They all can't be "easy" runs.

16.25 miles. Legacy Trail. 2:14:13. 8:15 pace. I started at 5:15, so I had the place to myself. Very serene this morning. Great sunrise!

7.5 miles. to Legacy Trail and Back. 59:26. 7:55 pace. The run felt smooth. I'm going to be away for the next couple of days, and likely not near a computer. I'll try to see how everyone is doing when I can. If I can't get on, I'll catch up with y'all Friday. Have a good week.

In Charleston. Went to hotel and siad Hi to everyone, then tried out a treadmill for the first time. I don't know how I feel about it. The machine said I did 4.5 miles. I feel like it was really slow. There are pros and cons to it that I can see. Then I got cleaned up, and we went out for the bachelor party.

5.6 miles 42:58. 7:40 pace. Ran Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and through downtown, the morning after the bachelor party. This is a big bridge. there are markers on the bridge to give me an idea of my splits. it is 2.5 miles long, with the highpoint at 1 mile south of the north end. I ran the uphill southbound, so my first mile was at 8:00 even, which I thought was pretty good, considering it was uphill. Running through downtown was a little trickier, because of all of the historic, uneven pavement types. Really nice day and a great run. Then wedding rehearsal, and dinner.

http://daveallenphotography.com/arthur_ravenel_bridge.php

 5.6 miles. 47:47. 8:32 pace. Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Same route as yesterday, only super windy. At the 1 mile point on the uphill of the bridge I was at 9:50. To lose almost 2 minutes on a mile in less than 24 hours is pretty telling of how stout the wind is today. As I am typing this, I have the ring in my pocket, and my speech wired. It's an outdoor wedding, and the conditions are very sketchy, but this is what winners do when the game is on the line, people! Congrats to Mike and Allison.

 5.6 miles. Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. I met spouse with about .5 miles to go on the bridge. At that point I was at 43:12. So, I don't know my time. I ran today's run in reverse direction, with traffic. I liked running against traffic better. If I was going against traffic, I could see opportunities to get off of the uneven sidewalks and on to the road. Despite the rough weather, the wedding went great. The food was fantastic. I'm going home tomorrow. I miss the kiddos.

16.25 miles. Legacy Trail. 2:11:27. 8:05 pace. I started at 5:50 am. I was ahead of the 8 minute man, until about 90 minutes into it. Then I slowed a bit. Cool sunrise! Lots of birds munching on exposed oyster beds at low tide. At the end of the run, the Sand Hill Cranes were whooping it up. They have such an unusual call. http://youtu.be/eAqcpMEoLa0

It's Good to be home.

am: 3.5 miles. 26:33. 7:35 pace. hood route.

Then church, sign up for 8k next weekend, lunch.

pm: At school track with the boys.

1 mile 7:48 warm up. 3 minutes rest.

1/2 mile 2:58, 3 minutes rest.

1/2 mile 3:01, 3 minutes rest.

1/2 mile 2:59, 3 minutes rest.

1/2 mile 3:01, 3 minutes rest.

1 mile 7:05 cool down.  

I think I might have sabotaged this run with a big lunch. Also, it is pushing 80 degrees here. I'm glad I got some speed work in before next weekend. This is a little confidence booster. I should be able to break 33 minutes for the 8k, I think.

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 35:20. 7:41 pace.

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 35:09. 7:38 pace. Crowded and Windy.

What is it about race week that makes me feel like screaming "EVERYTHING'S MESSED UP!"? Nothing felt right on this run. The week before every race I have run, this hyper analysis kicks in. "What is that weird feeling in my footcalvesshinskneesthighsbackneck? OH NO! This can't happen! Not THIS week! Why are all of these people staring at me running? Oh yeah, like YOU have never run while crying! Go back to your shanties!"

I might be over-dramatizing this, but you get the idea. 

Not running related, but this has been bothering me for a while. Every Thursday, on the sidewalk in front of my office, is an empty wheelchair, locked to a handicap parking sign. This is not a motorized or specialized wheelchair, it is completely average. Every week, I get caught up in trying to find plausible explanations for this. It just doesn't make sense. 

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 33:06. 7:12 pace. Less Windy. Legs feel better. I had a slight cramp on my left side, though. 

Cool morning, by my standards @ 50 degrees. 2 mile warm up. At race start, and for the first mile, I was comfortably in 2nd place. At the 1 mile mark, I was passed by the guy that held the 2nd spot for the rest of the race. He was about 50 yards ahead of me until @ the 3 mile mark. Then I kind of lost him through the turns. So, for a race this short, there were long stretches of running by myself. @ 3.5 miles, a guy was setting up a water station. At this point, I didn't know if the runners were to stay on the walk, or go on the road. I yelled to him, to ask. He said "go left,..... NO RIGHT!" By then, I had already gone @ 20 yards to the left. So, I had to hop one of those rope-bollard fences to get back on track. Not a big deal, but it definitely affected my run. Especially since the next part of the course was sandy. I was passed by a guy with 1/4 mile to go, and then I really let off of the gas. Could I have got under 32 minutes? I dunno. My watch said 32:11, which is @ 6:28 pace. I don't know my official time yet. That will show up here later: http://www.zoomersrun.com/2013_Race_Results.html

Despite the wrong turn, I am pleased with this outcome. Great green eggs with the family after. And sister in law's first race! She ran the whole thing. I ran back and did the last mile with her. Good job Shannon!

10.2 miles. Legacy Trail to Colonia. 1:25:02. 8:20 pace. Great day for running!

2 miles. 15:15. 7:37 pace. run cut short for time. 

No running, But I slept for 11.5 hours! I guess I needed that. 

In other news, my sister in law (that ran her first race with me, last Saturday) has inspired her daughter to take up running. They are shooting for a 5k race in the Jacksonville area, May 11th. So I checked on line, and what did I find?

http://connectrace.net/event/chick-fil-a-connect-race-series-jacksonville-fl

"Slow"Joe, I think your girls would love this race! 

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 34:36. 7:31 pace. Considering the wind, it felt pretty good out there. 

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 33:15. 7:13 pace. Less Windy. 

10.2 miles. Legacy Trail to Colonia. 1:31:57. 9:01 pace. 

5.2 miles. Ringling Bridge. 38:27. 7:24 pace. A little windy. 

5.2 miles. Ringling Bridge. 37:55. 7:17 pace.

5.2 miles. Ringling Bridge. 36:45. 7:04 pace. Smooth gliding today. 

16.25 miles. Legacy Trail. 2:17:03. 8:26 pace. Fantastic morning. Lots to see. Then Church Easter Egg Hunt setup, Then kid's baseball, then trampoline bouncing with kids, then beach with kids. What a day!

1.5 mile RUNFAIL! Okay, there are several possible reasons things fell apart, in no particular order: Easter food is horrible for runners. Seriously, what "athlete" eats ham with spicy mustard, hard boiled eggs, Jello eggs, Reeses Peanut butter eggs, Peeps, and bread and butter pickles? Also, we ate this meal at the beach (79 degrees, and 80+% humidity). Sitting in the sun for a couple of hours, eating this "Easter goodness", about a half hour prior to running is not the smartest thing I've done. Also, there was a little bit of sleep deprivation thrown in there. Anyhow, given the conditions leading up to the run, I am amazed I made it as far as I did.