To Run And Not Be Weary: Week 4 and 5 Rundown

This will be a quick summary of the past couple of weeks. In short, things have warmed up quite a bit up here in the desert, which means more comfortable runs. No more putting on layers of running gear and reluctantly stepping out into a 40° night to get my run in. Therefore, the past few runs have been pleasant. Nighttime temps have been in the 60s or low 70s, which is perfect running weather. Once the summer heat sets in, then I'll have to deal with the other end of the weather spectrum. But for now, I'm enjoying these temperate spring days and nights. There have been occasional windy days, which can sometimes be a drag to run in, but by and large weeks 4 and 5 of my training schedule have been ideal.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014:
Distance: 3.15 miles
Time: 35:13
Location: Apple Valley Rd. to power lines and back

This was my first 35 minute timed run. I figured to get some good distance in I'd just take Apple Valley as far south as I could get until I hit around 17 or 18 minutes, then turn around and head back. I got down to the power lines (the same run I did back on February 13, two days before the Timberwolf 5K). I ended up picking my pace up on the run back so that I had to add some distance by continuing on Ottawa towards Ivanpah Rd., thus enabling myself to hit the 35 minute mark.

Thursday, April 10, 2014:
Distance: 3.05 miles
Time: 35:10
Location: Yucca Loma to Rincon

For this run I headed back up to Yucca Loma for a repeat of April 5th's run to Rincon. I had been feeling pretty sore and stiff in my legs, and this run was definitely a bit tough to get through. The whole way up and down the Yucca Loma hill I never fully loosened up. But I've become pretty used to the occasional ache and pain, and usually with a day or two of rest it disappears. Not a bad run, though. My pace was quite slow, but that's been the case lately.

Saturday, April 12, 2014:
Distance: 1.54 miles
Time: 15:19
Location: Yucca Loma towards the river (Rio Vista School) and back

I was relieved to have an easy, 1.5-mile run today. With the aches and pains I'd been feeling, an easy day was just what the doctor ordered. Since it was Saturday I decided to take Nathan out in the stroller. I hadn't gone on a run with him since March 22, during my first week of training! So it was awesome to take him along with me. It was a windy day so it was good that we would only be out a short time. We ran up to Yucca Loma and headed west, right into the wind and sun. He didn't like that too much, but I put the stroller cover over him. On the way back, though, heading east, he was having a blast, laughing and talking! We were only out 15 minutes, but even on a short run, pushing that stroller along adds an extra challenge.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014:
Distance: 3.58 miles
Time: 35:14
Location: Rio Vista to Apple Valley to Sitting Bull to Paraiso and back

My distance has officially increased to 3.5 miles. Week 5 has begun and it's going to only get tougher from here. That being said, tonight's run was a drastic improvement! My pace increased and I felt great. All the aches and pains of last week have gone (I took three straight days off). I didn't go into work today because of a doctor appointment, so when we got back home I didn't have all the exhaustion I usually feel after a day at work. I was renewed and ready to go. My route took me all over the place. I started north towards Rio Vista School, then took Yucca Loma east to Apple Valley. Once on Apple Valley I saw the moon beginning to rise on the eastern horizon. It was full and bright orangeish-yellow. So I stopped to take a picture. I continued on, running the long stretch down Apple Valley to Sitting Bull. From there I turned east all the way to Paraiso. I then headed back home my normal way, turning onto Ottawa. It was a tour of Apple Valley and I felt great the entire time! My legs felt strong, my breathing was un-labored, and I remember thinking, "so this is what running really feels like!" When you're not concerned with injuries, or struggling to breathe, or plodding along like a hippo, it actually feels almost easy, and free, and wonderful! And that's what tonight was.

Friday, April 18, 2014:
Distance: 3.14 miles
Time: 34:04
Location: Ottawa to Kasanka to Yucca Loma to Choco

Today is Good Friday and I had the day off from work. I had originally wanted to run last night with Nathan, but it was really windy and I didn't think it'd be a good idea. This morning we awoke to a beautiful day, slightly cool, and perfect for running. So I didn't waste any time. Around 8:30 a.m. I loaded Nathan up in the stroller and out we went to get in 35 minutes of running. We started out going south to Ottawa then west to Kasanka Trail, which parallels the river. We took this up to Yucca Loma then headed straight east up the hill to Choco Rd. I wasn't sure if we'd gone far enough to get in a full 35 minutes, but by the time we reached Choco, which is halfway up the hill, I was pretty tired. It's a tough hill to run without a stroller; add 50 lbs. and you're talking a genuine Sisyphean effort. So we stopped halfway up, I took a picture looking down, then we headed back home, coming up just shy of 35 minutes. One more run to go for this week, then it's the final three weeks before race day! It's really flying by. Normally by this time each year I haven't even started running yet after my winter hiatus; it's not even May and I've logged somewhere around 30 runs and probably between 50-60 miles. This has the potential to be a game-changing year!