Fall Running 10/16 through 10/23

[skhill]

Today I finally managed a mid-week long run! It's been a struggle, getting up early enough and also devising a route that works with the darkness and weekday traffic... Anyway, it was 14 miles, at 9:37/mile. Didn't mean to go that fast, and I'm feeling it now, but that's all good. Just hope my dog isn't looking for a bouncy, quick walk this evening!

[colby]

Ran about 55 minutes today: ~15 minutes to the hill (which is something like 10% grade), ~15 minutes from the hill, and ~25 minutes of hill repeats. I focused on execution, not heart rate or speed - observing what my body was doing and how to make it work as a system up to the crest of the hill. It came out to 10 or 11 repeats of around a minute up and 90 seconds down before I decided I was done.

My VFF Bikila are starting to get more comfortable. I wore them yesterday for my tempo run and today for the hills. It's interesting to go back and forth between them and the KSOs, which I have put MANY MANY miles in and are much more flexible, even compared to my Sprints which are the same sole thickness. I feel like when I put on my KSOs to run I'm saying "hello, old friend."

Urge to consume food rising. That didn't take long. I really have to stay on top of my nutrition or I'll gain weight as my body goes into self-preservation.

[jessmarimba]

First planned run since July!! 4 3-minute intervals, probably just over a mile, but so far so good! Once I know how it feels tomorrow I'll plan another one

[colby]

Warm up, 7x2 min hard/1 min race pace, jog home. My poor doggie is ready for a day off, she insisted on coming today and I just couldn't leave without her, but she was ready for a rest at the end. Bikila again today, not quite confident enough to wear them for a long run but they feel a lot more comfortable.

Tomorrow is supposed to be an easy 30-45 min day, but I think I am going to take a day off and do my long run on Saturday rather than getting up at 6:30AM and doing it on Sunday before I fly to LA for a conference. I think I'll do some yoga instead.

Beautiful high moon tonight, just a hair shy of full.

[Bike Chick]

Got 6 miles in yesterday morning before work. It's tough getting up early enough and leaving in the dark I'm so afraid I'll kick a skunk or stumble on road kill!

DH rigged up lights to wear around our waist that work really well. They illuminate the road in front of us and also enable cars to see us in the dark. Kinda like a headlight for my bellybutton

[skhill]

I want one of those bellybutton headlights!

Today was by far the coldest morning of the fall so far-- a beautiful, crisp 34 F when I started out. Felt like my legs just took off, and I was along for the ride. I'm logging it as a tempo run, even if that wasn't my intention. 5 miles, slowest at 9:10 and fastest at 8:07 (!!!!). Isn't the cold wonderful?!?!

When I got home, I found my dog and all 3 cats piled up together on the couch. There wasn't room to sit down to take off my shoes!

[indigoiis]

I want a bellybutton light, too!
Yesterday I did 3.2 on a very hilly route that included a flight of stairs. I pushed myself to do intervals on the uphills and just crank it all out. It was worth it - my self confidence got a boost and the ankle wasn't at all tweaky so I was very happy! I'm getting back what I lost!

[Crankin]

I love that belly button light idea. DH just said you could make a fortune when I described it.
I got on the TM yesterday, due to lack of time and winds blowing up to 40 mph. Of course, I couldn't just walk, so I did actually get in one two minute run interval and another four minute run interval. The rest was walking at 4.2 mph, with hill intervals at 4% every 2 minutes for 30 minutes.
My back hurts, but it always hurts. I am going to have to break down and get a PT prescription.

[katluvr]

So after a full week without running I finally got out today. I was scheduled for 11 miles but didn't think that was a good idea w no mileage under my belt this week, so I did 8 miles. I decided to push myself some, a bit beyond my comfort zone. I have been reading all you ladies postings & seems everyone else is pushing the themselves a bit. So my half marathon goal is 2:09, so a sub 10 min mile, so I thought I would try to run close to race pace. Well, I almost did it.1:22, so about a 10:18 min mile pace. I walked once & took a rest mile pace from mile 4 to almost mile 5. Overall I had a good run. Did I have 5 more miles left in me, yes but not at that pace. I have 4 weeks until the half, I think I need a few more if I am going to meet my PR goal. Oh well, it was a good run today!

[colby]

Ran my Sunday 14 as Saturday 14 today (14.5 according to the GPS) - 11 at "whatever pace" (probably 10:30ish) and 3 at "race pace" (except the last 2 of my last 3 miles are basically uphill, so my "race pace" was 8:45-9:15 and then more like 9:45-10:30 ).

I waited too long to go, I was out late last night and then slept later and loafed around longer than I should have without eating more food. It made it harder than it should have been, someday I'll learn. I'm going to just start all of my runs at 8:15am, which is the time of my race (thankfully I have a later/more flexible work schedule).

Turns out I'm a week off on my training plan, which might actually be okay - the plan goes 16, 18, 20, 22, 10, race, so I can chop off the 22 or gently increase the gap by an extra mile or so to get over 20 before the taper. I'm traveling this week, ugh, so my Mon-Wed runs will be at weird times of the day and probably treadmill miles unless I brave the wild LA financial district by foot.

People are starting to get sick at work, some of whom I'll be traveling with this week. I'll be staying on top of my nutrition to stay healthy. Last year I was sick when I ran the marathon and while I approximated 4:30 I really want to get closer to 4:00 - I have to be healthy for that.

[Veronica]

I did another great 5 miler on Saturday, took 2 1/2 minutes off my time from the week before. I have my fingers crossed, hoping to stay injury free so I can develop the good running base I need to finally have that terrific HIM.

Veronica

[indigoiis]

Yesterday I ran the werewolf 5K, a loosely organized (by artists) fun run in the urban cool old mill part of Providence. I did 27 minutes which is not bad for running in a dress with a pitchfork in my hand, in my VFFs (I was a villager, DH was a werewolf. We villagers chased the werewolves through downtown Providence.) DH won the race at 21 minutes 40 seconds - not bad for running in ripped jeans, in werewolf makeup, with a rubber chicken in his hand.

[indigoiis]

Today I ran 3 miles on the trail and stubbed my toe pretty badly. I'll be off the vffs for a bit. Bleh!

[Jolt]

Today I ran 3 miles on the trail and stubbed my toe pretty badly. I'll be off the vffs for a bit. Bleh!

Been there, done that, OUCH!!

[Bike Chick]

Great running, everyone! Colby, I hope you stay healthy. It's a genuine concern this time of year, isn't it? Especially when you are training for an event.

Syndirelah, where is your marathon? Good luck.

I got 8 miles in this afternoon. I was surprised that I was able to do it after the hilly 66 mile bike ride yesterday, but it wasn't too bad. I probably won't be able to walk tomorrow.

As far as the bellybutton headlight, it is just an LED light on a strap that used to put around a hard hat. There are different settings for a bright beam, low beam and flashing light. DH let the strap out enough for us to step into it and slide it up around our waists. It works really well and looks kinda like this one.