displays graphs and data about your runs on your computer.  I knew this was something that would motivate me, so I mentioned it to Deborah and she was nice enough to order it for me for my birthday (along with some new Adidas running shoes).  I received the shoes and the MiCoach yesterday and decided to take them on their maiden voyage tonight.  I still don't have a complete grasp of how it all works.  I inserted the MiCoach into the shoe and departed for an "assessment" run that was supposed to analyze my stats so my training regimen could be better personalized for me.  It was to be a 12:00 run.  So I ran out towards Apple Valley Rd. for about 7:00 then turned back and stopped running when the watch read 12:00.  Then I went inside my house and synced the MiCoach to my computer (via a USB component) and viewed my stats.  I wasn't able to assign my workout to my training program, so I've still got some things to figure out, but it was nonetheless super cool to see things like pace, speed, number of steps, calories burned, etc.  My average pace was 9:59/mile and I burned 182 calories.  It was a slow run, but it was cool to try this new toy out!  Hopefully soon I'll be able to figure out how it all works and soon I'll be tracking data like a maniac!  This was perfect timing, too, because, again, traditionally this is the time of year that is the toughest for me to keep running.  If the MiCoach can keep me running through the fall and winter, it will have been worth every penny.