Well, interesting experiment this weekend. I somehow figured out that my anaerobic threshold is 160 (85% of 190). So, I figured I'd be running "aerobically" if I just stayed beneath that number. Well, I hit it too hard in the first hour, jogging some of the smaller ups. My heart was thumping. I walked all the ups for the rest of the run. Hit a groove in the last half hour, just cruising, running till hr hit 160, then walking. Felt good, though tired. Felt good to run, especially after I walked. Clipped along at 8:30-9/mile. Overall, I felt tired, but I feel fine today the day after. NB 809's are finished. Hurt feet too bad.

Barefoot: ran .35 barefoot at end of run. Fine, no sprains, strains, or pains. Today, ankle feels stiff and a bit sore but overall good. Will run tomorrow with same strategy, or maybe do low hr. Not sure, still playing around with the ideas. May do low hr most of the time then hit a couple of more intense runs, doing my longer runs at a faster pace, a mid week and a weekend long run at faster paces as I want to race long distances faster. Sounds good, we'll see if it's too intense.

Well, I'm trying to update my blog so I can put my training log right on the page with a link to the log so I don't have to duplicate my workouts in three different places. Anyway, I am beginning to build my mileage and time training bit by bit consistently with no negative feedback from the ankle so far, so I may be good to go to ramp it up more. Crosstraining with different things-rower, stationary bike, climber, calisthenics. Just building volume. 

   Met Joe Kulak last weekend when out in the woods with the kids. He got second at Umstead this year and may be a good person to learn from. Later. 

Well, it looks like I may have finally gotten my ankle issues under control. Back in February (that's the weirdest spelled vs. pronounced word out there, except for maybe Wednesday (Wed-nes-day)) I tore up my achilles and some other supportive tissues in my left ankle from barefoot running. I tried to run through it to no avail. I had to finally start taking some time off from running. I would rest for 2-3 weeks before trying again, only to be sidelined by pain. Mostly I used how I felt when I got out of bed in the morning as a gauge for how it was feeling. When it hurt, I could feel it when I was barefoot in the mornings getting out of bed, a painful stretch upon rising. When it didn't hurt, I would start running again, usually overkill as per normal for me ( all or nothing, no moderation). After several bouts of running for 2 weeks, resting for 2, I may have finally healed up. I'm only running 3 days per week, :30 on T and Th and 1:00 on Saturday, but there is no residual pain the next day. It rarely hurt when I was running but would hurt for a few days after I finished my runs normally. So, in addition to the rest, I also started wearing the high heel running shoes I so disdain to reduce the stretch on my achilles. Seems to have worked, though the anterior muscles of my shin and ankle have been hurting due to some extra strain from the shoes. Tonight I bought some $15 "Starters" from Wally world that are old school, just foam for cushioning. They're to be a transition shoe for the next few weeks to months till I stretch out and strengthen everything again. I'm currently trying to add 15% to my weekly mileage or time to begin to build back the aerobic system. I'm still loyal to Van Aaken and Maffetone, for now. I'm trying to keep hr low, below 140. I'll try and keep my focus and stay with this through the winter and see where I am then. Oh, I'm stoked, I think I found a trail on the east side of Lincoln that I didn't know about before. AND, I found some of the fabled Lower Gwyned trails in the neighborhoods next to the Y that I read about and may allow for some fresh, long routes. We'll see. 

   Theology: I was into guitar for a few weeks, and Eugene Peterson real good. That man's a real good biblical theologian. He has a nice grasp of the redemptive story of history and reads his bible and exegetes it accordingly. Very exciting reading. I bought a version of the Message with notations inserted into it from various writings of his. I may choose him as my theologian to digest and chew on, as Piper did Edwards and Keller did with C.S. Lewis. 

   My enthusiasm for running is filling my imagination with visions of long runs through the woods with late afternoon light slanting through the trees. The funny thing is that running draws me closer to God as I see him in the creation and it warms my heart. Yet, it can pull me away from him as well. He is primary, exercise, diet, and how I look and feel are secondary. I can be gripped and filled by the wrong agenda. Help me father to love and worship you alone. One way the struggle manifests is with how I will use my limited time. I want to get up and run. I NEED to spend time in the word to get my head on right and to see Jesus that I might have my heart gripped by his glory and live accordingly. The two are in competition with one another. We'll see who wins and how the battle goes. 

God bless everybody..... ANYbody. (HELLO...HEllo...hello.....(echoing off into silence)).