Running: June 6-12

[limewave]

I ran 6.5 miles on Sunday morning. 9:45 average pace. Not bad.

[skhill]

Gardening is interfering with my running (and riding) of late. Somehow I ended up the head of our new little community garden at my church, and we've ended up working mainly in the very early morning. So today, instead of my planned 7 miles, I did a 5k tempo run (in 26:45, not bad for running a hilly route alone) and then unloaded a pick-up truck load of topsoil.

Tomorrow, I'll get in a decently long run, no matter what. Even if it means getting up at 4 am, it's going to happen.

[WindingRoad]

Yesterday = 4 miles in 40 minutes :)

Today = 1 tandem ride in God only knows how many minutes :D (practicing my captain skills for TourdeCure)

[Jolt]

Well, I did manage to run to the Y this morning (at 4:45 am!!). On the way back I had to take a couple of walking breaks on the uphills. It feels good to have cooler weather to run in!!

[Red Rock]

I did my usual 1.75 this am. I have felt good gradually moving my milegage up in increments. Running at the track also allows me to do more self analysis (on my running techniques) as I run, so that is good. The best thing that happened today was that I was able to keep my heart rate in check throughout the whole run:D. I have never been able to do that yet. I went in with the idea of going slow from the beginning because I tend to go to fast.

My next challenge is to start slow but somehow speed up the my second mile. That second mile just seems to drap on. I am struggling with ways to keep my mind occupied during the "middle" run.

[kacie tri-ing]

Thanks for the posts guys!

The race went really well!

I had a good solid swim, and then the bike was quite hilly. I broke a spoke and stopped to mess with it, and we had a mandatory dismount to walk around some spilled oil in the road. The run was brutally hot, and there was a nice hill that we ran twice. I really wanted to be under 6, but I would have had to have had an incredible last 5K, and I just had an ok last 5K. I still PR--ed the distance by 21 minutes, so I was really happy with the race!

Thanks for the support!

We are on vacation in Boulder, CO, and I went on a "recovery hike" yesterday! I hope to be able to do some trail running by later in the week!

[Susan Otcenas]

I called the pool to find out when I can aquarun there. 7am tomorrow will be my first go at it. In place of a 9 mile run, coach says I need to aquarun 60-90 minutes. Totally dreading it. Currently trying to figure out how I can mount my MP3 player to the top of my swim cap so that I don't go entirely insane.

KACIE - Congrats on a great event and the new PR!!

[Red Rock]

Kacie-Congrats on your Tri. At least you were able to do a PR. Nothing wrong with that! Enjoy the cool mountains of Colorado.

Red Rock

[Bike Chick]

Congrats, Kacie!

Susan, I have a waterproof case and headphones for my MP3 player that I use in the pool. It works great.

[rocknrollgirl]

Kacie-Awesome job. That is an excellent time!

Susan-If your pool is anything like mine, the old folks will keep you entertained!

We did a hard fast brick yesterday as I am in a mini taper for an Olympic this weekend. The run off the bike was just two miles, and we brought the second one in a 7:42. No wonder it hurt!

[limewave]

The run off the bike was just two miles, and we brought the second one in a 7:42. No wonder it hurt!

Wow that's fast!

It was rainy and windy last night. So instead of doing intervals on the bike, I did a nice long trail run. It was very serene. At one point a big owl swooped down the trail in front of me.

[rocknrollgirl]

Wow that's fast!

It was rainy and windy last night. So instead of doing intervals on the bike, I did a nice long trail run. It was very serene. At one point a big owl swooped down the trail in front of me.

Thanks! I almost fell over when we hit the half mile point and my watch said 3 mins and change. Now if I could just string about 13 of those together.:p

[Susan Otcenas]

60 minutes of aqua running this morning. It turns out that at 7am, the deep end is "open swim". There were two other folks with aqua belts on (I was lapping them ;) ) and a few people swimming very slow laps down the middle.

I looped my MP3 cord around the player, rolled it up into my ponytail, piled that on top of my head and pulled my silicone swim cap over the top of the whole mess. Worked like a charm. :D

I managed to cover 1000 yards in 60 minutes. Played around with form and position a bit. Overall, I think it's a great aerobic workout, and I think my shoulders, lats and triceps actually got a fairly good workout too. My legs? I dunno. I'm somewhat skeptical about how effective it's going to be in helping maintain my run fitness, but it's only for 2 weeks (hopefully), so at least I shouldn't deteriorate too much.

