June Running

[Veronica]

6.2 miles on Sunday. It was quite warm, about 85 and no shade. I really wish tris did the swim last. :p

Veronica

[skhill]

Today's run included some work on the track, and I had an audience. It was a little later in the morning than usual, maybe that was it. There were 4 or 5 people sitting out on their porch across the street watching, it was kinda creepy. Cool thing was the pair of little kids, walking to the day care in the community center, who actually cheered!

[katluvr]

74 days until the Peak. It is full on humidity here in Florida. Luckily the sun was behind the clouds most of my run. 15 slow miles. I am giving myself permission to just run SLOW. And knowing I'll walk more in the later miles and I did. When I ran I held an OK pace. Since I normally only train for 1/2 marathons when I get above 13 miles it is new territory for me. I am working on endurance and mental toughness, what I think got me through Pikes Peak Ascent last year. I still need to work on getting in more runs and incline work on the treadmill mid week, but I am not getting in much. And this was a bad week as I had to put my 18 year old cat to sleep :(

Since I had this past Fri, Sat & Sunday off I did my 13 miles on Friday, biked 38 miles (rolling hills) Sat & first time Stand Up Paddle Boarding on Sunday. So very active week. And not much recovery time before I did todays 15 miler!

I have work and work conference (out of town) for the next 10 days straight...so hopefully I can do lots of short distance runs and time on TM for incline work .

K

[OakLeaf]

((((((katluvr)))))) So sorry about your kitty. :( What a week you've had!

I'm getting somewhere with the PT now that we're working hard on the mid and upper back (the one place where I'm not having any symptoms). I've really started to notice it on my last couple of runs. I guess I knew in the back of my head how restricted my arm swing has been, but I never quite put it together. Hopefully I'll be coming out of this injury in better shape than I was before.

[solobiker]

After work I got in a nice 60 min run. I was afraid I was going to overheat as it is starting to get pretty warm here...upper 80s but it was not bad at all. Felt great then once I got home I did a quick 30 min weight workout. :)

[7rider]

Actually ran in my neighborhood this evening. It's been ages.
Was supposed to do hill repeats with my running club's program at a local university. But....subway was late. Bus was late. Cats were needy. There was no way I was going to be able to take care of all I needed to at the house, get dressed, and get to the school (35 minute drive without traffic, which in next to never). So, I figured...I have to do hill work. I have lots of rolling hills right outside my front door. No need to drive to run. So...I did my 4 miles right out my door. Was actually a nice change of pace. And, my knee/peroneal tendon, which I had re-aggravated during Sunday's race, didn't bother me. So that was great. I'm still going to take late summer off of running (after my program's goal race and one last duathlon), and allow this to heal up properly. So, after mid-July, I'm on a self-imposed running exile. I intend to start up again at the beginning of October to prepare for the 5-mile Celtic Solstice in Baltimore in December.
Still...happy to do 4 today.

[skhill]

After all that heat in May, it's been unusually cool so far in June-- hooray! Amazing how much easier it is to go fast at 50F than 70F. Today was a tempo run, on the track this time in hope of maintaining a more even pace. Did 2 miles in 15:50 :D then slowed down considerably, 'cause I was sure feeling it. Still, I'm feeling good about this weekend's 5k. May not be a PR, but it should be a pretty good time, weather permitting, as it'll be the flattest race I've ever run.

[katluvr]

So I'm in Minneapolis for the first time in my life. Here for a week long conf that starts this afternoon. So this AM was the only time I think I'll have free to enjoy and run outside. Hotel was about 8 blocks from the Mississippi River. Lots of friendly (walk/run/bike) trails here. It was gorgeous. Low humidity. I ran about 4 miles, lots of stops and walks to sight see. Lovely morning. Didn't pay much attention to pace, just enjoying myself!

[jessmarimba]

I've been too sick to run since last Saturday - still coughing enough to make me uncomfortable. But I'm running the Garden of the Gods 10-miler tomorrow. Here goes nothing!

Good news is, it's supposed to be at least 10 degrees cooler than today. *fingers crossed*

[solobiker]

Good luck Jess!! I did that run many years ago and had a blast. Have fun.:)

[7rider]

7 miles at a slow training pace with my program group this morning.
Not a whisper of knee pain (but my quads were screaming with 1/4 mile to go - complaining about this plus that long bike ride yesterday with the N2 crew).

