Running through the Tulips - April

[skhill]

My usual weekday running routes take me through parts of the University of Kentucky's campus, and I was very interested to see how trashed the place would be after last night's game (GO CATS!). Other than the aroma of spilled beer, it was looking really good; some poor folks must have been working hard to clean up after the exuberant/rowdy street parties that broke out. Didn't go through the area with the shooting and garage-burnings and general riot, though. It's supposed to be a mess...

6 miles, and I'm feeling the effects of Sat.'s HM. And it smells like I stepped in a puddle of beer in the dark...

[Bike Chick]

My training plan called for speed work yesterday. I've stayed away from any kind of serious run intervals in the past for fear of hurting myself or because I was nursing an injury so I gave this a whole-hearted try and it was actually quite fun. It kinda broke up the monotony of running the same road every day. I did 16 X 30 second intervals with 30 second recovery and a warm-up and cool-down to equal 40 minutes. My fastest interval was 7:30! I never thought I could ever run that fast--even for 30 seconds! It felt great to push myself.

[Susan Otcenas]

I'm *still* rehabbing my IT band, but I've been gradually able to add time and distance while continuing to make improvements. This past Sunday, I did my longest run since my IT started acting up: 1hr20min. I felt some tension starting to build in the IT band in the last 15-20 minutes, but no real pain. Plenty of foam rolling and I was fine the next day.

Last week I ran 5 days! This week has 4 on the calendar ranging anywhere from 20 minutes to 1hr30min.

[limewave]

I think I am sick in the head. I am considering running sand dunes today . . . Quick! Someone talk some sense into me!

[emily_in_nc]

I have not been able to run for awhile. Last week we were traveling, then this week I had a series of issues...hangover Mon. morning after a beach birthday party with an open bar (and wine, which I never get here since it's so $$$), then on Tuesday, a few fire ant bites on my right foot caused it to swell, and I'm still suffering from that. I guess I am really allergic. Ugh! My shoes on that foot are all too tight, and it itches like crazy, despite Benedryl, cortisone cream, and epsom salt poultices.

My friend just got back to Belize from a visit to the US and brought me my cool new running gear -- a water flask belt, a sports watch with stopwatch, and some new Swiftwick socks, and here I can't even use 'em. If my foot is better tomorrow, I will try a short run; otherwise, I'll wait for Monday as I have other activities planned for Sat. and Sun.

Feeling like a real slug...

[Susan Otcenas]

Today I did my longest run since injuring my IT band: 8.3 miles. I am in the aerobic base building phase right now (Hadd's Phase 1), so these are slooooow miles at very low heartrates. Today I averaged 11:28 per mile at 139bpm. It's surprisingly hard to run this easy, but that's the whole point.

[Artista]

Today I did my longest run since injuring my IT band: 8.3 miles. I am in the aerobic base building phase right now (Hadd's Phase 1), so these are slooooow miles at very low heartrates. Today I averaged 11:28 per mile at 139bpm. It's surprisingly hard to run this easy, but that's the whole point.

Now let's look at what you did through the eyes of a total newb runner. I started running "regularly" on 3/8. I'm doing a C25K program and have managed 6 runs altogether. So far I've logged a TOTAL of 8.5 miles. I started at 13:45 minutes per mile. I'm thrilled that I managed 11:59 today. It's surprisingly hard to start running even though I'm in good shape from cycling. I can't even blame an injured IT band. I can claim a broken ankle from last fall but seriously, I don't think that my ankle is responsible for my newb stats at this point.

It's all a matter of perspective Someday I'll be very happy to accomplish what you did today. On the other hand, I'm proud that I've run more in the last month than I have since I was 5 years old

[solobiker]

Today I did my longest run since injuring my IT band: 8.3 miles. I am in the aerobic base building phase right now (Hadd's Phase 1), so these are slooooow miles at very low heartrates. Today I averaged 11:28 per mile at 139bpm. It's surprisingly hard to run this easy, but that's the whole point.

I have been trying this too. It sounds like we run roughly the same pace. It was tough for me to "slow" it down as I have always been one to feel comfortable running with a fairly high HR. My HR on average would be close to 165 with a max near 180 ( I am 42). Today my average HR was 140 with a max of 151...had to walk there just to drop it down. :-) Today I went on one of my longest runs in over a year. I got in 6 miles without my usual hamstring issues and feel like I could go out right now for another run.

[Susan Otcenas]

Today I did my longest run since injuring my IT band: 8.3 miles. I am in the aerobic base building phase right now (Hadd's Phase 1), so these are slooooow miles at very low heartrates. Today I averaged 11:28 per mile at 139bpm. It's surprisingly hard to run this easy, but that's the whole point.

That was last week. This week's long run was on an almost identical course, but I did 8.4 miles at 11:09 per mile at an avg HR of 137. This is good. Lower heartrate, faster miles! I can't really explain the difference, other than that I may have had more sleep this week than last week. Last Thursday was a rest day and this thursday was a swim, so my legs were equally rested in preparation for both runs (I have very little kick in my swim style.)

It's interesting to me how some days feel so great, and other days like running through molasses. Sleep, hydration, nutrition, weather, apparel choice... there's so many variables!