[limewave]

I managed to cover 1000 yards in 60 minutes. Played around with form and position a bit. Overall, I think it's a great aerobic workout, and I think my shoulders, lats and triceps actually got a fairly good workout too. My legs? I dunno. I'm somewhat skeptical about how effective it's going to be in helping maintain my run fitness, but it's only for 2 weeks (hopefully), so at least I shouldn't deteriorate too much.

Sounds interesting! I'll be curious to see how you do once you get back on the pavement. Hopefully you'll be able to keep your running fitness.

[Bike Chick]

2.5 miles this morning and it was the best run I've had since the HM. It felt great. I'm running in the Susan B. Komen Race For The Cure in St. Louis this weekend and really excited about it.

Susan, I did some water running Tuesday night and was really surprised at what a workout it was. I couldn't understand why my glutes were sore after my swim and then it dawned on me it that it could have been the water running.

[limewave]

Did an unexpected interval run last night. My running partner asked if I was free, and, surprise!, I was! 5.5 miles with 3 1ks at 9 min/mile pace.
Felt good.:)

[colby]

Ran on the treadmill at the hotel gym tonight (attending a conference in San Francisco). It was somewhat surreal. I usually suck at the treadmill, but this seemed to approximate reality fairly decently for once. After a warm up, I ran 1 60s interval at 7:30 but didn't feel like it was the right effort, so I ran the other 5 intervals at 6:40 with 4 min at 10:00 rest interval between them. Definitely much closer to the right amount of effort. My feet still wear weird on the treadmill, though, it seems harder on them - my posture must be off.

I'll have to catch up on another run tomorrow, but I have no idea where I will squeeze it in. I might have to toss my running clothes in my bag, then skip out during lunch hour and get in my workout, or miss a session.

[Bike Chick]

Darn, Colby, that would be awful if you had to miss a session in order to run:D

[Susan Otcenas]

Well, sorta.

I did Run 1:00, Walk 3:00, 10 times, plus some warmup strolling. Very tentative run intervals, trying to keep my step as light as possible.

No pain at all in my heel when I was running, though interestingly, a little "tension" in my heel when walking. Also, I don't feel the orthotic at all when running, but was definitely aware of it during the walk intervals.

I think I will aquarun my next two run sessions, then do a run/walk again next Friday to see how it feels.

I'm cautiously optimistic for the HIM. Cautiously....

Susan

[limewave]

Was supposed to do 7 .5 miles. But I cut it short to 3 so I can pick up the kids early and go to the beach! See-ya! :)

[colby]

Well, sorta.

I did Run 1:00, Walk 3:00, 10 times, plus some warmup strolling. Very tentative run intervals, trying to keep my step as light as possible.

No pain at all in my heel when I was running, though interestingly, a little "tension" in my heel when walking. Also, I don't feel the orthotic at all when running, but was definitely aware of it during the walk intervals.

I think I will aquarun my next two run sessions, then do a run/walk again next Friday to see how it feels.

I'm cautiously optimistic for the HIM. Cautiously....

Susan

When I have them, I have more heel problems when walking, though I think it's a vicious feedback cycle. Running tightens the muscles, and walking just pounds it in. ;) Hang in there.

I ran hill repeats during my 90 minute lunch break today - but the time it took to change and run swallowed about 75 of the 90 minutes and I prefer to digest my food so I was late to a conference session. ;) 6x60s at 8% at at least 10:00 miles.

I was watching the World Cup game that was on at the time, but then it went to halftime, and my TV choices were limited so I ended up with America's Next Top Model. Wow.

[skhill]

Today was 10 miles in the rain. I almost didn't go out, but then I reminded myself that I'd run with temps in the single digits, in snow, and a half marathon in a cold rainstorm-- 70 F and rain isn't really all that bad! But I did adjust the planned route, to keep near places I could take shelter if it changed over to thunderstorms.

Of course, the rain was dying out in the last 2 miles, and a half hour after I was done, the sun was out....

