Midwinter running, week of January 10-17 [Archive] - Women's Cycling Discussion Forums

indigoiis

01-10-2010, 09:31 AM

Hi everyone,
We did 8.1 today, 10 minute miles, not bad because it was a hilly route. About 20 degrees, sunny, and a lovely route overall. I wore the VFFs but still had a little pain on the downhills in the right knee. I think because I run a little like a duck that is the problem. When I focus to straighten out my gait, I don't have the pain.

Hope everyone's week is good. Urlea, I was thinking about your story of the guy with cancer and when I got tired, it inspired me to keep chugging.

Becky

01-10-2010, 10:29 AM

I ran about 2.5 miles. I'm not really sure because some of it was off-road. I was freaking out about every little twinge in my left knee, and the more I freaked out, the worse the pain got. I was focusing on the pain instead of my form, and that is a vicious cycle. I have a 4.5 mile organized run this coming saturday and i'm beginning to think that I won't be able to do it :(

Not a good run by any stretch, but I learnt some lessons, so it's not all bad.

Grog

01-10-2010, 12:04 PM

Yay! Went for a run-walk, started with a minute of walking for each 2 minutes of running, then 3 minutes, then 4 minutes. I plateaued there, not wanting to take a risk and hurt myself again.

There is slight discomfort in my groin, but nothing painful. I kept the stride short, and cadence low, it was a little boring just running in the alleys around my neighbourhood (wanted to make a quick return home if needed), but I was really happy about the result.

I'll take a rest day tomorrow I think, but I'm confident that I can schedule almost-normal runs for next week and go back to actually training progressively.

Grog

01-10-2010, 01:58 PM

I did it.

I signed up for the Olympia Marathon, May 16th, 2010. Even booked a hotel room.

Just a bit scared but mostly excited!!!

Aggie_Ama

01-10-2010, 02:12 PM

It has been too cold to run this week so I was determined not to skip another workout since we finally warmed up. Plotted what I thought was a 5 mile run and it ended up being 6! Oops, overshot my training just a bit but considering I skipped 3 workouts it probably didn't hurt. :rolleyes:

Aggie_Ama

01-10-2010, 02:14 PM

Good luck Grog! This year I paid for my half marathon even though I hadn't run in months. I am nervous but really excited. Is this your first marathon?

OakLeaf

01-10-2010, 02:19 PM

Cool Grog! That's the same day I'll be running Cleveland. Be careful with that groin now.

I've been skipping a lot of rides... mostly because of the weather :o but also indirectly, because of the chill, the club has been riding late. I used to say I hated getting up early to ride, but when they start at 11 a.m. or noon for a lousy 37 miles, you're basically burning the whole day.

So anyway - the upside is I'm fresher for my runs. :p I may just add on to my long run again tomorrow, even though I wasn't really planning on it. I'll map something out and see how I feel in the morning.

indigoiis

01-10-2010, 02:32 PM

Go Grog!!!! Yay!!!!

Grog

01-10-2010, 04:44 PM

Yes AA, it's my first! I'm pretty excited.

Good luck to all of us!

GLC1968

01-10-2010, 06:17 PM

Yay, Grog!

And good luck next week, Syndirelah!

Today was a bunch of firsts. First run of the week, first run outside since I started running again, and first run with my husband (ever!). He'd already gone for a ride, so he was tired and was willing to shorten his stride to run with me. :)

It was a nice run and the time went REALLY fast. Sooo much better than a treadmill! I don't know how far we went, but we did a 10/12 run/walk which was a step down from last week before I step up in running next week (thank goodness!). My H wanted to add one more running interval and even though I felt good and wanted to as well, I resisted. I feel like I MUST stick to the plan if I want to stay injury free.

Grog

01-10-2010, 06:55 PM

Thanks everyone!

Syndirelah: How can you read on the threadmill??!! Amazing.

colby

01-10-2010, 10:33 PM

Lots of positive runs and stuff this weekend. Way to go, Grog, signing up for your marathon!! :D And, reading on the treadmill, that's impressive.

