Running the Gamut - w/o September 1

[OakLeaf]

what, everybody else have too much fun over the weekend, too?

Between the weed pollen, the heat, and all the campfire smoke I inhaled over the weekend, I just could not breathe today. I'd wanted to do a harder workout, but decided the better part of valor was just another free run on the paved trail. I quit after 3.6 miles - went home and sucked on my inhaler (ha ha, after s*cking on my run )

I wanted to give the new shoes one more "trial run," and I think I'm going to keep them. Teigyr (from last week), yes, I do have orthotics. I felt like they were overcorrecting somewhat, so between myself and the shoe guy, we decided to try a neutral cushion shoe this time instead of a stability shoe. Now I'm thinking that maybe the reason it felt like I was supinating was that my old shoes were too narrow in the midfoot, and the orthotics were tipped up rather than lying flat in the shoe. But still, I've been hoping I could gradually wean myself off the over-built shoes and orthotics, and find good body mechanics within my own body.

After my run on Thursday, I had a fair amount of Achilles pain for the rest of the day, but woke up Friday morning with hardly any. In the past it's usually been the next day when my feet have told me what they didn't like. So I took that for a good sign. Today, I laced the shoes up tight again and I have just a little bit of Achilles pain. See how it feels in the morning, but as I said, I'm inclined to keep the shoes and work harder on my form.

[KnottedYet]

Did a 1/2 mile run/walk with Stinky Butt Dog, wearing my Chaco sandals. Honestly, the sandals are turning out to be the best running "shoes" I have. (just like their 1998 Chaco predecessors) Chaco www.chacousa.com made some good sh*t, and Dave Page http://seattle-wa.addresses.com/yp_r...41&qk=10&qs=WA is a damm good cobbler.

[Aggie_Ama]

I went last night to the little trail at Lions Foundation Park. The trail I .8 miles each lap and I have been slowly adding to my distance. When I first starting running again 3 weeks ago I did 2 miles (2.5 laps), last night I did 4 laps with no walking except a brief stroll to grab water. My Timex broke so I have no clue if I was faster than last run but I felt I was. Still a pretty slow 5k at about 35-36 minutes.

I am getting my running legs back for the hilly Turkey Trot Thanksgiving day, it is a brutal 5 miles. And running is definitely helping my weight loss journey!

Funny thing was all day my left ankle was stiff and had a dull ache from the mountain bike crash last weekend but on the run nothing hurt at all.

[Aggie_Ama]

I went and did 4 laps again tonight. The wind is howling today and it definitely made one stretch brutal. Not as bad as poor DH commuting home by bike. Nice thing is it was only 89 this afternoon and cloudy instead of 99 and sunny like yesterday. I have a blister now and am not a happy Ama.

[jesvetmed]

Yesterday I "commuted" to my hair cut appointment. My plan was to walk the 8 miles, but I left too late and ended up jogging around 4-5 miles of it. 90 minutes on the nose, 8 miles exactly. What a sweaty mess I was when I got to my hair appointment!
Hubby picked me up and we had dinner after -- good thing. I was STARVING by then!

[teigyr]

Jes, that is funny My hairstylist is mostly ok with me being sweaty but she draws the line at pool water remnants. That is very practical though. I tend to incorporate errands into my long run days because the post office and other things are on my way. I learned NEVER pick up prescriptions though because they rattle all the way home

How are the injured runners? Colby, are you going to make it to the Seattle Marathon/Half Marathon? A few friends are running the half. I haven't signed up yet but am thinking about it.


Aggie, it sounds like you're doing great! Running is so much fun once it starts setting in.

Knot, I betcha SBD is enjoying it. Been perfect weather (mostly) up here too.

I ran about 40 miles last week (whew!), 30 of those miles being in three days. I think now I have the energy to type Seriously, it was kind of fun.

I've been doing shorter runs this week. I am running a 10K on Sunday and then the marathon is in the beginning of October. I can't believe it's almost here! As long as I think the distance is (it's my first), I remember those IM folk and remember that 26 miles is nothing compared to that. It'll be ok.

[Aggie_Ama]

Jes- How funny, I never thought of running errands literally. Probably will have to when I get into Marathon training next year.

teigyr- I am new down here, when is the marathon? I am in awe of marathoners and still trying to tell myself I aspire to be one. 40 miles in a week, I never did that when I ran often. I got a long way to go!

