June Bug Running

[OakLeaf]

So who got out for National Running Day?

I did 8.5, a hillier loop and my legs were a little heavy from yesterday so it took me almost as long as 9.5 did yesterday. No worries, it was a beautiful day, again.

I'd interviewed some coaches last month when I was thinking I might be running Columbus marathon this fall. Since I'm not going to be running another marathon until the spring, I haven't started a program yet, but the guy I've decided to hire suggested that I do shorter races a little more often as part of my base. This weekend I have a choice between a small, more or less local 5K, or a big 10K in the "big city." I've never done a 10K and it was tempting, but not having to drive so far won out. Anyway, the 5K is a benefit for a scholarship fund for female athletes from my county, which is cool, so I'm signed up for that and looking forward to breathing hard for the first time in a while.

[yellow]

Oak, I am TERRIFIED of shorter races (and races on pavement in general). That said, I've chatted with more than one very talented distance trail runner who believes in the training power of short races on pavement. One of these days I might get brave and sign up for a 5k. It would be interesting, to be sure. I'd have no clue how to run the damn thing

For national running day I treated myself to a short but beautiful, shady, flower-laden trail run. My legs are kind of trashed right now, but I am tapering for a June 15 event and soooo happy about the lower volume for the next week. I kind of fought with my long runs last week (very long back-to-back runs), and my body is just now starting to feel like it's recovering.

[OakLeaf]

It would be interesting, to be sure. I'd have no clue how to run the damn thing

Easy, just run until your lungs pop out your eyeballs, then kick the last kilometer.

I had a good run this morning. Like the last 5K I did, way back in Turkey Trot season, today was just to breathe hard and see where I am, and I'm happy. Wore my watch but didn't look at it, just ran by feel which is another thing I'm trying to develop, negative splits the whole way (not too hard considering it was pretty much all uphill to the turnaround and then back down again).

It was pretty emotional since the fund is in memory of a young woman who was murdered 10 years ago, and her family is still very involved in putting on the race; her mother won her age group.


Yellow, enjoy your taper - where are you running next week?

[skhill]

Funny, my attitude is the shorter the race, the better! We have just one annual 3k here, and it's the highlight of my racing year. Every time I've run it, I've placed in the top 5 of my age group, despite a very large field. I'd really like to try racing even shorter distances, maybe a mile or 800, just to see what I could do. Maybe my training is inadvertently geared towards short races, maybe I'm pysiologically more suited to short distances, I don't know. In any case, next week is the "5k on the runway." They shut down the short runway at the airport, and run the race there, almost 2 laps of the runway. The surface is very hard (too hard) but it's flat and fast. Lots of fun!

But today was a long run, 10 miles. I had intended a 9:15/mile pace, ended up averaging 8:55/mile, but I felt like I could easily have gone a couple more miles at the end so that was OK. And this despite a couple miles being quite hilly. However, my legs were a bit grumpy when I hopped on the bike to head to the farmer's market a little later in the morning!

[skhill]

Well, I was going to do intervals on the track this morning, but it didn't work out that way. I knew when I started out the door that I was forgetting something, but it wasn't until I was half a mile down the road that I realized it was my watch. At 6 a.m. it was already 75 F and muggy, and I knew that if I went home to get it I probably wouldn't leave again, so I kept on going. Instead of intervals, it was about 5 miles worth of fartlek, including several laps of the track since I was planning on going there anyway.

And it's going to be our first 90+ day of the year today, yuck

[skhill]

I should do a long run Saturday, 12 miles. But I just found out the Bluegrass State Games track and field competition is Saturday as well, just a 45 min drive away. Distances from 100 m to 3k, and you can do 3 events. Hmmm maybe the 800 and 1500? The thought of 3k on the track is just too grim. Might be fun to do an even shorter event, too. I'm tempted...

[Crankin]

I can do 2 miles without water, in cool or cold weather, but anything over 3 miles, I need water. I drink a lot, maybe from all my years as a gym rat, but probably also from living in the desert. When I moved here, it kind of astounded me how little people hydrated.

[skhill]

I don't usually carry water either. Most of my usual routes take me past public water fountains from time to time so there's no need. But those rare occasions when I run on the nearby MUP-- about 10 miles from my front door to the far end-- I do bring some. There are a couple of porta-potties, but no water out there... At 5'6" and 130lbs, I'm hardly a twig either; it gets me sometimes that I'm average height and far from underweight and yet unisex smalls can be huge...

The knee basically felt fine today, thankfully. A few twinges when on a very tilted stretch of sidewalk, but it's been OK since. 7 miles in an hour and I've been constantly hungry since.

[yellow]

I had a pretty good event last weekend at the Bighorn Mtn Trail Run 50 (actually 52) mile near Dayton, Wyoming. The last 20 miles were a little rough--I ended up a bit dehydrated and my hip got angry--but I finished, and finished running (many people walked the last 5 miles, which was on double track). I was fortunate to connect with a wonderful woman at about mile 28 and we finished together. We were in the same age group and although we crossed the finish together (hand in hand), her chip registered first so she got 2nd in AG and I got 3rd. I can't complain. It was a beautiful course, the weather was awesome, I met many wonderful people, I did not puke, and I ran more than I hiked. The course surprised me; it was much harder than I thought it would be (much of it was very technical singletrack). 10:56 and change. I feel pretty good this week, and am recovering quickly. I have another 50 mile in mid-July. Back at it next week!

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[OakLeaf]

Wow, congratulations Yellow!

[Catrin]

Wow Yellow - that just sounds plain awesome!!!! Sounds like you were in beautiful surroundings!