Another week... running week of 2/2

[solobiker]

I went for a 30 min run today. My legs were tired and felt heavy. Yesterday I rode 20 miles on my MTN bike and Sunday - Tue were were up at one of the 10th mtn huts doing a lot of back-country skiing. My legs are pretty tired. I hope to go for a longer run on Saturday. I will have to see as I am on-call.

[emily_in_nc]

Should I be wearing something other than my cycling socks for running? The thought of socks that are thicker worries me. My feet, particularly the one with the bunion are worse when I wear thick socks. When I hike, x country ski, or snow shoe, I end up wearing the thin, long wool socks that are for x country skiing. I cannot wear wool hiking socks, they are just too thick and I have ended up miserable on a few excursions.
Going to body glide my left foot tomorrow...

If it's any comfort, I just wear my regular ankle "gym socks" (Fila brand, cotton) for running. For the distances I do (< 5 miles), they seem fine. I am sure for longer distance, there are better alternatives, but so long as the cycling socks aren't bothering you and you're not getting blisters (I'm not), I think you're fine.

[eclectic]

Today is 100% off day Yippee! ! ! !

I did my 2 mile run yesterday and did fine but went faster than I should have - I know that I am supposed to keep the recovery days slower but I thought "Only 2 miles" and I ended up pushing it some - still not fast by ANY stretch of the imagination but about 40 sec per mile faster than what I was doing.

I can tell exactly when my HR gets over a certain point by even 1 beat because that is when my breathing gets laboured.

I was having trouble w/ the insides of my calves/shins especially the right one then I figured it out that everyday I have been running it has been the same direction on the track (they change odd/even days) So it was the constant cornering that was doing it.
It is the muscle that is impossible to stretch out.

One of my students was there and showed me how to stretch it using one of the calf raise machines Ahhhhhhh instant relief. Now I know I have to do that every time I run on the track.

So THAT is an advantage to treadmills - no constant cornering - just constant boredom.

[Aggie_Ama]

Eclectic- I am also training for a half and having trouble with the easy tempo. Yesterday I decided to run asphalt in my rolling hilly neighborhood since I have been running on flat caliche but didn't factor the 20 mph headwind. I try to keep my HR below a certain level but the wind was a big problem with it yesterday. I am really struggling with tempo but trying to at least make time which this is a lot more than I have been running so that is a challenge.

Tomorrow is 7 miles, what you got on tap? I am glad to be on rest day today, might take the bike on an easy ride just to keep the muscles loose.

[Crankin]

I had a pretty successful run on the treadmill today, after taking everyone's advice. I went at a very quiet time at the gym, about 2:30. After warming up for 5 minutes, walking, I decided that instead of breaking it up with intervals of running and walking every 2-5 minutes, I would run longer at slower speeds. Basically, I ran straight for 18 minutes between 5.2 and 5.8 mph. My HR was 10 pts. lower than it had been last time. Then I walked for 2 minutes and resumed running between 5.7 and 6.0 for ten more minutes. Like you, Eclectic, I can tell exactly when I am at 5.9-6.0 because my HR goes up to 167, which doesn't feel that great. I am breathing hard. After ten minutes of that, another 2 minute walk, I ran another 2 minutes and 22 seconds to get to 3 miles, between 5.7 and 6.0. So, I did 3 miles in 32 minutes, 22 seconds.
I also noticed my foot area where the blister wants to start doesn't start hurting until I am running close to 6.0. It's definitely my bunion and my foot swelling. I used the Body Glide, which did help. I might go to the running store and see if I can get different socks.
I did all my stretching and core stuff afterwards and I feel much better today than I did last time. I really was itching to run outside, but there's just nowhere to run, with all of the slop. Hopefully, I won't be too sore because I am going x country skiing out in western MA tomorrow with my friends; my husband is away and since he is the slow skier, they will be pushing me! Probably will run again Monday.

