Date: 3/26/10

Consecutive Days Run: 85

Runner: Brandon Wood

Shoes: Sir Isaac Guidance Trainers

Location: New York, NY

Type of Run: Quickie

Time of Day: 6:57 PM EST

Distance Run: 1.38 miles

Time Run: 00:10:01

Average Pace: 07:14 per mile

Weather Conditions: Chilly (43 degrees Fahrenheit), Breezy

Disposition: Good

Link to Run Detail: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/28103923

About the Run: This morning, at about 1 AM, the very early stages of labor began for my wife! I am so excited I can hardly focus on walking, much less anything else. My run today was a quick one, that I waited to go on until my mother-in-law got here to hold down the fort. I’m sorry this post isn’t so interesting, but I only have one thing on my mind! Stay tuned!

Date: 3/25/10

Consecutive Days Run: 84

Runner: Brandon Wood

Shoes: Newton Gravitas

Location: New York, NY

Type of Run: Tempo

Time of Day: 2:24 PM EST

Distance Run: 9.80 miles

Time Run: 01:09:57

Average Pace: 07:08 per mile

Weather Conditions: Pleasant (58 degrees Fahrenheit), Breezy

Disposition: Decent

Link to Run Detail: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/28035947

About the Run: My assigned run for today was: Warm up in zone 2 for 10 minutes. Then run 55 minutes at your 1/2 marathon pace. Cool down for 10 minutes with an easy jog. Whenever I see that I have a tempo run like this, I get a bit leery of it because it’s a lot harder for me than a really long run. In any event, it had to get done, so I went.

The weather was really beautiful today which was good and helped my eagerness to run. I took the first ten minutes easy as assigned, but as I look at the data now, I am shocked at how fast I was running! The first “easy” ten minutes were at a 7:19 pace, but felt more like 8 minutes plus. I am finding, recently, that my general pace has picked up quite a bit. That’s a really good thing but it forces me to reassess my levels of perceived effort.

The run felt good and was faster, once again, than I thought I was. Now, I just need to figure out if I can put up those numbers off the bike!

Date: 3/24/10

Consecutive Days Run: 83

Runner: Brandon Wood

Shoes: Sir Isaac Guidance Trainers

Location: New York, NY

Type of Run: Quickie

Time of Day: 7:43 PM EST

Distance Run: 1.42 miles

Time Run: 00:10:48

Average Pace: 07:37 per mile

Weather Conditions: Cool (50 degrees Fahrenheit)

Disposition: Good

Link to Run Detail: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/27959258

About the Run: With this run, I completed an inadvertent, broken triathlon for the day That is to say that I did a swim at about 2 PM today, then when I got home from work, I immediately went for my assigned hour and a half ride and upon returning from my ride, I headed out on my quick transition run (unassigned).

The ride went well, but on the way back from the out-and-back route I had taken, I was met with a headwind strong enough to be kicking up some pretty good whitecaps on the Hudson River. This felt like it was taking quite a bit out of my legs. However, when I went out on my run my legs felt kind of numb and moved far faster than I expected! I made sure to keep my shoulders and such very relaxed on my run, which is a challenge it turns out due to the fact that I spent the large majority of my ride in the aero position, thus keeping my back stretched out.

The run felt really good by the end, and I had no idea that my pace was as fast as it was!

Date: 3/23/10

Consecutive Days Run: 82

Runner: Brandon Wood

Shoes: Newton AW Trainers

Location: New York, NY

Type of Run: Endurance Build

Time of Day: 7:55 PM EST

Distance Run: 9.75 miles

Time Run: 01:14:44

Average Pace: 07:40 per mile

Weather Conditions: Cool (53 degrees Fahrenheit), Muggy

Disposition: Good

Link to Run Detail: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/27875922

About the Run: I got home later that I wanted. My left, lower leg was tight. I was hungry. I was tired. Then, I went outside and had an absolutely incredible run!

All those thing are very true. Today was a long day, as they all seem to be in this whole, “waiting for baby” thing. I know the actual due date is Friday, March 26, but I want her to be here NOW! Anyway, back to my run. I was tired coming home and really did not feel like running at all. I made a promise to myself before I even left home this morning to get dressed and go run as soon as I got home. Done and done.