[skhill]

This morning was the "5k on the runway"-- a 5k run on the shorter runway out at our local airport. It was 2 laps around, quite flat, and the closest I've come to racing on a track. Except no track has jets taking off so nearby! I did a great job of maintaining an even pace, it just wasn't all that fast a pace. The first mile was 8:28, the second mile was 8:28, the third mile was 8:28. I did manage to step it up for the last little bit, and ended in 26:09 (I was hoping for about a minute faster than that). Don't know my placement yet-- I wasn't able to stick around for the awards and the results haven't been posted yet. But it was a good morning for a race, and an interesting location!

However, like most first-time events, there was one big hiccup. The portapottys weren't at the start/finish area, they were down at each end of the runway. Oops. Well, a lot of us got in a warmup dashing to and from the porta-potty shortly before start time!

[jessmarimba]

Good luck Jess!! I did that run many years ago and had a blast. Have fun.:)

That was one of the best organized races I've done. The first half of the course was really tough and mountain biking yesterday probably wasn't the smartest idea but I had a pretty good race. Finished in 1:37ish, I'm sore but not beat. The course was gorgeous, weather mostly cooperated (57-65 degrees, but a strong headwind for large chunks of the race). I highly recommen this one.

[solobiker]

That was one of the best organized races I've done. The first half of the course was really tough and mountain biking yesterday probably wasn't the smartest idea but I had a pretty good race. Finished in 1:37ish, I'm sore but not beat. The course was gorgeous, weather mostly cooperated (57-65 degrees, but a strong headwind for large chunks of the race). I highly recommen this one.

Sounds great!! And you finished in a pretty darn good time too :-) Have you ever done the Georgetown to Idaho Springs run? That is a nice one too once you get away from I 70. Doesn't that run have some beautiful views?

No run for me today. Went for a nice long hike up in the mountains.

[jessmarimba]

Sounds great!! And you finished in a pretty darn good time too :-) Have you ever done the Georgetown to Idaho Springs run? That is a nice one too once you get away from I 70. Doesn't that run have some beautiful views?

No run for me today. Went for a nice long hike up in the mountains.

I'm thinking about it, but it's the week before Pikes. But it's mostly downhill, right? Net, anyway? Hmm. :) I just got talked into the Ragnar relay here too.

Also wanted to note, I have been racing in my Terry bike tunic (I have the gingobikes one but can't remember what the new ones are). It is absolutely my faaaaaavorite top to run in. And very easy to find in race pics :) I'm seriously enthralled with it.

[solobiker]

In answer to your question Jess...Yes.

No running for me lately...long work days...10.5 yesterday and 11 today. Tomorrow probably the same...actually the rest of the week is looking the same and I get the pleasure of working on Saturday. :( Oh well. I guess it is better then not having a job.

[jessmarimba]

In answer to your question Jess...Yes.

No running for me lately...long work days...10.5 yesterday and 11 today. Tomorrow probably the same...actually the rest of the week is looking the same and I get the pleasure of working on Saturday. :( Oh well. I guess it is better then not having a job.

I hear ya there. I'm doing the long-run ONLY running program, or so it seems.

Got up at 3 today to fly to and from Portland and will be lucky to be in bed by 2 am. This, after I stayed up until midnight working on a report that was delayed through no fault of my own. I'm losing it. I think my brain is melting.

[solobiker]

Wow Jess..that is crazy. I will try to take a nice long nap for you. You are a far better person than I am..I can get up very early without any trouble but ask me to stay up late...then you will have to deal with one cranky lady unfocused lady.:p Hang in there!!

[jessmarimba]

Ran 10 in Bozeman this morning. Bozeman Running Company is awesome!

It was a bunch of false flats and harder than I expected. Though I didn't drink enough yesterday after flyin out here. I should've run 13 but I'll hike this afternoon and make up the difference.

I don't want to leave Montana, so pretty up here!

[skhill]

The summer heat has returned, alas! 70F and humid at dawn... Still, got in 7 miles. Took advantage of the university's summer break to run through a nearly-deserted campus, that was nice. On my way home, I stopped by a playground to hit the water-fountain, and thought I'd try to do a pull-up on the jungle gym. Managed 3 of them!!!

[katluvr]

Home after my work trip to Minneapolis an I had to go right to work for the weekend. I came back with a "travel" cold. Now having my worst day and darn it I'm off today and had a run planned! Having that critical discussion in my head of I should rest versus "it's just a cold--go run". I am in the critical month(s) before my target event. Trying to listen to my body and make some training plan adjustments. Darn cold! :mad:

[SadieKate]

I ran a trail "half" on Saturday which turned out to be 14.1 miles and 2,700' of climbing in freakin' hot and humid conditions. Fortunately, yellow continues in her willingness to destroy her ultrasignup ranking to come out to the PNW and drink beer with me.

