Running week of 11/29 - 12/6

[kacie tri-ing]

DH and i just finished Born to Run, and I LOVED it. What a great book. I had read Chi Running, but I really liked this one better. I like how much journalism was in it, rather than just feeling like it was one guy's opinion. I am intrigued by the VFF, and I might start playing around with them some.

I got two 4 mile runs in. I am still embracing my last few weeks of "off season" until I start my Ironman base training in January. I have two 5K's planned for this month, and hopefully they will be nice and quick :-) One more run planned this week.

Colby-I totally understand the weight thing. I droped some weight when I started all of this, but it creeped back, even with increased training. I just joined weight watchers, and it really helps me keep track of myself.

I also loved reading about the nutritionist. I would love to see one, just to see what she would have to say.

Have great runs!

OH--I am finishing up the book "The perfect mile" about the race for the 4 minute mile, and it is a fascinating book. Great history/running read, and it has been a blast to read!

[Becky]

I've been experimenting with some barefoot running on the treadmill lately. I'm amazed that I have a lot less hip and knee pain when I'm barefoot! I can't explain what I'm doing differently compared to shod running, but it's been enough to convince me to buy a pair of VFFs when they come back in stock.

[spindizzy]

Way to go! You took time off of both your splits. That's quite an accomplishment. Readjusting your goals during a race - that's a feat of mental strength.

Congratulations on a run well run!!

[indigoiis]

Ran 6 hilly miles in the VFFs today. Yay!

[zoom-zoom]

Just got back from a dreary, chilly 10 miler. Some stretches were a little hairy...there is a light coating of ice under a dusting of snow. Not enough for Yaktrax or screw shoes, but a little slick underfoot. Did better running on the gravel shoulder during those bits.

I'm not really ready for 3-4 months of this. On the bright side, by this time last year we'd already had several feet of snow and there was no gravel shoulder to run on.

[Urlea]

Hey Ladies,

Glad to read that you are still getting out there & running during this busy time of the year, great inspiration!

The weather this week took quite the dip, it is no longer fall. With cooler temps & about 2" of snow it is definitely winter. Since posting usually takes me a while and the trail runs I get in are so pretty I have been video blogging.

You can check out two of my runs this week here...

http://www.youtube.com/user/shootruntri

Enjoy!

[Bike Chick]

Ran the 5k at the Memphis St. Jude Marathon yesterday. Hubby did the half. Was 22 degrees at the start......brrrrrrrrrrrrrr. This was my first run since October because of a stress fracture but I'd paid my money months ago and said what the heck--I wanted to experience it even if I had to walk. Had a blast! It was a lot of fun and I didn't walk.

[zoom-zoom]

Ran the 5k at the Memphis St. Jude Marathon yesterday. Hubby did the half. Was 22 degrees at the start......brrrrrrrrrrrrrr. This was my first run since October because of a stress fracture but I'd paid my money months ago and said what the heck--I wanted to experience it even if I had to walk. Had a blast! It was a lot of fun and I didn't walk.

Nice job! Glad to hear your stress fracture has healed. That can take a long while and be very frustrating.

[skhill]

My Sat. run was so much fun... The snow had started falling sometime between my dog's trip to the backyard and when I headed out, and it was beautiful. The first couple miles, I was thinking of giving up and going home, but then I warmed up a bit (and turned out of the wind!) and really started enjoying the morning. I ended up going 10 miles, and felt great!

[colby]

Ran the 5k at the Memphis St. Jude Marathon yesterday. Hubby did the half. Was 22 degrees at the start......brrrrrrrrrrrrrr. This was my first run since October because of a stress fracture but I'd paid my money months ago and said what the heck--I wanted to experience it even if I had to walk. Had a blast! It was a lot of fun and I didn't walk.

Brr!! I imagine that crossing the finish line was a major mental victory for you. Congrats!

Walked the dog about 4 miles today, it was about 20 degrees with a 10 degree wind chill. She loved every minute of it - she's been kind of restless, only able to walk since having a tumor removed from her left elbow area almost 2 weeks ago. She gets her staples out on Monday and can run again. I owed her a walk today after not really doing anything this week (lots and LOTS of yoga). Next week I'll probably do some short runs or mix run/walk.

