Christmas Eve

Summary Data
Total Time (h:m:s)	0:57:02	9:13 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s)	0:56:57	9:12 pace
Distance (mi )	6.19
Moving Speed (mph)	6.5 avg.	8.7 max.
Elevation Gain (ft)	+612 / -610
Avg. Heart Rate	149 bpm	Zone 4.0
Temperature (°F)	36.5°F avg.	37.4°F high
Wind Speed ( mph)	WSW 12.6 avg.	WSW 12.6 max.

Start Time: 10:35:44 AM CST
Blackjack, MO

Debating whether to run today or not, since I normally have two days off (from running) after the long run. But not exercising at all for two days was threatening to make me a bit crazy, especially since the alternative was sitting around the house. Suburban St. Louis is a tough place to run---exceptionally narrow shoulders, few sidewalks, and overweight, chain-smoking drivers eager to take out their health issues on runners and cyclists. I mapped out what seemed to be the path of least resistance, and while Parker Road was not a treat, it was not too terrible and I discovered that the outer road on Louis and Clark Blvd actually had a bike lane (good to note if I want to ride to the river). Nice to have the 6-mile 'easy' run---and although the 12-miler left my knees stiff throughout the remainder of Saturday and a bit of Sunday, most of the issues with my left knee seem to have worked themselves out. Another decent-paced 6-miler on Wednesday should sort out most of the issues. The legs feel stronger but still a bit sore. I am eager to get to the point where the 12 feels as easy as this 6 does. It will come, I know, since it was not long ago that the 6 was the long run.

I would be surprised to knock off another 20 in 2008, but an additional 10 is not only doable, but likely. Once cycling season is back, every workout will be over an hour, and the calorie burn is pretty exceptional at that point---863 today and this was just 57 minutes. Even though I think the cycling numbers are bogus, assuming that we are burning about 900 per hour, we are looking at 7000+ per week just during exercise, to say nothing of the additional calorie burn that comes with simply maintaining a larger muscle base. Thinking ahead a few days to resolutions around New Years---since I am already living the resolutions I would likely pick---there will be little new to add and it seems so redundant to add 'run a marathon' to the resolution list since I have already mapped the training schedule. Perhaps the 'resolution' element is just a place to record goals so that one knows whether one met them or not.