CRWC

Swam eleven laps in the diving well.  I feel like I am needing less resting time between lengths.  Talked to Duncan this morning.  He suggested I should try to go for 50 mts at a time now.

Bix7

Got up at five am and got ready for meeting Gene W at his house. We drove to Charlie F's house and met also with Bill. Charlie drove us to Davenport. These guys have known each other for many years and they are very good friends. We got ready and headed towards the corral where we waited. Race started at eight. Temperature was not hot. Perfect for a 7 mile race!

Just like last time, we had to dodge people walking or running very slow for the first couple of miles. I had to dodge people the whole race. I was chasing Charlie for two miles, but then decided to run solo. I ran the first mile in 9:18, but ran the rest under 8:00. Finished time was: 55:35.  That was better than last year (56:07). That's motivating.

Saw several Iowa City runners and said hello. We celebrated finishing the race having breakfast at the Machine Shed.

Borlaug Elementary School

Ran for four miles this morning. Got some rain last night, but it seems like it is not enough. Temp for Bix7 is expected to be about 85F. That is hot! I shouldn't expect a PR this race.
Visited BES.  It's so impressive!  what a nice building and what a nice school! I wish all the best for teachers and students at the new school.  This is the place where students can find millions of opportunities to develop their talents. I hope something incredible comes out of this place!

Interval Training

Decided to run at the Trojan Field track. I did 3 X 1 mile intervals with 2 min rest. My interval pace was close to 7:30 MM. My foot cooperated very well. I will taper for the next two days. Will need to figure out how to pick up my packet in Davenport.
Saw a video of James Holmes, the Colorado murderer, in court. He doesn't appear to be himself. There are some strange things that happen and we have no explanation. We should learn to identify when somebody is having a crisis, so we can help them before anything bad happens.

Cross Training

Went straight to C'ville Rec Center and swam eleven laps. Then, spent a few minutes in the hot tub. I am definitely spoiled. I am resting less and less between laps, but I still need lots of improvement. I can swim 25 yards, but 50 is a way different story.  I will work on my distance next time I go to the pool.
Registration to the Bix7 is done. The plan is to run with a pace of 8 MM or better. Hopefully I can PR the Bix7! Now, I need to see when I can pick up the packet.  It will be available Thursday and Friday.

RunningWild Run

I ran six miles with Gene W. He is such an inspiration to me. I hope I can be as fit as he is when I am his age. How slow am I going to get in ten years? I decided to run Bix7 next week. I'd like to run this race just to compare my time with last year's (7:30). I'll be happy if I can run with an 8:00 pace this time.
Went swimming to North Liberty in the afternoon. They only have one line for lap swimming. There was always somebody doing laps, but they were all nice people who didn't mind sharing the lane.

News are talking about the masacre in Colorado (James Holmes). How can somebody do such a horrible thing? I cannot comprehend.

10K Race

I went out running with Karen, planing to run for four miles, easy pace. In mile one, I saw a group of people running. They were doing a 5K/10K and decided to join them. Ran with the 10K. The race finished by Walgreens, so I had to run a couple more miles back home for a total of eight miles! That was not my original plan, but I thought it would be a good workout in preparation for Bix7, right?

Daniela is born

My first niece was born this morning. Welcome to this world Daniela!

I went to the CRWC in the morning and found that pools were closed. So, I drove to C'ville Rec Center and swam 11 laps there. I need less rest between laps.  That makes me feel happy because I know there's been some progress. I swim front crawl one way and back stroke on my way back.

Running

Second day in a row running. I ran on the Saucony-Kinvara this morning (four miles). I think my foot is stronger now. I believe I could run Bix7 without injury.
I joined the WeRun group in the evening. I ran almost six miles with a young guy, Ben. Brian and Kris are very nice people. They are organizing a 5K race for September 1st.
I am continuing writing Cartas A Mis Hijos. I started letter 2, which is about Assen's adoption. I talked to my mother and my aunt.  I asked how my grandma died and my aunt said it was a xxx.

Laps in the Diving Well

I was kind of scared to go to the CRWC this morning. I was afraid I was too tired of swimming and I was not going to be able to swim 50 mts at a time in the olympic pool. Decided to go out of bed and give it a try. I was very glad to see that swimmers were using the diving well for lap swimming and also that it was almost empty! I swam ten laps, most of them front crawl.

CRWC

We visited the CRWC (Campus Rec & Wellness Center) yesterday. Assen tried the I-fliers for a second time. He swam in the deep part first and then in the olympic pool.  I was very impressed with his form and his endurance!  What a great opportunity to be able to train in such state of the art facility! We got a family membership, so we can enjoy the facility.
We visited the facility a second time in the afternoon, before going for dinner, and I was able to do eight laps. Most of them in back stroke. Going front crawl to whole 50 mts is tough. The CRWC has a steam and a sauna room!

X-Training

Swam about ten laps or more this morning.  I usually swim front crawl first length and back stroke the length back. This time, I did not take very long breaks in between lengths. Happy with my progress.

I started writing Cartas a Mis Hijos last night.  I wrote in  Spanish.  I will write in English next time. It's fun! I hope they get to read them some time.
Sophia completed her swimming class today. She passed PS-II and she will be taking PS-III starting next week.
I received my Sportcount in the mail.  With this little gadget, it will be easier to count laps when I go swimming.  Can't wait to go back to the pool!  Maybe I should try it tomorrow morning, if I can.

