Distance: 2 miles
Time: 17:20
Location: Powhatan to Ottawa Route
As I mentioned in my last post, Deborah and I will be moving into a new home soon. Therefore, all the local routes I've been running this past year will soon be used no more. Yesterday I ran my last mile on the Powhatan Route, and tonight I ran my last 2-mile on the Powhatan to Ottawa Route. One by one I plan on getting my last runs in on each of my routes this week. The good news is that the house we're moving into sits in a much more runner-friendly area of town. There are running trails along the major streets and it's near the Mojave River, which will be a fun natural trail.
Unlike the PR I set yesterday, though, I was not able to set a 2-mile record. I ended up with a 17:20, the same time I ran on May 16th. Since then I had run this route in times of 16:38 and 16:29, so I know I can do much better. But my problem tonight was leg pain. As soon as I began running I felt a soreness and tightness in my legs all over, from my shins around to my calves, up and down. It caused me to run stiff and it was hard to build a fluid stride. I pushed through, though, and I finally began to loosen up during the 2nd mile. However the whole run suffered because of my compromised legs. Running that mile yesterday may have contributed. I wasn't used to running on my toes and using muscles for sprinting and I think I was just sore and achy from that today. I may take tomorrow off in order to let my legs heal. All things considered, though, I guess 17:20 isn't bad (for me at this point in my training) when I was hurting like that. There once was a time when I would have run that run in over 20 minutes because of muscle pain like that. So I've come far since last year.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Relearning Speed
Distance: 1 mile
Time: 7:50
Location: Powhatan Out-and-Back
*Note - This run occurred Monday, June 27th.
I took the weekend off, for good reason. Saturday we attended my cousin's graduation party and Sunday my grandma's birthday party. On top of all this, we got the keys to our new house on Friday and had to start planning for our move-in. We need to be out of our rental home by Saturday, so it is going to be a hectic and non-stop week. I think my biggest challenge is going to be finding the time and drive to keep running during this madness. And Monday got off to a crazy start. We had to meet a painter and a floor guy and make several trips to Lowe's to buy tools and materials. It's all very exciting, despite the frenzy of it all.
Finally, evening came and I found time to get a quick mile in. I hadn't run just a single mile in quite some time. In fact, the last time was May 27th, exactly 1 month ago! On that day I ran my standard Powhatan Route in 7:55. I was curious, after a month of 3 mile runs, what my mile time tonight would be. What I noticed as soon as I started running was how different it felt to run "fast." Different muscles are used and even the way one gets tired is different. Running fast the fatigue sets in like a psychological dread rather than a physiological exhaustion that sets in during a distance run. I knew that my body wasn't going to be able to keep up the fast pace, so I had to fight the urge to slow down. I was running on my toes, which I hadn't done in a while, and my legs were not handling it well. My breathing also was a struggle. All around I didn't feel it was a good performance. However, when I finished I glanced at my watch and saw a 7:50! I actually ran a faster mile than I'd run all year! In fact, my time tonight of 7:50 ties my 2010 PR which I ran on August 13th last year. The mile has been my trickiest distance so far. It's been hard to make large strides in it. Just getting under 8:00 has been good for me lately. But tonight's run, with its sore legs and heavy breathing, I think proved that I'm gaining ground. Once I feel better, I'm sure I can finally start chipping away at my mile time in a significant way.
Time: 7:50
Location: Powhatan Out-and-Back
*Note - This run occurred Monday, June 27th.
I took the weekend off, for good reason. Saturday we attended my cousin's graduation party and Sunday my grandma's birthday party. On top of all this, we got the keys to our new house on Friday and had to start planning for our move-in. We need to be out of our rental home by Saturday, so it is going to be a hectic and non-stop week. I think my biggest challenge is going to be finding the time and drive to keep running during this madness. And Monday got off to a crazy start. We had to meet a painter and a floor guy and make several trips to Lowe's to buy tools and materials. It's all very exciting, despite the frenzy of it all.
Finally, evening came and I found time to get a quick mile in. I hadn't run just a single mile in quite some time. In fact, the last time was May 27th, exactly 1 month ago! On that day I ran my standard Powhatan Route in 7:55. I was curious, after a month of 3 mile runs, what my mile time tonight would be. What I noticed as soon as I started running was how different it felt to run "fast." Different muscles are used and even the way one gets tired is different. Running fast the fatigue sets in like a psychological dread rather than a physiological exhaustion that sets in during a distance run. I knew that my body wasn't going to be able to keep up the fast pace, so I had to fight the urge to slow down. I was running on my toes, which I hadn't done in a while, and my legs were not handling it well. My breathing also was a struggle. All around I didn't feel it was a good performance. However, when I finished I glanced at my watch and saw a 7:50! I actually ran a faster mile than I'd run all year! In fact, my time tonight of 7:50 ties my 2010 PR which I ran on August 13th last year. The mile has been my trickiest distance so far. It's been hard to make large strides in it. Just getting under 8:00 has been good for me lately. But tonight's run, with its sore legs and heavy breathing, I think proved that I'm gaining ground. Once I feel better, I'm sure I can finally start chipping away at my mile time in a significant way.
