Running for Schroeder

My morning run today started out fine. I felt strong and anticipated a pretty good time. I was running to work and thought I might try a slightly different route since I had left early enough that I had plenty of time. I had an 8:30 AM CST call to India, but I started at 6:20 AM CST and usualy can get to work in 1:10. So off I go. Pflugerville is an old town and when it was laid out they hadn’t heard of grids. Oh, and I am severly directionally challenged. Not a plesant combination. I took my 5.2 mile run and turned it into an 8.8 that took me through a lot of town that I hadn’t been to before. Here is my route:

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It was fun and I needed to start adding good distance runs, but dang. I got back home in 1:56 which wasn’t a bad pace, but I had to go straight to my call and then the one after, and the one after…needless to say I am working from home. I will head to work after lunch, in my car.

So my run this morning was looking like it would be a 1:05 run until I stopped in at Walgreens for some cheaper than vending machine drinks. I have gotten through 20 minutes of solid running the past two runs and plan on upping the time as my endurance warrants. Still thinking about a bike since Schroeder is going to be changing schools and it will no-longer be convenient for Heather to pick me up in the afternoons. Perhaps I am a wimp, but running home in 90+ degree heat with the big Texas sun shining down on me doesn’t appeal.

Ran to work this morning. I ran once last week but didn’t ever get the post about it submitted. Here is my new route:

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It is 5.2 miles and avoids pretty much all of the traffic. The one run last week was due to bad planning rather than sickness. My Dr. is cool and drugged me sufficiently to make running doable. She said that if I got to the point I couldn’t run, then she wasn’t doing her job correctly and to give her a chance to work it out. I got blood work done and everything looked very good.

My pace wasn’t bad and I got a full 20 minutes in without starting up intervals (in other words, walking). I still find myself pushing too hard and blowing the top out of my target pulse rate. I am hoping that getting a little more into shape will grant me the comfort zone I need to work more on distance.

I have seriously thought about (and actually went to purchase) getting a cruiser (single speed bicycle) to ride to and from work. On the plus side:

• I could reasonably expect to ride home in the 90+ weather that is a constant here in Texas
• It wouldn’t take an hour+ out of my morning
• I like riding

On the minus side:

• Cost (ok, I am cheap and $100 still means something)
• Upkeep (I can barely remember to change my oil)

So, the jury is still out.