avoided the rain with 10km

15th consecutive day running, in the books.

today was a bit of a challenge. the weather forecast has been saying that today would be 3 consecutive days of heavy rains and a significant drop in temperatures. I don't really mind getting caught in the rain, but I don't lik e going out when it is raining, especially raining heavily. Especially if I am not training for a marathon and therefore don't have to be out there risking getting sick.

So, when I woke up to see that it was raining, I was not sure what to do. While getting ready to runand trying to decide, it suddenly seemed to stop. I jumped at my rainless window and went out. once I was outside I could tell the rain had been really light and just sounded more serious because I had been hearing it through the leaves and trees outside my window.

Another challenge was that my watch did not turn on. I dont really need the watch to run but I like to keep track of my distance. Also, not having the watch means I have to run only on routes that I know the relevant distances. Then I remembered I could use Endomondo on my phone to track it, so all was good.

It turned out to be a great run. I ran 10km through the neighborhood at a decent pace. I started with my stretch across Kishon, and then decided to run a loop back around RBS. WHen I got to the corner of Hayarden-Dolev I went up to Dolev for a loop around Dolev, and then instead of finishing the loop around RBS, when I got back to Dolev-Hayarden I went back to do the first half of the circle and went back the same way I had come, giving me a small amount of extra distance to complete 10km.

Beautiful weather makes for a great run

When I went to bed last night my plans for this morning were to run 6-7km, considering that I had run 10km yesterday.

I woke up this morning feeling great and when I went outside the temperature and weather were just so perfect that I decided to see if I could run for longer - I just wanted to stay outside and enjoy.

I ended up running 10.5km - across Kishon and then up Hayarqon and out on Road 10 (3855) until the 375 then back.

A little bit slower than I expected, but, as said, longer than planned. And with such beautiful weather, how could it be anything but great?

if not now, when?

I planned to run 10km, and I did run 10km. But it wasn't easy.

One mistake was wearing a long sleeved shirt. I was too warm. I had expected another cold morning and figured it prudent to wear a long sleeved shirt considering the cold I seem to have contracted in the past couple of days. But it wasn't cold and I felt too warm.

Besides for that I ran down Tzeelim and back up. Up was difficult and slow. I then ran across Kishon, and at the end had to push myself to add on enough to achieve the 10km rather than take the easy route of stopping at 9km which was right near my house..

So, 10km was an achievement, but it was not a great run.

13 consecutive days running. I also almost decided to skip today and take  arest day/.. I have some raw spots on my feet and figured my legs can use a rest as can these raw spots on my feet. I don't think they are from running, but I figured resting my feet could only help. The problem is that the forecast calls for rain the second half of the week, so i feel like I need to get my runs in now, in case I can't get them in later...

Sunday morning recovery

on the 12th day of running.... have to come up with some lyrics..

7km this morning. I tried running in a long sleeved shirt and was warm, maybe too warm, but it also chafed me in a few strange places.

Ran across Kishon and then up Hayarqon, and up Hayarden until Refaim and then back. Today's run felt more, in my legs, like a recovery run then last night's run - maybe because of the small amount of time between the Saturday night run and the Sunday morning run.

Recovery Run

still going strong.. tonight was a nice 8km run. it was actually a pretty good run for a Saturday night. Decent distance, decent pace. Ran across Kishon and then a circuit around RBS, totaling 8km.

No pit stops, legs felt like Saturday night, but not as worn out as usual.

tonight made it 11 consecutive days running

closing a long distance week

Today was going to be a tough run, because  I had to go to sleep last night. I had to go to the airport, then a memorial service in memory of one of the victims of a terrorist attack 2 years ago, then an engagement part for the daughte rof a neighbor, and then I had to also work. So I figured I would not get up as early as I would hope to to get a long run in.

And that's what happened. I woke up early enough but was too tired. I reset my alarm twice, and eventually forced myself out.

I ended up running 12km at a decent pace. The wind was bad but not as bad as it was the past couple of days. it was much colder though.

I was worried about air quality because of the fires raging throughout the country, but there are none in the immediate area of Bet Shemesh. Funnily enough, while normally Bet Shemesh has one of the worst levels of air quality in the country, right now we very well might have one of the best levels.