Jueves Run

Ran with Karen this morning to Ashton. I ran faster than her in Ashton. Ran a total of five miles this morning. Foot does not hurt, but it feels funny. I want to run the Bix7, but not sure if it is a smart idea.  Let;s see how my foot feels in th next couple of weeks.

Miercoles Run

Listened to SteveRunner while I ran. Steve read a poem, Yesterday by M. S. Merwin.  It was pretty good.  Time went faster because of listening to the podcast, but I had to fix my earphones every ten yards.

Martes Run

Ran with Karen this morning to Ashton. Did a lap and returned home (4 miles). Ran very slow and did not notice any high HR peak (avg HR 127, highest HR 151). Tried to run on the ball of my foot most of the time. It was tiring but it seems like the best way to stay away from injuries.
Assen and Sophia went to their swimming class at Cville RC. Assen viisted the I-Fliers in the evening with Sebastian. He swam a test and was placed with the Sophomore group.  We'll tak to the coach and see when he can join.
Had dinner with Sophia at Noodles and Co. She war running around and ran into another girl, probably about the same age. They both went to the ground.  I asked Sophia to apologize, but she refused. It seems like she does not know we need to apologize when we do something wrong. Later in the evening, the kids were playing outside in the trampolin.  I called then and told them it was time to come inside the house.  Assen came, but Sophia called me an idiot. Assen asked her to apologize, but she refused. Karen talked to her, and requested she apologize to me.  We spent at least one hour and there were many tears in her eyes.  I talked to Assen, and asked him why Sophia is acting that way.  I asked him if I was doing something wrong. He said maybe Sophia is afraid of me.  I yold him there is no reason they have to be afrai of me.  I told him I love them both with all my heart.

Lunes

Went swimming in the morning and did 10 laps (10X50 mts). I found this bandaid in the water, and I used it to count my laps. There were old ladies swimming in the pool.  How can they swim?  They seem to float and move very slowly.  It's amazing to see them swimming.  Of course, there is thisother lady Mrs Pharm, who swims laps restlessly!  I know she is being swimming for years.  How much time do I still need to train to be able to swim like that, I wonder?

Assen and Sophia started their swimming class today.  Assen is taking Level Six, and Sophia is taking Level 2 pre-school, I think.

RunningWild Group Run

Rode my bike to RW and parked it there. Met with Gene and his two friends and went running with them until the first water stop.  That was about 1.8 miles. I noticed my HRM indicated up to 205 bpm while getting there.  That was strange! Decided to run back to RW as planned.  I am still very concerned about my stress fracture and don't want to hurt my metatarsals.  Saw Ben and talked to him for a couple of minutes. Then, his wife arrived too.

Ran on my trail gloves.  I think they are safe.  Although they are minimalist shoes, I really like them.  I did not wear socks, so my feet had more room in them. I think my metatarsals did not complain.

I would like to train for the Bix7. Not planning to PR, just to run it without injuries.  Would that be possible? It's only seven miles... That means I should be running about 4-5 miles next Sunday. I will swim Mondays and Fridays and run the other days.  Sounds like a good plan.

Garmin-Connect

Saturday

Decided to go for a run at the Trojan Track.  I did eight laps for a total of 2 miles.  Interestingly, my heart rate went very high (up to 195 bpm).  That was strange.  I wet the HRM before I left home and I also rode my bike to the track. That was weird. No pain in my foot, but it feels funny.  I am debating about getting a new pair of shoes.  Running on minimailst shoes on grass is perfectly OK.  Also, I never had any trouble running on the Trail Gloves.  I even ran the marathon wearing the trail gloves!
My toes still feel "funny." It's not pain.  But the toes feel like they are about to break off from the rest of the foot!  That's why I feel scared of running on pavement again. I don't want to go back to the doctor to tell me I need to completely stop running if I really want to get better.
I am thinking about joining the RunningWild group tomorrow morning, and just run 1.5 miles with them (for a total of three miles).  I am thinking that maybe, if I run three miles only, maybe my foot will be alright. The big question is which shoes should I wear?  The Nike's are more traditional, but they are old and tight.  The trail gloves feel good on my feet, but they are minimalist...  But I ran with them in the marathon, right?

Garmin Connect for Today

4th of July

Could not attend the parade this morning because I had things to do at work. Rode my bike to Ashton X Country and ran about 2.3 miles, then rode my bike back home. It's been hot and humid. I read Diane Nukuri-Johnson won the 8K Fifth Season race this morning. I saw her running yesterday on Melrose Ave. She will be running the marathon at the Olympics in London representing her birth country, Burundi.
We watched the fireworks in Coralville. They were spectacular, as always. Salvador and his family had us for dinner, together with several other families. We walked to watch the fireworks from his house. We kinda lost Sophia on our way back.  She started walking with Salvaador's wife Laura, but we didn't know it.  I knew she was safe.

Monday

Went swimming this morning at 7 AM and found the pool almost empty.  Swam for at least 500 yds.  Tried to combine front crawl with back stroke. The pool will be closed in the mornings for the next three days, so I plan to go running in the mornings. Esay, very easy, to let my legs remember how to run.

Mexico

Mexico has been a focus of interest for all hispanics in the US today. Polls indicated that EPN was leading the presidential race, but internet appears that the real leader is AMLO.  How peaceful the presidential transition will be?
Ran for the first time in a while.  Ran about two miles in the Ashton Cross Country field.