got the runs

noon: A mile and a half to the pool and back, with a 2000m swim workout.  I felt like I was dragging someone with me in the pool--couldn't get my rhythm.  Now i'm TIRED.

pm: ~10 mtb miles with Ed and Myles at Difficult Run.  Second wind!!

Quck lift--literally under a half hour. 

1.5 miles to the pool and back, with a 2000 m lap workout.  I'm having troubles getting air these days, and I'm wondering if it's because I've cut out so many running miles.  Despite being a very thorough cardio workout, my swimming days seem to be bringing me down in this regard.  Although I could also attribute it to inactivity during the past couple of rainy days...I'll have to monitor the situation this week to see if it improves.

pm: 45 minutes in the gym--trying to strengthen core and upper body, since I fell off that wagon a short while back.

noon: 6 miles on Reston trails under an overcast sky.  For whatever reason I don't seem to have full lung capacity right now--feels like i've been smoking cigarettes or something.  I first noticed it in the pool yesterday and attributed it to the thick air in the building, but it's definitely still there when I run.  If it's still there later this week, then it's grounds for concern, but for now i'll just assume it's a passing blemmish.

pm: Went to a personal trainer in Leesburg for an hour.  He specializes in core strength, stability, flexibility and balance, and he was recommended by a few reputable sources.  I learned a couple of cool core-building exercises, but otherwise felt like I could have managed just as well on my own. 

1.5 miles to the pool and back, with another 2000 m workout.

I felt yesterday's activities in the pool and was therefore a bit sluggish, but my lungs felt to be functioning closer to full capacity finally.  No wheezing or anything this time.  Progress.

A rainy 6 miles miler on the reston trails with O'Connor.  Pretty tough miles for the both of us, and being weighed down with rain water evidently didn't help matters.

The first Vienna Inn breakfast run I've done in months!  Ran from Fairfax to Vienna on roads and covered approximately 5.5 miles on (finally!) dry surfaces.  Beautiful, sunny morning.

We'll call it 3.5 miles of running back and forth on the trails by Harpers Ferry between put-in and take-out. 

A small jog just to stretch everything out at the end of a weekend full of walks 'n hikes but no runs.  My trusty orthodics moved on to bigger and better places (the bottom of the potomac), and this was my first run without them.  So far so good, but I was kind of scared.

Skipped the run to the pool due to rain and very tight calves.  2000 meters in the pool, and I finally felt STRONG.  I was slowed down by those in front of me and felt like i was only at ~70% most of the time. 

Tennis!

5 miles on hilly roads in Fairfax.  Sore calves without orthodics--youch!

6 at noon with O'Connor--slow pace, calves slightly happier.

am: biked 15 miles to work.

noon: swam 2000 m--good workout.

pm. biked ~5 miles to the Vienna Inn.  Great beer!

Kristin and I hiked the Billy Goat liesurely and saw AMAZING wildlife (my first male and female indigo buntings!).

Followed that up with 7 miles on the towpath.  I can tell my running has been neglected--that 7 miles should have been much easier, even after the hike.

K and I finally tried biking the Cross County Trail from Fairfax to work and discovered that it's a killer mountain bike commute to work!  Unfortunately things are still a bit grimey from all the rain, but that'll dry out.  Biked the roads back to her house, making for a pretty good overall workout.

noon: 1.5 miles to the pool and back, with a 2000 m workout.  I was freakishly fast today, by my standards.  It's substantially more fun when one feels like that!

pm: 30 minutes of upper body and core building at the gym.

We'll call it 6.5 today.  Ben and I did a different section of the WOD today, and I'm not sure of the distance.  But we took it easy, and were out for 51 minutes.  I feel really good today, and am looking forward to some mtn biking tonight!

pm: Rode the CCT from the WOD to Great Falls and back.  Things are still a bit gooey out there, and I was toast by the end. 

Another jog to the pool and back with a 2000 m workout.  I was pretty beat up from biking yesterday, but felt ok after several hundred meters of warmup.

Another noon-time run with O'Connor. We took it pretty easy on this run, and all is well.

7 miles out at Sandy Pines in Michigan.  The first 3 miles were very easy, and the last 4 were moderate, with increasing intensity.  Nice to be home!!

Drove from Michigan to Pittsburgh and played some TENNIS!

noon: 2000 meters at the pool with Laura.  She was sick over the weekend, and I drove through the night last night from Pittsburgh, so we took it easy. 

Approximately 6 slow miles out in Fairfax.  It feels funny to have a bit more muscle in the upper body right now.  Everything feels more laborious on my feet.

pm: 1/2 hour core/upper body work at the gym.

noon: 6 miles on the Reston trails flying solo.  I grabbed some $6 insoles from the supermarket last night and am SO glad I did.  My joints are all happier after relishing all that spongy goodness.

1800 meters in an OUTDOOR pool!!  I'm gonna get used to this real quick.

Left calf cramped up before the finish, so I had to drop out early.  Otherwise a great workout.