Sluggin' away?! July 30-Aug 5

[alpinerabbit]

I ran 5.5 K at near race pace*.

I passed several recreational joggers, very satisfying.

This is the first time in my "new life" - i.e. the last 3 yrs that I came back sweat rolling off my face.

*I go by breathing rythm. 7 (4 in 3 out or reverse) is longjog/base endurance pace.
6(3 in/ 3 out) is "feelgood" pace
5(2 in / 3 out or reverse) is race pace
4 is sprint. Yeah yeah I don't like to torture myself.

[yellow]

Thanks for starting the thread, AR. Sounds like you are bookin' it. Doesn't it feel good to have great days like that?

My running routine is still all wonky and I haven't been very successful at pulling it back together. My primary excuse is the heat (hottest July on record in SLC), but I think I may be trying to just do too many different things without any structure. I've chosen an event to train for and have a partner in crime that is wanting to train for it with me, so that's a good start. The event isn't until November. We start the "schedule" on August 13.

Last week was a total of about 33.5 miles. So far this week I have 9.5 miles. Rest tomorrow and then I'm going for a long run Saturday (measured by time, not distance). Thankfully it's cooled down a little with the arrival of the monsoon weather pattern (though now it's "humid" for SLC ...a whopping 45-50%, big change from 8-15%).

Run on, ladies!

[KSH]

Well, for the month of July I racked up 75 miles of running! I was SHOCKED!

Last night I ran 10.50 miles of hills.

2h 17m
10.50 miles
13m 03s /mile

1st loop (2.1 miles): 24:30
2nd loop: 25:30
3rd loop: 25:30(ate 1 Accel Gel)
4rd loop: 25:00
5th loop: 30:00

After the 2nd loop, I needed a bio break and took a total of a 9 minute break.

Otherwise, my breaks were short, maybe 30 seconds to 2 minutes to refill my water bottle or what not.

The last loop, I started it feeling good, but I was also feeling some pain in my quads. Nothing serious, but they were screaming.

I knew that if I ran that loop, I WOULD PAY for it this weekend. The last time I ran my full 10 miles on these hills, I missed my long distance ride on the weekend.

I didn't want to pay for this run for days, so I walked the last loop.

Overall a good run.

[teigyr]

You all are so inspirational!

I ran about 2.5 miles and it felt pretty good. I am breaking in new orthotics and wasn't supposed to run in them yet and when I did start (tomorrow), I was supposed to do more walking and less running.

To be honest, it felt GOOD. My feet didn't turn like how they did before. Everything felt so much better and I felt like I was being much more efficient. Of course now I'm a bit sore....I can tell I'm using my muscles differently.

I think I will go out for a bit longer tomorrow. The orthotics aren't finalized and she is still looking at my stride and how my feet go but I can tell such an improvement.

[Wahine]

Wow, you ladies are doing fantastic. I've been working on form with a coach and trying to get rested up for IM. Next week is a "pull the curtains week" where I do 10% of my usual workouts and try to get an extra 15 to 20 hours of sleep over the week.

KSH - you have come soooooooooooo far. Well done.

[KSH]

Wow, you ladies are doing fantastic. I've been working on form with a coach and trying to get rested up for IM. Next week is a "pull the curtains week" where I do 10% of my usual workouts and try to get an extra 15 to 20 hours of sleep over the week.

KSH - you have come soooooooooooo far. Well done.

Already taper time for the IM?! WOW! I can't believe it so close! Can't wait to see how it all turns out.

Yea, last year for the month of July I ran 5 miles... this year 75... I have come a long way baby!

[Starfish]

You guys are so inspiring. I keep thinking I want to try a Tri, but I am just so afraid of starting even a walk/jog program until I lose some weight (knee).

But, I am going to cross train through the winter with swimming, weight training, and maybe walking, and I hope lose some weight. Part of me wants to do that and then give the bike everything I've got for next year...there are a couple of bike rides I would like to focus on, I think.

But, reading that book Marathoning for Mortals has re-piqued my interest...

Thanks for letting me listen in on your Tri discussions! Truly I am so impressed.