I did about 4.5 miles today, re-training myself to my appropriate-for-distance heart rate. I got to jog with my dog, yay. I can tell when we hit what must be 9:30 min/mile or so, she has to switch to a galloping thing rather than a trotting thing. It's cute, she looks like she's having fun (and it wears her out much better than the trotting/walking). According to GPS, average was around 10:30 min/mile, but that does include the required dog-stops as we select the perfect location to bequeath her unique personal flavor upon the earth (and then try to remove it, in some cases :p).

Really enjoying my GPS+HRM - not really so much when I'm running (except to check distance and spot-check HR), but moreso afterward when I get to see the data and see how well I did keeping my HR steady at whatever pace.

Keep it up, ladies! :D

Veronica

01-11-2010, 05:54 AM

Drizmal.... where I live is just drizmal all January and February. I HATE it! It's not cold - 45 degrees when I ran this morning. But it's foggy and drizzly. They can have bright sunshine just 15 miles away, but we'll never see it here because of the tule fog from the river. I really hate not seeing the sun. Thus I did not run over the weekend. I had absolutely no desire to be outside at all.

So I knew I had to get out there this morning. And it was drizmal. But after a half a mile I was reasonably warm, except when I turned into the headwind. It turned into a really good run. I was more two minutes faster than last week over the same course. I kept running after I crested the hill with the 12% grade and I actually spent some brain cells on thinking about running technique, and my knee is doing okay.

I posted a note on my mirror to remind me that no matter how drizmal it is I need to get out and stick with my plan. It says:Suck it up and go run!!

Veronica

kacie tri-ing

01-11-2010, 07:18 AM

Yeah Grog!:D:D That initial commitment is SO exciting!

We had ice down here in Georgia, and I am scared of falling (and not used to ice), so my workout was inside again :( 6 miles at 10 minute/mile followed by 2 miles at 8 minute/mile. It was tough. I was tired by the end, but I am trying to get my speed up for a half in March!

Hopefully I will be able to get back outside this week!

Susan Otcenas

01-11-2010, 07:31 AM

GROG - Congrats on signing up. That's so exciting!

GLC - Smart to stick to plan. Getting where you want to be injury free (especially since you have an old injury) is the way to approach it.

As for me...

Yesterday was supposed to be my rest day.

I went for a 2hr15min trail run instead. :o It's one of my very favorite trails in the Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek. The local run club planned an outing and I just had to go! That trail is so jammed in nice weather, but this time of year we pretty much had it all to ourselves.

I figure I made about 5.5 miles in 1hr5min uptrail. Pretty good for me, considering that it's all uphill on the way out *and* I rarely trail run so I really have to concentrate on every step. Took me a little longer on the way back. You'd think it would be faster, but the footing can be sketchy on the way down (lots of slippery rocks and steep steep drop offs) so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Such a beautiful trail along the creek, with stunning waterfalls all the way up.

It was my longest run since the half marathon. I expected to feel whipped, but I felt GREAT the entire run, and have no muscle soreness at all.

So 11 miles on a rest day. Hhhmm. I fessed up to my coach last night, then promptly skipped the 60 minute treadmill run she had planned for me today. :p

Karma007

01-11-2010, 08:38 AM

Ugh! I've worked 18 out of the last 19 days, and haven't been out much. Too many hours on my feet, so I'm skipping a few days, to give my knees a break. They're pretty sore, even just walking right now. The $ has been nice, but a little less OT would be nice!

rocknrollgirl

01-11-2010, 12:39 PM

Today I just could not do it. I only had a short run planned, but legs are so tired from riding yesterday, that I just could not do it.

Normally on Monday, I lift and do core and then run. I got through the warm-up of the lfting portion and it was all I could do to finish the next 40 mins.

I feel disappointed in myself, I usually suck it up no matter what. But I have learned the hard way to listen to my body.