I began the run, which was eighty minutes in an easy zone 2, very slow and easy. Quickly, I found myself remaining relaxed but with a much quicker pace. I kept reminding myself to keep my cheeks, shoulders and wrists relaxed. I don’t know why my wrists and cheeks, but it just seemed that when I relaxed those things, the rest of my body followed suit. Anyway, I kept a quick, light cadence that seemed to just flow. This was by no means my fastest run ever, but it just felt so amazing! I hope to take these lessons and have many more runs like this.

Date: 3/22/10

Consecutive Days Run: 81

Runner: Brandon Wood

Shoes: La Sportiva Wildcat GTX

Location: New York, NY

Type of Run: Quickie

Time of Day: 5:56 PM EST

Distance Run: 1.37 miles

Time Run: 00:11:14

Average Pace: 08:13 per mile

Weather Conditions: Nasty (54 degrees Fahrenheit), Muggy, Raining

Disposition: Meh

Link to Run Detail: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/27789266

About the Run: Quite honestly, today was a “getting it done” day. The weather outside combined with my mood being off because the pool was closed for my workout earlier this afternoon, made for a kind of “blah” mood. I got home, once again in the holding pattern that my as yet unborn daughter seems to enjoy, and walked the dogs with my wife.

Back from the walk, I suited up in what I thought would be good attire considering the rain. I was a bit off. It was pleasantly cool out, but the humidity lingering in the air quickly let me know that, even though I was in shorts, the long-sleeved top I was wearing was not the right thing to be wearing. Clothing is a tricky thing for me due to my sweat production. I would almost always rather be too cold than too hot.

The run itself was fine. Nothing special, though I must say that my lower legs were far more tired than I expected after yesterday’s 18.6 mile run. I sure hope this weather breaks soon!

Date: 3/21/10

Consecutive Days Run: 80

Runner: Brandon Wood

Shoes: Sir Isaac Guidance Trainers

Location: New York, NY

Type of Run: LSD

Time of Day: 11:02 PM EST

Distance Run: 18.59 miles

Time Run: 02:22:54

Average Pace: 07:41 per mile

Weather Conditions: Amazing (60 degrees Fahrenheit)

Disposition: Good

Link to Run Detail: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/27638963

About the Run: In my opinion, there are few days each year that are so perfect as today. The sun was shining, there was a light breeze out of North and the temperature was holding right around a perfect-for-running sixty degrees. While I was jealous of the many friends I had running races yesterday and today; Shamrock Marathon, L.A. Marathon and the New York City Half-Marathon to name a few, I had my own, pretty hefty workout to attend to.

Once again, Laminator and I made plans to meet up on the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway. I left my place at eleven AM, setting a nice relaxed pace. Lam and I met after about 5 miles or so and we held on to the same relaxed pace. In fact, for the whole run, I really focused on staying relaxed in my upper body. I’ve noticed that I sometimes tense up through my shoulders and only concentrate on keeping my legs relaxed. Today, I felt good, top to bottom. Lam and I had great conversation and a great time running! All in all, a really wonderful run!

Date: 3/20/10

Consecutive Days Run: 79

Runner: Brandon Wood

Shoes: Sir Isaac Guidance Trainers

Location: New York, NY

Type of Run: Quickie

Time of Day: 5:19 PM EST

Distance Run: 1.77 miles

Time Run: 00:12:17

Average Pace: 06:57 per mile

Weather Conditions: Amazing (73 degrees Fahrenheit)

Disposition: Good

Link to Run Detail: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/27545321

About the Run: This run came after my first ride to Nyack, New York of 2010. During my ride I concentrated on keeping my cadence high and spinning through any hills rather than “pushing a big gear”. After arriving home from my ride, I uploaded my Garmin data and then headed out for my run.

