This morning I had pretty much decided to take a day off. When I woke up, my left hip was bothering so much that I cut Bennie’s long walk short and struggled to get back to the house.

However, after getting a new chainsaw over at Lowe’s, I had to cut up a couple of trees that were downed and cut some small trees down that were overhanging the power line to the house.

By the time I got all of that stuff done, my hip was actually feeling pretty good and while my upper body had gotten a pretty good workout, the lower body was feeling pretty good. Although it was starting to get a bit dusky, so I figured that if I was going to run today, I had to get my butt in gear.

So I ran.

Planned Workout Description: Day off/easy run.

• Day: Sunday
• Time of Day: 3:55p
• Course: Bartlett O/B & Howard Circle
• Time of Run: 28:29
• Distance: 3.33
• Pace: 8:34
• Type of Workout: Tweener Workout, not fast enough, not slow enough, but still felt good.
• Rating: 3
• Running Streak Day #: 3
• Weather: Overcast, 47*F, Feels like 47*F, Humidity 54%, Wind 2 mph from WSW

Variables that impacted the run: Left hip bothered in the morning, tired from cutting and moving brush wood around

Comments: I really wasn’t attempting to go all that fast, but I was able to get the 2nd fastest time around Howard Circle without pushing.

Overall, the run was one of those where I pushed the pace a little more because my feet didn’t hurt for a change. Sometimes you just have to go back to what actually works, even when you would prefer a different brand.

Shoes Worn: Nike Zoom Fly v1 (132.5) – No issues with the shoes, felt comfortable and I was able to pick the pace up at will.

How did this run move me towards my goal(s)? Gave me confidence that when I run in the shoes that work for me that I run well.

Cardio Total: 4.26

Non Running Comments: I will say this, I was amazed by my new chainsaw!

It is a Cobalt cordless chainsaw and it did everything that my 14 year old Husqvarna did (back when it was working correctly) and I didn’t have to fight with the damn thing to get it started, get the oil/gas mix right or the multitude of other things that I always seemed be screwing with, before I could get it to start.

Then lately, keeping it running to get the work done, well it didn’t.

I was able to cut up to 14” fir trees that were blown down in storms, then cut down some 4-6” oaks that were over by the power line and cut the limbs up so that I had them ready to chip.

The best part was I felt safer with the Cobalt than I did with my old gas power chainsaws. I didn’t have to pull the starter cord, I just touched a button, then held in another one and it ran nicely.

It is also quite a lot quieter than a gas powered one. Mary didn’t realize that I had cut up a tree outside the house, even though it was only about 20 yards away. I like that.

Cordless chainsaws have come a long way, compared to where they were just 5 years ago. For me and the way that I now use a chainsaw, this is all I need.

Now maybe I can get all those little yard cleaning projects taken care of, seeing that I have a chainsaw that actually works.

I also got a new pair of chaps to protect my legs, that chainsaw is still a dangerous piece of equipment and my old ones had a few nicks from me being me, but had saved my legs from damage. So they needed to be replaced and getting a new chainsaw, seemed like the perfect time to get a pair.