A Fool and her running - week of April 7

[OakLeaf]

I guess if I want to post today's run I have to start the thread.

I was planning on 20, but my legs felt like absolute LEAD after the last two days. I'd read something a couple of weeks ago that there's only marginal benefit once you pass three hours... and I was running that slow that I was well past that mark when I decided to call it quits at 18.

I figure there's a benefit to going ahead and doing my long run when my legs are fatigued, right? Right?

[WindingRoad]

Lordy Oak yer makin' me tired just thinking about it. I was struggling with 10 yesterday. I wanted to quit so many times but my BF wouldn't let me. He kept giving me the pep talk. I feel awful today. My quads and hamstrings are sore as heck. I thought I go out for some easy errands on the bike well I ran into a freaking severe thunderstorm on the way home so there went the easy part. I found myself hitting 18 MPH on my commuter hybrid with 2 gallons of milk and groceries. UGH, really didn't need that one the ole quads right now. Hopefully tomorrows weather will cooperate.

[Grog]

I had a lovely 30-km run yesterday. The weather turned out a lot better than forecast, and I was joined by a girlfriend I hadn't seen in over 10 years for the middle 9 km of it.

(One of the benefits of Facebook: I wouldn't have known she was in town without it. It's strange though to meet a friend you haven't seen in so long, pick up the conversation as if you had last met just days ago, and then split up after just an hour to go on with your life... until the next random meeting.)

I'm pretty amazed not to be hurting any more than that after those long runs. Granted, my feet were really sore, but other than being pretty tired I'm feeling okay. This is the first time I do such high mileage, so this comes as a surprise to me. But I suspect that's partly because I'm not doing a lot of runs doing the week, and that gets me vaguely worried. Anyway, I'll just keep on running and stop worrying.

I love this thread.

[indigoiis]

Wow Oak, 20? Yikes! Like Winding, I had a tough ten on Sunday (but got through it) and I think 18 is awesome. Also, according to Hal Higdon, it's not the mileage, its the quality of the time spent running. So YEHAW!

I ran 5.25 this morning and figured out a way to keep up with DH - get him up at 5 and out the door half asleep.

[WindingRoad]

I have a 15K race this coming Saturday. I'm a little worried cuz I'm still kinda sore from Sunday's 10 miler. I'm taking an extra day off today. The 40 MPH wind gusts are also an incentive to stay inside today. Going to run tomorrow, hopefully about 5 or 6. Keeping fingers crossed that my body feels more recuperated tomorrow. I wonder if I'm getting dehydrated because it has very suddenly warmed up here? Gonna get a glass of water now.

Good luck everybody, stay strong!

[rocknrollgirl]

Hill repeats for me at.....drumroll please.....4:20 am this morning!

I had to leave some recovery time for today's hill workout on the bike.

Now I am tired.

[OakLeaf]

R&R. Hill repeats are NOT what I think of when someone says 4:20!

[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!

[katluvr]

RRgirl...
I dread those days in the summer in FL where I have to be up before dawn to run or bike and even then it is humid and swealtering. I am savioring our still "cool" mornings 70's up intil mid morning.

I am w/ you on the digestive track...takes a LONG time to wake up so super early morning runs are often without fuel!

Can't believe the "heat wave" you folks are having!

K