Bats!
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 27:56
Location: Powhatan-Mesquite-Nisqually-Joshua Loop
*Note - This run occurred Friday, June 24th.
After an amazing run at the beach on Tuesday, the rest of the trip down at Newport Beach was spent pretty much relaxing. We returned home on Thursday and by Friday I knew it was time to get running again. My feet still felt a little achy after running barefoot on the hard, wet sand, but it wasn't so bad that it kept me in. In fact, much to my delight, my wife came along with me! She didn't run, though. She opted to ride her bike alongside me. It was great having her out there with me. She rode ahead most of the way and acted almost like a pacer. I decided to run the same 3-mile route I ran back on June 1st, which was my first 3 miler of the season. Then I clocked in a measly 28:09, and today I did only slightly better with a 27:56. I'm not sure what caused my setback in time, since less than a week earlier I had run a 27:06. It could have been having my wife there and feeling more "relaxed," talking and enjoying my time outside. I never really felt exhausted the same way I did the previous week when I was running in the low 27s. All the same it was a good run. And to cap it all off, on the last mile as we headed west on Powhatan Road, we were met with a group of bats, darting to and fro all around us! My wife at first thought a dragonfly had flown by her head, but I informed her it was actually a bat after seeing them fly above us (she was not too happy about that). It was getting dark on a warm night, so conditions were perfect for them to be out and getting their evening meal. It was a cool experience.
Time: 27:56
Location: Powhatan-Mesquite-Nisqually-Joshua Loop
*Note - This run occurred Friday, June 24th.
After an amazing run at the beach on Tuesday, the rest of the trip down at Newport Beach was spent pretty much relaxing. We returned home on Thursday and by Friday I knew it was time to get running again. My feet still felt a little achy after running barefoot on the hard, wet sand, but it wasn't so bad that it kept me in. In fact, much to my delight, my wife came along with me! She didn't run, though. She opted to ride her bike alongside me. It was great having her out there with me. She rode ahead most of the way and acted almost like a pacer. I decided to run the same 3-mile route I ran back on June 1st, which was my first 3 miler of the season. Then I clocked in a measly 28:09, and today I did only slightly better with a 27:56. I'm not sure what caused my setback in time, since less than a week earlier I had run a 27:06. It could have been having my wife there and feeling more "relaxed," talking and enjoying my time outside. I never really felt exhausted the same way I did the previous week when I was running in the low 27s. All the same it was a good run. And to cap it all off, on the last mile as we headed west on Powhatan Road, we were met with a group of bats, darting to and fro all around us! My wife at first thought a dragonfly had flown by her head, but I informed her it was actually a bat after seeing them fly above us (she was not too happy about that). It was getting dark on a warm night, so conditions were perfect for them to be out and getting their evening meal. It was a cool experience.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Dream Run
Distance: 4 miles
Time: ?
Location: Newport Beach
*Note - This run occurred Tuesday, June 21st.
This was my most enjoyable run yet. The surroundings had me completely mesmerized for the whole run. From Sunday to Thursday of this week Deborah and I stayed at Newport Beach with my family. We had loads of fun hanging out with everyone, especially my nephew and niece, who just turned 2 and 1. Originally I had mapped out several runs to go on while we were out there, but once there it was a little
harder to find the time to go running, so I only ran once, but it was an epic run.