[eclectic]

Eclectic- I am also training for a half and having trouble with the easy tempo. Yesterday I decided to run asphalt in my rolling hilly neighborhood since I have been running on flat caliche but didn't factor the 20 mph headwind. I try to keep my HR below a certain level but the wind was a big problem with it yesterday. I am really struggling with tempo but trying to at least make time which this is a lot more than I have been running so that is a challenge.

Tomorrow is 7 miles, what you got on tap? I am glad to be on rest day today, might take the bike on an easy ride just to keep the muscles loose.

20 mph headwinds are strong! They make a huge difference AND they blow your hat off Good for you on running it.
Good luck w/ the 7 miler! tomorrow is only 3 for me. I have picked my long day to be Tuesdays just because it works into recovery better for me but we shall see how it works. Tuesday is to be 6 miles. I don't hit 7 miles for 2 more weeks. I am currently on week 4 of a 16 week plan.

Doing a slow spin on your bike would be good. (unless it is into a 20mph headwind again I swim the day of and the day after because it really makes my body feel better. I should be swimming harder but right now I am just using it for recovery.

I just hooked up w/ the local running group and they are doing a group run at the indoor track at the university dome so I may join them instead of going to the Y, change of circular scenery will be nice and there is a family violence fundraising walk going on at the same time on the lower level so there will be music and fun.
I am slow . . . they are fast . . . . but that is the way I started biking with a group and now I am faster
I do hope the direction for the day is opposite what I did yesterday

On a side note one of the group runners just finished a CA marathon - can't remember the name and finished it 3:36 - probably not a big deal to some of you but he was in the 65-69 age group! and w/ that time he came in 2nd.
Anyway I thought "I am only 52, no problem, I have lots of years left to get better at this" Very motivating

[Shiraz]

Hi Ladies,
I am not great at keeping up with the posting but continue to try to train. I run tomorrow AM with local running group of mixed skill from moderate pace and new. It's always great to run with a mix. A few of us are running our long run on Sunday AM. I just can't get any runs in on the days I work 12 hour shifts so I am trying to get all my training in 4 days.

I have been attending an evening Yoga class and absoulutely love it! I had bought a book and started practicing at home and I really like it. I am hoping it will help prevent injuries and decrease my stress level. I sleep so good after a class and feel like it helps after a run to decrease soreness.

Aggie and Eclectic when are your half marathons?? Anybody running Salt Lake City Half or Odgen Utah half??????

I am so ready for nice weather and a ride on the bike!!

[jesvetmed]

Shiraz: Great for you to be doing yoga. I think you are right about decreasing injuries with it. I'm kicking myself for abandoning yoga over the fall -- when I started running longer miles I paid for it. So keep it up! I'm back to 2x / week minimum and am so glad! Now if I could get my calf to agree to start running again, I'd have a new outlook! Keep up the good work all!

[Aggie_Ama]

Mine is April 4th. I haven't signed up- yet. See I haven't done any long runs in years. After the 7 miler (heading out for) and the 8 miler next week I will sign up.

Eclectic- I didn't go ride- too windy. Tomorrow I think I am going to mountain bike at the easy trail though. Might be a bit much before doing intervals Monday but the winds mean either stay in our ride the trails. I am hoping to mountain bike through training so tomorrow will be a test.

[yellow]

Welp, I did my last "long" run before next weekend's 25K yesterday (12 mi) and it was a challenge given the drizzle, mud, and snow. I was going to just run on pavement but the pull of the muddy/snow-covered trail was too great. Plus next weekend's race is pretty technical and has quite a lot of uphill, so I wanted to get the brain a little more engaged with that aspect of trail running. The snow I don't mind, as long as I don't break through. The mud, however, kicked my butt. And then I went to Crossfit later in the day. W-I-P-E-D. Today I think I will service the bottom bracket on my road bike and maybe go for a walk/jog later. Maybe.

[rocknrollgirl]

I have 2 runs in so far this week. I tried the treadmill last week and I have decided it is not for me. So I ran outside this week even with less than ideal conditions.

