July check-in.

45.5 miles for me. I wanted more, but July 2011 was the hottest month ever in DC history, so I just couldn't manage it.

What've y'all got?

Long Runs

As I've mentioned before, i'm working on increasing my mileage in attempts to be able to run a marathon next Spring. With that goal in mind, I laced up for my longest run in 15 years this morning. My GPS crapped out on me, but as far as I can tell from Google Maps, I ran ~8.8 miles, finishing in 1:15, just around my typical 8:30 minute mile pace. Can't say it was easy! I took two short walks and while I didn't have any chafing or blister issues, I did run short of energy towards the end (no breakfast or coffee so I didn't have to go to the bathroom, the bane of morning runs - guess I should start investing in those energy goos). I also, surprisingly, found that my shoulders got very sore. I've known that I should focus a bit on my upper arm strength so that my arms don't get tired on longer runs, but this is the first time that i've actually felt acute fatigue in my arms.

Over 12 hours later, I feel good, if a bit sore, but my legs still feel like they have no strength left in them. Building up muscular endurance for roughly 3x what I did today is going to be challenging!

Wakefield Humor

http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/articles/tim-wakefield-tries-to-get-line-drive-to-put-him-o,21031/

"Short" Runs

This morning I got out for a 3.3 mile run. In my mind, I thought of it as a short run, then I stood back and realized that it wasn't so long ago that a ~3 mile run was just about all I did. Just a few months ago, my new normal run length of 5-6 miles was considered extra-long distance. Not sure how I got here but I like it. The "short" distance was almost refreshing!

Joel, I know you're a monster distance runner; what's a short run in your book? What about you Eric? I know you also cross-train so I'm sure that affects your distance, no?

book recommendations?

not that i'm reading much these days, given life's events....  but my queue has been flushed (apart from some stragglers i'm hesitant to get to) and i'm too tired to do the normal research i do in order to find new books to read.

most of the better books i've read of late have been recommendations from todd and joel anyway, so, what do you say guys?

Historically Good

I knew that the Red Sox lineup was amazing, but this fact is incredible:

Each of the top five hitters in the Red Sox lineup has an OPS over .865:

Jacoby Ellsbury .911
Dustin Pedroia .893
Adrian Gonzalez .973
Kevin Youkilis .890
David Ortiz .960

The rest of the American League combined has five.

Jose Bautista Blue Jays 1.138
Miguel Cabrera Tigers .986
Paul Konerko White Sox .935
Curtis Granderon Yankees .930
Jhonny Peralta Tigers .901

ellsbury's RBIs

jacoby ellsbury is having, by any angle, a phenomenal season.  now hitting .325, it seems he's really started to find power in his swing with 17 HRs (3 fewer than papi, the same as adrian gonzalez ((who needs a nickname))).

the thing that amazes me is 60 RBIs.  that's good for 4th on the team, but ellsbury is the LEAD OFF batter.  here are some other lead-off batter's RBI stats from the AL:  gardner from the yankees has 21 (jeter has 34), kinsler from the rangers has 41, izturis from the angels has 24, jackson from the tigers has 24, ichiro from the mariners has 26, pierre from the white sox has 26.  i don't know how this compares historically, but it seems pretty incredible to me.  i do know the most RBIs ever for a lead off batter is 100.