This is my fifth run for the month, so I feel a little less lame about my running. I decided that it was time to start thinking about training for the Tufts 10K. I got a training program online that has you running three times a week, a long run on the weekend, speed work on Wed (but only 2 miles of it) and then a shorter run on Monday. I was reading that you should increase gradually, and it's OK to walk, but that seemed radical. So, today was the shorter run, which I thought was just 2 miles at first, but then turned out to be 2.5, which isn't really that much shorter than 3.
I had everything mapped out, but then it was rainy, and my calf hurt. So, I walked for about a quarter of a mile, and then took a "short cut" back. Only, the short cut turned out to be pretty much 2.5 miles, minus the quarter mile I walked. So, not shorter and my calf is sore. I foam rolled. I don't know if that works on calfs? Anyhow, it was a slow run (blaming the calf) 26 min 58 sec, and I stopped my watch once I realized that I was walking for a little bit.
Yesterday I actually went to the gym and lifted! It still sucked. The gym hasn't really changed much since the last time I was there. The 10K training has you lift 2x a week, which I feel like I should be able to do, and would be good for me.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Saturday, July 26, 2014
AT
Last weekend I went backpacking - I did three 4000 footers, Mt. Tom, Mt. Field and Mt. Willey. The hike wound up on the AT, and then we camped at an AT shelter area at Ethan Pond Campsite. The hike was about 2 miles more of the AT, plus I got to check off sleeping at an AT campground on my bucket list. We met a few through hikers, one woman said she didn't start hiking until she was 50, and now she's through hiking!
After eating, the other woman in the group that I was hiking with (it was a Meetup group) and I went to rinse off at the pond. We took off our shirts because, let's face it, if you don't, you're still gross after rinsing off. But we were wearing sports bra's. Well, these four really hot young guys came along like 2 minutes later, and the looks on their faces were priceless! They were like "half naked women! I love this campground!!" (Sports bras). I'm pretty sure I'm old enough to be their mothers, so I was actually pretty psyched with their reaction. I mean, they could have been like "aaah, my eyes!"
Anyhow, my pack was 26 pounds with the water in it, and my legs, especially my thighs, were killing my this week!! They started feeling better around Thursday. So, I didn't run all week, and of course I didn't run over the weekend, but the 11+ mile hike over the big mountains with the 26 lb pack counts in my opinion.
Today I had to go for a run! It's really hot out, but I'm going to see Shakespeare in the park tonight when it will be cooler, so I decided to suck it up and go outside. I did the little run by my house, 5K in 32 min and 23 sec, which is about a 10.5 min mile. I have to confess, though, I walked up my hill. I was just done. I took my pulse when I got inside and it was about 190, which confirmed that walking up the hill was a good idea.
I'm considering this the first run of my official training. More on that later….
After eating, the other woman in the group that I was hiking with (it was a Meetup group) and I went to rinse off at the pond. We took off our shirts because, let's face it, if you don't, you're still gross after rinsing off. But we were wearing sports bra's. Well, these four really hot young guys came along like 2 minutes later, and the looks on their faces were priceless! They were like "half naked women! I love this campground!!" (Sports bras). I'm pretty sure I'm old enough to be their mothers, so I was actually pretty psyched with their reaction. I mean, they could have been like "aaah, my eyes!"
Anyhow, my pack was 26 pounds with the water in it, and my legs, especially my thighs, were killing my this week!! They started feeling better around Thursday. So, I didn't run all week, and of course I didn't run over the weekend, but the 11+ mile hike over the big mountains with the 26 lb pack counts in my opinion.
Today I had to go for a run! It's really hot out, but I'm going to see Shakespeare in the park tonight when it will be cooler, so I decided to suck it up and go outside. I did the little run by my house, 5K in 32 min and 23 sec, which is about a 10.5 min mile. I have to confess, though, I walked up my hill. I was just done. I took my pulse when I got inside and it was about 190, which confirmed that walking up the hill was a good idea.
I'm considering this the first run of my official training. More on that later….
Thursday, July 17, 2014
July is hot
I gotta say I'm a little lame this month. It's July 17, and this was my third run only. In my defense, I went climbing both Sat and Sun last weekend, Saturday outside and Sunday inside. And, Saturday I also paddle boarded for 45 min (and drove for 4 hours to get to the cliff and back) and Sunday I also did yoga and walked a mile.
Anyhow, enough of the excuses section of the blog. It was a beautiful day out today, so I went to the free parking part of the Charles. I managed to get into the very first parking lot without anyone killing me (I don't know why everyone is in such a hurry to merge over there, but it's nuts!). I did what's now become my usual route, up the Boston side, across the Western Ave Bridge, and back on the Cambridge side. I wound up doing a total of 3.19 miles in 33.19 minutes, which is a 10 min 26 sec mile. I was actually feeling pretty good for most of the run, I thought I was going faster than that, so I was a little sad to find out it was just my regular pace. Well, I haven't been running as much lately, and so I think I got a little tired at the end - so maybe I was moving faster for part of the run, then slower for part.
