Running through the Tulips - April

[skhill]

Rather than dig out my winter running gear after putting it away last week, I went to the treadmill at the gym. Only went 3 miles; even though it was a slowish pace, a stitch started up at about 1 mile and I never could get it to go away. So for once I obeyed the time limit on the treadmills (although at that hour there are almost always several free and I don't feel the least bit guilty for going more than 30 min.)

But I've now logged 400 miles for 2012!

[solobiker]

Okay...I am still trying to run at a "slower" pace to train my aerobic system better. I got in about 3.5 miles. I am still not used to running with such a low heart rate. Feels great though to have lots of energy after a run.

[emily_in_nc]

I did another 3-mile beach run this afternoon. It seemed cool and breezy enough in our condo, but once I hit the beach (and the sun), it was very hot and tough to do -- temp was about 81-82. And my hip ached the whole time -- not my right hip that I have a plate and pines in, but the left one. Not sure what's up with that! But I got 'er done. Amazing how much harder it feels to run after only a 2.5 week layoff, but I am sure that the hotter weather has something to do with it too. I thought upper 70s were bad, but now it's even warmer! I may not be able to increase the mileage much until rainy season kicks in this summer....

[Artista]

I retired my thread about how beginning running had not been fun so that I could start posting here. I'm about 1/2 way through a C25K program and have completed many successful walk/runs.

This week I'm supposed to bump up to intervals of alternating 4 and 6 minute runs. This is more than double what I was doing last week and seems to be the biggest bump in the program. I whimped out on the first 6 minute run and cut it back to 4 minutes on Monday. Today I was able to go the whole time and managed 2 miles of walk/run intervals.

I'm still not a big fan of the running part but I love what it's doing for my hill climbing endurance on the bike

[Susan]

I think I'm up to something new regarding running.
I had to pause for some time because I hurt my knee while running. Now that I feel better, I started implementing a short run into my workouts, but just once around the block - maybe one mile or even less.
I do this after every weight or hiit training, which is on most evenings. I really like it and it seems to not take a toll on my knees or anything else. I hope it keeps me conditioned for running because I'd like to do some longer trail runs in summer.

[rubysoho]

Jumping back in the mix after a few months off from running (been busy riding my bike due to the beautiful weather).

Headed out for a trail run earlier in the week, expecting to only be out 30 minutes. Ended up being out there an additional 20 minutes because some well-meaning boyscouts had redone the running trails and made splits to create new trails but marked them the same as the old trail. I ended up getting lost which was interesting. But the overall run was awesome. Due to being lost there were quite a few moments of "stop and decide which direction to head" so I wasn't running the full 50 minutes. However, I did run quite a bit more than I expected and when I finally got back to the house I felt great! As if I could have kept going. I like that.

I think I was momentarily taken over by aliens because back in January I signed up for my first 10k (so far 5k has been my longest distance). That will be August. I also signed up for my first sprint triathlon which will be in September. AND a friend convinced me that I should run a 10 miler with him in October.

Again, I think I am going crazy. Thankfully I have LOTS of time to build up to the 10k and 10 mile distances.

[Crankin]

I finished week 4 of the C25K program, so I think I'm about a week behind Artista. I have a time constraint today, so DH and I ran as the sun came up, in the neighborhood, which means BIG HILLS. I mean, even She Fly calls my street "Aneurysm Hill Rd.," instead of its real name.
We went down a different side street, which involved running up et another short hill. But, I am surprising myself with my times which went between 9:15 and probably 10:45 on the run splits. I say probably for the last split, which was up the 10% grade and DH was wearing the Garmin, and he ran faster than me, at 10:15.
NO running this weekend. Three days of glorious warm weather riding.

[skhill]

Didn't really feel all that much like running this morning, being weighed down by ODing on half-price Easter candy. But I went anyway. There's a historic neighborhood downtown, antebellum at the southern end and victorian at the nothern end, where I run only when I don't feel like running. It's so beautiful and interesting that it turns an icky run into something pleasant. And it took me past the new microbrewery/ pub, where I found that the "coming soon" sign has been changed to "now open." Hooray! A 5 mile run, and the prospect of super-local beer tonight!

[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!

[Crankin]

Today is the first time after a run day that I am not totally sore. I am even am thinking about running , despite the fact I was almost gasping for breath running up that 10% grade.
Looking forward to 3 days of riding, though. It's warm out.

[solobiker]

Another nice long run for me while keeping my HR down...average of 141. I am slowly getting used to running slower then I am used to. It actually feels pretty good and my hamstrings don't complain after either.

[emily_in_nc]

Did another 3-mile beach run late yesterday. Hot and hard, still. Hard to believe I ran 5 miles not that long ago, but that was on an overcast, cool morning. Haven't had one of those in quite some time! Pace was a little better than usual for this run at 10:20.

[Selkie]

What a week! Shorts on Monday, capris/thermal tops/capilene on Wednesday & Thursday, and shorts/t-shirt this morning! Actually, I was overdressed this morning, as I should have worn a short-sleeves instead of long! I was soaked at the end and was thankful I schlepped a water bottle with me (empty by the time I finished).

Had some back pain starting out the week but it's progressively improved. I think it was mostly due to tight hip flexors. That and being a geezer! Actually, it started last Saturday night when I slept wrong (need a new mattress).

Logged 5.4 on Monday/Wednesday/Thursday and 7 miles today. After my next race (10K on the 29th), I might slowly start adding miles on my long run again.

[OakLeaf]

I'm in a perfect storm of lack of confidence.

The depression and disorientation that always accompany moving for me, on top of taper jitters.

The physiological differences of adjusting to climate and latitude - and trying to get my taper runs done when there's no place I can go without minimum 15% grades, when I haven't run more than a couple of bridges all winter.

The usual taper aches and pains, on top of the residual neck and back trouble from my fall last month.

But I did 14.5 today at a quicker pace than my last long run in spite of the hills (including a couple of probably 20%ers). My new shoes were fine (same model as my old pair, but one of the metatarsal buttons gave me a blister the second time I ran in them, and I repositioned it not knowing either whether the adhesive would hold after having been unstuck once, or whether I'd keep getting blisters). I keep visualizing that finish line clock.

Next year in Boston.

(And sour grapes, with the weather forecast I didn't want to run it this year anyway. )

[Crankin]

That weather forecast is no laughing matter. They are *very* concerned, especially about the first timers and charity runners. I remember 2004, when several people got really sick and one died. They have cancelled the race because of heat before, but something tells me it won't happen. It's supposed to be 90, and I can barely ride in that, let alone run.
I'll be running at 6 AM.