Finished the minimum for the week of running (I shoot for 3 days) last night with a two miler around the neighborhood. My neighborhood is small and that is one loop, then I get bored. I remembered why I prefer running the trail even though it is even shorter, my neighborhood is hilly. Ay ya ya.

Weekly total was 8.4, which is the same as last week thanks to the short run last night. Distance is mostly growing though, speed is not. Can't win them all can I? Next week I want to do 4.5 laps at the trail which would be 3.6 miles. Pretty soon I will have to start stopping at the longer trails that are on my way home, you can only do so many .8 mile laps!

[colby]

How are the injured runners? Colby, are you going to make it to the Seattle Marathon/Half Marathon? A few friends are running the half. I haven't signed up yet but am thinking about it.

I start my 4 weeks of PT on Friday (was supposed to be Monday, but work travel came up... ARGHHHHHH). That'll put me out to October, but I think I'll still be able to work back up to the half marathon by November.

I'll know for sure on Friday after I rack their brains

I did feel some improvement after I stopped running and avoided any long walks/hikes, but then we went to Bumbershoot last weekend, lots of walking, and things reverted pretty quickly back. I'm back on the biking, yoga, and swimming plan this week. The Gaiam Yoga for Athletes DVD does a LOT of stretching of the hips and hamstrings, which makes me feel a little sore afterward, but feels much better later.

Fingers crossed. I'll have to let go of the marathon... it's hard. Maybe I'll do the Seattle as a half, then find something for January...

[jesvetmed]

TEIGYR: Nice going this week on all the miles! Can't wait to hear how that marathon goes.

COLBY: I hope it all comes out well. If you can't do the Seattle, do you have something in your sites for January? What a great time frame to shoot for a marathon -- what else are you gong to do in January? I'd actually be interested in a half aorund that time. I love to have goals through the year to plan/ train for. Otherwise it is so easy for me to become a slug.

hang in there with the resting -- sounds like the bike/yoga and no running plan was working well. It takes a lot of time to heal!

AGGIE: What marathon are you planning?

[OakLeaf]

Out and back from home, 4.25 miles. It was raining this morning when I'd normally be riding, but it turned into a beautiful day later on, so it was just perfect for running.

I wound up exchanging my shoes for a pair of stability shoes after all - built on the same last and just as comfy, and they definitely feel better.

Plus I tried out my new Amphipod water belt. Third time's the charm! Doesn't bounce - water bottles attach and detach easily, one-handed, without breaking my stride - includes a pouch for my phone and ID.

I wish I wasn't so short-waisted - it looks really dorky on me because it rides so high, and it almost seemed like it was making it hard for the water to empty out of my stomach - but that's my body's fault, not the belt's.


Colby, bummer that you're not healing as quick as you'd like. (We never do, do we?) Hang in there - do your active rest and you'll get there.

[Aggie_Ama]

AGGIE: What marathon are you planning?

Right now the Walt Disney World but not until January of 2010. I only want to do one, so I don't want to do the couple in Austin and I love WDW.

[yellow]

OK, I've been struggling with getting back into running, but for the last couple of weeks have been pretty focused on making some change. One of those changes is getting my mileage back up.

So my mileage was Pitiful (with a capital P) this week, but I'm giving myself a bit of a break as I kind of messed up my foot last weekend. I was good to it all week, iced it 2X a day, stretched what I could, and it feels pretty good.

Good enough to tackle a mountain run? Sure, why not.

So a friend and I ran to the summit of a beautiful mountain here in Utah called Mt Timpanogos. It's 7 miles to the summit. That means 7 miles up and 7 miles down. The trail starts at about 7600' elev and climbs to about 10000' (a gain of about 2400') in 5 miles and then the last 2000' in 2 miles. Yeah. We ran up until about 10500', at which point I could run no more...my legs were done with the "up" running at that point. So we power hiked to the summit, stopping at times to watch the very cute and fluffy mountain goats that live up there, chatted with people, and enjoyed the day. We ended up running all the way down, which is my favorite part (!), although my hip was a little cranky after about 12 miles.

No way could I have run farther. But it felt pretty good. Walking the last 1.5 or so miles really helped.

To put it into perspective, the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance run was this weekend. Over 300 people each ran 100 miles in a period of 36 hours. The gain on that puppy is something like 27,000 feet. I'm not worthy!!!!!