A Fool and her running - week of April 7

[rocknrollgirl]

I know...usually it is SLEEPING!

[Bike Chick]

I know...usually it is SLEEPING!

Exactly! I was up early yesterday too and got my 5 miler in before work. It's nice to get it out of the way but I sure pooped out early last night.

[skhill]

my running mojo's taking a little break.... from putting on my shoes to turning the last corner on the way home, it was a struggle all the way today. Maybe it's the heat, maybe it's not having a big race to prepare for right now, maybe it's the strong wind this week, maybe it's turning 39....

Still, I got in 5.5 miles, at about a 9:30 pace. Tomorrow will be a rest day, and then there's a 5k in my neighborhood on Sat. And hopefully a little rest (and the cold front that's on the way) will bring the mojo back...

[katluvr]

It was the 4 mile loop this AM. Day off (have to work this weekend), so I took it easy this AM, had a little coffee, some time w/ the cats and Today Show. Headed out about 8:30 ish. I am slow. I am not even TRYING to speed up. Just logging some miles. So bit over an 11 min mile pace (yep, slow!). It is starting to warm up so that will affect my speed. But I'll worry about getting fastest later.
It IS a gorgous spring day! After this winter I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO loving this.

K

[Susan Otcenas]

I've come to realize that, no matter the day or the distance, my body is only capable of running precisely the distance on my training plan, after which I couldn't possibly run another step.

8 miles this morning. On the heels of a tough 80 minute stationary trainer workout last night, those were 8 hard miles.

[colby]

Between traveling, and coming down with some degree of something (probably thanks to the travel), I'm just trying to log workouts at approximate relative intensity rather than stressing about pace and heart rate.

Saturday (I know, last week, but I we're already on to this week ) was a check-up 5 miles (warm up, 1 mile flat, split HR/perceived exertion, repeat for 5, cool down) I did at 9 minute pace.

Yesterday was hill repeats. Warm up, 8x60s hard uphill w/jog downhill, cool down. Wasn't feeling 100% so what felt like 100% exertion wasn't 100% of normal heart rate. Got to run with my dog though. She loves hill repeats. We don't run in the sun (not that it's sunny or warm lately), we don't run hard for 5+ minutes at a time, we easy jog down the hill, it's on the side of a hill that deer and other creatures frequent so it smells great, and it's off the normal route. And, it's win-win, because it effectively works for 2 real days of dog exercise - she's still sleeping it off today.

Tomorrow - 5x800m flat but hard repeats with walk rest interval. Might have to split it up to exercise the dog, she can probably last 1-2 repeats but not 5.

I think this weekend will be a long run - 16 miles? We might be going snowboarding so I'll probably do my long run Saturday and some portion of my ride Sunday evening depending on how difficult the snow is.

[rocknrollgirl]

We are having a bit of a heat wave here, so I got up at 4:15 again today to run to avoid the heat, out the door aound 4:25. Here is what I learned today:

1. my "hood" is very quiet at 4:30

2. the birds are not awake at 4:30

3. blowing pollen shows up in the beam of your headlamp

4. if i am going to run for an hour in the am, I need fuel

5. It takes about 40 mins for my "digestive system" to wake up

6. let the DH know when I am expected home, he was pulling down the street to come look for me. He is very sweet.

I did 6.6 miles 58 mins, so right around 9 mm pace. It was already 70 degrees so i am so glad that I got it done.

Ok, time to morph from runner girl to teacher woman...off I go....circulatory and respiratory systems on tap today...woo hoo!

[colby]

Still not 100%, so I divided my 5x800 repeats yesterday into 10x400 repeats and took my dog. She did really well, since we walk inbetween intervals. By my heart rate I'm definitely not 100%, but I feel closer today, and hopefully will be even closer tomorrow.

We "enjoyed" the only 45 minutes of the day where it was sideways hail/sleet/snowing (about 40-45 degrees). Before that it was just cloudy and windy, after that it was sunny and windy, then went back to cloudy and windy, but the only hail/sleet/snow was while we were out running. I sure do love the feel of my FiveFingers when I run in the rain/wet, though - my feet get wet (and if it's cold, my toes do get cold) but there's no scary rubbing or sliding or anything. Really neat. I only run (walk... stand... work... commute... everything except bike) in FiveFingers anymore. When it gets a little warmer, I'll probably trade regular everyday wear off with the Keens, which my feet are also happy in, and use my FiveFingers sprints for short-distance triathlons (I think I might need the room of the KSOs for Ironman, and I have more time to put them on).

Also did my prescribed core strength workout, which I thought was a little tame (I also think I need to use heavier weights for deadlifts and rows, even if they are one-legged), so I topped it off with 100 stability ball crunches with 8lb weights in each hand on my chest. Surprisingly not feeling that as much as I expected to today. Guess I should do them every day. I think this core workout is more back/glutes/some abs core than straight up back/abs core. Necessary, but my glutes are actually pretty strong from all that PT I did for my hip, so I kind of feel like I'm cheating. I might try standing on the stability disc for some of them next time to help engage my core more.

After I get over this sickness (probably Monday), I'm going to start on a many meals a day diet rather than the 3 squares and snacks. I think I play catch up too much and need to eat on the clock for a couple of weeks to give my metabolism something new to chew on. If it works, I'll stick with it. If not, I'll adapt.

This weekend is actually only 14 miles, plus at the end a small batch of plyometrics (skipping, hopping, some other stuff). I'll probably run tomorrow so I can squeeze in a swim, then bike Sunday after snowboarding - the weather is so crappy I can't count on riding outside anyway.

39 miles of walking is definitely impressive. And, Red Rock, that workout sounds interesting! Got more than the mile you bargained for