I headed out around 5pm, the sun still high in the sky but beginning its descent toward the west. Clouds were moving in, so the light was diffused for a dramatic effect. The walk from the condo we were staying at down to the beach is nearly a mile, but it's a very scenic walk. After crossing PCH, I walked through Crystal Cove State Park, an untouched stretch of coast where one can see California's native coastal landscape spread out around him/her. The flora and fauna capture something romantically whimsical for me. Growing up, the beach was my home away from home, and returning there always feels special. The scrub brush and wildflowers give off a pleasing aroma. And I saw a large roadrunner scurry across my path. The path through Crystal Cove from PCH takes you to the edge of a cliff, at which point it descends sharply. I walked down the path to the beach and was met with a cool ocean breeze. I removed my sandals and stashed them in a bush by the path. I would be running barefoot. I headed straight for the water, soaked my feet, stretched out a bit near a large rock in the water, and headed south. The sensation of running barefoot at first felt strange. I ran along the wet sand and through the incoming tide. The ground was harder than I anticipated and I sensed that it wasn't going to go well for my feet. But I soon warmed up to it. After half a mile I ran past the Crystal Cove Cottages, a group of historic homes built in the 1920s. This section of the beach was busy with people, but everywhere else on this run I hardly saw a soul. I ran past the cottages and on toward an area of the coast that slightly juts out called Reef Point. I had to run over some rocks and then on to more open coastline. By now the novelty of running barefoot along the beach slightly wore off and I felt tired. I was still quite distracted by the stunning scenery and I never at any point on this run felt as worn out as I normally do when running at home, but the constant pounding of my feet on the wet sand began to take its toll. This was a long stretch. After rounding Reef Point I could finally see my destination, Abalone Point, a headland that jutted out into the sea and put an abrupt end to the sandy beach. But as I got closer and closer to the cliff, my feet began to hurt all the more. I finally, not far from my destination, had to stop. The bones on the bottom of my feet were taking a beating and they couldn't go on. I rested briefly, letting the waves come in and cool off my tired feet. I was close to deciding to just turn and head back, but my resolve kicked in and I resumed my run, bound and determined to make it to Abalone Point! And I finally did. By this point I had ran about 2.3 miles. My plan was to turn and head back to the cottages, which would make it an even 4, and then walk the rest of the way. After a quick rest at the headland I turned north, facing the setting sun, which was covered in cloud by now, and began running. The whole way back didn't go so well. I stopped about 3 times because my feet just couldn't hang. In hindsight I should have worn shoes and just avoided the water, but it's just not the same. There's something awesomely unique about running barefoot through the water as it pushes up from the sea and recedes back over your feet. It's motivating and a cool relief. But the trade-off is sore feet. Anyway, I did run the majority of the way back and once I got to the cottages I decided to run all the way back to my starting point to make up for the times I stopped. So I figured altogether I got in 4 miles of actual running. I didn't time this run, though, because I wanted to simply take in the surroundings and bask in the ocean air without worrying about beating a time. By the time I reached my starting point and retrieved my sandals, I was beat. I felt completely exhausted. My legs were sore but in a different way, obviously due to using different muscle sets on a different terrain. The walk back to the condo was rough. I had to take the trail uphill now and my body was quickly running out of energy.
When I finally got back to the condo and ate a good dinner, I felt good enough to reflect on the run. It was truly a spectacular experience. Much like when I used to surf, I felt immersed in the sea and its environs. I wasn't watching the waves roll in from afar, I was running through them, splashing in them, partaking in their energy. I felt invigorated during the entire run, even when my feet were aching so much I had to stop. I now want badly to begin running in new and unique locations. It helps immensely with motivation and keeping things interesting. I'll never forget my run to Abalone Point. I can't wait to do it again!
Time: ?
Location: Newport Beach
*Note - This run occurred Tuesday, June 21st.
This was my most enjoyable run yet. The surroundings had me completely mesmerized for the whole run. From Sunday to Thursday of this week Deborah and I stayed at Newport Beach with my family. We had loads of fun hanging out with everyone, especially my nephew and niece, who just turned 2 and 1. Originally I had mapped out several runs to go on while we were out there, but once there it was a little
harder to find the time to go running, so I only ran once, but it was an epic run.I headed out around 5pm, the sun still high in the sky but beginning its descent toward the west. Clouds were moving in, so the light was diffused for a dramatic effect. The walk from the condo we were staying at down to the beach is nearly a mile, but it's a very scenic walk. After crossing PCH, I walked through Crystal Cove State Park, an untouched stretch of coast where one can see California's native coastal landscape spread out around him/her. The flora and fauna capture something romantically whimsical for me. Growing up, the beach was my home away from home, and returning there always feels special. The scrub brush and wildflowers give off a pleasing aroma. And I saw a large roadrunner scurry across my path. The path through Crystal Cove from PCH takes you to the edge of a cliff, at which point it descends sharply. I walked down the path to the beach and was met with a cool ocean breeze. I removed my sandals and stashed them in a bush by the path. I would be running barefoot. I headed straight for the water, soaked my feet, stretched out a bit near a large rock in the