Weak start, redeeming end.

Karma was a rock star today, and that deserves the first line!

So I started the week with no runing until Wednesday, as I drove up to Dallas early Monday and didn't get back until Tuesday for the U2 concert.  Sure it wasn't the best for my training, but I couldn't care less about that when it comes to fun things to do in life.  I'll continue to put fun life events well above training.

Wednesday I ran 13 miles with some friends. 

Then I took Thursday off.  I had full intentions to run on Thursday but that morning, when i took Karma for his morning walk, I just felt really tired.  My body still lacked sleep from the 3 straight late nights, so I opted to go back to bed, as I had a long three days ahead of me. 

Friday, I welcomed the return of wonderful running weather and ran 20 miles with Bruce, with Ken and Mer joining us for about half of that.  Felt great for those 20. 

Saturday was a long day of 7+ hours of driving to the Texas vs. Oklahoma game in Dallas, which also included many more hours standing up pre and post game.  Left my house at 4:40am, and returned at 8:20.  

This morning I met Nedra, then Mer for about 3hrs and 30 minutes of easy to normal paced running before I cranked REAL HARD for 90 minutes.  I ran at absolutely the hardest trail pace I've ever run for those 90minutes with plenty of downhill and uphill running.  The  cooldown run back to the car was pretty painful, because I really put in a hard hard effort out there.  All in all about 5 hours and 20 minutes today for around 23 or 24 miles.  One more week of hard work before I slow things down a bit before Cactus Rose 50 miler!

Since back in March or so, Karma hasn't run more than either 3 miles on the Zilker Karma Loop (Christmas tree loop), OR 45 minutes on trails due to the heat and humidity really affecting him as he's 10 years old.  Today, we were greeted by low 50's and low humidity, so he joined Nedra and I for a full 90 minutes of trail running!  He wagged his tail all the way, but was pretty beat once we got back to the car.  At this pace, as long as the mornings are in the 50's or lower, and there's water in the creek for him, he'll easily get back to last year's 8 mile runs with me!