10 consecutive days running. This weeks 7 runs from Saturday night until today give me a total of 58km for the week!

a very moving 7km

this whole week has been one big windstorm and each day had stronger winds than the day before.

I went out today for a short run and the wind was horrible. I even actually felt it physically move me a number of times.

Somehow I still had a strong run, significanltly faster than any of my other runs this week. Mayvbe because the portions where the wind was to my back it pushed me forward stronger than during any of my previous runs this week. Maybe that more than made up for the hindrance it performed when the wind was to my face.

Anyways, I ran 7km and felt great... Hopefully I'll finish the week strong tomorrow...

run with the wind to your back!

Great run, and still going strong. My legs feel surprisingly good, though they do not feel completely fresh at all.

I wondered at the start of all this if I might at some point get to a point where the leg muscles get used to this and then it becomes easy and no strain and at that point I would be able to run either longer distances easier or faster with less effort. If that might happen, I do not know, but it has not happened yet.

This morning I ran 10.5km. Once again, the winds were very strong. The one part that was good was on the hill on my way back into RBS the wind was finally to my back and I felt it made the climb up the hill slightly easier. Most of the rest of the way it seemed like a strain with the wind to my face. This week has been crazy windy.

Forrest Gump

6.5km early on another very windy morning. I picked a standard local route, running around the perimeter of the neighborhood plus a 1.5km circle on Dolev.

Strong winds, but they were only headwinds for small portions of the run. At times they were even to my back and that felt great!

7 consecutive days running now. 8 of the last 9 days. 9 of the last 11 days.

hilly 10km 6 days in

I ran 10km this morning, on another blustery day.. I felt stronger than I had expected, and the run started off well, despite the strong winds... The whole run actually went well, despite the winds, but the winds did hamper my speed significantly. Also, on the fly, I chose a relatively hilly route. After running across Kishon I chose to go down to Highway 38 and back. Down to the 38 was nice, but back up is a long 3km hill, with very steep inclines at major parts of it.

Anyways, good run. 6th consecutive day running. Now I might not even take off tomorrow as originally planned, as I seemed to feel pretty good on the run..

5 which is 7

Fifth consecutive day running. Running at 5am after running the night before, less than 12 hours prior. I had no idea how I would feel and how the run would go, so I had no idea if I would run a strong 9km or if my legs would be weak and only allow me to squeak out a weak 4km.

It turns out I felt fine, but I still did not have a strong run. I had a good run and was happy with it. I ran 7km. It was really a very strong headwind much of the way that did me in. I probably could have run more, but  a bit of weakness in my legs and fighting the headwind made me decide not to overdo it. I also want to run tomorrow morning, so I figured 7 should be enough for today.

I am not sure what day i will skip to rest my legs yet. My working theory right now is just to run as much as possible and at some point my leg muscles will get used to this abuse and it will become second nature to them. I am inclined not to take any day off, if possible, but I know that is not likely to happen. Soon the rainy weather will come and scheduling issues come up, and I know I just won't be able to get a run in every single day. So, I have to be happy with running as often as possible, without trying to ensure a daily run.

low distance Saturday nights

I have said it before, and I'll say it again. Saturday night runs are the worst.

At least now I know it and plan for that reality in advance.

Knowing that Saturday night runs are the worst, I planned to go out tonight for a 4km recovery run - just to get the muscles pumping a bit and the legs moving, and to burn a few calories from Shabbos.

On a  very slow run, I ended up running 5km, with 2 pit stops, feeling heavy, on a very windy night with a strong headwind much of the way. But I did it. and because I kept it to low distance, I might be able to go out tomorrow morning for another run that will hopefully be better...

long week

This morning was an absolutely fabulous run. The weather was perfect. I went out planning to run 12-13km. I was not quite sure how I would feel, as this would be my fifth run for the week, and third consecutive day running.

The truth is I almost bailed on the run right away. I started to run and felt little aches and pains in my knees and ankles. Also, I felt "heavy" and off balance from a late celebratory dinner last night. I decided to just move and see what happens. Within minutes everything went away and the run was just nice.