water, and headed south. The sensation of running barefoot at first felt strange. I ran along the wet sand and through the incoming tide. The ground was harder than I anticipated and I sensed that it wasn't going to go well for my feet. But I soon warmed up to it. After half a mile I ran past the Crystal Cove Cottages, a group of historic homes built in the 1920s. This section of the beach was busy with people, but everywhere else on this run I hardly saw a soul. I ran past the cottages and on toward an area of the coast that slightly juts out called Reef Point. I had to run over some rocks and then on to more open coastline. By now the novelty of running barefoot along the beach slightly wore off and I felt tired. I was still quite distracted by the stunning scenery and I never at any point on this run felt as worn out as I normally do when running at home, but the constant pounding of my feet on the wet sand began to take its toll. This was a long stretch. After rounding Reef Point I could finally see my destination, Abalone Point, a headland that jutted out into the sea and put an abrupt end to the sandy beach. But as I got closer and closer to the cliff, my feet began to hurt all the more. I finally, not far from my destination, had to stop. The bones on the bottom of my feet were taking a beating and they couldn't go on. I rested briefly, letting the waves come in and cool off my tired feet. I was close to deciding to just turn and head back, but my resolve kicked in and I resumed my run, bound and determined to make it to Abalone Point! And I finally did. By this point I had ran about 2.3 miles. My plan was to turn and head back to the cottages, which would make it an even 4, and then walk the rest of the way. After a quick rest at the headland I turned north, facing the setting sun, which was covered in cloud by now, and began running. The whole way back didn't go so well. I stopped about 3 times because my feet just couldn't hang. In hindsight I should have worn shoes and just avoided the water, but it's just not the same. There's something awesomely unique about running barefoot through the water as it pushes up from the sea and recedes back over your feet. It's motivating and a cool relief. But the trade-off is sore feet. Anyway, I did run the majority of the way back and once I got to the cottages I decided to run all the way back to my starting point to make up for the times I stopped. So I figured altogether I got in 4 miles of actual running. I didn't time this run, though, because I wanted to simply take in the surroundings and bask in the ocean air without worrying about beating a time. By the time I reached my starting point and retrieved my sandals, I was beat. I felt completely exhausted. My legs were sore but in a different way, obviously due to using different muscle sets on a different terrain. The walk back to the condo was rough. I had to take the trail uphill now and my body was quickly running out of energy.
When I finally got back to the condo and ate a good dinner, I felt good enough to reflect on the run. It was truly a spectacular experience. Much like when I used to surf, I felt immersed in the sea and its environs. I wasn't watching the waves roll in from afar, I was running through them, splashing in them, partaking in their energy. I felt invigorated during the entire run, even when my feet were aching so much I had to stop. I now want badly to begin running in new and unique locations. It helps immensely with motivation and keeping things interesting. I'll never forget my run to Abalone Point. I can't wait to do it again!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Prepping for the Beach
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 27:06
Location: Granite Hills
This week was an improvement after last week, but I've still got to get more runs in. I only got in 2 runs this week, totaling 6 miles. Tuesday's run up at Granite Hills was good, though the hot and stagnant night air made it difficult and I barely got through it. Today's run was better, but still tough. I, again, headed up to Granite Hills (which has become my go-to run since it's such an undisturbed and peaceful location). It was around 5pm and the sun was still high in the sky, since the summer solstice is a mere 3 days away. It was hot and bright. But I felt pretty good at the start of this run, so I tried to put in a better effort and not start slow like I did on Tuesday. My first mile was good, but as soon as I began my 2nd mile the fatigue set in. The sun by this point was beginning to noticeably bear down on me. Plus, the wind began picking up. As I rounded a turn and began running west during the 2nd mile, I was met not only with a bright setting sun but a fierce evening wind. It severely compromised my run, and I struggled to get through it. I finally finished the 2nd mile and began the 3rd, which is usually when the run is the toughest -- something about that mental challenge of starting a whole new mile when your body is ready to be done. Like last time, the hardest part was the first half of the 3rd mile. My pace was very slow, plus I was running west and south, directly into the sun and wind. I tried to get my mind off the run, but it hardly worked. Finally, I rounded the corner to begin my last 800 meters. This is when things got better. I was now running east and north, away from the wind and the sun, and my body instantly felt better. I kicked it the last 200 meters or so and finished with a 27:06. I was very pleased with my time, all things considered. It's a full minute faster than my first 3-mile time of the year, which I ran on June 1st. Each 3-mile has been faster and I hope I can continue this trend.
Today's run was also important because I needed to get in a good, hard run before setting out for a vacation at Newport Beach tomorrow. I plan on getting in some good beach runs, and I wanted to make sure I was prepared. We leave tomorrow and we'll be down there until Thursday. I've already mapped out a couple of 3-mile runs that will have me running right along the Pacific! I'm quite excited for this change of scenery.
Also, we'll be going to Switzerland next month for 2 weeks and I plan on running there as well! I'm greatly excited to experience running in another country. No doubt those will be runs I'll remember forever!
