Midwinter running, week of January 10-17

[indigoiis]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Aggie_Ama]

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?

[Veronica]

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]

Yeah Grog! 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!

[Wahine]

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.

[kacie tri-ing]

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

[Susan Otcenas]

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. 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.

[Karma007]

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]

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]

Just got back from 18. About four miles in, the bladder in my hydration pack sprung a leak. 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.

[Veronica]

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