Retiring from running for the 3rd time. If Brett Favre can do it, so can I. ;)

And my new coach's magic downhill strength training program worked. Yaaaaaaaay.

[jessmarimba]

50 minutes on the trails today. Ran the only shaded one I could find, which apparently also has the only mosquitoes in the state. Uphills are getting easier but I still hate them. I also reeeeealy need to get hydrated and stay hydrated. I keep trying to drink too much on the move and then I get sloshy-gut. And I have a half marathon Sunday, with a high of 98 :(

[limewave]

6.5 mile run yesterday. Feels strange to be running again . . . I'm going to start training for a half marathon that is in early September.

[skhill]

And I have a half marathon Sunday, with a high of 98 :(

That sounds dreadful! Be careful out there!

Today's run was routine, 5 slow miles in the neighborhood. What wasn't routine was seeing a raccoon. I've been in this house for more than a decade, and it's the first raccoon I've seen within a mile. Yet one more kind of critter to mess with my veg. garden...

[solobiker]

Went for a short run yesterday..no run for me toady as it is 100 degrees. Ugh...Heading up to the mtns tomorrow for somme hiking and I hope to get away from the heat. 101 here tomorrow.

[jessmarimba]

Went for a short run yesterday..no run for me toady as it is 100 degrees. Ugh...Heading up to the mtns tomorrow for somme hiking and I hope to get away from the heat. 101 here tomorrow.

Don't remind me...I'm going for 6 in the morning, mostly to try out the shoes I just bought before I race in them Sunday. We're starting at 6:30 and it will still be nearly 80 when we're done. Enjoy your escape!

[jessmarimba]

Ok, just ran 4 today, then walked 2.5. Shoes will probably work. Going to be 102, so I'm hiding for the rest of the day. Might be time to finally break down and get a portable swamp cooler for my upstairs. No idea of the temperature up here (the only thermometer I have is a candy thermometer for baking, which starts 100F - but the line will get there soon) but downstairs is about 88 and feels cool.

I need to drink about a gallon of fluids and tomorrow is still going to be the slowest half marathon ever. I only hope it's faster than the one I ran last October when I was hypothermic for half of the race!

[skhill]

Don't want to rub it in, but it was an almost perfect morning for a run. Mid-60s, with low humidity and just a trace of a breeze.:) So it was 8 miles, going through a part of town where I rarely run. Too many hills! That's why there are so many cemeteries there; the land's not great for much else. When I was about a mile from getting home, it occured to me that I'd been past 4 cemeteries (3 active and one historic) so I took a little detour to go past yet one more. Could have added a sixth if I'd thought about it at the right time, would have been no more than another mile. Weird...

[Tri Girl]

I rarely post on this thread, but I'm always lurking. ;)
I was supposed to do my first 50K today, but woke up with a horrible head cold thing going on, so went back to sleep. It was a local race at a trail nearby, so it was no big deal that I missed it (I hadn't signed up yet, was going to do it this morning). I may just try to run it in the morning at 4 am on my own if I feel better. If not, I'm waiting for the next "cool" day of 93 degrees next Saturday to try. ;)
I need to move to Flagstaff or someplace cool in the summer. I really, really, really hate summer running around here! When it's already in the high 70's/low80's at dawn with humidity in the 60%'s and rising- it just makes for miserable long runs. :rolleyes: I wind up running on the treadmill a LOT in the summer. I either need to start my long runs at 11 pm or 4 am to miss the heat of the day. LOL

[solobiker]

Ok, just ran 4 today, then walked 2.5. Shoes will probably work. Going to be 102, so I'm hiding for the rest of the day. Might be time to finally break down and get a portable swamp cooler for my upstairs. No idea of the temperature up here (the only thermometer I have is a candy thermometer for baking, which starts 100F - but the line will get there soon) but downstairs is about 88 and feels cool.

I need to drink about a gallon of fluids and tomorrow is still going to be the slowest half marathon ever. I only hope it's faster than the one I ran last October when I was hypothermic for half of the race!



Take it nice and slow for the race. We did avoid the heat by heading up to the mtns today..we got in about 16 miles of hiking with some fly fishing in the middle. It was in the 80s where we were and when we got back home..at 7pm it was 100. Blahhh.

Good luck Jess!! Will be thinking of you and wishing for cool running temps.

[7rider]

Good luck Jess.

Did a 40k time trial yesterday (on the bike). Yesterday afternoon and this morning my butt cheeks were killing me. Ugh.