Time: 27:06
Location: Granite Hills
This week was an improvement after last week, but I've still got to get more runs in. I only got in 2 runs this week, totaling 6 miles. Tuesday's run up at Granite Hills was good, though the hot and stagnant night air made it difficult and I barely got through it. Today's run was better, but still tough. I, again, headed up to Granite Hills (which has become my go-to run since it's such an undisturbed and peaceful location). It was around 5pm and the sun was still high in the sky, since the summer solstice is a mere 3 days away. It was hot and bright. But I felt pretty good at the start of this run, so I tried to put in a better effort and not start slow like I did on Tuesday. My first mile was good, but as soon as I began my 2nd mile the fatigue set in. The sun by this point was beginning to noticeably bear down on me. Plus, the wind began picking up. As I rounded a turn and began running west during the 2nd mile, I was met not only with a bright setting sun but a fierce evening wind. It severely compromised my run, and I struggled to get through it. I finally finished the 2nd mile and began the 3rd, which is usually when the run is the toughest -- something about that mental challenge of starting a whole new mile when your body is ready to be done. Like last time, the hardest part was the first half of the 3rd mile. My pace was very slow, plus I was running west and south, directly into the sun and wind. I tried to get my mind off the run, but it hardly worked. Finally, I rounded the corner to begin my last 800 meters. This is when things got better. I was now running east and north, away from the wind and the sun, and my body instantly felt better. I kicked it the last 200 meters or so and finished with a 27:06. I was very pleased with my time, all things considered. It's a full minute faster than my first 3-mile time of the year, which I ran on June 1st. Each 3-mile has been faster and I hope I can continue this trend.
Today's run was also important because I needed to get in a good, hard run before setting out for a vacation at Newport Beach tomorrow. I plan on getting in some good beach runs, and I wanted to make sure I was prepared. We leave tomorrow and we'll be down there until Thursday. I've already mapped out a couple of 3-mile runs that will have me running right along the Pacific! I'm quite excited for this change of scenery.
Also, we'll be going to Switzerland next month for 2 weeks and I plan on running there as well! I'm greatly excited to experience running in another country. No doubt those will be runs I'll remember forever!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Full Moon Still Night
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 27:21
Location: Granite Hills
I have no idea how my 3-mile time has been improving. Since June 1st I've run four 3-milers and each one has been faster than the last. Yet I also feel like each one has been very difficult in different ways. Tonight was one of the toughest. I headed up to Granite Hills again (after my plan A of running at Horsemen's didn't work out) and ran the same route I ran on June 4th (two loops around the school and one loop out in the desert). I started out very slow because I was beginning to feel a cramp start up and also I had felt some muscle pain in my right calf. But that slow start ended up working against me. I wasn't able to ever really turn it on after that. I settled into a lethargic pace and it was hard to break. However, my first mile was about an 8:30, so I wasn't going as slow as it seemed. My second mile wasn't much better. I slowly made my way to the third and last mile, and this is when I began to struggle. It was late in the evening, around 8:30pm, so I had no strong sun to contend with, but the air was very warm and stagnant (after a day of almost triple digit heat). These conditions made it hard for me to endure. When I had about 1200 meters left I began to want to stop. It took everything I had to keep going. With about 800 meters to go I had to dig deep to keep it up. But by the time I hit the last 400 meters, with the finish line in sight, I found my reserves. I finished with probably my strongest kick yet this year! I don't know where the energy came from. I must have been storing it with my extremely slow pace. The biggest surprise though was my time. I was utterly convinced that I would be getting a slower time than my previous slowest, which was a 28:09. Instead I ended up with a 27:21, 12 seconds faster than my time Saturday! I can't explain it. I guess I'll take it as a good sign. Now I just have to get at least 3 or 4 more runs in this week. I only have 2 says of work left before summer..... I have no excuses anymore, period.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Battling the Heat
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 27:33
Location: Granite Hills
*Note - This run occurred Saturday, June 11th.
I haven't been doing a good job of sticking to my routine. I went a whole week without a run, and it makes me very disappointed. Work has been pretty tiresome lately, and I've had a lot on my mind with that and house issues. After not running Friday night I finally got fed up with myself and determined to go on a Saturday morning run. My last run was the previous Saturday up at Granite Hills and it went pretty well. So I decided to hit the same area up but change the route slightly. Instead of looping around the school for mile 1 and 3, I decided to do the desert loop for 1 and 3 and loop the school for mile 2. I prefer this route because I enjoy running in the open desert along narrow trails rather than on streets. And for the first half of this run it was quite nice. I felt good and the air still had a hint of morning coolness (though it was about 11am). There were chipmunks and rabbits darting in front of me the whole way. The first mile went by in a flash and the second mile started out well also. But as I neared the end of the second mile I began to hit a wall. The cool air of the morning was all but gone and the afternoon sun began beating down on me something awful. This was actually my first run in the heat this year. Up to now it's been a rather cool spring. But that is now changing. My 2 mile time was just under 18:00, so I was on pace to set a 2010-11 PR. I just had to keep my last mile under 10:00. Normally that would be an easy task, but as soon as I began my third mile I was feeling my body temperature rise and my pace slow. I was running at what felt like a snail's pace. At one point, as I ran along a wide dirt road heading towards Mesquite, my body almost forced me to stop! I literally had to will myself to keep going. I was burning up and out of any energy at all. My last 600 meters was a struggle, but I slowly finished the run (without stopping) and ended up with a 27:33. I really didn't think I'd get a faster time than last Saturday, but I surprised myself. My first 2 miles must have been good enough to allow for a slow third mile and still get a 2010-11 PR. One thing's for sure, though -- if I had to run even 800 more meters I think I would have collapsed! The heat is a beast to contend with. I definitely need to set out earlier or go later now that summer is near.