[teigyr]

You guys are so inspiring. I keep thinking I want to try a Tri, but I am just so afraid of starting even a walk/jog program until I lose some weight (knee).

But, I am going to cross train through the winter with swimming, weight training, and maybe walking, and I hope lose some weight. Part of me wants to do that and then give the bike everything I've got for next year...there are a couple of bike rides I would like to focus on, I think.

But, reading that book Marathoning for Mortals has re-piqued my interest...

Thanks for letting me listen in on your Tri discussions! Truly I am so impressed.

Starfish, I feel the same as you. My knees are pretty bad but I recently got orthotics and those are helping a lot. I run on the days I don't have much time because I can go out for 45 min to an hour and accomplish more than I could on the bike.

If you do it, start slowly

KSH, I can't believe the distances you are doing!! It is difficult for me to plan ahead sometimes and I just plug along and then forget to see there is progress. Going from five miles to seventy-five is incredible though!

[roadie gal]

10.5 miles is great! I don't know how you could do 5 loops, though. I would lose count.

For some reason, I've been into trail running rather than being on the road this month. I'm finished with my triathlon season, so I figure I'll just run for fun and do whatever I feel like. Today was an hour and ten minute run. (The extra 10 minutes was because I ended up on a new trail and was lost for a bit.)

Maybe if I can work up to 13 miles I'll try for that Half Iron next season.

[yellow]

1 (The extra 10 minutes was because I ended up on a new trail and was lost for a bit.)

I love getting lost a for a bit!

Did my long run today, though it ended up being shorter than I wanted. I wanted to run for 3 hrs but the trail ended at 2 hrs 22 minutes. It was a great run, though (flowers blooming, hummingbirds humming, cool air) and I got a whole lot of elev gain. Topped out at about 9600'+ and saw (and patiently waited for the exit of) a cow moose and 2 calves right at the beginning. What a beautiful day.

Based on my performance today, though, I've finally decided that the 17 mile trail race next week is out. I need to work on the Achilles attachment to the calf a bit. I thought my calves were going to explode for the first hour (all uphill, of course). Plus 17 is a lot more than the 13 I did today.

[Wahine]

Yellow - I'd have to say that you're making a good choice. Trail running is tough and it's a lot harder to add 4 miles on a trail than on a road. It's also harder on the achilles and you do not want a full blown achilles tendonitis.

Sorry you had to give up the race.

Hope you feel better soon.

[yellow]

Sorry you had to give up the race.

Yeah, I'm pretty disappointed, but I also do not want to get injured. I think this whole long distance trail business is just going to take a lot longer to work up to than it ever took me to advance in road running. Plus I'm a little older now. I'll get there eventually, but yes, I'm pretty disappointed in myself at this moment (and disappointed that I feel disappointed for making a wise decision). Ugh.

[tattiefritter]

I know how you feel Yellow, I had a trail race booked for the 1st of September, "only" 8.5 miles with about 1300ft of ascent/descent, pre-injury I could have got myself round but not at the minute or in the near future. I have put my sensible head on and decided to limit myself to 4 mile max trail runs for the next three of four weeks until I'm happy my left leg can take the descending. I'm also disappointed with making a sensible decision. Its an oversubscribed event so I e-mailed the organisers yesterday to offer my place to anyone who wants it.

Today I did 5.25 miles on the road, aiming for between 8.45 and 9mm pace, I managed to keep it to 8.45 average but I was reining myself in a lot and struggled to keep it constant, I varied from 8 mm to 9.10 mm. While I am pleased I can still run faster now is really not the time for it.

[Starfish]

It is a LOT harder to make the wise decision NOT to do an event. This kind of disappointment is ROUGH.

You mentioned getting older...I know that there are a lot of quite wise, young women on TE...but I never would have been one of them.

When I was in my 20's, I ran and ran and ran through the pain until I did lasting damage to my knee...and it still bothers me to this day.

Now, in my 40's, I know I have to sometimes live to fight another day by stepping back. Doesn't make it any easier, though. So sorry for your disappointment!

[rocknrollgirl]

Hi Guys,
Tattie and Yellow...I am sorry that you guys are nursing injuries, but you are both making the right decision to back off a bit. An ounce of prevention or something like that.


Hang in there....