Dora the Explorer wearing a backpack made of lead.

....is exactly how I felt for this afternoon's run.

After a long workday Friday, and working again this morning, I was really itching to get some miles in. My last run was some speed work at a local track, and aside from an increased heart rate for awhile, I felt really good. Two days off from running later, I was excited to get outside for 10 miles. I had a goal. I wanted to try to do it in an hour 30.

Well, things didn't go as planned. First, I got lost trying to get to Bethpage. What the hell? I must have been daydreaming, or really tired, and took a wrong turn, ending up god knows where.  I remembered I had my cell phone and WAZE installed, so after 15 minutes of following directions, I finally got to where I needed to be. 

 I parked, and decided to explore the north trail this time. There were so many people out today, it was fun and frenetic at the same time. The scenery was different. I think there were a lot more hills, although it could have just seemed that way.

Now I know I said it was 'fun' - but I'd like to know who put that lead backpack on me and filled my calves with concrete?  

Thankyouverymuch. Not.

What a bitch of a time I had. Although my cadence was 90 most of the time, my hips did not want anything to do with running this afternoon. I silently pleaded, yelled, bribed, humored, cajoled - my body was not getting out of it's own way.

Could the error have been that I only had a cup of coffee and a buttered bagel before work, and then some toast with peanut butter before I left for the run? Possibly. By mile 2.5 my stomach was growling from hunger. Right before mile 3 I stopped for some water. I was ok after that. 
There were plenty of declinations where I was able to relax and pick up my pace a little bit, but then as soon as I got back on level ground, I could not find my lean. My calves felt so tight, especially right above the Achilles. My heart rate stayed easily below 170, because I could not accelerate. At all.

And WHAT is with the wind these days? Let it stay over the water so the sailboats can have a good time.

I know 10 miles in 90 minutes is within my reach right now. But today was not the day. I'm a little deflated, but I remember a lousy run I had just last week, and then I pulled a great run out of myself right after that. 

Could I have knocked myself for a loop because of those 2 speedy days back to back? I don't recall stretching afterwards. Nor did I cross train this week. What about running later in the afternoon, right after work? If the answer isn't obvious, I doubt that I should be spinning my wheels about it. Too many variables.
Run and Learn!

I don't think I'll do the north trail again, unless I'm looking to add miles after my southern run. There were too many traffic-busy roads to cross to stay on the trail. At least going south, most of the crossings are entries onto/off the highways. (To be fair, it was also a different time of the day that I was running, on the first glorious day since the start of Spring, and on a holiday weekend, as well) 

I did spend about 10 minutes stretching after this afternoon's run. My calves thanked me. I needed to do that for the 30 minute ride home. 

No gentleman stalker today. I think I miss him. Just a little.

Sorry to the people standing in line at Chipotle. I did not mean to infuse B.O. into the delightful burrito-aromatic atmosphere.

Some good news is that I don't have to work a Saturday again until the end of June. Switching with people and having to work 3 cold Saturdays in February will pay off handsomely now.

Sorry, no pictures, even though the sky was blue with plenty of autumn-like clouds and strong, warm winds. 60 degrees was the temp du jour. If I were Klingon, I'd have to agree:

It was the perfect day to go down in flames.

Runmeter Data

Magellan Data

My First Attempt at Speed Work

Interesting.
Running around a track, 400m.
McMillan says I should be able to do it between 1:52-2:00.
OMG - how does he KNOW that?
I would start out like a shot (and I don't think I should be doing it that way) then tucker out half way round. By the 3rd or fourth time, with ample rest between each 400m run, (and crazy ass winds again, btw.. what's up with that? ) I was making it all the way around without stopping, just slowing down a bit at the end. 
And I was coming in between 1:52 and 1:56! (the greater than 2:00's I was having a problem telling Runmeter to stop at the end) Holy crap! I love speedwork! And I really love the fact that they know what I can do!

I think I'm definitely going to invest in their 1/2 marathon training plan.
Meanwhile, I can't wait to get out there again, without all the wind slowing me down around the last turn.

I did over 3 miles of speed and easy pace. This is just some of the stuff I tried to save. Otherwise, the rest was lost in the ether.

Magellan just kinda threw up all over my wrist. He had no idea what I was doing. It kept pausing while I was walking a few times, and - oh, the results were a mess.

(The) Joy of Man's Desiring..

The uncertainty of recent weather conditions puts me a bit on edge.
I usually run 3-4 times a week. I prefer to run in the morning.  In comfortable temperatures. Without precipitation.  Now, I work anywhere from 7-10 in the morning until 5 pm, depending on the day of the week and my patient load. Thank goodness business is picking up. That means, hopefully, I remain employed. (Medicare cuts have made my position tenuous, at best) That also means less time in the morning to run.