I expected my legs to be far more fatigued than they actually were. When I headed out the door, to be honest my legs were a bit numb to anything. Not sore, not tired, just kind of numb. I found though, that I was very bouncy and lively in my stride and I was pleasantly surprised by that! Upon getting home and uploading my data, I discovered that I had held down an average pace of 6:57 per mile! Granted, it was a short run, but a successful one nonetheless.

Date: 3/19/10

Consecutive Days Run: 78

Runner: Brandon Wood

Shoes: Newton Gravitas

Location: New York, NY

Type of Run: Recovery

Time of Day: 6:19 PM EST

Distance Run: 6.27 miles

Time Run: 00:45:33

Average Pace: 07:15 per mile

Weather Conditions: Amazing (64 degrees Fahrenheit)

Disposition: Good

Link to Run Detail: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/27445321

About the Run: After yesterday’s disaster of a run, I felt like I needed to prove something to myself. So, I may have slightly ignored my assigned effort for today’s run. Coach Jeff gave me a 45 minute recovery run. This calls for a nice, easy run with not much effort. I tried that for about two minutes and then decided to ramp it up a few notches.

My run took me on my usual route on a, once again, beautiful evening. It turns out that my body is a bit in shock about the sudden temperature shift, but I need to get over that ASAP. As I reached the turn around point of my run (I had no idea of pace or distance as I don’t watch those things when I run, only heart rate and total time), there was a runner ahead who would be behind me as soon as I did an about face. As I did, I heard his footsteps about ten feet behind me and relished the chance at an impromptu challenge. At this point, I was right about seven minutes a mile, and the other runner, who I thought was a bit faster than that, had dropped off my wheel in short order.

The run went very well, but did leave me wondering how I’ll stay hydrated for my LSD run of two hours, fifteen minutes on Sunday. You see, during the Winter, all or almost all of the water fountains in the parks of New York City are turned off to avoid freezing. I have a Fuelbelt, but it only holds two, eight ounce bottles. Maybe a four bottle version is called for!

Date: 3/18/10

Consecutive Days Run: 77

Runner: Brandon Wood

Shoes: Newton Gravitas

Location: New York, NY

Type of Run: Endurance Build

Time of Day: 2:04 PM EST

Distance Run: 6.34 miles

Time Run: 00:49:48

Average Pace: 07:51 per mile

Weather Conditions: Amazing (66 degrees Fahrenheit), sunny

Disposition: Started fine, downhill rapidly

Link to Run Detail: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/273712055

About the Run: Ok, first, the title of this post, “AWFUL” has nothing to do with the quality of the run really, it just has to do with the way I ended up feeling. I began my run on an absolutely incredible day, feeling good and ready to run. I didn’t have a tough assignment, but rather a one hour fifteen minute run in heart rate zone 2. I felt good heading out and found nice steady pace at right around 7:30 per mile.

Just before mile three, without warning, I felt my stomach go to pieces. I won’t go into too many details, so I’ll do what I can. I found myself doubled over in pain and wondering if I could even make it the three miles back to my office. I tried to run a bit more to see if it was just a fleeting pain. It was not. I turned and headed back and made it back, fortunately. My run ended up being just shy of 50 minutes, and I felt AWFUL. I don’t know why, but it just sucked…a LOT.

Date: 3/17/10

Consecutive Days Run: 76

Runner: Brandon Wood

Shoes: Newton Gravitas

Location: New York, NY

Type of Run: Quickie

Time of Day: 5:54 PM EST

Distance Run: 1.50 miles

Time Run: 00:13:12

Average Pace: 08:48 per mile

Weather Conditions: Amazing (62 degrees Fahrenheit), sunny

Disposition: Good

Link to Run Detail: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/27289205

About the Run: With a very small and tentative voice I will say that Spring has sprung here in New York.  I hesitate to shout it due to our propensity for late March and even April snow storms that can blanket a very reluctantly springy city in white. In any event, today was a beautiful day to be outside. I got home and immediately headed out the door, taking my dog Bubba with me, for a quick run.

Our run began, of course, with Bubba trying to pee on everything not moving. We headed on our normal route, enjoying every ounce of warm sunshine. the run was quick and Bubba did well, mostly taking it slow, but putting on big bursts of speed every now and then.