So 45 mins of core, made a cup of tea, and a pot of chili. I am charging the lights for tomorrow's night ride.....but no run.

OakLeaf

01-11-2010, 12:44 PM

Just got back from 18. About four miles in, the bladder in my hydration pack sprung a leak. :mad::mad: I had to come home, swap it out for a Platypus bladder that didn't fit very well in my pack, change into dry shoes and socks. Luckily I alternate two pairs of shoes, so I had the dry ones to change into. I left the wet tights on but made sure I took a sunny route when I headed back out! Having a wool base layer on top made all the difference, I'm sure, not being freezing in wet tights at 47°.

It was a good lesson for me anyway, that I CAN take a short break in the middle of a long run and I won't turn into the Tin Man in need of an oil can. I'm always afraid to stop running.

Jolt

01-11-2010, 12:53 PM

Half-hour trail run today. I have the worst case of the winter running blahs lately! It's hard to get motivated to get out there and then when I do I feel sluggish. And I miss running in VFFs--it's too cold for that right now.

spindizzy

01-11-2010, 04:53 PM

Syndirelah: Have a great race next week.

Grog: Right on! You rock! Fantastic goal!

V: Way to suck it up!

Susan- Awesome run and no SPLAT stories. Twinkle toes.

All I had to do today was 1600m, then 100 pull-ups, 200 push ups and 300 squats..followed by another 1600m run. Gotta love CrossFit! Ran outside..it was snowing. A bit slippery but perfect temps.

OakLeaf

01-11-2010, 05:02 PM

All I had to do today was 1600m, then 100 pull-ups, 200 push ups and 300 squats..followed by another 1600m run.

:eek::eek::eek:

V., I love the word "drizmal." It's perfect! :D

RnR, be proud of yourself for listening to your body!

Susan, that sounds beautiful. One of these days I've got to do some trail running...

Susan Otcenas

01-11-2010, 05:06 PM

...then 100 pull-ups, 200 push ups and 300 squats....

I am such a weakling. I can not do one single boy pushup. Not one. :(

Susan Otcenas

01-11-2010, 05:07 PM

Susan, that sounds beautiful. One of these days I've got to do some trail running...

Oak - doing some trail running was one of my goals for this winter. I've only been on a few, but I really enjoyed them. They keep me so engaged, so in the moment. When I do my long runs on the road, I tend to zone out. Maybe experienced trail runners can zone out, but not me! That 2+ hours just FLEW by.

Grog

01-11-2010, 08:28 PM

According to GPS, average was around 10:30 min/mile, but that does include the required dog-stops as we select the perfect location to bequeath her unique personal flavor upon the earth (and then try to remove it, in some cases :p).

This made me laugh out loud! Almost makes me wish I had a dog.

Bike Chick

01-12-2010, 03:58 AM

I did 3 miles Sunday and was able to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine. Ahhhh!

Then had a podiatrist appointment first thing yesterday for a recheck on the stress fracture in my right foot. He took more x-rays and told me my problems were from Morton's Toe and gave me a cortisone shot in the top of my foot. No running for a week!!!!! Ugghh! I'm so frustrated. We talked about Morton's foot in a thread on TE several months ago and I asked the Dr about it at that time to which I got a blank stare and no response. Now he says that's my problem. He also thinks that I may have had a ligament tear sometime ago across the bottom of my foot from the Morton's Toe that has not healed and the scar tissue is pressing on a nerve. I am supposed to wear a prosthesis that pulls my second toe closer to my third toe and has padding on the bottom.

I know some of you have had Morton's Foot issues. Have you found anything that has worked for you? Should I post this on the Morton's Foot thread instead of this one?

OakLeaf

01-12-2010, 04:48 AM

I admit I've been slacking off the exercises since winter has hit. I just can't take my socks off except to shower. Now that I got some wool Injinjis for Christmas I should be back at it (except that just like gloves vs. mittens, they really don't keep my toes as warm as traditional socks). Padding my first MT heads in my "kicking around" shoes has helped strengthen my feet, doing the same in my gym shoes gives me better balance, but I've gone back to my orthotics in my running shoes, since I was just having too much Achilles trouble running with the pads.

