The Long Run

Ran with assorted Striders throughout the run. I could actually see the humidity, but cooler than yesterday. Almost got sucked into Beka's vortex as she ran past me with a mile to go but resisted the urge to keep up, then had to resist again with Melanie right after her.

Kind of weird that my hamstrings felt tired today, I don't think I've ever felt that.  They were not tight or achy, just tired.

Chatted a few minutes at the social hour.

Eventually figured out why my hamstrings were tired when I remembered about the sprints at boot camp last night!

Special treat to run with Dixie this morning, not sure when the last time was I ran with him. Talked about bee keeping and bio diesel as well as some talk about running along with the actual running.

Also ran with Keith, Jammie, Victoria, Craig and Diane (who hosted the fabulous "lemonade" stand). Almost stopped at 7 miles, but then decided to do one more out and back to the bridge with Jammie and Victoria.

Usually I would run into Starkey park, and then run back from there, but today did not go there.  It was nice to do something different.

Woke up later than usual, but still plenty of time. Headed out the door into a nice brisk morning. Said hi to Lisa as she was returning from her run. Out to Trinity Blvd, then about 0.2 miles on the grass, then back home.

It was weird that I slept in (until 6:40) - usually I can't stay asleep.  Jenny had an early client so woke up at 5:00 to get ready, I kind of remember that, but fell back asleep and then all of the sudden it was 6:40 and light outside.  I should start setting my alarm clock again.  It was no big deal today since I had no special running requirement and was going to be at home a little longer to do school drop off.

Smooth feeling run, pace felt good and I did one pick up towards the end. Nice seeing a bunch of familiar faces - Claude W. , Nancy R. , Rachel G. , Kim L. , tattoo Mike, and a bunch of others. Also nice that it is getting light so early although we go back to dark next week.

Headed out as Jenny was coming back from her run. Run to heritage springs, then out to Trinity Blvd and on the grass for a bit there before heading back home. Cool breeze and perfect weather. Listened to music for most of the run.

 After the run I had some time, so in addition to the stretching/hip mobility stuff I did a very mini upper body better than nothing.  Had trouble with overhead presses, I could only do sets of 5 with the 25 lb dumb bells, left shoulder especially felt weak.

Feeling a little bit creaky walking around.

P.M. - Did Jenny's boot camp class.  I didn't go on Monday but Claude did and he said it was just him and 16 women, something about a 16:1 ratio, lol.   Tonight I was the only guy.   Lots of new faces, a few people from the running group.  I partnered up with Shelley for the circuits.

Felt much stronger after class and less creaky, it's what I needed.

Started out with the big group then fell back for a bit until warmed up. Another Dixie sighting this morning, ran with him for a bit at the start. Ran with Nancy at various times during the run.

Hung out for about 10 minutes after the run but most people left pretty quickly since there was no coffee. Good run overall, nice to see everyone this morning.

Still not quite up yet for a tempo paced run, maybe next week.

Started out at Longleaf at 5:30. Was by myself until I got to Diane's house where she had stuff out for runner's but I was the only customer. Craig, Diane, Rene and I ran into the park together.

I split off to run some off road miles, then headed back. I was a little sluggish at the start of the run and never felt energized, but the weather was perfect, got to run a few miles with friends, and enjoyed some time running off road, so overall it was a pretty good run.

I would have liked to feel a little bit better throughout the run.  Even at the end of the run I did not have that usual faster feeling, but I guess they can't all be like that!

Shorter run for the week. (Felt a little weighted down from too much food last night when out with work, soo glad I did not get a second beer!) Run was kind of tough starting out but helped fix things by the end.

Also, in an attempt to trick myself into feeling light and easy, I wore my green silence shoes which often are good for that, didn't seem to help too much today.

Here is my confession on how much food I ate, which as I was eating it did not seem like that much, but it sure did add up, I can't do this again -

1 20 oz draft beer, some chicken wings (3 or 4), piece of quesadilla, a small plate of nachos, mac 'n cheese topped with short ribs, and for dessert, pecan pie with ice cream.  Fortunately instead of a second beer I had water.  Should not repeat this anytime soon!!