This morning, I met my running group at 6 a.m. (:eek:) to pre-run the 8k twilighter course that is our goal race in 3 weeks (or so). Was about 70 and really humid. We ran more-or-less as a group, stopping at every mile or thereabouts to discuss the route - what to expect, where water stops would be, hills (which they said it was a "hilly" route, but it isn't - much less so than my own neighborhood) - stuff like that. By the 4th stop, it was getting harder and harder to start back up again. The old hip flexors were complaining and it took a good 1/4 mile again to get the legs swinging. And boy, were we all dripping sweat. Stop, and the sweat would just bead up on you arms, your face, your legs. Blech.

But - it was good. Good splits. Good pace (nearly race pace, it certainly wasn't the "LSD" long, slow, distance runs we'd been doing on Sunday mornings. The goal race - which goes off at 8:45 p.m. - nearly my bed time :eek: - has a reputation for being HOT....so...that will be the challenge.

[jessmarimba]

I'm not dead and I'm not in the hospital, so that was a success. Race report later.

[Tri Girl]

I'm not dead and I'm not in the hospital, so that was a success. Race report later.

Whew! Glad to hear it. Can't wait for the report. :)

[solobiker]

I'm not dead and I'm not in the hospital, so that was a success. Race report later.

Happy to hear!!

I went on a short 4 mile run this morning...was not too hot yet...right now it is 101.

[solobiker]

Pics from my hike yesterday to escape the heat.

[jessmarimba]

Pics from my hike yesterday to escape the heat.

Oooh which one is that? I was thinking Blue Lake or Mitchell lake but isn't something burning up there too?

------------------------------------------------
Ok! Half marathon race report (sorry, kind of long):

It’s been hot in Colorado this June. The last Friday and Saturday have been particularly hot for here, with record temps of 102 and 104. Knowing this race was approaching, I drank probably half a gallon of water after work on Friday. Saturday, while I ran a few miles early and did indulge in a mini margarita during a running club happy hour, I felt that the 80+ ounces of water plus 32 ounces of Gatorade I drank were fairly hydrating. I woke up at 2 am to pee, which is a good sign that I’m hydrated, right?

Today was also predicted to be hot. Knowing that I get really salty when I sweat, and salty clothes chafe more, I made my first good decision of the day – running with no shirt (very, very rare for me). Our race packets came with a sample bottle of Aquaphor that fit perfectly in the pocket on my water bottle. My second (and last) good decision was to bring it along for the race. It was around 80 degrees at the start, and we were breathing in tons of smoke from the fires.

The first 5 miles were an out-and-back with two aid stations, relatively flat and following a mix of gravel MUP and residential roads. This section took around 48 minutes – so far, so good. We passed through the starting area to an 8.1 mile out-and-back with one good hill. Now, I’m not the best at hills, but after Garden of the Gods this one didn’t seem too daunting. Took a couple walk breaks but I was still feeling as good as I could expect. At the bottom of the hill the course veered into a shadier area near a stream, and we had the option of sticking to the gravel MUP or going with the adjacent singletrack. It’s a trail race – plus the singletrack was shadier and reportedly shorter, so I took the singletrack. Unfortunately, the singletrack spit you out onto the MUP about 200 feet PAST the mile 8 aid station. I thought about going back, but that was just far enough that I didn’t want to backtrack, plus I was carrying a bottle that still had some Gatorade in it. Bad decision #1. The next chunk of trail was hot and exposed, and I slowed down a bit to eat some of my Reeses, which left my mouth sticky. Gulped the Gatorade (and finished it). Mouth is still sticky. Around 8.5, a runner returning from the turnaround mentions water ahead – “Make sure to splash some on you.” (I must have looked a sight at this point, as I’d had a little tumble on the singletrack and was covered in dust and grass). I continue slowly running until mile 9, where the course entered a small grove of trees near the turnaround. I can now see that there is NOT an aid station at the turnaround. At this point, my mouth is ridiculously dry and I nearly start crying when I see no relief. A guy walking with his girlfriend (both racing) offers me water from his bottle, but he is carrying it for the two of them and she looks much worse than I do so I turn him down. Bad decision #2. If I’d had some of his water, I probably would’ve limited myself to a sip or two, enough to get through the mile of sun til the next aid station. I run-walk (mostly walk) my way back to the aid station at mile 8/10, where my mouth is nearly stuck shut it’s so dry. I gulp a few cups of water –bad decision #3 - and fill my bottle and slowly run away from the aid station. A tenth of a mile later I realize I now have a terrible case of sloshy gut, and I NEED to run the next mile to keep a good pace since 11-12 requires going up the hill again. But I can’t run anymore. I can’t breathe, and I’m still thirsty even though my stomach is full of liquid.

