Over the past couple of months we have put way too much money into our 1999 Dodge Dakota. In other words it has spent a lot of time in the repair shop!
All of this money for truck repairs could be a lot better spent on new running gear. You know all that stuff I “really need” or is that want? Like a GPS watch, those Mizuno Ronin’s or Newton Distance running shoes, some new running clothes or race registrations (the truck repairs have really slowed up my racing – priorities).
Oh well, I know that we need a second vehicle, but the truck is starting to become unreliable and the only good thing about taking it to the shop so often (other than my mechanics being fantastic) is that I get to run different courses from there.
This morning I had scheduled a 3.0 mile tempo run. When I measured from the repair shop to home, according to Garmin’s Add a Route Program it is 2.54 miles from the house. I really didn’t want to do a tempo run on the Middle Road or on the dirt road down-back, so I used this run as warm-up to my scheduled run.
I didn’t push and just felt comfortable the whole way 
. When I got back to the house, I stopped for about a minute and then started my tempo run. Here are my .8 of a mile splits.
- 6:00
- 6:00 (12:00)
- 6:02 (18:03) – I always seem to run slower on the third lap
- 5:35 (23:38) – and faster on the last one
I wish these were 1.0 mile split times, but they are not 
– once upon time they might have been, but not any more.
Overall, I was very pleased with my tempo run, a 7:37 for a 5K in practice was close to the 7:30 pace I was looking for. This does show me, what I already knew – that I need some time on the track, which will happen starting next week.
Now if the mechanic calls me and tells me the truck is ready this afternoon, I will have another run to log today, but I have a feeling it won’t be ready until tomorrow, when it is supposed to be pouring and my scheduled day off – oh well just an excuse to get an easy run in 
.
I have a sneaking suspicion that we will need to be looking at a new(er) vehicle pretty soon – I just hate having a payment, which is going to really cut into my running budget even more.
One thing about it, with the truck becoming so unreliable, it and I are getting to know the mechanics over at M&a too well. I am on a first name basis with everyone in the shop, which is good, but it also means that I am there way too much. Decisions, decisions.
4 comments
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Runninglovingliving (@tonee78)
September 5, 2012 at 9:40 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Get rid of the truck Harold it is impeding your running…lol!!!! Great job on your run, I only wish to run that fast!!!!
Harold L. Shaw
September 5, 2012 at 10:22 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
We might have to work on it, just have to nurse it through the end of the year
. Thanks you will!!
Boise Runner (@RunInBoise)
September 6, 2012 at 1:39 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I understand your post today! I am all for getting the newer vehicle. I have a 1996 car, and have not had a car payment in SO long, but saving my pennies for a newer one. I would LOVE to spend it on a couple different destination races, but I think I am going to hold out for a newer car.
Harold L. Shaw
September 6, 2012 at 6:42 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I know what you mean, I really want to go here and there to run races and get different gear, but also need a vehicle that is reliable, don’t know if it will be a new car or a new to me one