Did two out and backs from the parking area to the pit, plus a little more to get up to 20. Started at 6:00 with Torami W. , Ash, and Bruce.  Starting out, running down Tucker hill, and hopping over the roots in the dark was something I had forgotten how to do.  I was lagging behind and did not went to be too far back in the dark.  I was able to keep up and did not have a problem once I warmed up.

In the dark, I could see enough of the trail to watch my footing but could not see much else.  On the first return trip it had gotten light and I could see all of the details I missed.  I could see how hilly it was, small rollers, one right after the other almost, with a decent sized hill about 140 feet, called "Croom Mountain".  Could see the campsite with about a dozen tents not more than 20 or 30 feet from the trail.

Started the second out and back, with no trouble going down Tucker hill this time. I was hoping over roots, and "slaloming" from left to right on the steeper sections.  Improved pace a little bit but did not went to be on my own yet.  The approximate turn around point was a place called "the pit" for short, about 4.5 miles from the parking lot.  The longer name is "Bundy's pit" - maybe that's why I kind of had a feeling of the creeps and not wanting to run alone in the dark.

Went out a little bit farther on the second trip so that the total would be near 20.  Ran into a few other runners who were doing the loop course that the race will use on 4/7.  The race will follow the direction that we were on for the return trip.  Between today's run and the Croom Zoom race I did, I've covered about 80% of the Fools Run race course, so it should be mostly familiar by race day.  It will definitely be familiar by the third loop on race day!!

Good run until about mile 16 when the top of my left foot started to hurt, I think laces were too tight. At the point where my foot pain started I was just starting to pick up the pace and get into a groove.   Able to adjust and finish the run - after stopping twice and retying my shoe.

It somehow didn't feel like I ran 20 miles, I'm not sure why.  But, I am glad I was able to get in a 20 mile run, hopefully get a 20+ run next week running close to home, on a road/trail mix

Nice run with Striders. Ran with Kim L. for first mile or so. Sped up a bit in second half but stayed comfortable. Foot was one notch better today. Re-laced shoes using Lydiard method as suggested by Sean K. - I think it helped.

5:30 meet up at Longleaf with Eudair, tatoo Mike, Bob, and Andrea, ran to Diane's house for refreshments and picked up Diane, Craig, and Renee.

Into the park for a bit more then return trip with Eudair.

Stopped to look up at a very large owl in a tree surrounded by three crows with the owl hooting very loudly at the crows and the crows cawing back, not sure what was going on.

My foot held up pretty well and the weather was cooperative.  I was ready to cut the run short if I had to but fortunately I started out the run with no foot pain, had a little bit of pain from miles 2-4 then it felt better for the rest of the run.  Felt good after the run, too.  Decisions, decisions, sometimes not sure whether to completely rest or just ease back a bit, easing back a bit has worked so far this time.

I had planned on doing some off road miles once we got into the park, but was pretty nice just to stay on the level surface of the bike path and also got to say hi to a bunch more people.

Next Saturday, just a shorter run, probably mostly off road and then the big race one week after that, back to Croom for 50 miles.  The dark miles starting out will be challenging and then once the sun comes up I hope the heat will hold off as long as possible

I felt good this morning and didn't do my usual slow start, but an 8:20 pace. Lead pack went by me sometime in the second mile. Stayed steady with a gradual pickup and fast last mile. Enjoyed the extra cool weather. Did a few weights afterward. No foot pain at all this morning!!

So, that was a big relief.  I'm not sure what made it go away, maybe the mid afternoon jog to and from Tire Kingdom, or maybe that I finally started to ice the sore spot instead of just worrying about it, or maybe both

Ran with Striders at Longleaf. Felt sluggish starting out, then got a second wind after the bridge. Ran with Eudair and chased Michelle's blinking red light on the return trip. Nice seeing Mike S. , Rachel G. , Rebecca D. , Kim L. and everyone.

When I started out I felt really sluggish, so I tried to keep an eye on my form and not get too sloppy.  Glad I was able to get through the run and ending on a high note.