I finished in something like 2:25 – Lost about 15 minutes in the last three miles. At the finish, they hand me MORE water. I’m too queasy to drink it. Unfortunately they’re out of every other post-race drink except beer, which I finally get just to ensure I have it when I feel good enough to drink it. (Got the last beer before they ran out, too). I finally force myself to drink the beer and it actually helps – I think the carbonation forced the rest of the liquid to digest. It’s a little over 90 at the finish and already around 100 by the time I leave the race.

So, not the best run (but remarkably chafe-free!). Looks like maybe 50 people (out of maybe 250) DNFed…plus I know I finished ahead of about 50 people, and aid stations were running out of drinks, so there were some miserable people out there today. I'm still thirsty, and I've had so much liquid that I am too full to drink more.

[Tri Girl]

you kicked tail out there!! Seriously- I didn't run my last FLAT half marathon in 2:25. :p
Nicely done. Great report. Congrats again!!

[solobiker]

Jess..great race report. The hike we did was Thunder Lake. It was a great hike...we have done a few times including one time in the winter. It is about 14 miles round trip.

[Artista]

That's what I call endurance in this heat, Jess. Nice going!

[OakLeaf]

Wow Jess. Way to go. Way to run smart and safe, too. Great job.

[yellow]

Way to tough it out, Jess. After having a couple of near disaster hot race days myself this year, I feel for you. Give yourself a couple of extra days to recover. That heat takes a lot more out of you than you realize!

[skhill]

Way to go, Jess! Hate to think of dealing with the smoke as well as the heat...

My favorite speed work: the doggy fartlek. Usually done in street clothes, sprint with dog, then stop when she has to sniff/pee/stare at a squirrel, then repeat. For variation, throw ball, then chase dog to get ball back. Not a bad workout!

[jessmarimba]

My favorite speed work: the doggy fartlek. Usually done in street clothes, sprint with dog, then stop when she has to sniff/pee/stare at a squirrel, then repeat. For variation, throw ball, then chase dog to get ball back. Not a bad workout!

Hahaha sounds fantastic! That's why I need a dog!

Thanks for all the encouragement! That was an unhappy race. I'm still pretty tired. I'm definitely retaining water. I can't wait for the weather to cool down...!!

[OakLeaf]

I'm definitely retaining water.

I was going to say something before, because it didn't sound like you got near enough sodium ... Be careful.

http://www.ultracycling.com/old/nutrition/hyponatremia1.html

[jessmarimba]

I was going to say something before, because it didn't sound like you got near enough sodium ... Be careful.

http://www.ultracycling.com/old/nutrition/hyponatremia1.html

Trust me, sodium isn't usually a problem for me. Well, usually it's a problem in the other direction. I ate most of the basket of tortilla chips at the happy hour the night before. And I've had a LOT of pickles this week. But I do think I needed more during the race. It was weird, I was SO THIRSTY, my mouth was gumming up, but I still had to stop and pee at one point. (And another shortcoming, this race had no bathrooms on the course. And no large shrubbery to hide behind). Definitely need to experiment more with the fluid balance.

Anyway, did a short track workout tonight. Helped my legs without killing my lungs. 15 to do on Saturday and I hope I can finish it running this time!

[skhill]

Our worst heat wave in my lifetime (probably) is cranking up, and I'm running accordingly. Out at 6 am, with a simple plan: run 5-6 miles, and don't worry about pace. Ended up going 5.6 miles, and it turns out at pretty much my usual pace.

Looks like the heat will still be on for the 10k on July 4. Oh well.

[jessmarimba]

Clouds rolled in this evening, dropped to the low 80s (which seems to give me goosebumps at this point!) and we did a 4+ mile trail run. Fantastic! I'm still not good on uphills but thank goodness for down.

[jessmarimba]

15 miles this morning. Was slightly cooler than the race last week but no shade, and we took it pretty slow. Slower than expected for the second half, actually, as there is a 71-year-old man who runs with our group who was not dealing with the heat well, and I didn't want to leave him alone. So there were a few walk breaks, and that was perfectly fine by me!

Experimented with "gatorlytes" this morning. Worth looking into for those who also drink diluted gatorade - adds back electrolytes and some sodium without adding extra sugar. Seemed to work pretty well!

[Tri Girl]

I ran 16 yesterday and it was awful. I started at 6 am, I should have started at 4. ;) Too hot too early and too much humidity. I try to keep my short runs inside on the treadmill, but I just can't stomach 3 hours on a treadmill. I'm mentally tough, but not THAT tough. :p