Fartlek

So I read about how these fartlek's can help you to run faster.  I decided to give it a try because #1 I really want to be able to write "fartlek" a lot in my blog and #2 I seem to have peeked in terms of speed - at a very slow pace.  It's beautiful out, and Sunday, so I went to the Charles to run.  I did the 3 mile plus a little bit route that's between Longfellow and Mass Ave bridges, and lets you run through the Hatchshell area on the Boston side.  There was a walk for Alzhimers today, lots of slow people walking, and I got caught in traffic at one point and had to walk up the connector to the Mass Ave Bridge.  Semi-legit walking, and I did stop my watch.

I did my first fartlek on the Longfellow, I felt pretty good running faster at first, but then really tired and glad to slow down.  The second one I did on the Boston side of the river by community sailing.  This one was shorter than the first.  Then I did a couple more between light poles on the Boston side.  By the time it was time to cross I was beat, and my right knee hurt.  I decided that was good enough for the first day of fartleks, and just tried to run the rest of the way back.  I really wanted to stop at 26 minutes, but decided to push it to 30.  Then I was almost at a bridge and so I pushed it a tiny bit more.  But then I really needed to walk.  I went about 31 1/2 minutes and ran about 3 miles, which is my usual speed, but I was definitely going faster for my bursts.  We'll see if it makes any difference - I'm going to try to incorporate them into my runs in the future.

My right knee is sore, I had to sit and ice it :(

One Hour (and one second)!

I ran a full hour today!  I can't even believe it.  Go me!  I decided to try the unpaved trail in Bedford, at the end of the Minuteman Bike Path.  (First I stopped at Athleta in the mall and got a totally cute overpriced top and a wrist thing to put my key in when I have no pockets - also cute and overpriced.)  It took me a little while to find the path - I knew where the end of the bike path was, but then it's like a half mile to the trail head.  So, of course I got in my car and drove to it, kind of silly, but that would have added a mile to the run, and on a not too nice road.  Anyhow, the path was totally awesome!!  It was a very packed dirt path, and totally flat.  Not very many people on it, nice scenery, good foliage, and the weather was even perfect.  Cool and a little breeze, but sunny.

I didn't run that fast at all, I think like an 11 minute mile, though I'm not exactly sure how far I ran - I think about 5 1/2 miles.  I finished the run, got out of the woods, and it had been 56 minutes.  I was totally ready to call it quits, even walked in a circle to start cooling down, but then I was like "four minutes, you can do it!"  I think the last 4 minutes were the slowest.  I ran up the road a little, and then back, and then in a couple circles in the parking lot.  My heart wasn't totally in it at the end, prob slowed down my run average.  But a cool down is good at the end.

I stopped running a couple times during the hour (stopped my watch during them).  I crossed two streets where I had to wait for traffic, and one place I couldn't find the path and had to ask these guys.  But I consider that legit.

I was totally starving when I finished, and of course I have no food.  I was going to go to the Bedford Market Basket because it's so much bigger than the Somerville one, but I couldn't even find parking there.  And, I was pretty disgusting looking. Why is it that I'm always the sweatiest on my boobs?  Grose.  Anyhow, I finally went to Wholefoods and got sushi.  And I held my shopping basket in front of my chest, which must have looked funny, but better than boob sweat.

Boston Common Take 2

I was going to run on the Charles after work because it was so beautiful out - perfect Charles River running weather.  But, there was so much traffic on Mass Ave I couldn't even turn on it, so I decided to try the Common.  I had amazing parking karma, per usual, and it was once again really cool running there.  Of course, I forgot when I parked that the Common is on Beacon Hill, the operant part of that being "hill" and since it's only about a mile and a half around I had to run up the hill twice, which sucked.  I thought about going around the hill the second time, but then pushed myself to do it, and was glad that I had.  It's a little hard to map the trails in the Common because for some reason it thinks some of the paths are one way.  Anyhow, I ran about 2.9 miles in 31 min and 10 sec, which is a little slow - about a 10 min 45 sec mile.  It felt pretty slow when I was running, so that could be right.  Or maybe I ran a tiny bit more...

They are putting up a stage on the Common for Sat - the Boston Ballet is performing for free Sat night.  Of course I'm going, and dragging my sister there.   I just found out about it because I saw banners last time I went.  Prob need to get there early, it looks like a kind of small space.

Boston Common

Decided to try running on the Common today. It was Awesome! So much to see.  I saw a fight brewing complete with cursing and a rather androgynous person grabbing their - well, not sure what they had there, but it was a pretty lude gesture. I saw some Tibetian looking Holy Women in brown robes and shaved heads giggling and having a great time. There were picnics, friends catching up, people reading, angry looking homeless people, and people out with their kids. Ducks, swans, squirrels, and no rats! Very entertaining.  Sadly, I got these horrible cramps at about minute 15 and only ran for 16 min. And I even had a break during a light! I blame the 98% humidity, I don't run we'll in it. For sure I'll have to try again on a more reasonable weather day.

Middlesex Fells

First, exciting news, I have an actual reader!  Hi Kit!!

I decided today to try real trail running and go to the Middlesex Fells to do the Reservoir loop.  It's 5 miles, so I thought it would be a good Sunday Long Run.  Well, not a total success but not a total fail.  I learned that small trails have a lot of big rocks on them and are therefore difficult to run, especially if they go up and down hills.  Which the ones in the Fells do.  I also remembered that I always get lost in the Fells and then wind up in that area with the naked men sunbathing, or coming across a man with his pants around his ankles, smoking a cigarette.  Today I got lost and just came across nice people who gave me directions.  I'm not completely sure where I ran, or how far.  I do know that I ran for about 40 minutes, but I had to walk up a couple hills that were just too steep, and that there were a few times when I gave up on the running due to many rocks.  Still, over 30 min of running, and it was really nice when I was on the bike trail.  It was def slower than road running, but we have already established that I won't be doing Boston Marathon at any time soon, so that's OK.

I think there's a trail at the end of the bike path in Bedford, so I may try that next time - it's 5K each way.

Davis Square

I hadn't run for a while (weekend migraine, totally sucked.) so I decided to try to go a little further.  It's prefect running weather, everyone on the planet was out running by the Charles.  I wished I had brought my shoes so I could run there too.  Instead I ran my usual route with an added loop to Davis Square.  It was about 3.94 miles, and I totally walked up the hill on Sycamore St.  I couldn't find my watch with the timer and didn't want to use that as an excuse, so I didn't time it.  I looked at the clock when I left, and when I returned, and it was about 45 min, which is my usual pace.

If I had run at the Charles I'm sure I would have passed someone.  As it was, a few people passed me, one wearing the exact same shoes as me.  She had a kind of funny stride, but she flew past me like I was standing still.  Apparently stride isn't everything.

All and all, a good run.  It felt like I could keep going, though of course I was happy to stop for traffic lights.  If I'm not going to get faster, then I should go for longer.