Running Aug 3 thru Aug 9

[limewave]

Crankin--have you tried using trekking poles when you hike? You won't feel the urge to run as much and it will provide some stability which may help your hip and back. You also burn more calories using trekking poles.

I'm hoping to do a 4-5 mile trail run today--mom's babysitting for me

[Crankin]

I have thought about getting trekking poles for the light hiking we do in the other local trails. I am not the most sure-footed person, so I thought it might help with stream crossings, etc. I have used my snow shoe poles on occasion.
Well, we shall see how the hip progresses.

[Jolt]

I have thought about getting trekking poles for the light hiking we do in the other local trails. I am not the most sure-footed person, so I thought it might help with stream crossings, etc. I have used my snow shoe poles on occasion.
Well, we shall see how the hip progresses.

A lot of people use them and find them helpful, and they can be nice to have on stream crossings. However, you're also then stuck with something in both hands all the time (unless you collapse them and tie them to your pack, in which case you're stuck with extra weight) and personally I'd rather have my hands free. I picked up a pair of poles for cheap to try, and now the only time I use them is for winter hiking/snowshoeing b/c in the other seasons the disadvantages outweigh the advantages for me (especially having switched to hiking in VFFs etc.--this has resulted in being MUCH more surefooted). You'll have to give them a try and see what you prefer--lots of people swear by them so I know I'm an oddball .

[Crankin]

Yea, the having things in both hands was annoying when I tried using the poles. If I was hiking in difficult terrain for the majority of the time, it would be less of an issue, but around here, not so much. I did end up collapsing them and sticking them in my pack, although a lot of times, for local hikes, snow shoeing, and x country skiing, I use a waist pack with bottles. And yesterday, I was using my Nathan waist pack, which is really for running and doesn't have any way to attach the poles.
If I go somewhere else that has more difficult terrain, I will try the poles again. The main trail at Estabrook is the closest thing to flat around here; a steady 2% grade out and slight downhill back. The rest of the area has more real hills, but I get lost in there and wait until I can go with someone else!

[Jolt]

Short trail run/walk this evening (would have been longer but it was getting a bit dark in the woods, making it harder to see hazards like rocks/roots sticking up!) Kind of tough b/c I have a lot of sore muscles from a conditioning class I tried Wednesday night at the Y (great class, but it kicked my butt!!!).

[OakLeaf]

5.5 miles @ 10 min., just to get out and run. I said I wasn't going to taper, and I'm not, but you didn't notice me doing ladder intervals today.

[Deborajen]

Well, I just did 5 miles this morning. Ended up walking the last 3/4 mile because I wore myself out in the heat trying to avoid some small dogs that were chasing me and nipping at my feet. I was about to squirt them with my water bottle when they gave up. I've never seen these dogs before and I run in this area quite a bit. It was 86 degrees when I got home and it's humid. I nearly ran out of water so the last thing I wanted to do was hose some dogs - and the plan was to do 6 miles today. *Sigh*

Susan, sounds like you'll be in great shape for your half mary. My longest run before my first HM was 10 miles. With good base miles, it'll go great.

Deb

[OakLeaf]

Huh - I never heard of using compression socks for recovery before.

I'm sure my mom still has her compression hose from when she had her knees replaced (she keeps everything ). Wonder if they'd help me?

[rocknrollgirl]

Hi guys,
I have not posted in ages, I have lurked a bit, but have not been posting. I am racing mt bikes for a team that is sponsored by a website and we have to maintain an online presence, so it has taken up a bunch of my online time.

BUT today I had such an amazing trail run and NOBODY else will listen to me as I go on and on about how great it was, so I stopped by here. We went to a mt bike race today that DH was racing and I chose not to. I have a big off road tri in two weeks and did not want to race today.

So I ran instead. After days and days of heat, it was 63 degrees and dry. I did not know the trails so it was a surprise around every corner. I felt great, nothing hurt....bliss. Everything that running should be.

