Long runs Mon 9/4 - Sun 9/10

[btchance]

Okay, I'll go ahead and start the thread for this week, since I was thinking about this during my run this morning (one of the reasons that made me finish it.)

I did the planned 7mi run this morning, even though I've got horrible allergies right now (they're picking cotton right now) and my body (and throat) didn't want me to move. It took me almost an 1:30, which is too long, but I got through it, with a lot of walking. I was wanting to do it in 1:15 or 1:20 as my 5mi run last week was 55min. Oh well, next time I guess. I just ate a protein bar and am going to go stretch in front of the tv for a while. Hope you gals runs are going well this week!

[Grog]

My first 10 K in a long time is tomorrow, hopefully in the very early morning if I can gather the courage...

(Now that I've said it I guess I'll have to.)

[Lise]

10 miles this morning with my friend Jamie. Some walking, mostly running. One bathroom break. 2 hours. We're doing a 1/2 marathon on Oct. 1. Today was the first day I felt good running since the triathlon, three weeks ago. I was getting pretty discouraged. Feeling much better today. The 13.1 mile run won't be easy, but it won't be impossible, either!

[maillotpois]

Oh - you started it today!!!

Well, I did my 18 miler today. See the other thread for full description of the agony.

We're going to be in Hawaii for the next 2 weekends (trust me, I'm not complaining!), so this was really my best chance for a long one before we leave. I feel like I could probably do the marathon today but it would just hurt like crazy. Not injury hurt, just "oh my gosh my muscles just detached from my bones" kind of hurt.

[Lise]

I feel like I could probably do the marathon today but it would just hurt like crazy. Not injury hurt, just "oh my gosh my muscles just detached from my bones" kind of hurt.

Or "oh, how I wish my muscles would detach from my bones and go recover somewhere else!" MAN did I hurt after the marathon. The only other time I've had that much muscle pain is when I had a 105 fever. That was agony.

[maillotpois]

Yeah, Lise, you don't see people limping around like that in the hotels the day after a century, that's for sure.

[Shiraz]

I ran 8 miles today, 3 miles with DH with a few walk breaks and 5 miles by myself with out. Dang my foot is still giving me problems at the 6-7 miles. But my body felt great! I love the fall weather. Less wind and crisp cool air. Perfect day to run.

[Deborajen]

Did my 9-mile run this morning. Got a massage yesterday afternoon which really helped loosen things up. It felt strange today, though, because what used to be tight felt good today and what used to feel o.k. pulled today. I guess that's a post-massage adjustment. I also tried running backwards a little bit during my post-run cooldown and that seemed to help loosen my hams. Also tried the ice bath that several of you recommended on the other thread. That seemed to help as well.

Hope everyone else has a good long run. Grog, how did the 10K go?

Deb

[Grog]

Thanks for asking Deborajen!

It went pretty well, even if it turned out to be 9.5 km instead of 10km! No big deal. I ran with a girl who lives nearby, we had a good pace (5m44/km), walking 1 minute every 10 minutes. I realize that I love running by myself though, with music, but it's also good to have someone waiting for you if you're going to run at 6:15 in the morning!! And the raising sun over English Bay and the mountains was worth it.

Next week I'll probably go for a 12km.

I'll keep it to cool water jets on my legs for now, no ice baths for me until 15 km if I can avoid it!!!!

Good work on all the running, girls!

[Brina]

right now I am in pretraining. That is the official training plan that I am using is only 8 weeks long. I am stretching it by one week in the middle due to some weekend plans (repeating a 9 mile week rather than having an 11 mile week) and my event isn't for 11 more weeks. Does that make sense?

It was raining here most of the morning and I kept putting off my run. Finally did it after the kids were in bed. Strange being on the trail at night. Anyway, ran about 5 miles in just under an hour.

[colby]

Today's run for me was 14-18 miles according to the plan -- 14 miles for the "I just want to finish" beginner and 18 for the "I want to finish in decent time" beginner. I do just want to finish, but I can't always measure the distances perfectly, so this provides me a range to shoot for (and know when I'm definitely overdoing it).

I will have to bike the same route I ran to know how long it was exactly, but I went from home to the trail, got on the trail just after mile marker 4, went to mile marker 9, then turned around and came back. About 9-10 trail miles, plus the to/from home distance, which is probably 3 miles. That puts me at about 16 miles, smack in the middle.

I ran out of water for the last return 3 miles, so I decided to take it easy and walk. For the other 13, I ran until it was food time (every 15 minutes or so, or 30 with a gel), took about a minute to eat (clif bloks/gels/sport beans)/drink while walking, then started up again. My next run is 16-20 miles, which will take me right to a shopping area so I can stop and fill up with water at about halfway. That means taking a break, but for those longer distances, it might be necessary.

I behaved myself very well and was in my target zone almost the whole time (except the last walking time). I found out my heart monitor doesn't beep for any more 15-minute intervals past 2 hours... I guess it figures after 2 hours you must know what you're doing! Usually I misbehave enough to not get that far, either stopping for breaks or more likely overexerting.

This was my first true long run in several weeks, I was doing bricks which meant shorter runs paired with the biking, then the tri, then I felt pretty well burnt out and decided to listen to my body and take it a little easier, replacing long runs with long rides. The marathon might disagree with that decision, but I am only halfway through the training plan, and I am sure I'll make it.

At this point my body says one thing: feed me! I iced my legs, drank some chocolate milk, and took a shower. Food time!!!

[limewave]

I'm off for my long 18-miler (a day late). I had the baby and DH had the baby jogger, so I was stuck at home this weekend. Anyway, wish me luck. It's going to be cold and rainy. I'll report back in . . . . many hours from now.

[kaybee]

My buddy and I did our planned 8-miler with hills, which we avoided all summer due to the heat and humidity. Despite having the biggest hill at mile 7, we both felt that we could have gone at least another mile at the end. Keeping our fingers crossed that the bodies will hold out and that the PF issues we're both experiencing will fade into the sunset, since we both got new shoes and are using our night splits religiously. Congratulations to everyone on their runs. You are an awesome group of women!

KB

[limewave]

Yes, I did see the green blob the size of texas on the radar just centimeters from my town . . . but it was light green and not yellow or red. So I went. The first ten miles there was a light drizzle, just enough to keep me invigorated. The second 6 miles was along lake michigan. It got much colder and windier, but the rain still held off. I felt good--stopping every 22 minutes for water and food.

It was the last four miles that God decided He had held off the rain for me long enough. The heavens opened up and I found myself in a torrential downpour. With each step I could feel the water skooshing between my toes. My clothes were soaked, I was soaked . . . I stopped trying to jog around the puddles . . . what was the point.

I also found that I had a lot more in me than I ever thought. I was able to really push myself through that wind and rain. I wish it would have been marathon day. I felt amazing--even sprinted the last quarter mile.

I finished with a 3:11 time--I think it was about a 10:40 minute average (not sure)

~Heather
p.s. No Cyst pain today!!!!!!!

[kaybee]

Good job, Heather! So happy to hear that you also had no cyst pain.

KB