Baby ... we were born to run!

There may be offspring.

Hey! Two of my best friends just had babies! Two babies!

That's it, that's all I got. We're at that point in training I find myself taking six mile runs after 10 PM. Enjoy this funny video.

If People Talked About Other Hobbies Like They Talk About Running
"If People Talked About Other Hobbies Like They Talk About Running" - It's like every other hobby, except not the slightest bit enjoyable.
Posted by CollegeHumor on Monday, July 6, 2015

Distance: 6 miles
Avg Pace: 7.53
Temperature: 68°
Climate: humid. dark.
Hydration: yes
Stretches: no

What's That Lyric?
Born To Run - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

You must be looking very old tonight.

How To Run (1657)
from Ask the Past*

Running, if it be vehement, is good for fat and moist bodies, but it is bad for such as are troubled with any kind of headache.

If running be moderate, it excellently warms the body, excites appetite.

Uphill, 'tis bad for the breast and thighs. Downhill it very much affects the head, it shakes the bowels, troubles weak hips.

The body being covered, by moving sweat, it moistens and heats the flesh, but it makes the bodies ill-colored, because the pure air does not come at them, to cleanse the same.

The body being naked, it draws out great plenty of sweat.

- Joannes Johnstonus, "The Idea of Practical Physick in Twelve Books"

Distance: 5 miles
Avg Pace: 7.52
Route: Boulevard Loop

Temperature: 73°
Climate: damp, cooler
Weight: 157 lbs. (-3.0)
Intake: flavored almonds
Hydration: yes
Stretches: yes

What's That Lyric?
What Difference Does It Make - The Smiths 

*Thanks to Jim G. for the find.

I'll be back at Echo Beach some day.

Home. That was a beautiful journey, from beginning to end. One of my favorites.

Even better, we were largely packed the night before, making our departure stress-free. Yesterday morning we were drinking coffee on the deck like it was just another day, three hours later we were on the road.

Last night, the crowning achievement, watching the final of the WWC. The three of them were in Ottawa when the series began, and here we were watching the triumphant finale. The weeks peel away, and yet there is still so much summer to enjoy.

Neglected to note: Twenty-one runs in June. Far and away another record. This year is going well.

Distance: 3 miles
Avg Pace: 7.18
Route: Boulevard Loop

Flat out, at 165 BPM. I developed a cramp in my back, because, duh, my posture was for shit. Not worth going so fast. Stay upright, shorter strides.

The sun is so hot in North Carolina ... but the air is hotter here.

Temperature: 81°
Climate: hot and sweaty
Weight: 160 lbs. (-0-)
Hydration: yes
Stretches: yes

Yes! I gained weight. A whole week of drinking beer and eating fried food, I gained one pound.

What's That Lyric?
Echo Beach - Martha and the Muffins

2015 Island Independence 5K

2015 Island Independence 5K
Start: 7:30 am

Dad
Official time: 32:00.8
Chip Time: 31:27.7
Overall: 259th
Male 45-49: 16th

Girl
Official time: 32:00.8
Chip Time: 31:27.9
Overall: 258th
Female 14 & Under: 5th

The question was whether I would run with her. More precisely, the question was whether she would let me run with her. I asked if I could, and she had said no. If I was there and the going got rough she wold yell at me and she didn't want to do that.

In my mind I pictured running out ahead of her, worrying about her, and that didn't sound very enjoyable to me. Also, I wasn't in this to score, to make great time, rather just to have a good time.

We rose early, the wife made breakfast of eggs, toast and grapefruit - and coffee, we each had a little coffee. The wife, the boy (who woke with extreme reluctance) and MP headed out to Mile 2 to cheer us on. The girl and I walked to the starting line at Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel.

She was a bit intimidated, and asked if I wouldn't start with her before moving ahead at my own pace. I pictured myself taking off from her, moving out ahead, and that felt even worse. But then I figured, if I don't say anything, and she doesn't either, maybe I won't have to.

We ran the race together.

UPDATE: No long run this week. Several additional short runs, though.

