Running week of 4/27

[Crankin]

Yes, I always put my Garmin outside on the roof of my DH's SUV to get going, so it is ready when I go out. It just wouldn't do it. It asked all of those questions like, "Have you moved hundreds of miles away?" So finally, I just went, with it on, because I was afraid my husband might ask me to help him plant the 71 day lilies and hostas he was planting!

[OakLeaf]

You know the funny thing, when I DO turn it on, on the opposite coast or another continent from the last time, it never asks me whether I've moved hundreds of miles!

[indigoiis]

I am hooked.
I ran 29:33 and felt like I could have done much faster - I was running conservatively because I am not 100% in touch with my running body yet. It's actually more like a reunion - I ran track and cc as a teen and young adult and then spent 20 years partying until I got into cycling a few years ago. Cycling has taught me a lot... it helped with the race today.

I think, because I cycle, it helped with:
-finding space - I had no problem "taking" my place in the crowd.
-rhythm
-understanding the need to "spin"
-drafting. I drafted several times.
-breathing

With running though, you are making contact with that pavement instead of your tires. That impact comes right up through to your brain.

Anyhow, I was fresh at the end and felt really good and so now I am hooked. I am doing an 8K next Saturday (like you Crankin, I promised a friend) in Westport MA. And then (gulp) I signed up for the Amica half marathon on October 18th. That gives me plenty of time to train and also to do all the biking I need to do this summer (two centuries to train for.) But I really like using my body this way... I feel really fit this year and it's helping me to eat right and take care of myself. Yay!

Anyhow I plan on being on the running thread more as I have no one to run with around here (out in the boonies) and so will look forward to your inspirational stories!

[OakLeaf]

Way to go Indigo!

My legs are wrecked from yesterday's ride but I needed a little bit of a run.

Since my old shoes are still a little damp from Friday's drenching, it was time to break out the new pair - same shoe, but a half size bigger. I can literally watch my toes gradually unfurling after years of being skrunched up. (Actually, they've discontinued this shoe in Wide so I have yet another new pair that I picked up at the LRS last week, just to postpone the day I'll have to find another shoe.) The bigger size is definitely better in certain places where my feet are very wide, and they don't slop around too much.

Just a little one today, I headed south out of the lane which is considerably flatter, for just about 3.5. I did push the pace a little bit on the out lap, did that @ 9:22, which even though it was a net descent, wasn't too bad considering the state of my legs, the initial half mile on large gravel, and the fact that there are still a couple of climbs.

This time a full-grown Great Dane tried to climb up the backs of my legs. What is it with these dogs? Do I have bacon attached to my calves or something?

[Crankin]

That is great, Indi! I only hope for a time of 29:33. My goal is only to finish and not have to walk for than a few seconds! The strategy will be to start slow and get in the rhythm. Never thought about drafting in running. My friend who works at the hospital is sending me the route this week, so I will start running the route as soon as I get it, since it's in my town. If I don't absolutely blow it, then I will set my sights on a 10K. I don't think a half is in my future, but I do want to do a century later in the summer or fall.

[OakLeaf]

I don't think a half is in my future....

Ha, you may remember me saying that last year. You're hooked, admit it.

[kacie tri-ing]

Great job in the race!

I am four weeks from the last HIM and six weeks until the next one, and still not running Trying really hard to stay positive, because I am doing plenty of biking and swimming, but I am starting to get scared. I have certainly learned not to push a running injury though Think good and healing thoughts! I signed up for a sprint tri this weekend, and now I am not so sure...the swim and bike will be a breeze, but I'm not sure if I can make myself walk, even if it hurts.....

[Crankin]

Oak, what will stop me from ever doing any longer distance running is the fact that my body will revolt and then I will be injured and not be able to do anything! Right now I feel very lucky that I have no shin splints, knee issues, etc. But, my lower back is aching and I have been having neck and head issues, despite the tremendous amount of stretching and yoga I've been doing. I have just been too lazy to go to the doc and get a scrip for PT. When classes are over next week, that's on my list. I also found out there's a massage therapy school, about 4 miles from my house and they have student clinics where massages are 25.00... so I will be paying them a visit, too.
MY DH is not too happy with me complaining about all of my various injuries, saying that I never rest. I do rest, but my body is just different than his. He rarely gets the kind of issues I get; once in awhile he complains he's "sore" from a hard climbing ride, but that's it. If he even knew about the amount of PT, chiropractic, etc that some of the people on this list get, he would faint.
So, my goal of a 10K is realistic for me. If I can do that, with no bad injuries, I might reconsider, but I think anything over that might be pushing it for me.

[Jolt]

I finally went for a real run after who-knows-how-many days of being a total bum as far as running goes. 30 minutes of doing laps around the neighborhood park, with halfway-decent form during most of it (still a work in progress, but getting better, and able to feel and correct it more when it starts to get sloppy). I am officially out of shape right now though when it comes to running--I wore my heart rate monitor during the run and was in the 190s during a large part of it (and broke 200 a couple of times)!

[OakLeaf]

Ladder intervals at the paved trail today. DH drove in and did errands while I ran. I hadn't been at the track since mid-November, but within a quarter mile of starting my warm-up I was bored. Luckily I had a hard workout programmed in and boredom was quickly forgotten! Two deer looked on. They are so inured to humans there. I also caught up with some people I know from the gym, just as I was ending an interval, so I chatted with them on their brisk walk for part of that recovery segment. Perfect timing. 6.24 miles.



ETA: While I was waiting for DH to pick me up after my run, I took the opportunity to lie on one of the picnic tables by the track and stretch my hip flexors. I surely got some very strange looks! But at least one of them was from a guy running pretty hard, whose face seemed to convey, "Man, that looks like it feels really good, and I'm going to try it after my run too!"