I didn't intend it, but somehow this ended up being my new highest mileage week ever (37ish); maybe that's why my legs felt so beat when I was biking down to the farmer's market!

[mudmucker]

Run and walk.

Friday the 11th I participated in the Relay for Life, Gardner, MA event at Wachusett Community College. Emotions and lots of reflection - this year I was wearing the purple shirt. I walked the survivor lap. My neighbors are team captains and I later did my relay laps for their team between 10-11pm. In celebration, I ran some of my laps, because well, I can, I'm here, I'm able. It felt great.

Today the 13th I went back to the college after everything was taken down and used the track. I ran 2 miles. It's only my second time out running since the surgery I had in late December. I've been focused on the cycling.

[kermit]

First off, I SUCK at running. My sprint tri's are great until the run. I have tried to work on it and went yesterday to get new shoes. The Brooks I had were pretty blown out and I always felt like daffy duck in them. Well turns out they were too big on the ball area of my foot (side to side) and I had been really not improving. Well came home with a new rockin set of Asics in a narrower width that fit perfectly. Went out with my husband and did four miles including sprint (pant, pant) intervals. I actually feel like there's hope . What a difference a properly fitting pair of shoes makes.

[Trek420]

I run from running. :p But did two mile walk at the track at a brisk pace. I'm ready to add intervals or throw a jog or two in. 'Cept I'm probably faster walking. :rolleyes:

It's a hot day and I was soaked at the end. Luckily this guy was there on his bike selling mango and melon slices with chili, lime and salt. Yum.

[Bike Chick]

DH and I participated in the Komen Race for the Cure in St. Louis yesterday. There was a record number of participants - over 71,000; 1,400 in the timed 5K run. They have stated that it was the largest 5K race in the world although I don't know that to be true. It was very hot, hilly and crowded but great to participate in such a large event. $3.35 million dollars were raised for breast cancer research. The finish was really neat because we ran down Market Street toward the river. Firetrucks suspended a huge American flag over the pink balloon arch at the finish line with the St. Louis Arch in the background. Survivors were given roses as they crossed and hundreds of people carried the names of friends and family they were running for. It was a wonderful experience.

[Jolt]

I got out for a couple of runs with my sister while I was in NJ for her graduation. Unfortunately she wasn't up for trail running so we just did laps around the block. Not sure what my problem was, but both runs (especially the first) felt a lot harder than usual--maybe I got thrown off b/c I'm not used to running with anyone and went too fast. (She isn't used to running with other people either and said on the first run that I was throwing off her breathing rhythm b/c mine was so loud! However, her footsteps were MUCH louder than mine.)

[colby]

Congrats to mudmucker and Bike Chick on participating in two fine cancer-fighting events!! :D

[Susan Otcenas]

60 minutes aquarunning today. My music player malfunctioned before I got in the water (I think it's finally died) and I can now say with authority that 60 minutes of aquarunning sans music is torture.

[Crankin]

I (sort of) ran for the first time since the 5K. No real reason why, I've just been into riding. I only had 30 minutes or less, so I did the loop of my street, about 1.5 miles running and .75 mile walking. My Garmin didn't work for part of the time, but I think my pace was around 11:40. No big surprise there, since a good part of the running part was uphill, including to the top of the 5% grade side of the hill.
Then I showered, to get on my bike and ride to volunteer at the farmer's market, giving out discount coupons to people who arrived by bike. I met some nice people and got a 17.8 mile ride on my Jamis, as well as buying 2 whole whole wheat scones and some olive bread.

[Jolt]

Piddly two miles today--had an errand that was a mile away so ran it. Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment two miles away...I might run to that too.

[skhill]

Monday I overslept and missed my usual pre-dawn running slot, so I ended up using the treadmill at the Y in the evening instead (it was just ridiculously hot and humid outside). 3 fast miles, and it was miserable. Next time, I'll run/walk outside instead, or take an unscheduled rest day...

[rocknrollgirl]

3 for me this morning. I raced on Sunday have been sore and tired this week. It felt good to move this morning,

[Jolt]

About 4 miles total for me today--visited a friend in the hospital 2 miles away this evening and decided to run there and back. Amazing how much better a run feels when it's not blazing hot outside!! I forgot to post yesterday, but I did run to and from my doctor's appointment. The appointment was just for some lab work, but they still took vitals and I had forgotten they would do that--let's just say they didn't get an accurate representation of my resting heart rate!!