Tuesday I ran hills
Thursday I did a 30 min recovery trail run out in the snow. It was fantastic.

I will probably head out tomorrow as long as my legs feel ok. I did 2 and 1/2 hours on a mt bike group ride in the snow today. Much fun.

[OakLeaf]

I'm finally back to feeling human.

I got out on Thursday for less than 3 miles at a 12 minute pace. It felt awful since I had nothing in the tank, but I needed the sunshine and to get my blood moving.

Yesterday I was starting to be able to eat a little. So today I did 4 miles at closer to a 10 minute pace and it felt good. I didn't feel ready to do any kind of hard workout, just wanted to get a couple of miles in.

Now back to my regularly scheduled training.

Aggie, if you're doing a half in April and a long run of 7 now the same as me, I don't know what I'm whining about (and it actually gives me a better idea of how to work my training for two fall events). Ramp up the running mileage now, while I have a nice soft flat place to run, plus no hills and no long distance riding group to do any real training for CFC on the bike. Be running at least 12 miles before we even go back to Ohio. I can do that. Then, just maintain. Do a 10 or 12 miler once a week plus a shorter run or two. Reach a half mary distance somewhere in there (I know they say it isn't necessary to train for the full distance of an event, but I don't want to do it that way). That'll give me all summer to focus on riding the hills and longer distances without having to worry too much about the running. Do some speedwork maybe, but already have the confidence that I won't have any trouble finishing a half at a pace that won't embarrass me.

That's my half-assed 50th birthday training plan and I'm sticking to it.

[Shiraz]

I meet the ladies and one gent for an early morning 6 miler. It was a foggy frosty morning. Too bad I didn't have a camera. We all had frost frozen to our eye lashes and hair. We looked like the geriatric running group. It was too funny!

Tomorrow, I am scheduled to run 11 miles. Ladies have you ever tried to Ryan Hall's half marathon plan? Here is the site. It starts with a long run of 8-11 miles depending if you prefer to build up from a 10k or down from a marathon. I can't always stick to it but it really helped shave off a few minutes.

http://www.runnersworld.com/charts/hallchart.html

Yellow, you are going to rock it! I can't wait to hear how you did.

Can anyone recommend a yoga book and dvd?

[Urlea]

First off, you ladies are doing awesome!!! It's good to see all the reports.

As for me, I've been sick with a bad cold since I got home from Japan & having a tough time getting over jet-lag. Uhg. Thankfully my husband was able to find the Devil's ju-ju in pill form so no more icky cough syrup for me.

Hopefully Monday I will be able to get out there again. It's been in the 30's this week so at least I have the added incentive of clear places to run.

In other news: my husband has decided to do brazilian jiu-jitzu (sp?) this season instead of doing foot-races and triathlons. The goal is to become more fit so that he's able to do the other easier in the future.

I'm not used to doing all of my race training alone so this will be an adjustment!

I'm close enough to the Fargo full now that I can set myself up with a training program on runnersworld. Off to check that out!

[eclectic]

Oakleaf - glad you are getting back up to par
Urlea - I missed the Japan trip - Wow hope you had a great time but sorry about the nasty cough. I am amazed you have anything clear to run on - all we have is ice.
I decided not to do the Fargo half this year but signed up for the Mickelson/deadwood half - it is a month later on June 7th so it will give me more time to train.

WOW all of you are amazing runners!

I did get out and do 3 miles on the dreadmill - I really don't like it but didn't feel like running the track.

It was a hard 3 miles. I kind of went out and partied a little to hardy last night, didn't get to bed until after 2 am and of course woke up at my usual 5:30 am and couldn't get back into a good sleep. Not a good plan - I should know better after all I am over 50 and not 30 like my brain keeps telling me
I was even kind of pumped at seeing how I would feel after having a full off day.

Oh well if I can make it through feeling like I did the rest will be easier.

10 mile total this week - I am moving forward!