Spring Running Thread

[rocknrollgirl]

So just like that the weather has become very unpleasant for running. Last w/e was still tolerable and then Tuesday, blam, 87 degrees and humid. The pollen count is off the chart, we have had air quality alerts all week. Blech.

Yesterday we had a long run. the last before our next race in two weeks. Two hour trail run. At 6am it was already near 70 degrees and humid. Made for very difficult conditions. I find it drives my heart rate through the roof until I acclimate. So it was a tough two hours. This is our last trail run locally until the fall. The ticks are out. So from now on we will have to drive to trail run which stinks.

On a good note, I think my new orthotics are going to do the trick. I have gone through all of my work and casual shoes and gotten rid of anything that causes me discomfort. Replaced with a few pair of Clarks, very comfy and supportive. Today I am going out on a mission to find flip flops with arch support. They do exist, but they may be unicorn status.

[OakLeaf]

I would think flip flops would kind of defeat the purpose - you have to extend your big toes to keep them on, which unless you have phenomenal control of your foot muscles, is going to flatten the arch as well. Plenty of sandals with strap tops and rigid soles though - Chaco and Teva come to mind.

Brutally hot here too, smog here too (yep, 50 miles from the nearest city which is a small city, in the 21st century we get smog too ). Thankfully the humidity is still low, the pollen hasn't been too bad and my shots are keeping up with it. Between the heat and I'm still sore all the time from the PT exercises, I've kind of given up on building distance for the time being, and instead I'm keeping it VERY short but trying to run every day or at least six days a week. I'm figuring if the distance is so short, I won't need as many recovery days. It drives me crazy to run for a shorter amount of time than it takes me to get dressed, warm up, and then stretch afterward, but that's called discipline, I guess.

How does the terrain of your upcoming race compare to the last one?

[rocknrollgirl]

Hey Oak,
I only need the flip flops for flippity flopping around the house and a quick run to the store. I do not wear them for hours on end like the rest of the folks around here. I found a pair of sketchers that may work. Otherwise I have on really supportive shoes or retired running shoes with orthotics in there.

Fortunately the terrain at the next race is more like what we run locally. I think there is only 1500 feet of elevation change in this race compare to 4800 at North Face and the upcoming race will not have the rocks like at Bear Mt. probably lots of roots which we are used to. So it should feel more runable, less power hiking.

I am not sure what I will do after this race as far as maintaining distance. I will not have anything "long" until next fall. We will trail run all summer and want to start mt biking again after this next race. I may just do a longish trail run every other week just to keep my endurance up. 90 mins would probably do it.

We have three trips planned and they all involve hiking, so that can sub for some long trail runs too.

[OakLeaf]

Good luck tomorrow, RnR! Go have fun and kick some butt!!

[Catrin]

Have run RNR!

[rocknrollgirl]

Thanks Ladies,

We survived. It was hot and humid which does not go well for either of us. My husband in particular. I was soaked from head to toe by mile 3. The course was nice, lots of nice single track. It was however connected by open field crossings. No fun in the heat and very brushy. I was glad I sprayed with bug spray on my legs. So it went ok considering. The last couple of miles were tough. I have never cramped in my life and when I finished even my feet were cramping. No fun. I was well hydrated and my nutrition was fine, I think it was just that there was no way to keep up with salt loss.

We do not have any races planned over the summer, but will start back up in September. I had been seriously considering a full trail marathon last year, but I think I am going to shelve the idea and just stick to trail 1/2 marathons and shorter. My teaching load is really heavy next year, I have 80 AP students registered, almost double the norm. It is going to be a heavy load to carry and I want to be smart and manage and enjoy my training. Keep things in balance.

So there you have it. Survived. Got good swag, got to run with hubs and one of my former students who met us there. All good.

[Crankin]

Sounds like a good experience, despite the weather.
And, your plan for sticking to halfs during a stressful year sounds good, too. More people should do this. It avoids burning out and ending up hating something you loved.