tempo run at 99 degrees

Ah, yes, nothing like skipping gazelles workouts for weeks and then finally deciding to come back on the day tempo run is scheduled. Compound that with some hot, sunny and dusty conditions (99 degrees according the readings at weather underground), and before even starting you've got some great excuses for underperforming. There was actually a time when DV would say he enjoyed tempo runs and I wouldn't think he was crazy, maybe even agree a little. However, today was one those days where I might think, nah, he's just loopy.

Turn out was pretty good considering the conditions and the scheduled workout. And really, the weather could have been much worse --- the humidity at that hour was less than 30%, which made things a little dusty, but not so bad that you had dust caked on to your sticky sweaty body afterward (which has happened before). Also, there was just a touch of wind --- enough to keep you comfortable-ish, at least in the shade.

Pre-race, err..., pre-run goals were to try to get close to 7:00/mile. I though 7:10 might be realistic considering the heat, my lack of fitness, and the immensely disappointing time of my last tempo run (3 miles, 21:40). I shared these goals with John Colyandro and we planned to try to run together. (He's feeling a little out of shape these days as well.)

I successfully managed to not get caught up in the frenzy at the start and ran a safe 7:09. I continued to feel pretty comfortable for the next two miles: 6:59, 7:05. (I can't explain why that third mile was so much slower, and trust me, I've given it a decent amount of thought.) For the final mile, I was running alone. I was attempting to pick it up a little, but as I looked at my quarter mile splits, my pace was a not-so-impressive 6:59. Hmm. I certainly felt like I was working harder. Anyway, most of the last mile was an exercise in reminding myself that I only had a few more minutes to go. Somehow at about 600m I caught Michelle. She had been fading a little over the last mile and, well, it was just a weird experience. It's never happened before and it will probably never happen again. I expected her to pick it up and we'd torture each other by pacing one another the rest of the way, but instead she just offered some encouragement and let me pass. At the last 1/4 mile mark it was still looking like 6:59, maybe 6:58, but I guess I finally sped up for the home stretch and finished the last mile at 6:50. Total time was 28:03. Heck, that's pretty decent. Even an unapologetic glass-half-empty guy like me would have a hard time being too displeased with that performance. Oh yeah, plus I finished ahead of the reigning distance challenge winner.

Pat and I ran at lunch yesterday, from 360 out to sculpture falls and back. Nothing notable about the run (unless Pat not falling/not running into anything is notable) except that we saw a rat snake constricting a poor field mouse. I felt like we should have done something, and told Pat that if I saw a snake eating rodents in my yard, I'd be probably happy with that, but somehow seeing it out in the greenbelt where that field mouse wasn't bothering anyone upset me slightly. Anyway, there's something you wouldn't see on ttalbl.

I've resolved to get some trail running shoes since my asics just aren't rigid enough in the forefoot. If anyone has some suggestions, that would be appreciated. I currently wear mizuno wave riders (track/trail) and asics nimbus (pavement). I want something that feels like a running shoe, just a little beefier on the sole.