In the end, I was happy with the result. My time dropped by almost 30 seconds, and I know now that even in adverse conditions I can handle 3 miles pretty well. Now I need to focus on running more frequently. One or two days a week is not going to cut it.
Time: 27:33
Location: Granite Hills
*Note - This run occurred Saturday, June 11th.
I haven't been doing a good job of sticking to my routine. I went a whole week without a run, and it makes me very disappointed. Work has been pretty tiresome lately, and I've had a lot on my mind with that and house issues. After not running Friday night I finally got fed up with myself and determined to go on a Saturday morning run. My last run was the previous Saturday up at Granite Hills and it went pretty well. So I decided to hit the same area up but change the route slightly. Instead of looping around the school for mile 1 and 3, I decided to do the desert loop for 1 and 3 and loop the school for mile 2. I prefer this route because I enjoy running in the open desert along narrow trails rather than on streets. And for the first half of this run it was quite nice. I felt good and the air still had a hint of morning coolness (though it was about 11am). There were chipmunks and rabbits darting in front of me the whole way. The first mile went by in a flash and the second mile started out well also. But as I neared the end of the second mile I began to hit a wall. The cool air of the morning was all but gone and the afternoon sun began beating down on me something awful. This was actually my first run in the heat this year. Up to now it's been a rather cool spring. But that is now changing. My 2 mile time was just under 18:00, so I was on pace to set a 2010-11 PR. I just had to keep my last mile under 10:00. Normally that would be an easy task, but as soon as I began my third mile I was feeling my body temperature rise and my pace slow. I was running at what felt like a snail's pace. At one point, as I ran along a wide dirt road heading towards Mesquite, my body almost forced me to stop! I literally had to will myself to keep going. I was burning up and out of any energy at all. My last 600 meters was a struggle, but I slowly finished the run (without stopping) and ended up with a 27:33. I really didn't think I'd get a faster time than last Saturday, but I surprised myself. My first 2 miles must have been good enough to allow for a slow third mile and still get a 2010-11 PR. One thing's for sure, though -- if I had to run even 800 more meters I think I would have collapsed! The heat is a beast to contend with. I definitely need to set out earlier or go later now that summer is near.
In the end, I was happy with the result. My time dropped by almost 30 seconds, and I know now that even in adverse conditions I can handle 3 miles pretty well. Now I need to focus on running more frequently. One or two days a week is not going to cut it.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
A Tempestuous Three
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 28:01
Location: Granite Hills
Today was a windy one! Well, it's actually been pretty regularly windy up here the last couple of weeks, but today it kicked it up a bit. My only other run this week was on Wednesday, a much-needed 3 mile loop around my neighborhood. That run took a lot out of me, leaving me sore and aching. Thursday was the Feast of the Ascension, so we drove down to Ontario in the evening to go to Mass, and thus I didn't run. I planned on getting at least a mile in Friday night, but that didn't happen due to exhaustion after a busy week. So it all came down to today. Even though I still felt a little sore from Wednesday, I felt like I needed another longer run, so I decided to do another 3. And I would simply have to endure the ferocious
wind.
I headed out around 6pm up to Granite Hills High School. I last ran up there on April 30th when I discovered a trail just east of the school that added another mile to the loop I used to do. So today I decided my route would be one loop around the high school followed by the trail loop and ending with another loop around the school... a perfect 3 mile route. I knew it was going to be a tough run because of the wind, so I started off with an easy pace. Plus, I'm just getting myself used to running longer distances again, so I'm easing myself into it. But I probably wouldn't have been able to run fast anyway. The first leg of the run heads directly west, right into the oncoming wind! The second leg heads south, but the entire desert opens up to the right (west) and so I was getting battered by the wind for a whole 1/4 mile. It was very tough going, and thus my pace was quite slow. Things got better for the next 1/2 mile or so. I was now running with the wind and it allowed me to reserve my energy as I let the wind push me gently onwards. Things were going pretty well; my first mile was about a 9 flat, so my pace was actually a little better than Wednesday. During the second mile I began to feel some fatigue set in, but it wasn't anything too bad. Then I rounded the corner to start my third mile and I was faced with the wall of wind again. I felt like my pace really slowed down at this point and it took a lot out of me to maintain my efforts against such a force. By the time I reached the 2.5 mile mark I was nearly spent. But luckily that was the moment I turned east and ran with the wind again. For the last 1/2 mile I picked up my pace and got a good kick in at the end. My time was 28:01, a mere 8 seconds better than Wednesday, which I think is actually good considering I was fighting the wind and I felt like my pace suffered a lot because of it.
