Running out of January...1/24-1/30 runs

[Jolt]

About a 40-minute trail run (with walking breaks up hills) for me today in one of the state forests. The snow was defnintely not as hard-packed as on my usual trails so it was a bit tougher going. Lots of walkers and cross-country skiers to dodge as well! Tomorrow is supposed to be really warm here, but rainy. If that's the case, I will probably swim instead of running in slush.

[limewave]

A good 3.25 miles today with my training partner. It felt good.

[indigoiis]

Hi Jolt!
I did a nice long run with DH today on part trail, part dirt road. The trail was icy/crumbly snow but still fun to run in the VFFs although the wet parts did soak through. It was a beautiful run with perfect running temp (40 degrees and a little overcast - we're due for a soaker tonight with flooding.) Had some rolling hills but really just felt great the whole nine miles. Averaged 9:24 pace with no problems which makes me feel like it's possible I can do a sub 2 1/2 next month! Yay!

[OakLeaf]

16 miles for me in 23 mph wind (gusting to 36!). Fighting the wind on the out lap, losing its cooling effect and "ram air induction" on the way back. Can't win. Between the running around and the temperature variations here, I'm not acclimated to "heat" yet either (75° and humid - my last run it was barely 40°), so an AHR of 167 for almost three hours.


ETA: 12 miles to my first 100-mile month. I'm running a 5K next Saturday that I really want to PR, but still it shouldn't be a problem getting 12 this week... even if I have to run a couple after the ride on Sunday.

[Jolt]

Hi Jolt!
I did a nice long run with DH today on part trail, part dirt road. The trail was icy/crumbly snow but still fun to run in the VFFs although the wet parts did soak through. It was a beautiful run with perfect running temp (40 degrees and a little overcast - we're due for a soaker tonight with flooding.) Had some rolling hills but really just felt great the whole nine miles. Averaged 9:24 pace with no problems which makes me feel like it's possible I can do a sub 2 1/2 next month! Yay!

Sounds good. I'm a wimp though--haven't run in the VFFs this winter b/c I just find it too cold to have the toe separation, even without wet conditions! I'm sure the fact that I have a touch of Raynaud's syndrome has a lot to do with that. I've been running in the Teva Protons--still pretty minimal but allow for a pair of nice warm wool socks and are compatible with Stabilicers Sport if it's icy (although with good form, slipping is a lot less of an issue). I wish I could run nine miles--will have to work up to that (and I should, because it would be good training for a possible Long Trail end-to-end hike this summer). Hopefully this rainstorm we're getting will melt all the snow so we don't end up with a frozen-slush-and-ice mess when it gets cold again.

[Aggie_Ama]

I was supposed to do a 7 miler for my training but yesterday bruised my knee really bad mountain biking. With strong winds outside I finally decided to just get on the dreadmill. Ended up with 6 miles, my knee was sore most of the run so I stopped a little early but still was glad I sucked it up. I should stick to easy mountain bike trails until the half marathon is over.

[OakLeaf]

Just FTR, in case anyone was wondering: Nathan sent me a new hydration bladder to replace the one that sprang a leak. I had it within ten days of emailing them, and they didn't require me to send the leaky one back first.

Great customer service is another reason to love my Intensity pack.

[GLC1968]

Did my piddly 2.5 miles on the treadmill last night. I really wanted to run outsite yesterday since I had daylight, but it was a steady downpour all day and I didn't feel like getting THAT wet. Run was 14/16 run/walk and my running intervals were 2x3min and 2x4 min. It felt good, but not as good as the 2 minutes prior to my run and 2 minutes after my run where I did it barefoot. Looking forward to someday being able to do the whole thing barefoot!

[limewave]

On schedule for this week:

Tues: 2 mi/WU, 2 mi/Tempo, 2 mi/CD
Friday: 7.5 miles easy
Sunday: 7.5 miles pace

[OakLeaf]

Today was a rest day, and actually I'm kind of sore from my long run yesterday. Stupid, forgot to put on my compression hose afterwards.

So I figured that a rest day was a good day for an experiment.

I'm most of the way through Born to Run, and emboldened by the book and by the PT's assessment that my feet aren't the problem, I walked to the beach, took off my shoes, walked not quite half a mile barefoot, then jogged back.

Wow, did that feel different.

I've got a long ways to go with the hips and calves, that's for sure. But I didn't leave any major body parts out there on the beach, my footprints actually didn't look too bad, and I'm not noticing any ill effects yet.

So we'll see...

[Pika]

running today too! I am just starting- I did my long run yesterday and so today was a "smell the roses" 30 min recovery run- I did 15 min on the treadmill barefoot ( well in socks only) and the other 15 min in my shoes- I just started to feel a "hotspot" under my big toe so that is why I finished the run with my shoes- must say that my form "felt" better with my shoes off...guess it will take some time to develop the structure to go along with the form

[indigoiis]

I had a very hilly 5.84 this morning with DH... we were slow for us but I think that is the hills and also, DON'T EAT A GIANT GREEK SALAD THE NIGHT BEFORE A RUN. I write that in all caps to remind myself. While it was a tasty treat after a couple of weeks of winter comfort food, it completed the overnight digestion process at precisely the most inconvenient midway point of my run! LOL.

So we averaged 10:18 mm, in the rain, me in scuba booties and the dude in running shoes. He could have taken the hills faster if it weren't for me.

Yesterday was a day off or strength/stretch and I was to go to Pilates last night but we were having a big wind/rainstorm and I just didn't want to go back out after getting back home. Barn chores were quite enough exposure for me. Tomorrow I am due for a tempo run, 40 minutes. Will likely do on the treadmill at the Y.

[OakLeaf]

Starting a mini-taper ahead of my 5K on Saturday. 4 x 400m repeats - then my hip exercises and ankle stretches. It's a beautiful day for running - sunny, dry and cool.


Oh, and as for yesterday's barefoot experiment: I can definitely tell I used some muscles that aren't used to working! Nothing felt bad this morning, though, which is a good sign. I'm sure the almost-15 minutes of calf stretches the PT has me doing every day helped with that. I'll try it again, but not until after Saturday.

[limewave]

Managed to get in my tempo run today.

I was supposed to do 2mi wu, 2 mi tempo, 2mi cd
But it was pretty icy and I didn't have a lot of time so it was a 1 mile warm up and cool down.

I was excited because I hit my tempo: 9:38/mile

[eclectic]

Wow everyone is doing so well!

What is exciting for me is I can still do 5 miles and not die! I like the run walk combo!

I snowshoed Saturday but did get a run in on Sunday
We were in the midst of a ground blizzard (40 mph winds) so I did the treadmill (not a surprise because I wouldn't have run outside anyway - too icy and I am too old to heal well)

SO I decided to mix the run/walk up a bit. I held it at 1.5 min run, 1min walk but increased the run speed incrementally.

I am far from fast but did get to 5.5mph for 15 min w/ 4.0 mph walk

I am going to head out now (reading your posts inspired me) Still cold and windy and icy so treadmill again. (will be til April I am sure)
I am going to try building the speed again every 5 min then work my way back down.

My dream is to hit a 10 min mile - some day some day some day.