Neither of these are insanely long runs. Plus, I only have some much time in a week to run. Most nights I either have class or homework, other nights (while few and far between) are for socializing. Additionally, I think it would be a decent workout for an easy week. One of the main ideas of a marathon program with a long run no greater than 20 miles is that you run 8-10 miles one day, and 18-20 miles the next. Just think of this as a much easier version of that. In a time when I need to increase my overall aerobic ability, I don’t think it’s a bad idea. I know I had issues with my calf a few weeks back after doing repeat miles followed by an easy five the next day, but I think this should be much easier. Plus, I follow this up with yoga on Sunday.

Rick, I've also been doing most weekends recently as two medium-to-long runs, because weekends are so much easier days to run, and because that is usually when I can run with groups or run races. I didn't notice any air quality problems in Boston, but I do not have very good sense of smell anyway.

tri club duathlon this morning -- got two bikes working & tires inflated & did it with Crystal: 3mi run (23:18), 15mi bike (59:36), 3mi run (24:46) w Crystal. We were last, but had fun, and it was her first bike in many months at least (and only my 2nd).

So aren't you at all worried that running two 10ks within two weeks is a bit much? It'd be a shame if you ran that 5/25 10k solo then couldn't run the Kiwanis on 6/7 with all the rest of us. I really need to start getting up and out earlier on Saturdays, because it's going to kill me if I keep doing my long runs between 12 noon and 4 p.m. during these hot months. I don't think I would've been able to resist heat exhaustion yesterday if not for my water bottle holster --- the liquid of which was warm by the time I started my run, even though I'd dumped FIVE ice cubes into each bottle! Needing a change of running scenery, yesterday I eschewed my neighborhood and instead drove down to Greenwell. Well what should I have found impeding my passage at the park entrance but a blockade manned by senior citizens! Rolling down my window, I was promptly addressed by a geriatric sentry. Apparently the whole place was commandeered by wedding-related activities, and after a good deal of confusion (on his part), I made it clear that I was there neither for "the wedding" nor "the shower", but just to run. Still befuddled, gramps insisted that he would still have to charge me a parking fee. Not wanting to pay (and also not wanting to crash a wedding as a rude runner), I backed up and got out of there. So now it was either go to Dorsey Park or drive home, making the one-hour round trip all for naught. Sure enough, Dorsey Park was utterly bombarded with hundreds of people, every single one of them there for the sake of kids' sports --- all save me, the lone runner (seriously, I didn't see a single other runner or walker/jogger anywhere. The trails were deserted despite the parking lot being at max capacity). To accomplish my intended distance, I would have had to do SEVEN of the 1.55-mile Dorsey laps --- running 10.5 miles over a constant repeat of the same twisty, turny, rooty, hilly, uneven ground with parents of flag-football kids parking their damn lawn chairs right in my way at several points. And the scorching sun --- still fairly high overhead since it was not quite 3 p.m. --- had an added edge of humidity (like I said, the liquid in my belt bottles was already almost sticky warm by the time I began). Furthermore, the grass badly needed to be cut, and with every footfall I caused swarms of buzzing bugs to fly angrily up all around me (and let's not even mention all the spiderwebs I ran through in the woods!). After four laps, I couldn't take it anymore. I knew that I wasn't possibly going to make it through another three laps, especially not with the temptation to quit that would arise every subsequent time I passed by my car (and frankly, things were getting awkward since I'd already passed right by the same sports spectators four times). So, upon completing lap four, I redirected my course and ran to the entrance/exit of the park, turning right onto the Hollywood/Leonardtown road! I ran on that road towards Leonardtown for over two miles, running well past the old Hollywood McKays. The change to smooth, solid, even ground was most welcomed, but there were other factors I hadn't considered. The heat from the blazing sun was literally radiating off the asphalt, and I found myself ascending a virtually non-stop incline all the way until I made my U-turn (you never notice these things when you're driving). To my horror, I looked down and saw flesh flaking away all down my arms due to the harsh UV rays, even though I had applied sunscreen (but probably the kind that's not sweat-resistant). Anyways, I made the turn back as soon as the Forerunner reckoned 8.3 miles. I was blessed on the return trip because I now found myself running in the shade and --- obviously --- I was following a virtually non-stop decline. In fact, although I'd been struggling the keep the pace sub-10:00/mi at Dorsey, I was presently averaging well below 8:00/mi without any added effort. The road abruptly began climbing uphill, though, in the final quarter mile leading back to the park, and that was one final challenge I could have done without. But I'd judged my distance wisely, hitting 10.5 miles exactly when I reached my car. That gave me 30 miles exactly for the week.

Perry - Are you planning on any triathlons in the future? A duotholon in itself is impressive, though. I'd like to do a triathlon at some point in my life, but unfortunately my training program would have to involve learning how to swim.

My intended training this week is geared towards running the Robbie Miles 5k on Saturday. Perry, have you given it any more consideration? I'm also trying to get Joe on board. I told him that this could be an opportunity to set a new record for the biggest drop in 5k time over a two week period ever (that's assuming that he could run close to 30:00 if he really tried, which would be 11 minutes faster than his recent Hospice time). And Perry, I have no doubt that this Saturday could be your lucky day to break 20:00!

Adubb - Here’s an indication as to how much you are above me right now… after doing a three mile maintenance run yesterday, I was fairly happy with capping off a 16.5 mile weekend (Friday – Sunday). You almost banged that out in an afternoon. Is there any indication as to where you’ll be in mid-March? I know this is way down the road, but maybe you’d be interested in running the Lower Potomac Marathon with us. Here’s something else you might be interested in. At the Hospice 5K, Alden announced his intention that he was planning on running a Half in Virginia Beach at the end of August. He was talked into this by people in (or affiliated with) his program at Hopkins. It looks like you may have some company for the race.