[Jolt]

I haven't run in a few days, but today I did a nice 2-hour hike in about three inches of snow on Mt. Wachusett. It's too cold for VFFs, but I experimented with my footwear today and it was quite successful. I wore the Teva Proton water shoes with some heavy wool socks, short gaiters (to keep the snow out and also keep the hems of my pants out of the snow and mud) and Stabilicers Sport for traction. The arrangement worked nicely and my feet surprisingly didn't seem to get wet even when I stepped briefly in muck a few times. However, that setup won't cut it in much colder/wetter conditions (or at least I don't think I would be comfortable with it) so I am thinking about what I can use for minimal hiking footwear when it's colder. On trips that require snowshoes/crampons I'll just have to wear my winter boots, but for regular hikes in the cold/small amounts of snow it is nice to not wear such heavy things. Mukluks might be nice...

[OakLeaf]

I hadn't run in a few days either - finally got out this morning for intervals, dodging the black ice. It was only about 31° here - I don't even want to think about 22°! Brrr! Good job getting out there BC, glad you had fun.

One of my riding buddies posted something from Dr. Gabe Mirkin advocating very short intervals (30 sec sprints x 8-12). Anyone have any thoughts on this? One minute intervals are the shortest ones I have programmed into my watch right now, so that's what I did today x 9. I have a hard time believing that anything shorter than that does any good - I actually don't always believe I'm really getting a benefit from the one-minute intervals. But that's what the guy said...

[Bike Chick]

Yes, 22 degrees was pretty cold before the race. There were piles of discarded clothes along the street after the start but once the race started, I warmed up in a hurry. I'd never been in a race this big before. It was an awesome experience. I'm signing up for a half marathon in May! Let the training begin!

[katluvr]

Saturday LONG run.
So it was 13 miles scheduled this weekend and I picked Sat. AM d/t my X-mas party occurring that night.
Of course I woke up to rain. It was chilly (60's) for FL, but not anything like what some of you ran in! My partner tried to talk me out of it or give me an "out". You can run on Sunday. Or run to 2 short runs, or, or...
But I got dressed and headed out between showers. First 4 miles I felt a bit over dressed, it had quite raining but I knew if it rained I would want my long sleeves. I was not very "fast"--but gave myself permission to take it slow.
About mile 7 or so it was a fine misty rain, then it got heavier and colder. But I just kept plugging along. I was still not feeling very sprinty...but had picked up my pace some. Finally it quite raining, but go windy. Mile 10 I was "done" just tired and not having fun. I had a head wind the last 3 miles home and it was all I could do. I really mentally had to kept pushing. Then I start thinking...I will have twice as much to do, so mentally that my have not been good.
So I completed my 13.1 miles (yes, had to do the full 1/2 marathon distance). Done in 2 hrs 25 min. (My goal was 2:20 - 2:24).
I really had a tough run. Many possible factors I won't go into here. But in my head I know that my 4:30 goal is a stretch. So with this run, taking all things in consideration my "back up" goal is about 4:40 - 4:50 time range. And I am "ok" with that.

I DID stand in pool to cool my legs.
I was whipped and laid down to "nap" after I ate lunch.
I go my B-day present early...some Xensch (??or is spelt w/ a Z??) compression sleeves for my calves...I really needed them.

Needless to say between party and company I blew off my 4 miler on Sunday. So last week I did NOT meet my total mileage of the plan. But I am not going to beat myself up about it. This week, I just will do all the miles!

Today my calves are a little tight and I feel my quads. Nothing bad. Official rest day today and back at it tomorrow.

Good week of running all!

[zoom-zoom]

I go my B-day present early...some Xensch (??or is spelt w/ a Z??) compression sleeves for my calves...I really needed them.

Happy early birthday! I know a lot of runners who swear by these...quite a few wear them during runs. I may pick up a pair for Spring.

Don't sweat the hard run. Not every run can be awesome...quite a few really suck. Those sucky runs help make the great ones all the more fabulous.