Living in between - run thoughts

Went for a 6.34 mile run today - good to be back at my normal workout distance.

See below for geeky running details.

Listened to my latest obsessive sci-fi reading - Persepolis Rising, which is Book 7 of the Expanse series. A truly wonderful standout in the field of sci-fi.

Got me thinking about moving between states - as individuals, communities, peoples, and the world. Every moment is between two others - we are always in motion. The idea that there is a static moment where everything “just is” is an illusion. Embracing that kind of constant change is difficult and I am working through it personally right now.

Meanwhile, here are the geekier running details.

I use iSmoothRun for tracking on an iPhone and linked to an Apple Watch. iSmoothrun allows me to customize a workout better than most apps I have used.

Fuller stats of today’s run at Smashrun here.

Also here’s the run Strava here.

I follow and connect via both platforms, but more on Strava.

Some details for the run:

Running Time: 1:00:05

Total Distance: 6.34 miles

Avg. page: 9:29/mile

Two weeks of runs - getting faster

I reached a great milestone this week, ran 7 miles averaging less than 8 minutes per mile. Still walking 30 seconds per mile on distance and tempo runs, and those walks are in the times. Here are all the runs and their logs...​

April 20 - 7 miles at an 8:08/mile average - had a good run and beat the goal, averaging 8:03/mile according to Nike+'s record here.​

April 22 - intervals - four 3/4 miles at 5:13 each, with 1/4 miles resting between them. On intervals, I run 2 miles to warm up, and around 1 mile as a cool down. I managed to keep the pace close to the goal on the first two intervals and dropped 20 and 30 seconds on the uphill segments. Full details here.​

April 25 - Tempo run - 3 miles at 7:38/mile average - plus 1 mile warm up and 1 mile cool down. Almost did this - the splits on the three miles were: 7:18, 7:40, 8:03. So I did come pretty close! See the whole run here.​

April 28 - 7 miles at an 8:08/mile average - and here was where I went under 8 minutes per mile on average, actually averaging 7:57/mile! See it all here.​

May 1 - Intervals - 5 kilometer intervals aiming for 4:18/kilometer with quarter mile rests between them.​ I struggled with these, came close on 3, and dropped 20+ seconds on two. Not much to look at here, since the walks slow down the overall pace a lot!

Mourning Boston & Texas - Moving towards goals

​Keep on running Boston - comfort and strength to Massachusetts and Texas during this terrible week.

Over a week of runs, so four to report on, now that I am getting into the schedule towards my next race, the Zombie Run in Charlotte, on Sunday, May 19 - please join me and register with our Temple Beth El team - Run for your life, save the world here!

Here are the "rundowns" (pun intended :-D):​

Wednesday, April ​10 - Goal: 4 miles averaging 7:53/mile.
On this Tempo run I gained 20 seconds on the first two miles after the warm-up mile, giving me some room to slow a bit on the second two uphill miles, where I lost 32 seconds. So on the miles that counted I averaged 7:56/mile, which is pretty close. Run details here.

​Saturday, April 13 - Goal: 8 miles averaging 8:08/mile.
On my first really hot and humid run of the season, in the middle of a crazy day, I managed a good pace for the first 5 miles and then dropped like a stone for the last three - really glad I got out though! Run details here.

Monday, April 15 - Goal: 6 half miles at 3:25 each, with 90 second rest intervals.
I came pretty close to the 3:25 time, within 2-3 seconds, on 4 out of 6 of these - the uphill ones were brutal. On interval runs I do between 1.5 to 2 miles of warm-up and at least 1 mile cool down. Run details here.

Today, Thursday, April 18 - Goal: 2 miles at 7:43/mile, 1 mile easy, 2 miles at 7:43/mile.
I took it easy on the warm up mile and was able to push through, without any of my mid-mile walks on both 2 mile segments today. On the first 2 mile segment I averaged 7:40/mile, and on the second 7:45/mile with the uphill parts too, so I feel pretty good. Run details here.

I have dropped to using only Brooks Pure Cadence shoes - the NB Minimus seem to hurt my right calf.​

NYC City Hall Flies Boston Flag.jpg

Runs across the land

In the last week, after a Passover break from running, I managed to run my best mile ever during intervals on Monday, April 1, struggle with the uphill half of a run in Palm Desert on Wednesday, and have a great meet my goal 6 miler today upon returning home. Here are the runs, and their goals...​

Monday - Intervals with 1/4 mile breathers in between: 1 mile at 7:06, did it in 6:39!; 3/4 mile at 5:13, came pretty close; 1/2 mile in 3:25, I petered out here on the hill; and 1/4 mile in 1:40, which I also managed pretty well. Run map and splits here.​

Wednesday - Tempo Run in Palm Desert - Warm up mile, 1 mile at 7:38, easy mile, 1 mile at 7:38, easy mile, 1 mile at 7:38, cool down mile. 7:23 and 7:30 on those first miles which were downhill and relatively flat, respectively. I died on the last mile, going back uphill, ending up at 8:53. Run map and splits here.

​Today, Sunday - "long" run - 6 miles averaging 8:08/mile. Felt mostly good, and carried a good average all the way through, including on the hills. Ended with an 8:05/mile average, and I am happy with that! Run map and splits here. This run includes the Galloway recommended 30 seconds walking per mile as well, with the exception of the last break after mile 6 which I just ran through.

New Name Same Mission

Shabbat Shalom everyone!​

After a small hiatus in posting I am back, with a renamed blog to better suit what I am doing now, so welcome to "Run Rabbi Run"!​

Almost a week ago I finished the Tobacco Road Half Marathon in 1:46 - here are the official results: Tobacco Road Half for me :-)

​My next goal is the Zombie Run, a 5k, on Sunday, May 19, 2013, at 12:30pm in Freedom Park here in Charlotte. It's only 5k (3.1 miles) and you're chased by zombies - register now and help TBE's Mitzvah Day Projects - team registration link. Run for your life save the world!

​This week I began the training program for a 5k from Run Less Run Faster. Going a little slower than recommended since I don't have the full 12 weeks between the half marathon and the 5k in May - here are those runs:
Tempo run on Wednesday - aiming for 4 miles at 7:53/mile between a mile for warming up and a mile to cool down. I came pretty close to the target time.
Long-ish run today - aiming for 6 miles at an 8:08/mile average, and ended up closer to 8:16.

More to come - follow me on Twitter or friend me in Facebook to keep up!​