Running: First Week of Spring

[Aggie_Ama]

Or fall if you are in the southern hemisphere.

I did an extremely hilly 8 miler, last long run before the half marathon. DH was pre-riding his race course for next weekend and the road around the course was the perfect run site. It is about a four mile loop with just hill after hill. I was shocked I was able to keep my breathing and heart rate in check. Shockingly I am not sore yet either, I did stretch really well. The only complaint was I was exposed to 20 mph winds on an exposed roads but at least I had lovely views of Lake Travis to distract me.

[Grog]

Just back to rainy ol' Vancouver after a week on the hot west coast of the Big Island.

I had two big runs to do while there: a 26 km and a 30 km, the latter being the longest I had ever run. I sprinkled a few shorter runs in between.

It went great! The 26 km was a pretty hilly one, roughly a round trip between Kailua-Kona and a point called The End of the World, for those familiar with the area. I was towards the end of my run when running down to the End of the World and getting really concerned that my world would indeed end there, as it was a steep downhill that would inevitably be followed by a steep uphill if I was to return home. On the way DOWN there was an automatic radar that flashed my speed back at me: 5 mph. Thankfully there was no radar on the way up.

The 30 km run was there loops around the resort area where we stayed then, a bit further north on the coast. I tried a new experiment, running for 2 km and then walking for 100 meters, 200 if I was eating a gel (every 8 km). It distracted me a bit (usually I run/walk based on time not distance). There was some wicked wind, which made it fun to look at my run's diagram on the Nike+ website afterward.

Now on to a rest week, and a much shorter long run next weekend, before starting to build up and up and up again! This is sort of fun.

[colby]

Another ~14 miles today. I was cruising along really nicely at ~9 minute mile averages until about mile 11 when my tummy said "whaaaaaat?" and I debated stopping at the rest stop to use the facilities but stupidly didn't. Anyway, the next mile was kind of uncomfortable, then I pretty much walked the last 2. That's fine, my stupid mistake for eating popcorn too close to my running time (the night before, we saw Alice in Wonderland) before my body could get rid of it all. I can tolerate that up to 8-10 miles at this pace, but when I get over 10 (or work harder), I have to be much more careful about what I eat the night before and that morning for breakfast. Bad, bad, Colby.

It was rainy and windy, but a nice run all things told. My calves are a little sore in the barefoot zone (achilles to calf) but the callous on my right foot isn't tender and no blistering between my big/2nd toes. The toes on my right foot were a little stiff when I finished, so I stretched across the top of my foot - I think I am wearing on them a little differently than they are used to being used.

Mile 4:

[kacie tri-ing]

Sore today really really sore

I hope that will fade away quickly, but I have a slow week for some good/solid recovery!

[limewave]

Well, I skipped my run on Friday to mountain bike.
Then I did an indoor bike race on Saturday.

So, Sunday I had to do my 7 mile run. I felt pretty good on the flats, but any time I hit a hill my legs felt like lead.

And then I went mountain biking again 60 miles on the mountain bike this week. 14 running.

[skhill]

Did about 3.5 miles this morning, averaged 8:50/mile-- great news for the next time I do a 5k (my 5kPR is about 33 min). Not so good for next weekend's half... I keep trying to run slow this past week, but the only time I managed to keep to a 9:45/mile pace was when I was downright sick and running a fever. Oh well. And I can't believe I'm griping about running too fast!