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<p>The clock has been set forward - that's great! It's the first sign of spring, right? My guess it'll be close to 7pm before it gets dark tonight. </p>
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<p>My goal was to get on the treadmill today and get a long run in. Goals are good - but sometimes, the best laid plans of mice and men.. I got to the gym about 4pm and climbed up on the treadmill. I plugged 75 minutes in to the mill; started my movie and the clock started ticking.</p>
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<p>Unfortunately, like mice and men or whatever - my legs started to let me know that I wasn't going to make it. My outer knee started to feel tight. I'm not sure if it was because I was using the new NB 740s or if it was something else but I do know that I've run enough that I should probably listen to my body. Two miles in and I called it quits. Not something I like to do - but it's a long way to Dam 2 Dam and this is base building. It's early yet.</p>
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<p>You know, with spring getting close - I'm hoping I'll be off the treadmill in the next week or so and on the street running. In so doing, I'm also banking on the fact that my legs will do better as well. </p>
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<p>I ran outside today! AND in Shorts!!! With the change in time, it staying lighter a lot longer. In fact, it's 715pm and the sun is just hitting the horizon over the lake. The temperature is about 38 degrees with sunshine. I got home from work and I just couldn't get myself in the car to go hit that dreaded treadmill. So, I'm thinking, "why not just run here - outside." Poor Ronan (My Irish Setter) has been couped up all winter, so I charged my Garmin 305 watch; put on my shorts; a couple shirts as well as my hoodie - and hit the bricks!</p>
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<p>Although there is still snow on the trails, the roads were clear as well as the shoulders, so I harnessed up Ronan and out we went. I could tell a difference running outside verses the treadmill. It was harder, because the route around my neighborhood is very hilly - my pace was a natural 10:30 pace - a full minute faster than I'd been running on the treadmill. Ronan did a great job running - he didn't pull and really enjoyed the run. That, along with the fact that I had changing scenery and a terrain that was not only changing but challenging made my run go much faster than the same distance on the treadmill. </p>
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<p>It felt great to be outside; to be feeling the air and the sounds around me. I knocked out 2 miles of hills in 21:33 - that averages just under 11 min miles - and with the hills, my legs got a great workout. I'm happy with the run and the outcome. Could it be that I've seen the last of my dreaded treadmill runs?</p>
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<p>It was 50 degrees at 5pm in Minnesota with sunshine. The snow is beginning to melt; the lake has water on top of the ice now and it won't be long before Spring is in full bloom. Oh yeah, and registration for Dam 2 Dam opened as well!</p>
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<p>I registered yesterday for Dam 2 Dam. It was actually kind of exciting and daunting. When I had to put my estimated time in, I realized then how much work I had to do between now and June 4th. But - this run isn't about time it's about reaching my goal. And when I cross the line at Nolan Plaza, I will once again be a runner!</p>
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<p>Being a running came back to realization yesterday as well. In the form of sour leg muscles! I ran my hilly neighborhood yesterday - and could my legs tell it. My thighs are sore; my calves are sour; heck, at one point I was thinking my toes were sore! It's a good sore though. It means I was working. I did 2.4 miles but with the hills, it was a hard fought 2.4 miles. </p>
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<p>Today is my off day. I deserve it. Between the spring weather, the new found soreness and registering for a 20km, I think I can take a day and enjoy.</p>
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<p>Enjoy!</p>

 

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<p>Considering how this week started with a sucky treadmill run on Sunday, it is wrapping up much better. Even though we don't have 50 degree temps in Minneapolis today - more like 35 degrees, I still decided to run outside. The sun was shining so it didn't feel as cold as it was.</p>
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<p>I decided to go a different route today and extend my distance. I still had plenty of hills as there really isn't any flat running area around here. I decided to do an out and back totaling 4 miles. Ronan went with me and at times, I depended a bit on him to make it up the hills. Around 1.3 miles, there is a 1/2 mile hill that climbs almost 200 feet. The only saving grace of that is that I get to come back down it!</p>
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<p>My pace was a consistent 11:11 per mile split the entire 4 miles. Though I seem to still start out much faster and then settle into the pace. I'd say, based on my last two weeks - that this is my 'steady' pace. I hope to get that down to 10 minute miles by the time Dam 2 Dam gets here. That is much slower than my best time at Dam 2 Dam, but I have to start somewhere.</p>
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<p>My joints felt more of the road today than in times past. I think it's the extra 15 to 20 pounds I'm carrying. I hope to have all of that off by Dam 2 Dam as well. </p>
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<p>It's Friday and it's a good way to end the week - running outside in early spring temps - the sun shining and that 'runners high' teasing me as to what is to come...</p>
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<p>Yeah, the week started flat, but just like Spring - It's FORWARD ON!</p>

 

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<p>Tell me that running in hills will pay off big time. I can tell you that this week has been a good week of commitment - I've got four days of runs totally 14 miles. All of the runs, in short, kicked my ass!  Today - it was 5 1/2 miles.</p>
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<p>The temps were mild - around 40 degrees with overcast skies. The melt off continues - which is good because the paved trails are starting to become accessible. Ronan and I headed north out of the neighborhood and started towards Loretto, Minnesota. I could feel the impact of the hills on my legs - but I kept it up. I wish I could say I enjoyed the run, but I did enjoy finishing and at times - I had to really focus and not think about how far I've gone or how far I still have to go.</p>
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<p>I continued through Loretto and made it to Hwy 55 and turned around. The route was a rolling hills route, so I had to now battle the hills back home - plus a southern wind. The wind cooled me down, but it also added to the effort of completing the run.</p>
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<p>1 hour and 3 minutes later - I made it home: 5.5 miles with a pretty slow pace. I felt good otherwise. Breathing wasn't labored and in a few minutes I was breathing at a normal rate. </p>
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<p>As I consider the week past and the weeks to come, I know I'll be ready to do the distance of Dam to Dam and I know the hills here will definitely pay off - but now - the runs just seem to kick my ass.</p>
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