Ain't nothing gonna break my stride - Week of July 14

[oneskineejosie]

So, today's run was a real turning point for me. Throughout the past 3 or so months as I have been training for my first season of sprint tris, running has been my biggest hurdle. I just don't take to it naturally like some do, but I have been putting in my miles and hoping that someday, it would pay off. It happened today!!!

I did the same interval ladder that I have been doing for the past few weeks, but I realized as I was running that it felt so much better! My HR was going down really nicely during the recovery times, and I finished my 6.4 miles (same exact course @ the reservior) 2 minutes faster than last week!!! The best part is that I wasn't pushing harder, my HR average was 163, compared to last week's 171 AND I rode a 50 mile charity bike ride yesterday (well, 58 miles, 'cuz we missed a turn!!!), so my legs weren't really "fresh".

I was so inspired by the fact that I am actually making progress that I signed up for the Hartford 1/2 Marathon in October!!! I figured since it was the sport that I wanted to concentrate the most on in the tri off-season, that I might as well give it a shot!!!

[jesvetmed]

Wow OneskinneeJosie... great news! It's so nice to see payoff for the hard work and time spent. I'm the same with running -- NOT my strong suit. I felt that happen with me a couple months ago and it is wonderful.

My run today not as great! 3.5 miles fairly slowly... I'm just worn down, I think. Then walked 2 miles. I have to start walking more b/c I have the Breast Cancer 3-Day in 8 weeks -- 60 miles of walking then. So I better get some in! I think I'll do a lot of going out the trail for my days' running for the triathlon schedule, then walk back whatever distance that is. That will help a lot. Walking just takes so much time!!!!

[oneskineejosie]

Thanks!!!

60 miles??? WOW!!!

[kelownagirl]

Did 6km this morning but stopped before I could reach 8k because my shins were bugging me. Went for physio this afternoon and had some treatment.

[tygab]

Did a 5 miler last night, reverse direction of my last run putting the rollers at the end... Prolly my best run in a few months as my HR stayed a comfy 164 except on the uphills. I was also surprised to be back at my house (versus thinking over the last mile about how I couldn't wait to be home).
The lack of heat and humidity helped too.

[Jolt]

Did a half-hour run this morning; it's way too hot here!! The heat and humidity just takes all the fun out of running--I had to force myself to go out and felt pretty icky by the end.

[colby]

About 5k for me today... we stopped for a couple of doggie potty breaks and to run/smell other dogs. The whole thing still doesn't quite feel right, it feels like it's harder than it used to be - it probably is, and will be for a little while longer. Sometimes breathing, stride, and speed will all come together to remind me of what I had (and will have), but at this point, I have to work to remind myself that this is okay, I didn't lose all of my fitness in 3 or 4 weeks, and I'll get my groove back. It's hard when family members who "don't get it" don't believe that you're still recovering after 3-4 weeks. Recovery... the 6th sport of triathlon (nutrition and mental training being #4 and #5)?

I think it was 40 minutes all told, which probably means 35 minutes of running and 5 minutes of dog time wasting. So slow... but it'll come back. I hope.