I got back in time to support DH and he came in second in his ag!

Oh and I bought recovery tights by SKINS and I use them all the time. I think they work wonders.

keep up the great work ladies....

Ruth

[yellow]

BUT today I had such an amazing trail run and NOBODY else will listen to me as I go on and on about how great it was, so I stopped by here.

So I ran instead. After days and days of heat, it was 63 degrees and dry. I did not know the trails so it was a surprise around every corner. I felt great, nothing hurt....bliss. Everything that running should be.

That's all I'm sayin'!

[indigoiis]

I like trail running, too. It's addictive!

But I did 5.15 miles on the road today using some skills picked up in chapter four of Chi Running and man, what a difference. I feel awesome!

[OakLeaf]

I did a 10-mile race, not really racing, just for practice drinking water from aid stations. (And as I said before, a flat place to do my long run was nice, too.)

First station: came to a complete stop but forgot to get my breathing sorted. Even though my HR wasn't very high so early in the race, air in my stomach, water up my nose, water down my windpipe.

Second station: a little better. Walked through. But I'd taken a swig from my gel flask, hoping to wash it down with water, and didn't do it far enough in advance. Gel up my nose.

After that it was pretty much okay. I wasn't sure whether I should stop at the last station at mile 9. Should I just press on for the last mile? I stopped, but only for half a cup of water, and the rest I poured over my head and back.

I realized that I'm out of practice gulping from cups, at all. I drink water all day from my Camelbak bottle. Cycling I usually use ordinary squeeze bottles, for training runs I use a pack with a bite valve. The only beverages I drink from cups are either hot or alcoholic - both sipped. Maybe some cup-gulping practice is in order.

It was hotter than I've been training in, but since I've been tending to train in the warmest part of the day, whereas the race was first thing in the morning, I never felt overheated. Drenched, literally drenched with sweat by mile 6, but never overheated. And I must've been well enough hydrated, since sweat was dripping off me pretty profusely when I stretched afterward.

There were only 150 runners. It seemed like a light turnout for as well organized as the event was, but as my first race over 5K and my first race in this area, I have no idea what kind of turnout they usually get. I overheard someone saying the temperature might've kept people away.

I finished in 1:37:51 (@9:48), which I'm more than happy with, considering that I really wasn't intending to "race." GPS says I kicked the last mile @8:41. 11th of 29 in AG, top half overall.

Most of it was on a MUP, which wasn't closed but had very little traffic other than the race. It was a pleasant setting in the midst of suburban wasteland, with more shade than I'd expected. Coolest thing about the race: by half distance, the shiny sealant on the path surface was covered with droplets of sweat, exactly as it would be in the beginning of a light rainfall. Good fun.

[Jolt]

I like trail running, too. It's addictive!

It sure is! I did a barefoot trail run today (well, about half running, half walking). Some parts were great, others not so great. I think it's harder to stay relaxed when truly barefoot as opposed to wearing VFFs like I usually do.

[Urlea]

I found out yesterday that it is crucial to check the battery life on your point & shoot camera before you get on the trail. Imagine my supreme disappointment when I pulled it out of it's holster on my hydration belt & aimed it to take a shot only to have the camera not turn on! (Yes, 11miles toting a dead camera, boo!) Thankfully my running buddy was patient enough with me to tinker around with my phone & use the camera on that. Not the clearest images, but I figured you should see what my 11miler long run this wknd looked like!

Next time I'll have the battery charged on the real camera! Wishing I had shots of the single track sections that were nice & muddy.



It was a beautiful run!! I would've loved to have gone further, but the 50k taper has begun and I'm doing my best to "behave". We hopped in the lake immediately after finishing as our "ice bath" which worked well before the 1hr trip back home. Legs are feeling good today.

Great job getting the runs in this week ladies, you are inspirational!!

[colby]

Those pictures are great!! Looks like fun.

And, great job, OakLeaf! Good idea to practice the aid station thing.