Running through the Tulips - April

It's been a very low-mileage week. Since I donated blood Tuesday, I didn't run Wednesday. Then Thurs. morning was cold and windy and rainy, and it was a very busy day, so no run. Friday was Good Friday, and running and not eating are a bad combination for me (how do Moslem runners make it through Ramadan??) so no run. But I finally got out this morning, and it felt good. Just six miles, enjoying the chilly spring morning... Didn't have much stamina and faded badly, probably due to the blood donation. Or not eating yesterday...

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Originally Posted by Susan Otcenas

Today I did my longest run since injuring my IT band: 8.3 miles. I am in the aerobic base building phase right now (Hadd's Phase 1), so these are slooooow miles at very low heartrates. Today I averaged 11:28 per mile at 139bpm. It's surprisingly hard to run this easy, but that's the whole point.

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I have been trying this too. It sounds like we run roughly the same pace. It was tough for me to "slow" it down as I have always been one to feel comfortable running with a fairly high HR. My HR on average would be close to 165 with a max near 180 ( I am 42). Today my average HR was 140 with a max of 151...had to walk there just to drop it down. :-) Today I went on one of my longest runs in over a year. I got in 6 miles without my usual hamstring issues and feel like I could go out right now for another run.:D

I spoke too soon.
I was too lazy to prepare for a ride, so I drove to flatter ground and did the same run that I did on the TM on Monday. It's definitely the heat of exercising indoors that kills me, although when it gets above 65-70 outdoors, I feel it too when running. My splits for the runs were 10:36, 9:50, 10:05, and 9:34. The first and third splits were 1/4 mile and the others were a 1/2 mile. The first half mile was slightly uphill, to avoid running on a busy road with no sidewalk.
Happy with the times and I am trying hard not to go faster.
I was able to acclimate myself to riding in hotter weather, so I guess I have to do the same thing here.

It took me a lot of form work to be able to run slowly. As soon as I'd try to slow down, that's when the poor form would really show, and I'd pound myself to death. Learning to run slow was a prerequisite to training to run long...

Not quite 23 today. Taper starts now. I'm trying to convince myself I'm ready. I've nailed some pretty good workouts, and there was that half I ran in the fall, but I just have a lot of doubt that I've done enough for my stamina. I'm trying to keep up positive self-talk, visualizing 3:55 on that finish line clock...

This past week was a repeat of the previous week. I got in three 5.4 milers at work and ran 7 miles at sunrise on Easter. Unfortunately, we are back to more seasonal weather, so it's been colder for April than it had been in March. Not unbearably cold, but chilly enough that I've had to forego shorts for knickers on my Sunday long runs. I have to keep reminding myself that it won't be long before the heat and humidity descend on us.......

Did a quick run/walk this morning, without the aid of my Garmin. It was 2.2 hilly miles, mostly running, very slowly up the hill.

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Originally Posted by solobiker

I have been trying this too. It sounds like we run roughly the same pace. It was tough for me to "slow" it down as I have always been one to feel comfortable running with a fairly high HR. My HR on average would be close to 165 with a max near 180 ( I am 42).

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You and I are the same age. My aerobic threshold is ~143, anaerobic threshold is ~169 and my max HR ~190. Before I started this protocol my runs used to average around 150 or so bpm, maybe a little higher and I rarely exceeded 160bpm at any point in a run unless I was running uphill for a sustained period. In a race, otoh, I'll easily average in the 160s.

On flat or flattish courses I've now trained myself to run slow enough on small inclines that I don't have to walk to stay under 143bpm. But on hillier courses, yup, I'm walking brief segments to keep my heart under the limit. Over time, I'll build the aerobic base where I'll be able to do those same hills *without* walking!

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Originally Posted by solobiker

Today my average HR was 140 with a max of 151...had to walk there just to drop it down. :-) Today I went on one of my longest runs in over a year. I got in 6 miles without my usual hamstring issues and feel like I could go out right now for another run.:D

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Awesome! That's how I felt Friday. No IT issues and felt like I could keep on going. Glad your hamstring is healing up!

Finally got in my first run in two weeks. I'm shifting to afternoon runs as mornings are just too hot and sunny with the sun rising so early (5:39 today) and HOT. It was 84 degrees by 7:30 am today and no breeze.

I did 3 miles on the beach, and it was still hot, sunny in places (though more shade than morning, and more breeze). Pace was 10:37.

It's a start...just glad to get back to it even though it wasn't exactly what I'd call FUN. :D

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

Finally got in my first run in two weeks. I'm shifting to afternoon runs as mornings are just too hot and sunny with the sun rising so early (5:39 today) and HOT. It was 84 degrees by 7:30 am today and no breeze.

I did 3 miles on the beach, and it was still hot, sunny in places (though more shade than morning, and more breeze). Pace was 10:37.

It's a start...just glad to get back to it even though it wasn't exactly what I'd call FUN. :D

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It does not have to be fun to be fun!!:D:D You are a far better person then me..most things in the 70s gets too hot for me. :p

The effects of last week's blood donation are finally wearing off :). Got out for 5 miles this morning, and it felt good. But as the sun rose, the wind started to as well-- it was an increasing headwind for the last 2 miles or so.

Nice and easy 4-mile run in the snow.

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Originally Posted by limewave

Nice and easy 4-mile run in the snow.

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SNOW!?! seriously? sure it's Michigan but isn't that a bit late?

(of course, it's predicted to be cold enough for snow here in KY the next couple nights, so who knows?)

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Originally Posted by solobiker

It does not have to be fun to be fun!!:D:D You are a far better person then me..most things in the 70s gets too hot for me. :p

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Thanks, solo -- your post brought a smile to my face. I'll be hitting the beach again tomorrow. I know I need it even if it's not fun! :D

I was going to run today but decided I needed to do a weight workout instead. I have neglecting the weights and core work. I did commute to/from work today and I am planning on walking to the store to get some fruits and veggies. Tomorrow I must run :-)

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Originally Posted by skhill

SNOW!?! seriously? sure it's Michigan but isn't that a bit late?

(of course, it's predicted to be cold enough for snow here in KY the next couple nights, so who knows?)

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It is a bit late, but really, not all that unusual. In fact, I remember camping years back on Memorial Day weekend and it snowing. It's Michigan, anything can happen. It can be snowing in the morning and 70 in the afternoon.