C'mon, somebody must be running!

[solobiker]

Zoom-Zoom, I hope your ankle heals fast. I was sorry to have read this.

Oak, good for you on the running and having fun again. Yeah!

I went on run #3 since breaking my toe. It still hurts a bit and today during my run my legs felt so heavy/dead and my HR was higher then usual. I did managed to get in 3 miles. I figure the fatigue could be related to my recent lack of running and I have been having fewer carbs recently.

Hope everyone is doing well.

[zoom-zoom]

Zoom-Zoom, I hope your ankle heals fast. I was sorry to have read this.

It's healing fast, but it was still in no shape for the race on Sat. Pretty sure I need to stop running trails altogether. I'm even wondering if snowshoe running is such a good idea (you know, <1 year after investing in running snowshoes, ha!) this Winter.

Awesome to see so many Fall races. Had I not just sprained my ankle I'd likely do a 5k in a couple of weeks. It's part of the same race event that holds my favorite half marathon of all I've run. It ends with live music on a deck with BBQ at a nearby brewpub.

[OakLeaf]

Aw, Zoom, keep healing ... and all the time you would've been racing, spend it on rehabbing the ankle y'know?

I found out yesterday that the 5K I did on Saturday was sponsored by a LRS and it was so small that I finished third overall and won a $15 gift card! Hahahaha ... last time I finished a race in the money was a looooooong time ago. I know perfectly well that it's all in who shows up, but I'm pretty glad now I ran it hard even though I had no real competition among the women, and the two men who beat me were far enough ahead that I wasn't racing them, either. I would've been embarrassed to collect a gift card if I'd just cruised. But the whole idea of entering was that it's my speedwork, so I gave it what I had.

So yesterday I reprised the crazy hills I did last Friday. They haven't gotten any less steep, I lost count of the >20% grades on that route, but it was 20 degrees cooler and what a difference that made. I was still flagging pretty good toward the end, until the thought went through my head that it's SUPPOSED to hurt, and so I thought, "Oh right, okay then" and picked up the pace again.

There's a little local half marathon on Saturday that I can't decide if I want to do or not. I probably should, but it's too hilly for me to really want to. It's a benefit for renovating the local high school/middle school track which desperately needs it, and which I'd probably use occasionally if it were in better shape. Of course I could just send them a donation and not run.

[OakLeaf]

So, I ran that little half this morning. It got to last night and I didn't really want to run, but I knew if I didn't, I'd wish I had. It wasn't as hilly as I'd been afraid of, they changed the course from prior years, so there were only a couple of short climbs over 15%, one steep gravel descent that I just picked my way down, and on the average right around 50 feet per mile elevation gain. I ran a 2:01 something, which I'm plenty happy with considering the terrain, my (lack of) training and my intention for the day. It was a chance to try out my new Altras on a tempo run, too, and they're still great, I'm sure now I'll be wearing the other pair for the marathon. Plus, it's a beautiful day. I probably wouldn't have run if it had rained!

[zoom-zoom]

I may have to try Altras at some point. A friend swears by them and they look like they'd fit a wider foot pretty well.

Managed my first CX race yesterday. Ankle was fine, but I was very careful going into dismounts (remounts still suck and I have to come to a complete stop to get back on the bike, ha). Didn't push the pace hard, either. But a couple of noob racers who should have been racing Bs lapped me 3/4 of the way through my 3rd lap. Had I known I'd only get 3 laps I would have pushed harder. After lap 2 I was told I had 2 more, so paced myself appropriately.

Today the ankle is a little stiff, but not really any worse for wear. Next CX race isn't for another 2 weeks, so by then I expect I'll be fully healed.

[solobiker]

Oak, way to go with your 1/2. That is great! I used to do those several years ago...I guess close to 13 years ago. Gosh where has time gone?

ZoomZoom, I am happy to hear your ankle is doing better and you were able to participate in CX race.

As I said above I used to run a fair amount several years ago. I had to stop due to frequent injuries and very tight hamstrings. I went for a short 3 miler today and of course my hamstrings tightened right up. blah. I may have to look into Altras as well because I do need a shoe with a wide toe box due to neuroma issues.

Happy running and racing everyone.

[OakLeaf]

Nice Zoom, glad your ankle stayed good, keep being careful with it.

Solo, if you haven't been running much, three miles isn't "short" at all. I can't even remember how many times I learned that the hard way when I first started running - really it's HOW I started running, learning that three miles wasn't just something I could do once every few weeks!

Now though ... first 20-miler of this cycle yesterday. It was just sooooo beautiful! It was an amazing fall day, the roads were just incredibly beautiful, and everything was so perfect that even the not-so-perfect parts of the run were still nice. Accidentally routing myself behind the landfill ... I was upwind and there was enough of a breeze that I smelled nothing at all (not like the last time I did that ) - the machinery was mostly working elsewhere so it wasn't super loud - and I even got a look at their methane to electricity generating facility. The covered bridge that was covered with graffiti ... still a cute little covered bridge. And then there was the little pond with a bunch of turtles sunning themselves on a log, the tiny windy roads through the woods, the herd of goats with their herding dog, a few little creeks still running though it hasn't rained recently, and through it all the dry fall air, the leaves just beginning to turn, the quality of the light ... so beautiful.

I'm sore today, but even though I knew ahead of time that I would be, at this point I've done enough 20 milers that it isn't so much of a mental hurdle. It sure helped that I chose a route that wasn't quite as hilly my last two long runs, too. I'd mapped out a 20 that was at least as hilly, but decided I'd be nuts to try it yesterday. There's no flat around here, and there were still a few very steep hills, but in comparison it felt easy.