It's cloudy and billowly? No..

Asics Nimbus and GT-2100
Originally uploaded by yumkerun.

I wrote yesterday that I bought a new GT-2110 (same as the shoe at the right, but red). The reason is because yesterday, I tried out the Gel Nimbus (black and silver) for my 10K. I felt blisters coming on and what came to my mind was 'screw this, isn't Nimbus supposed to be like a cloud, like running on a cloud?'

No, the soles of my feet were aching. Which is why I bought the second pair of GT-2110s for marathon day. I don't want my feet getting used to another shoe while I hit my big month for mileage. I will wear the Nimbus post marathon. R. picked it up for me in New York and I hope it's just a matter of lacing up the shoes a bit differently.

Today, I ran 6K (3.7 miles) part tempo with the km splits of:
4:40
4:37
4:44
4:30
4:42
4:08

I'll have a short, double latte to go...

0830powergels
Originally uploaded by yumkerun.

Wandered into my local running shop, where they had a sale for members! Go me! I picked up my next pair of GT-2110s that I will be using on marathon day. And it was 25% off! Added to that, I bought a Sugoi long sleeve fall running shirt and the 'new' PowerBar Gels.

I don't know how many of you use PowerBar gels, but they came out with new types (maybe we're slow to get themin Canada?). Anyways, these new ones are 25 cents more, but they also include electrolytes in addition to the carbs. Which means these gels pretty much replace sports drinks. I'm going to use these on my long runs to see how things go.

And they also came up with new flavours: A new tasting vanilla and a double latte.

Ran 10K (6 miles) this morning.

Bad food, good times...

Oh, I wish I took pictures with my camera phone.. oh well. I ran 6.5K (4 miles) today, then my friend Fitzy called. He said, wanna go to the Ex? To which the answer was, 'hell ya!'

You see, I spent a good 10 summers working the final 20 days leading up to labour day at the Ex. Canada's National Exhibition is a huge fair, made up of tonnes of midway rides, gambling tables and more than you can count of ways to lose money. It's also a place where you'll find hundreds of vendors of, for the lack of a better word, stuff.. Oh yes, and food. Sweet god the food!

When we got there, we made a bee line for the Food building with its 90 vendors. I love that place, and it's where I spent all 10 summers at my dad's burger shop. I started at the age of 10 as a bun boy, placing burger buns in a massive rolling toaster (yes, I qualified as child labour.. i think dad gave me $5 for day's work). Then I graduated to fry guy, where I learned to carry two baskets of fries with ease, then to burger flipper (after flipping thousands on a grill, i have to say I know my way around frozen patties.) then to the cash register, where I learned the good manners...

Anyways, dad stopped running his burger joint about seven years ago, but my uncle and aunt run two of the best fish and chip places there, H. Salt fish and chips. Oh my god it's sooo good and worth the trip to the Ex. Crispy batter and moist and tender inside. Heaven. We visited my aunt and I swear I wanted to pay for dinner, but she shoved two plates of fish and chips at us.. It's the familia.. Who are we to refuse?

That was later followed by a corn dog (gross) and a bag of Tiny Tom donuts (icing sugar)... Think Homer Simpson and say, 'Yummm.. Dooo-nuutyy goodnesss'

Oh yeah, and speaking of small world, guess who i saw at the midway. Jelly, who took the day off work to hang out there with her sister. Like the running geeks were are, we somehow snuck in talk of mileage while figuring out how to lose more money.

Good times..

In my mind...

DSC04825
Originally uploaded by yumkerun.

This was what I was picturing during my long run.. peaceful, no traffic no people.. okay, I wish..

I skipped my scheduled 4 miler this morning cause I wanted to sleep in ahead of my first day back from vacation (and the ninth last day at work before the new job.

After work, I decided to not only make up the 4 miler, but to do 16K (10 miles), the distance of tomorrow's sorta-long run. I'd replace tomorrow's sorta long with today's 4 miler.. Besides, I'd rather do a long run in the evening than in a weekday morning.

It's a big week, one of my plus-50 mile weeks if I can get all the mileage in.. Frankie and I have been having a debate on whether we should attempt 23 miles on one of our long runs. I'm undecided. Anyone else out there think there is good use to getting that close to marathon distance?

Chicago countdown: Week 9 complete, 55 days to go

After yesterday's long run, I really didn't feel like putting any effort into a run, so did a slow paced 6K (3.7 miles) and threw in an 800 metre run at 4:30 km pace. Felt good. Considering I didn't run from Monday to Wednesday, I think my total mileage this week was pretty good.

Now, a couple of things on the horizon in what will be a big September for me.

I start a new job in two weeks. I resigned from my old job a week and a half ago and will be joining a rival website. I'm sad to leave after six years but excited for the challenge. I got it written in my new contract that I would have Oct. 20 and the 23rd off so I could do Chicago. Yep, I'm not going to throw away months of training away, no way.

I have three more 20 milers coming then on Oct. 1, the taper will begin. Three 20 milers in September. Ouch.

In one of my step-back Sundays, on Sept. 24, I have signed up for a half marathon. This will be the dress rehearsal for Chicago. The debate is whether I want to do the whole thing at marathon pace or try to run at my half marathon racing pace. One thing is certain: I would love to kick the ass of the time I logged there last year.

Weekly total: 65K (40.5 miles)
Time run this week: 5:48:28
Year to date: 1,720.5K (1,069 miles)
Marathon training to date: 668.5K (415 miles)