Keep on Running Week of 11/09/08

[Jolt]

Decided to try a short trail run/walk today...no IT band pain but it still wasn't a great run (and I only ran about ten minutes per the PT's instructions, then walked about 20). Had a few other random twinges that I put down to not having done any hiking or trail running in a while, and felt CLUMSY!! I was a lot more hesitant than usual in jumping across streams or from rock to rock on the trail, and just didn't feel as agile as I remember being before. Apparently I have gotten rusty with the whole trail-running thing...plus I think part of it is that I haven't gotten back full confidence in my legs holding up after the IT band fiasco and the trigger points that cropped up later and caused other aches and pains (a few of them are still bugging me a little the past few days).

[michelem]

Well, I might have to reconsider the CIM for this year. I had another lousy run today, and it was my last really long run before the race, so it's not like I can keep practicing to get things right at this point. 26 miles. It took me over TWO HOURS to complete the last 8 miles! RIDICULOUS! It usually takes me about an hour and 10 minutes! I had to walk A LOT and stop too, to keep myself from throwing up. The temp went up 25 degrees while I was out. I tried to hydrate -- 1 and 1/2 Hammer Gels with one Endurolyte per hour, starting after hour 1, mixed into approx. 8 oz. of water. I also drank some plain water toward the end because I just couldn't stomach anymore nutrition, I felt SO NAUSEOUS.

So, my on-my-feet time was 4 and 1/2 hours (all that walking). I stopped my watch for all my potty stops and stops on the side of the road/trail. My total time was close to SIX HOURS!

Who knows, maybe I do the race just for the experience, not aiming for a certain time (knowing I'll never meet my goal). Or, maybe I'll just hang up the brand new shoes early and get back on my bike.

Speaking of the new shoes, I ended up driving up to Auburn (I called the Fleet Feet in Citrus Heights, Roseville, Sacramento, and Davis and NONE OF THEM had my size! Come on -- I mean 6.5 really isn't a strange size, is it? I used to wear size 5 -- talk about hard to find shoes!). I ended up with the Brooks Defyance and with my Green Superfeet they feel really good. Much lighter than my old New Balance. And they fit snug so my feet don't slip around.

Yellow, thanks for sharing your photo -- looks like a really nice place to run. And fun armwarmers too!

[Grog]

Wow, Michelem, a 26-mile training run? Those are some serious miles...

I must have been running with you mentally because I was also a little nauseous today, albeit not as much. I blame it on running in the afternoon, which I am not used to.

I went for a 16 km (10 miles) run this afternoon. I ran on Vancouver's seawall because it was the closest thing (no need to drive anywhere) and it's pretty much flat. I won't do that again at that time of the day (3:30 p.m.). It was really crowded with people, lots of very slow walkers walking as a pod of 6-8 family members usually gathered around a stroller, so I had to step aside on the bike path and the cyclists don't like that very much - and the walkers don't take it kindly if you ask them (even gently) to stay on the right. There were also lots of people walking dogs. Some of them are pretty good at keeping the dog at their heel, but there were also some dogs zooming around leashless, and others, usually very small dogs, on those invisible retractable leashes. I almost tripped once and the owner told me to "chill" when I asked to "please pull back the leash."

The good thing is that the 16 km went by relatively fast because I was constantly distracted, and there was interesting light around sunset time. But I think I'll stick to my routine of running in the morning...

Onto another week with increased mileage, then a rest week.