Anyway I'm hoping the PT I see this afternoon can give me some insights about it, since my third MT seems to be as long as the second, especially in my left foot. I sure hope anyway... and if not, maybe he can refer me to someone who does. NO one (except for our beloved Knott, who is just about as far away from me as someone can get and still be in the USA) seems to know anything about the biomechanics and structural variations of feet. :(:( It's either "everyone should be in orthotics" or "everyone should go barefoot."

Veronica

01-12-2010, 05:58 AM

Cassie Cat pulled my "Suck It Up!" note off the mirror last night. She loves paper. She'll sit on top of the frig and try to pull up anything that's under a magnet so she can then rip it to shreds. It's a good thing this morning was Spinervals workout. :D

Veronica

katluvr

01-12-2010, 07:53 AM

Nice to read about all the running! I am scheduled for 5 miles tonight (3 mid miles are tempo pace w/out recovery interval)--it'll be dark and cold, but probably high 40's. Expecting a warm up (yippee!)--but possible rain this weekend and I need to run 22 miles. I'll keep an eye on the weather. Friday looks like nice weather so I COULD do my long run on Friday --since w/ my new work schedule I am off.

I am having trouble doing ANYTHING w/ this weather and getting home in the dark. I just don't know how you all do it in the winter up north (any of those colder states!).

Grog--way to go signing up! That is what I did and I am about about 1 month away (OMG:eek:)

Snyd--you are a treadmill queen! I think I would die if on the dreadmill that long!

Hopefully I'll have a run (and a good one) to post after this evening!

K

indigoiis

01-12-2010, 10:15 AM

I did a 4.9 run with DH this morning at the quack of dawn. And while it motivates me to get moving when he is going too, I don't like chasing him the whole run! It's demoralizing! But then our average speed was 9:08. But still! I had to bite my tongue to not be snappy about his pretty pace. And on the one hand, I'm really proud of him. On the other, I'm jealous. The competitive side of me wants to scream, the lovey side of me says, "Whoo hoo!" Plus he runs in the most ridiculously overdressed get-up. Oh, and he wears no light or lamp. He turns around and says, "Hey, what's four miles? Let's do 22 more!" and I'm like, honey, some people were not born athletes. Some people had to work to even do four. Some people. Grrr! :D

Anyhow, I did all right, in VFFs and my cut-off toe socks. Had some tenderness but that was likely from last night's (oof) Pilates class.

Grog

01-12-2010, 04:47 PM

Thanks everyone for the encouragement.

I wish I had a kitten that ate my post-its...

I went for a ride yesterday, and commuted to work on my bike today (25km). Tomorrow I have a yoga class, and I'll do a very, very gentle speed workout on Thursday. Yay!

indigoiis

01-13-2010, 05:44 AM

Ran 3.36 on the treadmill, my tempo run for the week. It wasn't so bad. I wore VFFs and (gasp) headphones and listened to my old fashioned Sony mp3 player. It was quite nice for a change. :D

Jolt

01-13-2010, 07:44 AM

Ran 3.36 on the treadmill, my tempo run for the week. It wasn't so bad. I wore VFFs and (gasp) headphones and listened to my old fashioned Sony mp3 player. It was quite nice for a change. :D

I wore headphones (which I normally never do) on my run yesterday too! I only did a 25-minute loop around the neighborhood--had to FORCE myself out the door but was glad I did. Today I may or may not get out for a run...depends how much of a bum I feel like being and how much of a roll I get on with the studying I have to do for school.

Veronica

01-13-2010, 08:33 AM

I am such a weakling. I can not do one single boy pushup. Not one. :(

I can do a bizillion pushups, but I'd rather be able to put out the running mileage and times you do. :D

The grass is always greener...

