Double The Runs, Double The Thinking,

I absolutely dread double days. Now that the heat has picked up in this crazy Southern California city, I have to start running twice a day. A short run in the morning before the heat absolutely fries me, as if I'm not fried enough as it is, and a medium to long type run in the evening. The only problem that occurs is I'm always too lazy to wake up. Take today for example,

I set my alarm to beep at 7am but after constant uses of the snooze button I finally arise at 7:45. Not really slept the night before but I knew I had to be up early. Made a deal with my mom where if I left the house spotless she would take me out to buy the new shoes I have been needing for so long. So eh why not put a run in the morning to lighten the load. I lace up my Saucony's, knowing quite well that this would most likely be the last run I would have in these, and went outside.

Fuckkkkkkkk. I have not felt the heat so much since last summer. I wanted to go back inside my air conditioned house but I knew better then to do this. 30 minutes of running and it'll be over, just 4 miles of hell.

And hell it was. I covered the first two miles in 14:45, feeling like I am racing this just to get done.

The awful thing about these runs is that it's usually not long enough for me to get into my groove, which usually ends up happening around mile 5. Instead all I'm left thinking is why am I running in this hell.

I finally get to the turn around point and it's time to pick up the pace. At the time ticked away, the temperature arose.

I was hitting about 6:50 pace when I hit the 3 mile mark and the heat finally got to me. For some reason I felt like I was going to be sick. I just reminded myself that it was probably from lack of food and that I would be done in less than 10 minutes.

I finally finished it, sub 30 for a 4 mile.

Total Mileage: 40

I came back home and took a cold shower. So refreshing. I did absolutely nothing for the next hour just because I felt like shit.

I finally cleaned my house and my mom came and took me to go to Top Speed Running. They put me on the treadmill and it turns out I can now wear neutral shoes! So relieved. They brought out two Asics shoes, one Addidas, one, New Balance, and one Brooks. I took some time running in each around the store, my choice?


Brooks Glycerin 8.

I took these shoes out for a test run with the old high school team. Their coach wasn't there so it meant we were allowed to come run with them. So I called up Kevin to join us. He agrees and we head out to Montclair High School. We wait a while for the kids to get stretched. As always one acts like a total douchbag, but whatever, he is nothing to me anymore.

We begin our run and are traveling pretty well. Talking to everyone in our group, Kevin, Hernan, and Luis. About 2 1/2 miles into it Kevin turns due to having problems from the day before. Another 1/4 mile into it and Luis turns because he had just ran 6 miles. We stop at Claremont McKenna and Hernan and I decide to put down an easy 2 miles on the track so we wouldn't have to travel much more uphill.

We begin.

1st 800 comes at about a 3:09. Still feeling pretty fresh. Some eye candy on the track as well which made the run much nicer.

Mile 1 comes at a 6:34, we slowed the pace down quite significantly realizing that we were traveling faster and closer to tempo territory.

Hernan drops off at the mile mark to get some water and for some reason something clicks in me to try an easy tempo.

First 400, 1:30
Second 400:1:31
Third 400:1:31

As I see my watch at the 1200 mark I notice I'm off pace by a bit and add a small surge to get it back. As I come into the last 100 I do not even look at the watch, I pass the two mile mark and click.

6:00, nice.

From then on comes the cooldownish recovery run. We ended up finishing the run at 59:28. Nice easy run.

Total Milage: 48

As the day comes to a close I have a pretty interesting discussion with my neighbor. Many say that he is an idiot and lacks intelligence but after all these years I have come to understand that behind his tough exterior lies a complex and confusing person.

I admitted to him something that I have not said to anyone else. Something that I am incredibly not proud of. For some reason this has crept into my thoughts once again. It began with me joking around but ended with a realization that I do not like to admit. The person has invaded my thoughts once again. Him and I were left in similar situations, by his terms, "We got fucked with." So why now?