Week Three Total: 22.1 miles
Training To Date: 71 miles

Training run.

We run. The girl and I took a brief trial run on the pavement this morning. Better now than later, it will only get hotter all day.

She did not feel as though she would die. She did not tell me to shut up. I just handed her a bottle of water, said good work. She did not comment. I have registered for the race, I have my bib number. We will see whether I run alone or not.

Perhaps it will rain. 

Distance: 1 mile
Avg Pace: 9.34
Route: S. Anderson Run
Temperature: 79°
Climate: clear and hot

UPDATE: She is registered for the race. Wish us luck.

Running at the speed of light.

Up since 4 AM. Every year there is at least one morning the boy and I try some night fishing. The best part for me is getting breakfast at six from the pier grill. Lousy coffee, great eggs and hash browns. He caught three small fish, which meant the entire endeavor was an overwhelming success!

Distance: 6 miles
Avg Pace: 8.23
Route: Topsail Loop (or something)

Spotify gets spotty on the beach, so I thought I would try something new. Yesterday the wife and I had taken a long walk down the beach and I mused about running off the beach one morning and through one of the public passages onto the streets.

That way I could also check how fast I run at 165 bpm on pavement. Never really tested that before. Not much difference, a little, but not tremendously different. It sure felt easier, but I missed the wind off the ocean. And the ocean. The sand, the whole beach thing. Worth the effort.

True, though. The reception was much better. Should have brought my old iPod.

Temperature: 79°
Climate: breezy and hot
Intake: big breakfast
Hydration: yes
Stretches: yes

What's That Lyric?
No Lookin' Back - Michael McDonald

UPDATE: Girl Run

Her plan was to run three miles. The wife did not think this was a good idea, but she is a very determined girl. One mile out, one mile back, and then half a mile out and back. Her plan.

As the tide goes out the beach becomes very, very windy. We ran into the wind, for a mile. She did not make an objection nor a sound. We turned around at one mile.

Dad: How are you feeling.
Girl: Horrible!
Dad: You're doing great.
Girl: I want to sit down and I want to die!
Dad: You are breathing very well.
Girl: I hate my hair! I want to cut all my hair off!
Dad: We can cut your hair if you want.
Girl: I want to die!
Dad: I am proud of you.
Girl: SHUT UP.

And so on.

She made it two miles, and collapsed into the sand. By her estimation, it was an utter failure.

There you have every close, personal relationship with every woman in my life.

Distance: 2 miles
Avg Pace: 9.42
Temperature: 82°
Climate: really, really windy

Vacation means indulgence, to be sure. I have been consumed far less than normal, but what the hell did I used to eat and drink on vacay? No idea what I weight, feel I may have put on a bit. Or not. There's no scale here, we'll just wait and see.

Bonus run!

Koona t'chuta Solo?

Day-off run ... with the girl! A few months ago I may have suggested all four of us would be running the 5K this Saturday, though it has appeared more likely to be just me. The wife has been training with Couch To 5K and quite successfully but is not at that point in the program yet, and neither is the boy.

I try not to press the girl to run with me, rather leave the invitation open. It's not as though she doesn't exercise, she's a hardcore soccer player (her hero is Hope Solo, and yes, she knows) but running is different. She has had great difficulty getting past the "stitch" phase and can be very resistant to advice.

I mean, she hears it, it's obvious that she hears it. Today it was apparent to me that she had taken in every suggestion we have made because I could hear hear her using them while running and couldn't wait to tell me about how well it had worked when she had finished.

In fact, it was she who suggested we run a mile today. And just as we were reaching home she said she wanted to run another mile. So we did. And now she says she wants to run the race on Saturday.

But I must be careful. She may try to run tomorrow, forgetting how challenging it was for her today, and become discouraged. Because that's a thing that happens.

Distance: 2 miles
Avg Pace: 9.33
Route: Topsail Beach

Last night the four of us watched the match at Gallagher's - the same place the wife and I watched the men's USA v GER game last year. The women win.

Temperature: 79°
Climate: bright, hot and breezy
Hydration: I think.
Stretches: yes, both of us.