Sluggin' away?! July 30-Aug 5

[Starfish]

You guys are so inspiring. I keep thinking I want to try a Tri, but I am just so afraid of starting even a walk/jog program until I lose some weight (knee).

But, I am going to cross train through the winter with swimming, weight training, and maybe walking, and I hope lose some weight. Part of me wants to do that and then give the bike everything I've got for next year...there are a couple of bike rides I would like to focus on, I think.

But, reading that book Marathoning for Mortals has re-piqued my interest...

Thanks for letting me listen in on your Tri discussions! Truly I am so impressed.

[teigyr]

You guys are so inspiring. I keep thinking I want to try a Tri, but I am just so afraid of starting even a walk/jog program until I lose some weight (knee).

But, I am going to cross train through the winter with swimming, weight training, and maybe walking, and I hope lose some weight. Part of me wants to do that and then give the bike everything I've got for next year...there are a couple of bike rides I would like to focus on, I think.

But, reading that book Marathoning for Mortals has re-piqued my interest...

Thanks for letting me listen in on your Tri discussions! Truly I am so impressed.

Starfish, I feel the same as you. My knees are pretty bad but I recently got orthotics and those are helping a lot. I run on the days I don't have much time because I can go out for 45 min to an hour and accomplish more than I could on the bike.

If you do it, start slowly

KSH, I can't believe the distances you are doing!! It is difficult for me to plan ahead sometimes and I just plug along and then forget to see there is progress. Going from five miles to seventy-five is incredible though!

[roadie gal]

10.5 miles is great! I don't know how you could do 5 loops, though. I would lose count.

For some reason, I've been into trail running rather than being on the road this month. I'm finished with my triathlon season, so I figure I'll just run for fun and do whatever I feel like. Today was an hour and ten minute run. (The extra 10 minutes was because I ended up on a new trail and was lost for a bit.)

Maybe if I can work up to 13 miles I'll try for that Half Iron next season.

[yellow]

1 (The extra 10 minutes was because I ended up on a new trail and was lost for a bit.)

I love getting lost a for a bit!

Did my long run today, though it ended up being shorter than I wanted. I wanted to run for 3 hrs but the trail ended at 2 hrs 22 minutes. It was a great run, though (flowers blooming, hummingbirds humming, cool air) and I got a whole lot of elev gain. Topped out at about 9600'+ and saw (and patiently waited for the exit of) a cow moose and 2 calves right at the beginning. What a beautiful day.

Based on my performance today, though, I've finally decided that the 17 mile trail race next week is out. I need to work on the Achilles attachment to the calf a bit. I thought my calves were going to explode for the first hour (all uphill, of course). Plus 17 is a lot more than the 13 I did today.

[Wahine]

Yellow - I'd have to say that you're making a good choice. Trail running is tough and it's a lot harder to add 4 miles on a trail than on a road. It's also harder on the achilles and you do not want a full blown achilles tendonitis.

Sorry you had to give up the race.

Hope you feel better soon.

[yellow]

Sorry you had to give up the race.

Yeah, I'm pretty disappointed, but I also do not want to get injured. I think this whole long distance trail business is just going to take a lot longer to work up to than it ever took me to advance in road running. Plus I'm a little older now. I'll get there eventually, but yes, I'm pretty disappointed in myself at this moment (and disappointed that I feel disappointed for making a wise decision). Ugh.

[tattiefritter]

I know how you feel Yellow, I had a trail race booked for the 1st of September, "only" 8.5 miles with about 1300ft of ascent/descent, pre-injury I could have got myself round but not at the minute or in the near future. I have put my sensible head on and decided to limit myself to 4 mile max trail runs for the next three of four weeks until I'm happy my left leg can take the descending. I'm also disappointed with making a sensible decision. Its an oversubscribed event so I e-mailed the organisers yesterday to offer my place to anyone who wants it.

Today I did 5.25 miles on the road, aiming for between 8.45 and 9mm pace, I managed to keep it to 8.45 average but I was reining myself in a lot and struggled to keep it constant, I varied from 8 mm to 9.10 mm. While I am pleased I can still run faster now is really not the time for it.