Veronica

colby

01-13-2010, 11:11 AM

It's been warmer this week, in the upper 30s-40s (funny after reading kat's complaint about 40s being cold ;)), so I've been wearing tri shorts, insulated full-length bra top, and long sleeve shirts lately. I start with a hat, but it comes off really quickly unless it's super windy after I warm up. It's a pain to carry, so I may have to suck it up (the hood on my hooded long sleeve shirt doesn't like to stay over my head, and I like a little insulation until I get warmer, but whatever).

Yesterday was mile repeats, 3 of them, with 1/2 mile between (warm up, 1 mile, 1/2 mile jog, 1 mile, 1/2 mile jog, 1 mile, drag feet home). I felt slow, but I worked late the night before and had to get up earlier than my body wanted to, didn't quite feel "on" for the entire run. GPS says they were 7:50-9 minute miles when running the full miles, big range, and 10:00-11:30 when running the 1/2 mile jog.

Next run is Sunday.... 4 miles, more run baselining. Every time I get off the bike trainer my dog is hopeful for a brick, but I'm enjoying brick-free time right now. ;)

Veronica

01-13-2010, 11:20 AM

I start with a hat, but it comes off really quickly unless it's super windy after I warm up. It's a pain to carry, so I may have to suck it up (the hood on my hooded long sleeve shirt doesn't like to stay over my head, and I like a little insulation until I get warmer, but whatever).

I wear a wool headband. I think it's Smartwool. That way my ears stay warm, but my head can vent out all that extra heat. :D

Veronica

PS I'm looking at a sunny day right now. Please let it stay that way until I get my run in this afternoon!

indigoiis

01-14-2010, 05:16 AM

3.17 outside in balmy 30 degree morning today. VFFs. Felt a little sluggy and slow. You know what I hate? The chit-chat in my head: "you're going slow. You're slower than yesterday. You run like a duck. Have you ever seen a duck run? That's what you do. Here comes a car. They will probably think there is a duck in the road. Can't you go any faster? Does my knee hurt? Maybe you should re-think this whole running thing. This headlamp is bugging me. Don't trip on the ice chunk. Your form is all off. Straighten up." Blah blah blah blah.

eclectic

01-14-2010, 06:52 AM

Hello everyone - I am back!

I am not training for anything but I need to get 20 lbs off so am back to running mode as it is the most convenient

No goals other than weight loss.

I haven't taken the time yet to catch up on how all of you are doing but it is good to see the familiar names

BTW I am posting some news on the general thread
Hint - it has to do w/ a wedding

Aggie_Ama

01-14-2010, 07:00 AM

It was raining yesterday and I hate being rained on, seriously I have near panic attacks. So I did my running intervals on the trainer. Not as solid of a workout but at least I didn't skip it. :rolleyes:

I don't envy you cold weather gals, way to push on!

skhill

01-14-2010, 10:15 AM

Yesterday evening, I celebrated the first appearance of temperatures over 32 of the year by running to choir practice at church. I already knew that the trip (door to door, taking parking into account) was faster by bike than by car. Turns out it's even faster running (going the wrong way on a one-way street cut out a chunk of distance)! We're not talking a big difference-- about 8 minutes running, 8-10 by bike (depending on weather and traffic) and 12-15 by car (depending on traffic and parking availibility).

This morning, it was outside again, about 5 slow miles. The snow that had melted a bit yesterday was frozen solid, and footing was treacherous. But the weekend looks to be warm and dry-- hallelujah! and it's 42 balmy degrees right now!

Veronica

01-14-2010, 10:40 AM

I did 4.4 miles yesterday afternoon... in the sun, about 60 degrees out. It was a nice change from the drizmal weather we had for two weeks!

It was a good run. I'm slowly building my mileage up since I hurt my knee. The time wan't too bad either.

I'm really tired today though. These twice a day workout get to me by Thursday and work is stressing me out a little bit. I'm glad tomorrow is my rest day and we're off on Monday.

Veronica

OakLeaf

01-14-2010, 11:49 AM

Too tired and stressed to do my intervals today, so I just did 7.5 at a moderate to easy pace.