[OakLeaf]

Ugh ... it's the first nice day in weeks and I have a horrible cold. I'm so anxious to get out for a run!

[Bike Chick]

Hope you get to feeling better, Oak. That's miserable this time of year.

[indigoiis]

Feel better, Oak! I hate summer colds. Bleh!

I am in week 1 of my 18 week marathon training. 1st marathon this Fall. Yay!

Since I have been doing mad cycling I had neglected some of my running, so this week has been a re-awakening of sorts for my poor calves and achilles. For some reason, these muscles and tendons remain under-utilized. I don't know, I probably could be pulling up more on the pedals when I ride. Anyhow, it's resulted in my feeling sort of fatigued on hills. But not in the same way I used to be fatigued on hills - now it's not my breathing, it's the back of my legs. They don't feel like pain, exactly, more like that feeling - you know how you feel when it's that time of the month and you have that low, dull discomfort at the base of your spine? It's like that, but behind my knees.
So I guess I need to STRETCH and work them.

Anyhow, so this week so far I did 3.4, 3.3, and 3.5 (Monday, Wed. and today) and I rode 30 Tuesday... tomorrow I want to ride at least a half commute, and Saturday I will run 6.

[kacie tri-ing]

Yeah for the first marathon week! Which race is it?

So I have a little catching up to do :p Let's see...I ran this half marathon (after swimming 1.2 miles and riding a hot and hilly 56). I managed 2:00:50 as colby posted. Good gosh, it was H-O-T hot. And there was this GIANT (or maybe it just seemed that way!) hill that we had to run twice. On the second time, I saw it coming, and I just kept saying "two scoops of icecream" over and over and over so that I felt like I could conquer anything (I did get the two scoops and they were insanely decadent!

So the race went really well..PR by 21 minutes.

THEN--we went to boulder, co for the week (and really really loved it!).
The day after the race, I swam and did a 2 hour hike. My body was a little upset, but it was good for it!
I did a run through a prairie dog colony last wednesday. They were SO cute. It was about 4 miles, and 2 miles in the altitude got me, and I was sick the whole way back.

BUT THEN I came back and conquered the prairie dog run. I brought my camera too! This is certainly the fastest that I have recovered from a HIM(knocks on wood)

Back home again, and yesterday I managed through a 6 mile trail run. Another one this weekend. This is a re-build week, and then I have until August 29th to pull everything together for my IM.

I am attaching a couple of race pictures and a couple of prairie dog pictures. I know that for some of you they are not that unique, but they are for me!!!

[Jolt]

35-minute trail run for me today. It felt good to run trails again after so many road runs lately--I always seem to run better on the trails.

[indigoiis]

Kacie - you look so incredibly fit! Wow! When you say you got sick on your high altitude trail run, did you get like, really sick (bolting) or were you just nauseous? I am traveling out West, and being from sea level, want to do some trail runs while on vacation. I think the town we are staying in is base 2,500 ft. and some of the trails are up in the 5 - 7s. Do you think that will affect me?

Anyhow, the marathon I am training for is the Amica in Newport, RI. It is where I grew up and is particularly meaningful to me. I did my first half last year there.

I heart trail running, too. Something about it makes one feel faster.

[colby]

I did 400m/.25mi repeats last night. This week at work was rough. Several days of late nights (we're talking 12:30-3:30AM) starting Tuesday through Thursday. I got Monday and Tuesday's workouts in, then it fell apart, so I had to pick back up. Only got in a short bike ride this morning but I might ride again tonight.

This weekend I'm not sure what's in store, I think it's a brick and a dedicated swim day. I will be going out to try on new full-sleeved wetsuits (which I intended to do a couple weeks ago, but I'm not really worried) and riding some hills when I ride.

9 days - #2185 - all the money's in the bank, now it's time to write the big check and have some left over for a nice dessert! :)

[Jolt]

90 degrees + humidity + mosquitoes + forgetting the bug spray = a yucky run! 40-minute trail run; would have liked it to be longer but I just wasn't having a good run so I cut it shorter. Tomorrow is supposed to be hot too...

