Tuesday, November 24, 2009

slogging it out, the icicle version

Oh. My. God! Carol and I ran up to the capitol today. It was cold. It was long. It was hard. I'm happy to be done, but my butt is still frozen! We didn't do State the whole way. We did 300 East and 400 East and North Temple and South Temple and B Street. Basically, we were all over the place which actually helped us get 8 miles total. Shockingly, we ran at 11:40mpm pace. Both of us are pleased with that pace considering the hills and the temperature (25*, brrrrr!)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Tired and tough

Tough run today! Carol and I went to Sugarhouse from work and back. We both struggled, but I'm not sure why. More walk breaks than we would have liked, but still managed 11:22mpm for 5.5 miles.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

low iron

After having such a good run around Liberty last week, I had no gas in my tank today. We took three walk breaks, and just generally felt tight and tired. I think that I know the culprits, though. I forgot to drink much water yesterday, and when I went to give blood my iron was so low that they turned me away. I'm eating all of the things that I should be eating, and it's not that time of the month, so there is something going on with my body. I need to remember to take a daily vitamin (which will have iron) and see if that helps. Otherwise, I'll have to start an iron supplement. Oh, by the way, it was stinking COLD today! 25*! But, there were eight other runners at the park. Carol and I were both surprised.

Friday, November 13, 2009

longer stride?

No walk breaks at all! I just ran 4.5 miles with no walk breaks for the first time in my life. I think my longest walk-free distance was 4 miles. Yeah! I also experimented with lengthening my stride a bit. I figure if I take longer strides I won't have to take as many steps and I'll be less tired overall. I had to constantly remember to do it which made it kind of hard. However, I'm very pleased with my average speed: 10:56mpm. It didn't seem unduly difficult. So, that's two runs this week at a pace less than 11mpm. Yeah!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Fartleks - real, honest to gooness fartleks

I ran from work to Sugarhouse (one lap) and back to work this morning. I only stopped once (@7thE) on the way up to wait for the light. I took a little walk break (@13E) after re-tying my shoe. I ran one lap in the park and took another walk break at the end after re-tying my other shoe. About half way through the park, I decided to try some speedwork, which I very rarely do. This consisted of running faster from one light pole to the next and then slowing to my normal pace. I continued this all the way back to work. It got harder and harder, but I knew that I could do it. I also didn't walk at all on the return trip. My groin muscles are tired, and I'll need to stretch some more, but it paid off. 5.5 miles @ 10:52mpm! I don't think that I've ever run that far at that low of a pace with two short hills and one lengthy incline! Yeah!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Brrrrr.....

I ran with Carol to Liberty. 4.5 miles @ 11:19mpm. Felt sluggish, but that was because of the six-pack that I drank yesterday during football. I did NOT want to run, but since I'm on the stuff-your-face diet, I figured that I probably should. I've been participating in NaNoWriMo this month, and I've been writing in the mornings, lunchtime, late at night - whenever I can - so I only ran 2x last week. Carol being on vacation made it much easier to skip out on runs, so I'm gald that she is back.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

shorts in mid-November

From work to Sugarhouse with one lap and back to work. 11:02mpm pace for 5.5 miles. This run was not as hard as I though that it would be. I only had two walk breaks; I ran every hill. I had enough in my tank for another lap, but not enough time away from work - had to get back. Great pace, though. Happy with this run. By the way - I ran in shorts in mid-November. It's been great weather this week!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Capitol run

Carol is on vacation this week, so I must get myself moving - which I hate!
I ran from work to the Capitol building and back. 6.52 miles at 11:12mpm. Not bad - especially considering that it is all uphill from 200 S. to the Capitol with the last couple of blocks being pretty steep. It was a good run, though. A bit creepy by myself from 1700 S to 900 S, but I had my phone and my pepper spray, and I tried to run that section a little faster than normal.