Fairly nice to be running

The humidity wasn't quite as bad. Temp was also down.

I've been feeling stronger and stronger. I'm also starting to feel more relaxed while running. Still got a ways to go to get back to my previous fitness level. It is fun again.

There were a few more people at the track today than usual. It was about 3pm so the only thing I can attribute that to was the lower temp.

I've been thinking about how I can finish out the year. I never got around to a 10k race this year. In fact I've only did a couple of 5k races. I may try to fit in another race or two. There are several towards the end of the year. I'm definitely not working toward a marathon. I just don't have the desire for that at this point.

I got in 5 miles today just under 45 minutes.

Fairly nice morning for a run

Hot, Check (but not too bad)

Humid, Check

Not wanting to get out of bed, Check

Not wanting to start the run, Check

Glad I got out of bed for the run, Check

There was only one other person at the Athens Rec Center this morning, Mark York. I had no intention of running 10 miles. I was only trying 6. It was actually really nice when we first started. There was quite a number of other people out early this morning for their run/walk. Very smart when the temp is supposed to be 98 today.

I felt really good until I got the catch in my left calf. I've gotten it a couple of times previously. For me it is all based on a lack of hydration. I drank almost no water yesterday, very bad for a runner. The muscle "catch" for me kind of feels like an intense cramp that just won't go away. Now that I've been stopped for a couple of hours it is very sore and will be for a few days. I'll have to take tomorrow off from running but I'll probably get in a good brisk walk to try to shake out the soreness.

For Fathers Day I got one of the Shoe Road IDs. For a runner it'll be good to have if something ever goes wrong.

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Posted via email from Lance Perry

6am running is much cooler

I got in an early run this morning. I just couldn't get up any earlier. Way too tired. I cut two yards yesterday with a push mower and that zapped me.

3 miles was as much as I wanted this morning. It was quite stuffy.

On Thursday I got to run just after the big rains went through. According to my car it was 75 degrees when I started. It was also cloudy. That made for very nice afternoon conditions for running. About 30 minutes into the run the sky cleared and the sun really made things steamy. I got my run in while it was still in the 70s. The temp when I stopped was 77 and 78 by the time I got home. I would have loved to run in the rain but didn't get started in time.

Posted via email from Lance Perry

Running is so much fun

You know you're serious (or stupid) when you run at 1:45 in the afternoon and the heat index is probably 100+.

Today I think it's more toward the stupid side. It was miserable. I've got to figure out a better time to run. I really like going into work early (at work by 5:15am) so I can't do it then and I can't get up earlier to run (I'm already deprived of sleep). I can't run late at night because it keeps me from going to sleep. I guess my only choice is to run at dusk. The only drawback there is all the bugs. After you've swallowed a couple and get several in your eyes you just want to quit.

Back in April, right before my knee injury, I had began a new 10k running schedule. I thought I'd begin back on that schedule except for the fact that I missed 6 weeks. This was the first weeks miles: 4,6,4,6,3,8. So today I was to try 6. I got in 3.6 and there was no way I could do any more. If it weren't for the heat I think I could have done the miles. Nothing I did could cool me off. I even stopped for a couple of minutes.

I'll take any suggestions on how to run in all this heat.

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Posted via email from Lance Perry

Welcome to a hot day in Alabama in June

Today was a difficult day, at best, for running in Alabama. The humidity was just right down tough.

I started with the 10-milers but I only did 5 miles. I'm still not in very good shape after my 6 weeks off but I'll get there.

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Posted via email from Lance Perry

What a HOT, HUMID day for running

I was at the track about 1:45 for my run today. HOT!

My knee was bothering me a bit today just sitting at work. I wasn't sure how the run was going to go. As it turned out I was just fine. I ran 5 miles very slowly. My goal was 5 miles however long it took. There was a couple of times I thought about cutting it short but I kept on. About 4.5 miles I started feeling really good almost as if I could have run 6 or 7 but I know from past experience those highs only last but a VERY short time.

The best thing - my knee didn't hurt after the run. Two months ago my knee would hurt during my runs but would hurt worse as soon as I stopped. No pain after the run today.

Maybe, just maybe my problem has went away. I'm thinking another 2 weeks of hard running and my body will let me know.

Day 4 Back to Running

Ok, you get the idea. I'm back to running for now. Day 4, 5, x, whatever.

I started out with the 10-milers this morning but there was no way I was going that distance. I only did 4. That was good enough. It was good to be back running with the boys. It's just more fun when you get to hear stories about what is going on in people's lives. It sure makes the miles pass quicker.

We should make it official: The Athens 10-mile running club. Only those who have ran the loop can be part of the club. Since I'm making the rules, I'm grandfathered into the club and I'm member #1 ;). I have ran the loop but it may be a while before I can do it again. We should have an official patch, jacket or something corny along those lines.

My knee felt great this morning. I'm being very guarded about it. I don't want to get back into this a week or so and then it start hurting again but so far so good. I've got a ways to go to get back what I did have as far as fitness.

I don't know about anybody else but I really love running through my small home town. We may not have things that are offered by large cities but it's the best place I've live (actually the only place I've lived).

Day 3 Back to running

I ran 3 miles this morning. At first the knee was not so comfortable but within just a few minutes it was nothing. In fact it felt really good.

My breathing is terrible at this point. I huffed and puffed the entire run this morning.

My leg muscles are so sore. Just getting up and down in a chair I can feel the soreness.

The humidity at 6am was awful but really can do nothing about that. If you want to be outside in North Alabama you just have to deal with that.

Days 1 and 2 Back to Running

Yesterday, Thursday June 3rd, was exactly 6 weeks since the last day I had run. I was anxious to get back. I was also very nervous about my knee. Had it heeled, had it gotten worse, had it stayed the same???

Believe it or not I had lost a little sleep the night before concerned that my knee had not healed. It hadn't felt the best over the last couple of weeks.

I have been riding my bike at least 3 days a week during the off time.

Day 1
I thought the new, soft track at the Athens High stadium would be the best thing to do for the first day back. I stretched a little and then took off for my first mile back. My legs felt good but after the first half mile I started feeling the knee. It wasn't hurting but I could feel where I had the problem. I finished the mile, walked 1/4 mile and then ran another 1/2 mile.

Afterwards I was a little disappointed about how my knee was healing. I was hoping for know ill feeling at all but that wasn't the case. It really didn't hurt but didn't feel the best.

Day 2
I determined that if it was going to hurt it was just going to have to hurt. I ran 2.4 miles. Boy, my legs were really sore from the day before. I'm embarrassed that my legs were so sore for just 1.5 miles the day before. Anyways, I'm much happier after the run today. I had almost no pain/discomfort during the run. Since the run it has felt pretty good. I will know better in the upcoming days just how it is going.

I'm so glad to be back running!