Coldlanta

It was a chilly morning in Atlanta today -- temps only started around 38 F. Last week was warm and mild. I actually went out yesterday evening and bought a poly-pro shirt at an ATL REI for this AM and was glad that I did. I did the same route that I did last Tuesday, but a little bit less -- even though I think that I would have covered the same ground quicker - I was withing site of my turnaround and it was not going to take me four minutes to get there today. You've gotta love the long runs for improving fitness. I ran for 45 minutes today, and felt good. Back to work training -- I'm so ready to come home and get to work and get out of this training room.

NYC & Atlanta

Friday I did another 45 minutes in Atlanta. It was a good solo run.

Sunday I did about 14 in NYC. I ran from our hotel on 42 St., between 2 & 3 Avenues and did two loops around the park before running back to 42 St. and 5 Ave. I did each loop in a consistent 53 minutes/loop. The first 40 minutes was not so enjoyable but the hour from that point to about 1:40 was awesome while the last 30 was not great, and quite painful. In total I ran for 2:07. I stopped at 1:07 to answer a call of nature -- God Bless the NY Road Runners and their race day porta-potties. I stopped at 1:30, at the base of The Great Hill to stretch because everything was tightening. My first time over GH I stopped because I had forgotten how long that thing is and I was in my forty minutes of blah. All in all, though, the run felt good and I feel pretty good today, not too sore or stiff. There is nothing better for confidence than some long runs. I'm on the road again, still in the ATL, so I'll go out for about 45 minutes tomorrow (Tuesday), as well.

VTR, I'm sorry to hear you're injured and hope you can run the race, but I'm going to to do it no matter what -- I'm into it now! Maybe, even if you don't do the whole thing, and if you don't get into a relay we could a section together -- you could be my pace guy near the end, maybe in the final 10K or whatever. Let's coordinate.

Raising My Game

I got out again today, for 49 minutes over some hilly Georgia terrain. Today I went with both of the guys that I've run with previously. It was a good and social run and we ran pretty quickly. The hills hurt, but I feel good. Since Sunday I've run four times and I must be up around 26-27 miles this week. I'm going tomorrow too because I won't have time on Saturday. I'm also planning a long run in NYC Sunday -- maybe a couple of loops around the park -- perhaps I'll check NYRR and see if they've got a race for which I can sign up. Where is everybody -- I'm not getting many readers and I'm definitely getting fewer runners/bloggers. The weather is getting nice boys get out there -- we're running our of excuses.

A cool thing about the runs we've done is that Tuesday we headed East along a route. Yesterday I went in the opposite direction. Today we headed North-Northeast. We're "quadranting" our surroundings and getting a sense for the area. It's a fun bit of exploration despite the fact that the area is heavily urban/suburban and very manicured and planned. Atlanta has plenty of McMansions, but they are far more tasteful than those that go up in Boston. THe good architects developers must be down here, and not in the NE.

Another Trot

I got out for another trot this morning through a different part of northern Atlanta. I went with another guy from my training -- another ultra-runner. We went for 44 minutes and probably covered about 5. I'm having a good week of running, and enjoying it. I can't duff around too much this AM because I missed breakfast yesterday and that was tough -- I scrounged up some stuff, but I need to not eat 3 day old deli meat from the office fridge. Later VTR, since you're the only one reading this, maybe.

Atlanta Run

I'm at a training in Atlanta, as I think I mentioned in my Sunday 10 Post. I went out today and ran with a guy in the training who's a triathlete and ultramarathoner. It was a great 53 minute run along a main urban/suburban drag in extreme northern Atlanta, into Dekalb county. It wasn't particularly beautiful though we ran by some nice neighborhoods. It was a type of American sub/urban run that I think is probably pretty common in this country -- but not so common in the NE. Lots of stores and intersections, commuter traffic etc.. However, it was a nice rolling course, the weatherr was cool but nice -- total shorts and technical shirt, and there are some beautiful trees and flowers in bloom.

The guy I ran with is a really nice guy, a designer from SF and he was kind to me and ran with me for the first two thirds and then kicked it towards the end. I hung with him as long as I could and finished maybe 10 seconds after him. I really enjoyed running with somebody, it made the time slide by easily and it was fun to chew the fat. A good run, a nice confidence builder and I'm looking forward to going out tomorrow too. Given that I've done the 10 Sunday and this was probably 6+ I'm feeling better about this training.

I know that I've harped on how much of a routine person I am and if my routine gets messed up then I'm done but I want to amend that statement. Routine is important, but sometimes being out my comfort zone, and getting out of my routine -- like coming to Atlanta for five days this week and three next -- is great for my running. It's a way to take control of my surroundings, explore, and bring some routine to a very different experience.