July 7-12 runs

[Jolt]

I did an hour-long trail run/walk today (running for longer and longer, with decent form, between walking breaks!). Lots of mud and puddles, which were fun to run through :-). Also lots of bugs--not so fun . My herbal repellent concoction kept most of the mosquitoes away but something else bit me a couple of times.

[Crankin]

I decided to run a 4 mile flat course today. I drove to Concord center, walked about a quarter of a mile and then started. Right away, i knew it wouldn't be pretty. I was well fed, hydrated, and hadn't run in 3 days. Had to force myself to keep going... at about three quarters of a mile I saw the AMC group ride go by me, so I distracted myself by yelling out to the various people I knew. I kept going. Slowly, but going.
I really think it's the sun/heat. It's just perfect weather out there, 70 and sunny, but I seem to have much less heat tolerance for running than cycling. I don't like riding in really hot weather, but by that I mean over 85. Plus, it's been so cool and cloudy here, I am not acclimatized. I had 20 oz. of water,, about 10 oz. with Nuun and I needed it!
When I got to 4.06 miles I walked for about a quarter of a mile and then ran the last half mile back to my car. I was really feeling a bit bonky, so I cleaned up in the visitor's center bathroom and went and got myself a rasberry lime ricky. I really didn't want the sugar, but I needed it. I drank half of it and that revived me.
My pace was 11:30, but that included several 10-30 second bouts of walking. I really want to build up to 10K, but it seems like my 10 minute miles are going by the wayside, the longer distance I go.

[OakLeaf]

One minute sprint intervals x 9.

I had a hard time dragging myself out today - have to do an errand in one town, but don't know any place to run there, and didn't want to drive there and the town where I usually do my intervals (which is in the opposite directoin). Plus, I was a little sore and tired from the last few days. I finally decided to make do with my easiest, shortest workout, which I could run from home and get almost all of the intervals done on the flats.

I wore my arm coolers, and it really does seem like they keep my arms cool, but it's just not enough real estate on my body to keep my heart rate down. I'm wondering about the De Soto base layer now - does it do anything an ordinary technical jersey doesn't?

[skhill]

This morning, I ended up shortening my planned 7 miles to 3.8. Oh well. It was only in the low 70's, but very humid and windy... It wasn't long before I realized that my planned route would have had me running the last 1.5 miles into a stiff headwind-- and that stretch has a hill I hate, with no wind. Some other day...

But I did get to explore a new part of town by cutting things short: I went by the back of the police stables, and a homeless shelter, and the old state mental hospital. And also a stunningly beautiful victorian-era neighborhood I'd only every seen from a car window.... All in all, a good run, wind and all.

[indigoiis]

I did a short 2.5 mile jaunt up through the woods on an old dirt road, turned around at the farm at the junction where two jovial collies greeted me and jumped all over me. Usually when I walk up there with my dogs those dogs are nasty-mean. I guess it's my dogs that does it! Anyhow, it was a good morning run, though it was hard to get out of bed. My husband made me. He said, "you said you were running this morning."

I probably could have gone longer, but I'm working on my base so any running is good.

[OakLeaf]

Well, my 100 mile ride yesterday turned out to be 97.7, and my ten mile run today turned out to be 9.86. Can't win.

Most of the roads around here don't have shoulders, but when they do, I try to run on them, as much for the cushioning as to be out of the road. But when I do that, I always have to be making a judgment as to when the drop-off into the ditch is too steep and I need to get back on the road. It was in just one of those transitions around mile 7 that I slipped on some loose dirt and went sprawling. There was a split second where I was simultaneously thinking "I can save it!" and "This isn't happening!" and then I was on my face.

My forearm took most of the impact, just below the elbow; I've got a little bump on one knee, a couple of scratches on my thigh, and a busted lip (!). Trying to get water out of a bite valve to clean myself up wasn't working very well. Mainly I just concentrated on getting the valves for my hydration pack and gel flask clean.

I'm fine, just a little banged up. Probably be a bit sore in the morning. Tomorrow's supposed to be a recovery day anyhow - be a good day for yoga.

[Crankin]

Oakleaf, you sound like you are feeling the way I do from my little bike crash Saturday. I know what you mean about that feeling of sliding down the shoulder of a road. Thankfully, once I get out of my neighborhood, there are sidewalks a lot of the places I run.
I fell flat on my face trail running a few weeks ago; although I had no injuries at all, it shook me up. And I immediately looked to see if anyone was around to see the ugly sight of me splayed out on the trail!
I'm a little concerned about running tomorrow with my stiff knee from the crash. The road rash is healing nicely and the stiffness is just bruising. Been using Arnica like crazy. Today, I am going on a slow ride on my Jamis with my friend who is a beginning rider. I guess I'll see how I feel after that.