I did get stopped at the light crossing one of the bridges (which of course I enjoyed). There was a bicycle cop with a Special Operations shirt on. I mean, what kind of special ops guys are on bikes??
Anyhow, enough of the excuses section of the blog. It was a beautiful day out today, so I went to the free parking part of the Charles. I managed to get into the very first parking lot without anyone killing me (I don't know why everyone is in such a hurry to merge over there, but it's nuts!). I did what's now become my usual route, up the Boston side, across the Western Ave Bridge, and back on the Cambridge side. I wound up doing a total of 3.19 miles in 33.19 minutes, which is a 10 min 26 sec mile. I was actually feeling pretty good for most of the run, I thought I was going faster than that, so I was a little sad to find out it was just my regular pace. Well, I haven't been running as much lately, and so I think I got a little tired at the end - so maybe I was moving faster for part of the run, then slower for part.
I did get stopped at the light crossing one of the bridges (which of course I enjoyed). There was a bicycle cop with a Special Operations shirt on. I mean, what kind of special ops guys are on bikes??
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Oh, Fartliks
I decided to try to do some more fartliks to find my pace, as it were. It may not have been a total success. Shocking. But I'm gonna try to keep working at it.
I went to a new part of the Charles River, just for a change of pace. It wasn't as nice as I had hoped it would be, there wasn't a path next to the water so I was running on a bike path next to traffic. Many more things were whizzing by me than usual. Also, it was 80 degrees, and a little humid. I did about 5 minutes warm up and then tried running what I think should be my pace for about a minute. I definitely don't have the cardio ability for it! Then I ran my usual pace. Then I walked for about 30 sec. Then I decided the way I was going just wasn't that great and I should turn around and try a different direction. That's when I notice that I had just run uphill, which made me feel a little better. I did a couple more fartliks in a more downhill area. Sometimes I enjoy pockets of gravity.
After my three fartliks I was tired and wanted to turn in and go home, but it was only 13 min, so I ran for another 12 minutes at my regular pace. And that was that. It's a little hard to know distance and time because I walked some and because I turned around right between the liqueur store and Staples, which shockingly isn't noted on the map.
I went to a new part of the Charles River, just for a change of pace. It wasn't as nice as I had hoped it would be, there wasn't a path next to the water so I was running on a bike path next to traffic. Many more things were whizzing by me than usual. Also, it was 80 degrees, and a little humid. I did about 5 minutes warm up and then tried running what I think should be my pace for about a minute. I definitely don't have the cardio ability for it! Then I ran my usual pace. Then I walked for about 30 sec. Then I decided the way I was going just wasn't that great and I should turn around and try a different direction. That's when I notice that I had just run uphill, which made me feel a little better. I did a couple more fartliks in a more downhill area. Sometimes I enjoy pockets of gravity.
After my three fartliks I was tired and wanted to turn in and go home, but it was only 13 min, so I ran for another 12 minutes at my regular pace. And that was that. It's a little hard to know distance and time because I walked some and because I turned around right between the liqueur store and Staples, which shockingly isn't noted on the map.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
I'm back!
Hiking in Yosemite was amazing, and the conference that followed was really good. We did some pretty intense hikes, one up to the top of Yosemite falls, which is the highest waterfall in the US, and one 8.5 mile hike down the Panorama Trail, which had awesome views. I walked a lot in San Francisco, one day to the pier because Hillary Clinton was there signing books and I wanted to get one (you had to have a ticket, so I didn't get her signature, but I did see her. She signs things well.)
July 4 fireworks were on the 3rd this year due to weather. My friend from Mexico and her daughter were here, and still are. They are such shoppers, I left them at the mall today, and went for a run while they were shopping. It's finally beautiful out, and I can't stand to be inside after all the storms.
I was a little nervous I wouldn't be able to run after so long away from it. It was a slow run today, though partly due to cramps. I actually had to stop and walk for about 5 min, they were that bad. Anyhow, I went from the mall, up the Charles, across the Mass Ave Bridge, along the esplanade, over the Museum of Science Bridge and back. Subtracting what I walked, it was about 4.1 miles in 45 min 44 sec, which is an 11 min 9 sec mile. Slow, but a long run for me, and a return to running, so it's ok.
There were so many people out on the Esplanade, and all the 4th stuff was still around. Perfect day for a run!
July 4 fireworks were on the 3rd this year due to weather. My friend from Mexico and her daughter were here, and still are. They are such shoppers, I left them at the mall today, and went for a run while they were shopping. It's finally beautiful out, and I can't stand to be inside after all the storms.
I was a little nervous I wouldn't be able to run after so long away from it. It was a slow run today, though partly due to cramps. I actually had to stop and walk for about 5 min, they were that bad. Anyhow, I went from the mall, up the Charles, across the Mass Ave Bridge, along the esplanade, over the Museum of Science Bridge and back. Subtracting what I walked, it was about 4.1 miles in 45 min 44 sec, which is an 11 min 9 sec mile. Slow, but a long run for me, and a return to running, so it's ok.
There were so many people out on the Esplanade, and all the 4th stuff was still around. Perfect day for a run!
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