#6 miler

[dstprl]

Why I Don't Want To Run Long Distances

Why I Don’t Want To Run Long Distances

I have no desire to run long distances further than 6 or 8 miles.  There I said it.  I might sound like a sourpuss and may not be considered a “true” runner but that’s just how I feel about it.  I love running.  Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t dread it like some folks.  I used to enjoy it more on the treadmill but once I took it outside on a regular basis last year – I have been hooked.

Running…

View On WordPress

[solman]

fate?

I had planned to run 8 miles for my long run this week, but work and life kept getting in the way.  It's Saturday and I had to work, still working actually 17 hours later.  I hate it when projects go bad.  I decided to take a quick brake to write this  :) 

Anyway I got up early to get a run in and got to mile 4 and thought how far do I want to tempt fate.  My wife was at work already and I was home with the kiddos and they seemed to be sleeping in.  But was I tempting fate by continuing to run.  Turns out I wasn't, I made it 6 miles in 58 mins and 15 seconds and decided to jump in the shower before starting work.  The kiddos, well they didn't get up for another hour, so I could have made it the extra 2 miles.  But you know if I would have tried they would have been up.

The run went really well.  I had my usually "moment" in mile 3 but I have come to expect that and the rest of the run was fine.  I was on the treadmill and you know how I feel about that.  

So next week my long run will most definitely be 8 miles.

[solman]

aaaaaaahh! Lightening!

Today I was headed out the door for a nice run in the cool weather when suddenly there was a brilliant flash and a crash of thunder.  Unfortunately that meant that my run had to be indoors on the tread mill again.  Oh well at least I ran!

Although it wasn't what I was hoping for it was still a good run.  I went for 6 miles with a time of 57 minutes and 4 seconds.  Averaging around 6.3 miles per hour.  I am getting faster which is good, so maybe my marathon time won't suck so bad this time.

Anyway other than the lightening and the raging storm outside the run was uneventful.  I watched a replay of the USA vs. Belgium soccer match, which also was uneventful, at least the first half.

So this week is the week I up my long run to 8 miles.  Hopefully that is an uneventful run too.

[solman]

the great outdoors!

So I am really bad at keeping this updated after I run.  This post is actual to record my run from Friday, 9/9.

As I was getting ready to run I noticed it was getting a little cloudy outside.  I checked the weather and we had a storm rolling in.  It looked like it was moving pretty slow on the weather channel and the temperature was so inviting I decided to hit the streets.  About 4 miles in I got a gut ache which really seems to be par for the course but did make it a little difficult to keep going, but I kept going.  It got worse....

As I turned the the next curve I looked at the horizon and realized a haboob (big sand storm) was preceding the storm that I saw on the weather channel.  This was really a blessing though because it brought new motivation.  I realized that I had less time to complete my run before I was engulfed in high winds and plenty of grit followed by raining mud and if was lucky actual rain. 

With this new motivation I made the last two turns and headed for the barn.  I stepped in the front door just as the wind started picking up and the sky went dark with dust. In retrospect it was not too bad of a run after all.  Turns out I was running pretty well; I went 6 miles at about 9 mins and 35 seconds per mile.  My total time was 56 mins and 14 seconds.  Not too shabby.

[solman]

2x6

Based on my schedule for training I will be increasing my weekly long run mileage by 2 miles per week. That way when I get to race time I will have put in the miles and will be ready to run. So I started ramping up the running this week by adding 2 more miles. On Friday I ran 6 miles (on the treadmill YUK) and it was pretty good. I didn't want to over due it so I went at a nice leisurely pace of 6 miles per hour so I was done in 60 minutes. It was a pretty good run and I felt pretty good. Today I followed it up with another 6 miler. Again this run felt pretty good. This time I watched a replay of the Barcelona vs Villareal game. Not a great game but there were some good goals by Barcelona. Soccer always motivates me and makes me run harder. So consequently I ran the first 4 miles at 6 miles per hour and the last 2 at 7 miles per hour, for a total time of 58 minutes flat. I also had some new gear which I had to try out. Interesting that it wicked the sweat away really well but did not evaporate it off, even here in the dessert. Athletics companies might want to rethink that. Nike and Reebok looking at you! So there you have it. I still have a long way to go but I feel like I am on the right track.

[solman]

Couple updates

So on Tuesday (5/31) I went for a run with a great friend.  She had a rough day and it seemed to affect her run and in turn my run.  But that was ok.  At least we were out and exercising.  We went about 5 miles and it took about an hour and 10 minutes. I had a great time and did work up a bit of a sweat.

Wednesday (6/1) I didn't run but I did play soccer which always burns a bunch of calories and is running without thinking about running.  The other thing that I did was sign up for some motivation, I registered for the local 2012 marathon.  So now I have more of a reason to get out and run.  Hopefully I don't vaporize in the heat.

Lastly today I decided to go for a much needed run after work.  Too bad the end of the work day is the hottest time in the desert, but I guess I better rebuild my tolerance if I am going to train through the summer.  Anyway it was a quick run of 6 miles and took 53 mins and 20 seconds.  I was doing really well until miles 5 and 6.  Then I really felt how lazy I have been for the last couple of months.  Although I have not gained back my pre-1st-marathon weight [or gut] I am still not in the same shape I was in last January.  Oh well just a reminder of how quickly fitness fades and how much hard work is ahead.  I will have to get on it now if I am going to run the marathon again in January.  

[solman]

6 Miles - 58 mins, 57 secs

So the wind is blowing again.  I decided it would be best to run indoors again since my allergies hate the wind.   Or rather what the wind brings with it as it moves across the desert.  Anyway I found a good distraction today that made it easier to run, watching soccer!  It takes my mind off the run and encourages me to run harder and longer.  

It was a treadmill run but over all it was pretty good.  I had a couple of spots during miles 3 and 5 that got a little rough but I was able to power through and wrapped up the 6 miles.  

Now for some party fun!

[solman]

Treadmill HO!

Although I will always prefer to run outside, it seems like a better idea to run on the treadmill when it is 93F outside during the day and when it does cool down it is actually dark out.  My schedule these days is not really making it easy to run before the sun goes down either.  So I hit the treadmill.  An hour later and after watching half of the Portugal vs. Chile soccer match replay I found that I had run 6 miles.  It was a pretty good run at a nice steady pace [as only a treadmill can provide].  

It is really amazing how my body feels on the days that I exercise vs. the days that I do not.  I am also amazed that my heart rate is so low these days when I am running.  The active rate is only 20 -30 beats higher per minute than my resting rate.  I tested it on the treadmill today which has a monitor [obviously]. I was expecting my active rate to be nearly double.  

Anyway I am thinking I need to hit the streets tomorrow night.  So we will see how far I get when I have to pace myself.