I ran and felt great and just kept running. I decided to shoot for 14km and ran out far enough that I could hit it. On my way back in I realized I would pass 14, so I planned to try to run a little extra to get to 15. With a little too much detouring, I ended up at 15.5km. I probably could have kept going, but that was enough for the day!

So, I ran 5 times this week, with good distances, and a week total of 52km.

Monday, Wednesday and Thursday good running

It is a good running week so far. On Saturday night I ran 6.5km. On Monday I ran 10.5km. On Wednesday I ran 10km. Today, Thursday, I ran 9.5km. So far so good.

Yesterday was a good run. I felt great and the run was strong. I planned for 10km but was feeling great so considered going 12km instead. In the end I decided to stick to the plan, so that it would not hurt my coming runs on Thursday and Friday.

Today was like a recovery run, though I had planned on a maximum distance of 7km, and was leaning to 5-6km. In the end I ran 9.5km. I started my regular route, unsure of which direction I would run after my initial 3km across Kishon. When I hit the end of Kishon (1.5km), I decided to change my route. I ran up Hayarden instead and then out on the 3855 (a.k.a. Road 10), back and then back down to my home, totaling 9.5km.

Tomorrow is going to be a "long" run, though I have not yet decided how long it will be. As of now I am thinking of 12-13km.

Sat night

last nigh, Saturday night, I got a 6.5km run in. It was tough, and slow,. but I got it in. I had expected to run about 4km, and then decided to keep going and made it to 6.5.

Saturday night runs are usually the worst, after overeating on Shabbos and whatnot, but I still like to do them

4th run

Great run. I ran 12km, a bit slower than expected, but understandable I guess. first "long" run in a while, and third consecutive day of running, with each day increasing distance. Still feel great and the last few km were significantly slower (I think - I did not actually check the stats on my watch) but I wasn't worn out.

Funny story - I started with my regular 3km cross of Nahal Kishon street. There were no cars on the road so I mostly ran in the street, and it was a straighter run then normal, as I normally run on the sidewalks. When I arrived back at my starting point I glanced at my watch and saw that my distance was about 500m less than normal at that point. I did not understand why but attributed it to my having run straighter than normal, even though it did not make sense that I would lose so much distance relative to such a short overall distance. Sure enough, a few hundred meters later I looked at my watch again, and the numbers had not moved out all - meaning, I had accidentally paused my watch at some point and did not lose an actual 500 meters. I must have lost a small amount of diatnce but not nearly that much..

third run of the week

I went out yesterday for a run and got in 7+km at a decent pace. Stilll feeling great.

I went out this morning and ran 8.3km. Today's run was a bit slower - I felt a biut worn out, but I still felt strong - I didnt havwe to force myself to keep going. Let's see if I can make this a four run week tomorrow, even though it is low mileage.

One of my recent inspirations is a couple of recent interviews I heard with runners, in particular one with Ed Whitaker, the 80+ runner who recently set a record for his age group in a marathon - and it was faster than my personal best. Whitaker spoke about how he runs every day. Forget about distance and speed and timing and nutrition and all that jazz. He runs every day. I heard it from another runner as well in another interview I recently heard. Every day.

I don't know if I will get to running every day, but I do feel that i can run more than I usually do...

getting back to running

It has been about 3 weeks since my last run. Even that run was during a tailspin of lack of running, so I probably hadn't run much in the days before that run either..

the reason for this drought was the Chicago Cubs playing in the playoffs and World Series. I was waking up at 2 or 3am for each game. On the days with no game, I was making up a tiny bit of the sleep I was lacking from the other days. And I did not have enough energy to run at night.

So, now that the World Series is behind us, and I've made up some of my missing sleep over the past few days since the last game, I can get back to running now.

This morning I woke up early to go out for my run. I almost went back to bed claiming to be too tired, but forced myself out. I'm happy I did.

I decided to start slow and go for a short run. I am not worried about fitness or having lost my ability - the amount of time I was not running is minimal, and fitness loss is negligible. However, to avoid injuries, I did not want to start with a 10km at full speed. You have to move back into it slowly.

So, I went out and ran 4km at decent speed. Tomorrow or Wednesday I'll go out for another run, and by next week I'll be back to my full distance and get back to building up again, both distance and speed.