4: 6: 4: 12

I just completed a 12 mile run, which was the long run for week 7, and let me tell ya, I'm a little bit tired. I'd like to attribute it to last week's laziness, and I probably will to some degree, but I'm not sure I have been quite this stiff and sore before. During this run I began to feel the first real twinges of pain/potential problems in my right knee and right ankle area. I've known for a little while that I run off-balance because often my right leg will be more tired or sore than my left, but I'm really not sure how to fix it. So I'll just wait and see how bad it gets. Hopefully it'll be no problem with a little tlc. (I'm sitting here icing my knees as I type this.) I know that what I really need is an ice bath, they really are quite effective...but you'd probably have to knock me out to get me to sit down in a bathtub full of ice. I will just continue enjoying my frozen bag of peas. I don't have any real blisters to speak of, and I still have all my toenails, so I won't complain...
This week of training was pretty tough because of the heat, and I'm pretty sure that's why I've felt so fatigued this week, plus a weird stomach bug, but now this week is behind me and next week is week 8! Halfway there!
I had a pretty good route all planned out today, but into about mile 3 I was thinking "this route is getting really boring, I need to find a new one." Which is true. I don't know the area really well so I'm kind of just sticking to the same roads and I think I'd be happier if I branched out a bit. I ran down to the Salmon Creek Trail and decided to be a little adventurous and take the extension that goes 1.5 miles further in a different direction and was so excited to be in a new area that I sorta just kept going. I finally glanced down at my pedometer and realized I needed to start heading back to the trailhead. I went farther than I should have and hit mile 12 about a half mile away from the house. Oh well.
Another new tactic I tried today that saved me was carrying gatorade with me for part of the run and then stashing it in the bushes for the loop back. The plan was to have some at mile 0, 2, 7, 9 and the end of 12. Unfortunately my over-excitement about the new trail put me back a bit and I only got some at 2, 10 and the end of 12. Even with that I could feel how much it helped but I really need to be practicing drinking 6-8 ounces every 15-20 minutes in order to maintain hydration. And it really does take practice and getting used to having liquid in your stomach while you're running. That was a new feeling for me today.
One thing I'm experiencing and definitely enjoying is the sense of comeraderie between myself and other early-morning runners. I know that I run better by myself and usually prefer to run alone because it helps me stay focused, but sometimes it can be kind of lonely. Seeing other people out there doing the same thing makes me feel like I'm not the only crazy one waking up at dawn only to be caked in dried sweat. I enjoy the brief greeting we give to each other when we pass: a quick raise of the left hand and a simple spoken "morning". I especially love the people whom I pass more than once because then I really know they are doing what I'm doing...lots of miles. Passing by a second time usually warrants a smile. However I do not enjoy being passed by elderly men...makes me feel like a slacker.

My cumulative mileage total so far: 121.5