All in all today's run was a good one. I felt good afterwards and I'm excited to be much farther along in my training at this early point in the "running season." Last year at this time I hadn't even advanced to 2 miles yet!
Time: 28:01
Location: Granite Hills
Today was a windy one! Well, it's actually been pretty regularly windy up here the last couple of weeks, but today it kicked it up a bit. My only other run this week was on Wednesday, a much-needed 3 mile loop around my neighborhood. That run took a lot out of me, leaving me sore and aching. Thursday was the Feast of the Ascension, so we drove down to Ontario in the evening to go to Mass, and thus I didn't run. I planned on getting at least a mile in Friday night, but that didn't happen due to exhaustion after a busy week. So it all came down to today. Even though I still felt a little sore from Wednesday, I felt like I needed another longer run, so I decided to do another 3. And I would simply have to endure the ferocious
wind.I headed out around 6pm up to Granite Hills High School. I last ran up there on April 30th when I discovered a trail just east of the school that added another mile to the loop I used to do. So today I decided my route would be one loop around the high school followed by the trail loop and ending with another loop around the school... a perfect 3 mile route. I knew it was going to be a tough run because of the wind, so I started off with an easy pace. Plus, I'm just getting myself used to running longer distances again, so I'm easing myself into it. But I probably wouldn't have been able to run fast anyway. The first leg of the run heads directly west, right into the oncoming wind! The second leg heads south, but the entire desert opens up to the right (west) and so I was getting battered by the wind for a whole 1/4 mile. It was very tough going, and thus my pace was quite slow. Things got better for the next 1/2 mile or so. I was now running with the wind and it allowed me to reserve my energy as I let the wind push me gently onwards. Things were going pretty well; my first mile was about a 9 flat, so my pace was actually a little better than Wednesday. During the second mile I began to feel some fatigue set in, but it wasn't anything too bad. Then I rounded the corner to start my third mile and I was faced with the wall of wind again. I felt like my pace really slowed down at this point and it took a lot out of me to maintain my efforts against such a force. By the time I reached the 2.5 mile mark I was nearly spent. But luckily that was the moment I turned east and ran with the wind again. For the last 1/2 mile I picked up my pace and got a good kick in at the end. My time was 28:01, a mere 8 seconds better than Wednesday, which I think is actually good considering I was fighting the wind and I felt like my pace suffered a lot because of it.
All in all today's run was a good one. I felt good afterwards and I'm excited to be much farther along in my training at this early point in the "running season." Last year at this time I hadn't even advanced to 2 miles yet!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Time To Move On
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 28:09
Location: Powhatan-Mesquite-Nisqually-Joshua Loop
As far as my training is concerned, it was a disastrous week. I last ran on Friday night, a 7:55 mile. It was one of only two runs last week, mainly due to a lot going on at work and with our home-buying experience. This week didn't start out much better. Monday was Memorial Day, and instead of getting a run in on my day off, I spent the day grilling meat and eating too much. By the time Wednesday came around I was feeling frustrated and guilty at not having run much lately. So as soon as I put on my running gear tonight I immediately began thinking it was time to stop playing around. I needed miles and I didn't want to wait any longer. It was time to move on. So I got on mapmyrun.com and plotted out a 3-mile route around my neighborhood. Since starting up a running regimen again in May 2010 I have only run 3 miles twice. The first time was August 18th, 2010 when I ran during a heat wave, almost got heatstroke, and ended up with a 31:19. The next time was August 21st, which was the mud run my wife broke her leg at, so that was again a disastrous 3-mile run. I didn't have any luck with longer distances last year. I pretty much stuck to 1 and 2 miles all year. And so far in 2011, again, all I've run is 1 and 2 mile routes. But a build up of frustration led me to throw caution to the wind and add on that extra mile at any cost tonight.