[skhill]

My streak of a PR in every race is over. It's both a relief and a bit of a disappointment. But it was fun while it lasted!

This was a 5k, in a thunderstorm (yuck), in 27:48. I went out way too fast, with a 7:55 first mile, then slowed down too much in the second mile. Still, that was 6th in my age group, and a lot faster than I could have run a 5k one year ago.

The race was put on by the university's women's basketball team, and all the players were there. And now I know for a fact that the heights listed on the roster are flat-out lies-- at 5'6" I'm the same height as our 5'8" star shooting guard, and taller than all the point guards!

[rocknrollgirl]

8 very, very humid miles on the rail trail today. We stashed water at the half way point and somebody took it.:eek:

BAD KARMA ON YOU WATER STEALERS!

Needless to say we were not happy.

[divingbiker]

Had a PR at a 5k yesterday--32:54, 13/43 in my age group. For me, this is very fast.:). I rode my bike there at the crack of dawn, so it's even more remarkable. Hope this bodes well for my sprint tri next Sunday.

(Why are we still in the June 6-12 thread, when it's June 20???:confused:)

[Jones]

I ran the "World Famous Mud Run" at Camp Pendleton, so much fun. It has been so hot here that I hadn't run in a week so this was a tough run for me. I finished right in the middle of my age group and was very happy with that.

[colby]

(Why are we still in the June 6-12 thread, when it's June 20???:confused:)

It's just a jump to the left.... ;)

2 hour ride and 45 min run yesterday. Nice day for it, too. A few hours later the sky lit up with lightning and it started to rain. Now it's back to clouds, but supposed to be back to sun.

[Crankin]

I ran for 35 minutes in the heat and humidity of Philadelphia on Saturday morning, after a horrible ride on Friday. Have no idea how far I went but I ran up Chestnut Hill for awhile and then across Germantown Ave. to a nice residential area, where I turned to make a loop and then ran downhill for quite a bit. There was a really nice park in the middle of a neighborhood, but I was too nervous to go run in there, as it was deserted and I kept thinking about people who get attacked in parks :eek:. As I turned to head back, I saw DH, trying to find a decent street to ride on. Of course, I had to run uphill to get back to the hotel and eventually, I started walking. It was so hot and humid, too at 9:00 AM. I treated myself to a breakfast burrito and a coffee from the Farmer's Market and sat outside and ate until DH came back from his ride.

[kacie tri-ing]

I brought one of my best friends on a 7 mile trail run, and fortunately, she loved it (it was a tough one). Nice to have company in the midst of IM training!

Colby--I am getting really excited for you! I love following your times!! How are you feeling physically/mentally? Is the town starting to buzz with people yet?

Way to go on the 5K PR divingbiker!

That mud run sounds like a blast! Those types are races are really becoming popular!

Happy running!

[colby]

Colby--I am getting really excited for you! I love following your times!! How are you feeling physically/mentally? Is the town starting to buzz with people yet?

I didn't see too many more cyclists than usual out, a lot of locals do Ironman and I/we ride parts of the course regularly. I think it will really start Tuesday/Wednesday.

I am feeling pretty good, actually. I get the butterflies when I think about it, but I am focusing on positive visualization. I can see myself finishing, hear them saying "you are an Ironman!" I'm very excited for the run, I am really hoping to see the most improvement there if I can keep it together through the swim and bike. I know it will be hard, I know it will be long, and I know I can do it. I still alternate between "what was I thinking" and "I've done this before, I'll do it again." At the same time, I am trying not to take it for granted, because I know that a lot of things can go wrong that you can't predict. I didn't get as much time in the pool as I should have/hoped to get due to my work schedule but when I did long swims they felt great, I didn't ride as many hills as I planned during my long rides but when I did I recovered well, I focused a lot more on my running endurance which will benefit me all around even if I spend all that capital before I get to the run.

A few people from work have expressed interest in being at the finish, which will be a first for me - usually it's just my husband and closest friends that are there. I kind of enjoyed the ignorant bliss of the last two years, this year the cat is definitely out of the bag.

If you ask me again on Thursday, you will probably get a less coherent answer. ;)