Then I came home and did the hour of hip exercises and calf stretches the PT gave me. :eek:

He doesn't think my feet contribute at all (which I kind of have a hard time accepting, since he acknowledges they don't give me a stable base), but everything affirmative he said made perfect sense and seemed very well-founded. Weak, uneven hips (I knew that, though I guess they're even weaker than I thought) and super-tight calves (knew that too). :cool: Now I have something I can do about it.

Susan Otcenas

01-14-2010, 03:19 PM

9.4 miles yesterday morning in 1:39. Nice steady 10:30/mile, which seems to be the pace I always settle into on my longer runs. I wore my HR monitor, which I usually don't on long runs, but coach wants the data. Avg HR was 145. Which was cool to see because it confirms the Vo2 max testing I had done which calculated my AeT (aerobic threshold) at 143.

Susan Otcenas

01-14-2010, 03:21 PM

I can do a bizillion pushups, but I'd rather be able to put out the running mileage and times you do. :D

The grass is always greener...

In the office, we often joke about making a mr. potato head out of all the body features we each like best about ourselves.

Imagine the awesome one we could make from all the amazing gals on this thread! :D

Susan

rocknrollgirl

01-14-2010, 03:32 PM

I did about 4.5 on the trail tonight. I took a friend from work that has never trail run and I think he is hooked. Nothing epic, just a nice easy chatty run.

Andit was FINALLY over freezing, we hit 40 degrees today.

spindizzy

01-14-2010, 04:42 PM

Grog

01-14-2010, 06:50 PM

Lovely 5km run, without walking, this morning. I broke the mental threshold of a 30 min 5k so that makes me happy. It was 6 a.m. and still very dark of course. I saw two cyclists and only one car.

Wahine

01-14-2010, 08:27 PM

OK, I apologize for not keeping up and I really have no idea what everyone has been up to, well except that I read about Grog signing up for a mary!!! Yay!!!!

I ran for the first time today since my Ironman in November... it was interesting to say the least. I need to get out there more.

Keep running ladies. :)

colby

01-15-2010, 12:11 AM

I lied, I actually had another run today. I guess it was wishful thinking that yesterday was Thursday, not Wednesday. Today was hill repeats. Hiiilll reeeepppeeeeaattssss is how they actually felt. 8 of them, 60 seconds, rawr. The first 40 seconds, oh, okay... the last 20 seconds, OH THE AGONY. The first 6 repeats, oh, okay... the last 2 repeats, OH THE AGONY. I describe it to my husband as you do as many as you think you can do, and then you do two more. You go as far you think you can go, and then you go 25% more. It probably sounds mentally unstable. ;)

Now I really don't have to run until Sunday, but I may skip it and go snowboarding instead - have to enjoy the winter months while they last.

Aggie_Ama

01-15-2010, 03:43 AM

I had an awesome run at the kick-off party for my half marathon. Doing a women's race is really energizing. Everyone was excited, friendly and not all of us were super fast and fit. We did about 2.5 miles in the gross drizzle but I left feeling like I had a big shot of happiness! Didn't win door prizes but got two tech tees and samples of Body Glide. :)

yellow

01-15-2010, 08:17 AM

Thought I'd drop in to say hi! http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Others/hello-011.gif

I'm running a little, tentatively training for a couple of things (end of March and end of May). I'm at decision time re: back surgery, and am thinking a lot about that at the moment. The recommendation is to fuse L5 and S1 and possibly also replace the disk between L4 and L5. I'm intermittently ready to have it and never going to have it, depending upon hormones, number of calories consumed the day before, angle of the sun, alignment of the planets...you get the idea.

I have a discogram (sounds like a singing telegram delivered by the Bee Gees) next week to help us understand the L4-L5 contribution to the overall pain level. The results of that should indicate whether replacement of that disk would really do anything. And then I need to make a decision about what I want to do overall. Scary stuff. I have a great complement of docs and other folks (my PT and all the medical assistants) at the University of Utah orthopaedic center. It's been a long haul.