My route was a simple one. I didn't feel like making a complicated route, so I stuck to a basic square. East on Powhatan to Mesquite and south to Nisqually. Mile 1. East on Nisqually through the desert to Joshua, north on Joshua to Ottawa. Mile 2. North on Joshua to Powhatan, west all the way home. Mile 3. The entire second mile was in the desert along a wide dirt road, and the rest of the run was just along neighborhood streets. Because I'd be out in the desert on this run I made sure to set out early while there was still light out. It made for a very scenic run, as the sun set and painted the sky in pale blues and oranges. I had a different strategy for this run. I've been so obsessed with my times lately, that I haven't really focused at all on pacing. I simply run as hard as I can for as long as I can. Which has worked fine for shorter distances, but 3 miles when I'm not used to it is a different story. So right away with this run I found a pace I was comfortable with and stuck with it. It was a much slower pace, but it was necessary. My first mile was around a 9:20, but I felt good, strong, and my breathing was relaxed and under control. The second mile, through the desert, was a bit tougher. I maintained my same pace, but I began to feel a slight cramping in my stomach and chest. My 2 mile time was around an 18:40, so I had run two identical miles! The last mile was the toughest. My legs began to throb with muscle tightness, my shins began hurting, and I was aching all over. My stamina actually was holding up, but my physical body wasn't. I simply wasn't used to the extra mileage. I maintained, though, and even managed a slight kick at the end to finish with a 28:09. I had maintained an almost perfect pace with three nearly identical miles of around 9:20. It being my first 3 mile run in 10 months, I knew I'd be hurting at the end, but it was promising all the same. I kept it under 30 minutes, which is something I wasn't able to do last year, and I kept a steady pace throughout the run.
Afterwards, my legs felt intensely sore. I hope this run will get me back on track, and I know now that I don't have to wait any longer for longer runs. A few more of these and I'll be ready for 4 miles!
Time: 28:09
Location: Powhatan-Mesquite-Nisqually-Joshua Loop
As far as my training is concerned, it was a disastrous week. I last ran on Friday night, a 7:55 mile. It was one of only two runs last week, mainly due to a lot going on at work and with our home-buying experience. This week didn't start out much better. Monday was Memorial Day, and instead of getting a run in on my day off, I spent the day grilling meat and eating too much. By the time Wednesday came around I was feeling frustrated and guilty at not having run much lately. So as soon as I put on my running gear tonight I immediately began thinking it was time to stop playing around. I needed miles and I didn't want to wait any longer. It was time to move on. So I got on mapmyrun.com and plotted out a 3-mile route around my neighborhood. Since starting up a running regimen again in May 2010 I have only run 3 miles twice. The first time was August 18th, 2010 when I ran during a heat wave, almost got heatstroke, and ended up with a 31:19. The next time was August 21st, which was the mud run my wife broke her leg at, so that was again a disastrous 3-mile run. I didn't have any luck with longer distances last year. I pretty much stuck to 1 and 2 miles all year. And so far in 2011, again, all I've run is 1 and 2 mile routes. But a build up of frustration led me to throw caution to the wind and add on that extra mile at any cost tonight.
My route was a simple one. I didn't feel like making a complicated route, so I stuck to a basic square. East on Powhatan to Mesquite and south to Nisqually. Mile 1. East on Nisqually through the desert to Joshua, north on Joshua to Ottawa. Mile 2. North on Joshua to Powhatan, west all the way home. Mile 3. The entire second mile was in the desert along a wide dirt road, and the rest of the run was just along neighborhood streets. Because I'd be out in the desert on this run I made sure to set out early while there was still light out. It made for a very scenic run, as the sun set and painted the sky in pale blues and oranges. I had a different strategy for this run. I've been so obsessed with my times lately, that I haven't really focused at all on pacing. I simply run as hard as I can for as long as I can. Which has worked fine for shorter distances, but 3 miles when I'm not used to it is a different story. So right away with this run I found a pace I was comfortable with and stuck with it. It was a much slower pace, but it was necessary. My first mile was around a 9:20, but I felt good, strong, and my breathing was relaxed and under control. The second mile, through the desert, was a bit tougher. I maintained my same pace, but I began to feel a slight cramping in my stomach and chest. My 2 mile time was around an 18:40, so I had run two identical miles! The last mile was the toughest. My legs began to throb with muscle tightness, my shins began hurting, and I was aching all over. My stamina actually was holding up, but my physical body wasn't. I simply wasn't used to the extra mileage. I maintained, though, and even managed a slight kick at the end to finish with a 28:09. I had maintained an almost perfect pace with three nearly identical miles of around 9:20. It being my first 3 mile run in 10 months, I knew I'd be hurting at the end, but it was promising all the same. I kept it under 30 minutes, which is something I wasn't able to do last year, and I kept a steady pace throughout the run.
Afterwards, my legs felt intensely sore. I hope this run will get me back on track, and I know now that I don't have to wait any longer for longer runs. A few more of these and I'll be ready for 4 miles!
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