July 13 - 18 Runs

[KSH]

I'm training for a half marathon in October and a tough two-day back-to-back century ride in September. I teach aerobics and strength training two or three classes a week. I don't want to skip my ride/run on days I teach, because I need to keep building. I'm not that far off, I'm on schedule, but I can't get too far behind.

I just want to finish the half-marathon without embarrassing myself, and finish the ride period. So speedwork isn't that important to me.

But then iron woman KSH just said in the other thread that you do have to push through the tired and sore...

Well... just make sure you aren't pushing through extreme fatigue or injury. Otherwise, sore muscles and being a little tired... press on.

It's amazing what our bodies can do when we set our minds to it.

Good luck!

[OakLeaf]

So I guess I should've done that tempo run after all. Ah well.

Really I consider myself a reasonably good judge, and one thing I'm not is a total wuss about pain, elevated HR, etc. As I said originally, it was just one of those borderline days when I'd liked to have had a professional's advice taking into account all my parameters. My legs are still sore, but I did extra hills on last night's ride to make up for it. And I'll do ladder intervals on my run today, mmmkay?

[Susan Otcenas]

Great job on all your runs, ladies!

Oakleaf - I think you're wise to listen to your body. Sounds to me like you're very motivated and stick to a plan, but allow yourself to modify occasionally when necessary. I try to do the same thing. Follow a plan, but pay attention to sinals my body sends.

I'm tickled pink right now. This morning I did my first ever 10 mile run! WooHoo! I was just under 11-minute miles, which was a comfortable, easily maintainable pace. My calves started to tire around 8 miles, but not so badly that I ever considered needing to stop.

On the nutrition front, I also had a breakthough. I usually struggle with anything solid, but this morning I had some ripe bananas in the house, so I decided to try one pre-run. I made sure to east it slowly, and finished it around 20 minutes before the run. And, TADA!! No stomach cramps! Yay! I also took in 100 gel calories at both 30 minutes and 70 minutes. When I finished at 109 minutes I was hungry but not bonking. So it seemed about right. WHen I move up to 11 miles in August ( I add 1 mile each month to my long runs), I think I'll try nutrition at 30,60, & 90 minutes.

Susan

[limewave]

I thought my run last night would be really easy since I had my 3 yo with me on her bike now that the baby rides in the jogger.

Boy, was I wrong. This girl had me doing sprints and intervals--one of the most challenging workouts I've had in awhile.

Me: Slow jog
DD: C'mon Mom! Go faster! You can do it!
Me: Picks up pace to fast run
DD: (huge grin) You're doing it, MOM! You're going fast! SUPER FAST!!
Me: Runs even faster
DD: Mom! You're great! Keep GOING! C'MON MOM! YOU'RE DOING IT!!!!!!!

And then a 30 second rest before the next sprint.

DD to person walking past on bike path: My mom can run SUPER FAST!

I'm glad someone thinks I'm fast. Super fast.

[Crankin]

I need her to coach me...
I ran 2.3 miles, with about a half mile walk before and after. This was a hilly run, my time was better, finally, inching back to where it was about 3 weeks ago, about a 10:55 pace. It's hot and humid, so I went out at 6 AM.
Then I went on a 30 mile (slow) ride with a friend.

[OakLeaf]

I went to the high school track for ladder intervals. This was the first time I'd run on the 1/4 mile oval and I was a little afraid that I'd be bored silly... but I had plenty to think about.

Still sore, but it was a day to "push through," even though I had a hard time maintaining the pace towards the end of the second trip down the ladder.

[Urlea]

Did something new this morning. Got up at 3:30am so that I could be on the road & headed to a state park w/ my running buddy for 16miles of trail running.

It was so beautiful!! The run while not fast, lots of hills & this was our first real trail run, was a ton of fun!! We will definitely be doing this again. I managed to navigate the trails effectively, our route only brought us to 15 miles so we stopped there, took off our shoes & went up to our knees in the lake for an "ice bath". Worked well.

Glad to see two pages of running posts this week, mean we ladies are logging some miles. Good job!!

Susan- Congrats on the 10miler!! Happy to hear the nutrition issue is coming together.

Lime- Great story about DD. I love that!

[Susan Otcenas]

I'm not usually sore after my long runs. I just get that nice tired feeling in my legs that lets me know I got in a good workout.

After Friday's run, same thing. Yesterday (Saturday) I did a 72 mile ride, which would normally not overtax me at all, but I definitely noticed that my legs were not quite as peppy as usual.

And today? hoooweee, are my quads sore! I guess that's the result of the two back to back. I've been trying to do my long runs mid-week to avoid this sort of thing, but this week it just didn't work out.

I've decided to stick to upper body work today.

Susan

[limewave]

And today? hoooweee, are my quads sore! I guess that's the result of the two back to back. I've been trying to do my long runs mid-week to avoid this sort of thing, but this week it just didn't work out.

Might be time to start doing the ice bath after your long runs. It can make a big difference.

I did a 4.5 miler on Sunday AM. I wanted to do 6 but I'm just not feeling up to it right now. I'll try again next Sunday. I am getting frustrated that my pace is so much slower than it used to be, but it also gives me something to work towards.