Even if I choose not to have surgery, I'm thinking that both the March and May events are incredibly optimistic. But I've given myself permission to stop if it gets too bad. I loves me tylenol+diclofenac+tequila (and occasionally + neurontin) cocktails! :p

Wahine

01-15-2010, 08:49 AM

(((((((Yellow)))))))

That's a lot to deal with. I'm thinking about you. Take care.

Veronica

01-15-2010, 08:59 AM

Oh Yellow, tough stuff. Hang in there kiddo.

Veronica

Blueberry

01-15-2010, 09:19 AM

Hang in there Yellow - very tough to deal with and decide, I'm sure.

PSA Time - I'm sure you were joking, but PLEASE, PLEASE don't mix tylenol with alcohol. Bad news.

eclectic

01-15-2010, 10:53 AM

Intervals..on a treadmill (ha! just fixed a typo- orginally I had typed "internals..on a treadmill..nice visual!!:eek::eek:)

6x 2min intervals at 6% grade. (2min rest in between) then
2x2min @5%
2x2min@6%
2x2min@7%
10 min Zone 2 (160)
CD

ouch!!

Good work! and OUCH is right. I think Internals on the treadmill would be an apt statement once I was done something like that :D

eclectic

01-15-2010, 10:57 AM

OakLeaf

01-15-2010, 11:29 AM

((((((Yellow)))))) Hang in there and good luck whichever way you decide.

My dad gets out of the hospital today from his 2-level lumbar fusion. Results TBD...

One of my riding buddies had L4-5 fused a couple of years ago and is very glad he did. He said it was a solid year after the surgery, before he reached maximum recovery. But I don't know how long he'd been dealing with it and how much the nerve roots needed to recover from.

Take care.

Urlea

01-15-2010, 01:26 PM

((((((Eclectic)))))) So happy to see you back & posting again! :D

Been slow to post my runs this week because starting up Tri training on top of the 100miler training & BJJ doesn't leave much energy at the end of the day for writing. Thankfully even though I feel tired & hungry often my body is still feeling strong.

My runs this week have played out as so...

Monday, it was 15 above & the VFFs were calling my name again. I answered. Snowplows/blowers were clearing sidewalks as I was running, at one point I had an industrial snowblower throwing snow over (at) me on the sidewalk & a snowplow 20ft behind me to clear the snow the SB was spraying. Talk about being between a rock & a hard spot, couldn't turn back & reroute truck was right there, couldn't cross to other side of the street, snowblower was right there. All I could do was pull the hood over my head & block the ice/snow spray with my arm and run faster than both. A remix of Beethoven came on the ipod in the last mile & I ran hard. 7:25 that mile, possibly my fastest mile to date. Awesome! Really great 6.2miles. :D

Wed, after one tri training brick the day before I wasn't feeling the most energetic setting out for the 8-9miles I hoped for. So I sent out a request for encouragement on Twitter & a few miles later received txts to my phone from other runners. Just the encouragement I needed! Pace picked up & I got 8.5 miles in.

Today, We have company over all weekend so my long run for the week got pushed up a day to accommodate. Yesterday I had a shortish bike/run/swim brick followed by BJJ class, I've never done this before. Golly gee Bat-man that's a lot of training for one day! Woke up this morning feeling surprisingly good, but knew my mileage needed to be less this long-run so I scaled it back to 14miles. 20-25 above was a nice change from last wknd's -15F but made the sidewalks in town really really icy. Takes a lot of energy to keep from falling. Some good sections though. (Video will be up on blog shortly).

Discovery- at these temps snowbanks make the ULTIMATE icebath.

Now I take Sat & Sunday off to rest up and start back at it again Monday. Let the fun begin!

