Long and Less Long Runs: 4-2 to 4-8

[Deborajen]

Great job everyone! I can't believe all the miles that are being put in.

I did an 8-mile easy run on Monday evening. Temps were in the mid 80's and it was windy. Towards the end, I started getting a little queasy and my calves started cramping, so I slowed down (even slower than the easy run/walk pace ) and came home. Guess the heat got to me a little since I haven't been out in those temps in awhile.

This evening is a 6-mile tempo run. It should be in the mid 50's, so quite a change from Monday. I'm looking forward to it.

Don't know how you girls manage a run over lunch hour - especially more than a short one. That would be a nice break. Then again, with the short lunch break we have here at my work, the full day is shorter so a before or after work run is more doable.

Keep up the great work everyone! It's always inspiring to read everyone's posts. It really helps keep me motivated!

Deb

[Wahine]

Don't know how you girls manage a run over lunch hour - especially more than a short one. That would be a nice break. Then again, with the short lunch break we have here at my work, the full day is shorter so a before or after work run is more doable.

It helps that when I took this job I duly informed my employers that I would need long lunches to get in IM worthy workouts. I assured them that I would get the job done efficiently and well but not to expect me in the clinic for 2 to 2.5 hours in the middle of the day. So they schedule my patients around my workouts. I block them out on the appointment sheet a week in advance and they just make it work.

[tattiefritter]

We have almost flexible hours - if I use up 1.5 to 2 hours at lunch then I make it up by either coming in earlier or staying a bit later (normal). As long as I do my 37.5 hours a week my boss doesn't mind. I started running at lunchtime because there are several men in my current team who take long lunches to play football, squash, go to the gym so there is precedent and I'm not the only one so nobody bats an eyelid. I'm hoping the same will be true of the next team I move to but I think people have just got used to seeing me going out/coming back from a run and know its something I do, luckily work commitments tend not to get in the way at the minute.

I think for me about 8 miles is as much as I could comfortably fit in at lunchtime until I sort out my faffing issues!

[alpinerabbit]

Yep, yay for flextime.

Considering I have 180 h overtime I could still leave early.
I could take up to 2.5 hours for a lunch break without a problem.
But usually my runs haven't been that long.

[tattiefritter]

Did 4.6 miles today with 2 miles of fartleks thrown in and it felt such hard work. I'm PMSing so exercise always feels that bit more difficult (and explains why I had a massive craving for Cadburys Dairy Milk yesterday that I gave into with gusto ). It was supposed to be 5 miles but my digestive system was objecting to running so I decided to just head back asap. Todays run felt like a treadmill run, I kept looking at my watch and thinking "is that all, I thought more time had passed than that"! Also realised what I thought were nice short fartleks of 20 - 30 seconds are actually a minute long when I timed one, oops. Definitely seem to have a problem with my time perception.

Will try to do 6 very easy miles tomorrow morning as I'm off work for the Easter break, yay!

[KSH]

43m 40s
4.00 miles
10m 55s /mile


Went and ran at lunch on the treadmill. Had to do the TM so I could gauge my speed on my 2 fast miles.

1st mile- 11:30
2nd mile- 10:30
3rd mile- 10:00
4th mile- 11:30

Overall a pretty good run. The side cramp started to rear its head towards the end of the 3rd mile, but it was very minor. I kept it away.

Otherwise, my legs are hurting! Thank goodness I had some BioFreeze to slather on before the run.

I also get to finally see my Chiro/ART practicioner tomorrow. WOO HOO!

[colby]

Great job, everyone. Good to see what progress we've all made as we move back a better season for running... and events!

Monday, I did 4 miles. Tuesday, a quick 3 miles, Wednesday I tried cardio kickboxing at a friend's gym, Thursday 4 miles with 20 minutes of hill repeats. Tomorrow... we'll see. This weekend is the last weekend of ski season and I'm already committed to that, so there won't be anything productive then.

My plan is 12k in 1 month, 1/2 marathon in almost 2 months. I'm excited to see what my progress is... I'd like to better my times by 1-2 minutes per mile, which comes out to almost 30 minutes for the 1/2 marathon and 10-15 minutes for the 12k. We'll see... hill training, here I come.

[limewave]

You gals are making me feel so lazy this week! I did one 3.5 mile hill training run back on Monday. Tuesday I skipped out on my running club to eat pork chops with the in-laws and tonight I passed up running to eat buttery bread with DH who happened to get out of work early I'm not running again until Saturday.

And, to make this worse, this darn snow has forced me to bring my road bike back into the basement and onto the trainer again

[Wahine]

Don't feel bad Limewave. I blew of my ride and my run today. I went out at lunch with full intent to ride and found a deep slash in my sidewall so I didn't ride. Then I ended up having a really long day and didn't have any energy left to run, plus my allergies have been kinda bad this week. So I proudly said "Screw it!" and decided to take a spontaneous day of. I even had 2 glasses of wine with dinner.

[rocknrollgirl]

Oh Thank God...you machines are showing some weakness....he he he

[Shiraz]

I ran 12.9 with my running buddy Cindy this AM at a steady but slower pace than ususal (10 mpm). Overall it went well and I feel pretty good. I am still having some foot pain where I had surgery a year and half ago: I am just hoping it improves before April 21rst. I should have made an appointment with my foot doc before now. I start my taper next week.
Sunday : 7 miles
Tuesday : 5.25 miles and 39 miles bike ride
Friday : 12.9 miles
On call Saturday 7a-7p so I may not get to run
Sunday hopefully ride with the DH

[rocknrollgirl]

Hi Guys,

Well I am on a rest week (yea right), and so I only did two short transition runs this week, each about two miles. Yesterday we rode the race venue for my upcoming Xterra race. Tough stuff.

I ran today with the DH intending on have a long slow easy run, but NOOOOO, it got ramped up in the middle and became more of a tempo run on a great trail. I am surprised at how good my legs felt after the ride yesterday. They are tired now, but I am taking off completely tomorrow.

So we did about 6 today. It was a good run...Mantra of the day....

" I do NOT suck" !!!!!!!

[kelownagirl]

I went for a 2 km run after a 40km bike ride today. Interesting feeling.

[limewave]

I finally got out and ran this morning after being lazy most of the week. Mother nature paid me back for slacking off--I had to run in 3-4 inches of snow in a blizzard. Managed to get in 6 miles.

On a not so good note, I have an injured back which kills when I run. I guess I hurt way back in December when I was mountain biking. I flipped over the handlebars, landing on my back and my bike on top of me. I have 8 weeks of physical therapy But, hopefully after that I won't need DH to put on my shoes for me anymore.

[KSH]

57m 25s
5.00 miles
11m 29s /mile


Rode the stationary bike for 20 minutes and then got on the treadmill.

I was scheduled to run 3 miles, but since I skipped running on Saturday, I ran 5 miles.

No side cramp, but I kept my speed under control to keep it away.

My legs were hurting. Nothing new. I just wish it would go away... someday. I doubt it ever will though.