This morning, my usual run day, temps soared into the high 30's. I needed to get out there TODAY. But, as it would be, I stayed in bed a little later this morning. I usually wake up to WQXR, a NYC classical station. Currently, they are honoring J.S. Bach. I found that this particular morning, I needed the extra time in bed to revel in some cantatas, minuets and such. 
My first appointment, however, was at 9:00am - about a 15 minute drive away. I was also supposed to be someplace at 11:00am to deliver a short presentation in a Senior Center to extol the virtues of proper posture. (Point: I REALLY had to shower today.) 
I think the expedient nature of all this is what provided an unusual yet surprisingly amazing run for me this morning. 
Yes, with the impending fear that I would not make my first appointment on time, nor wash my stinky self   -  I ran my ass off.

It was at my 5k race pace.

Once on the road, I decided that I needed to take advantage of this higher level of anxiety and 'run with it', so to speak. Usually, I dislike having to cram a run in because of time limitations. That's why I love my weekend runs so much. I can go long all afternoon if I want.
But today, not knowing what the weather for my next run day would be, I knew I had to get out there, despite my tight schedule - and my love of Bach.

Everything seemed to fall into place - my new breathing rhythm, my foot strike - and even though I took a short walk break, I found that I was able to maintain a decent pace while 'resting' in between the: "OMG; I have to hurry up and finish this 5k" pace.

I did not reach nirvana afterwards. Nope, no runners high for me today. But I did feel my heart rate was increased for most of the morning. It's only now, blogging this, that I sense things are back to normal.

I was surprised by the results, including some of the desirous sub 8:00 pace times that Runmeter claims I hit. But I hadn't thought too much about it until my DailyMile buddies and virtual blogger friends commented on how fast I had run. 

And it's an even greater experience that people you just (kinda) met through the internet and through this great sport of running, actually know how you run and when you do something wondrous. 
And that, in itself is a beautiful, joyful thing.

Silly, silly Magellan. I did not run nor swim there.

Runmeter Data

Magellan Data

Recovery Run? I think not.

Good morning, Mini Cow Harbor.

The winds being 20 miles an hour less this morning, I decided to take a trial run of a race coming up in a few weeks. It's to help support the family of a young boy battling neuroblastoma. He is the nephew of my hairdresser. 

The run is tough. I planned it so that it would be a recovery run from the Wizard of Oz run I battled yesterday. I knew about the elevation before going in to it. 

I thought, "Ok, take it slow, forget about pace, just tackle it. Remember, it's a RECOVERY run".

Come ON.

My legs just really have a mind of their own. It felt like the time flew a lot faster than I expected it to. I thought as a recovery run, it would have taken me about 40 minutes with the hills and walking. I walked 2 times. I saw two other runners who waved and smiled. I practiced my breathing. My kick. My posture going up hill, my posture and arm swing going downhill. I listened to music for the first time since January 20th. (Did I mention that I have stopped listening to music on my runs?)

I followed the route posted by the organizers of the run. Runmeter had it right, but the Magellan wanted me to go another quarter mile.

Meh. I'm so disillusioned with the electronics.

I wore the new shoes again. Brooks Ravenna 4. They claim they are somewhere between a neutral and support shoe. I normally wear a neutral shoe - but I read advertising somewhere, I don't remember - that said this shoe would be more responsive for promoting a forefoot strike and preventing arch pain. (I've been having problems with my plantar fascia)  It also has an adjustable 'band' (re: gadget?) that adds additional support to the instep. When adjusting it, it feels like it helps prevent your foot from sloshing around laterally inside the shoe.

The first time I wore them, I had pain (soreness, actually) under the ball of my foot, bilaterally. Today, after adjusting them and attempting hill and dale, there is no soreness. I also wore my compression capris again, so the two new arsenals for my '13 training seem to have made friends with each other.

 I think these shoes are keepers. So now, I need to find another pair so I can rotate like everyone else does. Do I get a different type of shoe altogether, or another pair of Glycerins?

I guess I'll have to do some more research. I'm thinking I'd like to try a lighter shoe, now that I have a year of running behind me. 

Ok. I think that's all I want to say for now. I'm still considering this technical run, I haven't registered for it yet. I'll probably try it one more time before I decide.

I was supposed to run the Bethpage Restoration run, but it was switched to a day I am working. If I decide to do this Mini Cow Harbor, it will be in 2 weeks.

Magellan Data

Runmeter Data