Good job this week ladies, lots of runs logged. Keep it up! :D

colby

01-15-2010, 06:29 PM

Hang in there, yellow. It's a tough decision, but I'm hopeful that the answer will present itself. :)

Jolt

01-16-2010, 06:05 AM

Even if I choose not to have surgery, I'm thinking that both the March and May events are incredibly optimistic. But I've given myself permission to stop if it gets too bad. I loves me tylenol+diclofenac+tequila (and occasionally + neurontin) cocktails! :p

Be careful with those "cocktails". Mixing acetaminophen with alcohol is really not good for your liver!

Edit: Didn't see Blueberry's post until after posting this--looks like she beat me to it!

kacie tri-ing

01-16-2010, 09:02 AM

10 miles with the last 3 at 8 min/mile. It was really tough!!! Happy running!

rocknrollgirl

01-16-2010, 09:03 AM

kacie tri-ing

01-16-2010, 09:05 AM

Good thoughts to you too yellow. You clearly have such a strong spirit!

Grog

01-16-2010, 11:01 AM

My thoughts are with you Yellow. Sending you good decision-support vibes.

Just went for a gentle one with a friend, ran for an hour and almost 10K, and felt great.

It was the first sunny day in Vancouver since, I think, December 27th. I took it all in because tomorrow I have to go for my "real" long run and it's most likely going to be dumping rain. Oh well.

OakLeaf

01-16-2010, 12:59 PM

Kacie and Urlea, wow, you gals are fast!

Two mile tempo run today. Or should I say almost two miles... I hadn't programmed a distance into my watch, and I had it displaying only pace and lap time, and by the time I got close to the end of what I'd planned, I was too oxygen-deprived for it to occur to me to push a button so I could see elapsed distance. :rolleyes:

So actually, only 1.98 miles at 8:21/mile. I coulda kept the pace for those last ten seconds though, if I'd known. :cool:

And if I can do that in training with the humidity way up, maybe I can PR that 5K in two weeks. I'd kind of written it off considering my focus right now is on the marathon. But maybe-maybe. :o

Jolt

01-16-2010, 04:52 PM

Didn't run today, but did a nice hike on the local mountain. A little under two hours for a 4.6 mile loop, and I could have kept going a lot longer but had some things to get done. Not too bad considering I haven't done that much hiking lately. One thing I have noticed since switching to minimal shoes for hiking is that I have very little if any soreness the next day. Before, I'd usually feel it in my quads for a couple of days after a long/steep hike. Tomorrow will be a run, hopefully before the icky weather starts.

spindizzy

01-16-2010, 04:53 PM

Nice work Oak- that's a great tempo!

Yellow- you will make the right decision for you.

Did 8.6k today in 46:53 on a rolling course. 5:23/km pace. I'll take that. Was gorgeous out 0C. Perfect running weather.

yellow

01-16-2010, 05:02 PM

You all are very thoughtful. Thanks for the kind words.

My docs know about my cocktails (I run my proposed sleep remedies past them before full implementation), although a mix of everything is really not all that common. :p Typically if I can't sleep I just take more neurontin. As it is I've been having liver and kidney function tests about every 3 months anyway since I've been on the diclofenac for over a year (and took a whole lot of ibuprofen for probably 5-6 years before that).

RnRG, this is a really old injury (as in about 30 years old) that blew in the fall of '08 and has gotten worse since then. The surgeon I am working with is a runner (has run several 100 mile events) and feels pretty confident that I'll be easy running again within a year, easy cycling within 6 months. I figure it'll be a year of a lot of walking and hiking. But no mountain biking for at least a year, probably :(

Aggie_Ama

01-16-2010, 07:42 PM

Yellow I am so sorry about your back, my father has terrible back problems and has to have epidural pain management. When I had my recent root canals I was taking 3 ibuprofen and 4 tylenol per the endodontist. I couldn't stomach the devilish vicodin. I also went on a wine trail while taking all that. My endodontist was not exactly thrilled with my liver abuse that weekend but I felt good. :o

I slept today, just felt run down so I rested. And upgraded my computer to Windows 7, pretty sure there is no reason for the hype. :)