July 2007 Archives

Run Log: Run: 4.0 mi - Week: 4.0 mi - Total: 172.5 mi

The graph of this run betrays the difficulty I felt. I was not fully recovered from Saturday's long run, and while I had intended to run for 6 miles, I had to cut it short to only 4. Since I was running outside, this meant first turning around after 2.5 miles, thinking I would manage 5 miles, and then walking the last mile home in bitter defeat. Tomorrow I'll try a light 3, and hopefully by Thursday things will be feeling good again.

Also, I slept in a bit and didn't get going until 8:00 am, and by then it was already 80° outside, which is far too hot.

Run Log: Run: 14.0 mi - Week: 27.3 mi - Total: 168.5 mi

Well, another long run today, and while I made good time, I already feel like I'm paying for it. So, first of all, some differences from two weeks ago. First of all I decided to try to go back to the 5/1 run/walk ratio, as my other runs were going quite well. Second, instead of watered-down gatorade, I tried to try a Cliff Shot Energy Gel. Basically, these things are "semi-liquid" gels loaded with sugars, salt, and a few other essentials. Finally, instead of keeping to the nice, level path I used last time, I actually ran down to the path on a road that is basically all rolling hills. So the first and last 4 miles of my run were decidedly more brutal than the middle 6 miles. From what I understand, though, I've got to get used to these hills for the KC Marathon.

So, anyway, here are the splits.

The first thing I immediately noticed from these numbers was that my pacing was much more consistent. On the last long run, my mile times varied by up to 2 minutes, whereas on this run, which was much more hilly, they never varied by more than 40 seconds. Also, I figured since the last 4 miles had an overall incline of 150ft or so with the rolling hills, that I would be struggling to maintain a negative split, especially as it started to warm up. Somehow, though, I managed to run that second half about 2 and a half minutes faster than the first half. (If you compare the first four miles to the last four miles, even, I managed 1 minute faster the second time around).

So the good news is that I seem to be improving and those hills, while tough on me physically and mentally, didn't affect my pacing in any noticeable way.

The bad news is that eating that Cliff Shot Gel thing was disgusting both in flavor and texture. I'm going to have to try something else, because I can't see myself eating 4-5 of those things during a marathon. Running a marathon is one thing, but eating those things, forget it. I don't suppose I'd do well on fear factor, eh?

Run Log: Run: 3.11 mi - Week: 13.3 mi - Total: 154.5 mi

Short run today after the 10K race yesterday. I did force myself to go a route that was much more hilly, as the few hills yesterday were more punishing than they should have been. I guess there was just too much track running due to rain the last week or so.

Time: 53:27 - Pace: 8:36 - Overall Male Div: 122/201 - Men 25-29: 12/20

Well, this was my first 10K, and it went pretty well. The course was pretty flat, although the last half mile or so was all uphill, which kinda sucked, I have to admit. It was also pretty hot outside, despite the 7:00 am start time, so by the time I was finished I was pretty soaked.

I figured I should have probably been able to run the whole thing straight through, without the little walk breaks I'd been taking, but that was a mistake. I think on a cool day I'd be ok, but the heat/humidity was getting to me by the end of the first mile, so I took two 30 sec walk breaks after miles 3 and 4.

I was still pleased with my final time, besting my personal goal of 55 minutes. I had run just over an hour in training, so I had hoped to shave a minute per mile in the race.

Probably the best part of the race came afterwards, when two older ladies stopped me as I was walking back to my car, and asked about the race - how long it was, how it went, did I feel the heat, etc. They were decked out in patriotic apparel, and every time Carrie and I started to walk away a bit, they asked another question. It was kind of fun that they wanted to chat so much.

Oh, and of course, a big, big thank you to Carrie for waking up with me at 5:00 am to cheer me on. Thanks babe!

Run Log: Run: 8.0 mi - Week: 11.3 mi - Total: 133.2 mi

Off week for the long runs, but instead of doing 6 miles as was prescribed, I bumped it up to 8 as I was running both inside (and thus without hills), and also missed a day because I wasn't feeling well earlier in the week. Managed to do just the one minute of walking per mile (instead of every 4-5 min as with the long runs), but it was really wearing on me after a while, hence the gradual decline in my pace over time.

Next week should be better, as the rain finally seems to be moving away. On the other hand, my long run will be 14 miles. Awesome.