week one review

Well - week one started off with the Rhody Runaround, which was good and bad.  I tried to keep momentum on this week by running three more times.  In retrospect, I should have taken two days off completely and then run only twice more.  Every day my lower legs felt like lead weights and my knee (that I bashed at the race) ached after running...

I found a couple of cool new blogs (RunSueRun and Have2Run) the second linked me up to a training website that I can upload my Garmin GPS data to called Running Ahead.  I hope to have some cool links on my mileage statistics on my blog soon from that.

Anyhow - I ran 8 trail miles on Sunday, 2 recovery miles on Tuesday, 3.5 slowish miles on Thursday (Thanksgiving), and 5 quickish miles today (Saturday).  The last three were all on the road.  Except for the race, The Lu ran at least 1.5 miles with me each day.

Week 1 and the Rhody Runaround 8 mile trail race

Oy Vey ... I don't run on trails all the time, but I do some, and I used to a lot ... and I never really fell down before ... but I fell (total crash really) at just about 1 mile into this race.  I really lost it and chin and knee planted into gravel.  My knee hurt so much I thought I wouldn't be running anymore, but I limped along until the pain finally went away, and then I noticed that blood was dripping on my bib and hand - my chin was bleeding!  It took a long time of compression (while running) to get the blood to stop flowing.

After my knee got better, I really kicked in gear and made it to about 4.25 miles in under 38 minutes, so I was doing really well - positioned to do the whole 8 in 1:15, which would have been terrific.  Unfortunately, my illiotibial bands slammed in at just about exactly mile 5.  It wasn't just my right leg (like at the Hartford 1/2 marathon), it was both legs.  Let me tell you how hard it is to step down (particularly run down) uneven surfaces when your I-bands are tightening up like guitar strings - much harder than just running on flat pavement.  The pain was so bad I slowed to a crawl and could barely run at all.  Pretty much the whole pack passed me between miles 6 and 8 and I finished at 1:22 - still not terrible but disappointing...
It was cool but not cold and windy like the Turkey Trot.  I should have just worn a thin long-sleeve or just the tee shirt - got to remember you get hot running in 40+ degrees.

I got a blister on a little toe again - my feet move around too much in my Sportiva's...I tried two pairs of socks but that felt too tight.  Need to figure something out or get a tighter pair of trail runners.  FWIW - I have a very narrow foot.

Week 1 of 24 - this is the first week of the 24 week training plan before the 21.5 mile Wapack trail race on May 7th.  It is also 17 weeks before the New Bedford Half Marathon...

Prep week for the Rhody 8 mile Runaround race

This week was a bit of a failure.  I was going to take it a bit easier by running on just Wednesday and Friday.  I ran on Wednesday on the treadmill for 3.75 miles (or 4 in real life).  My knee was hurting so I took it easy.  Didn't get to run on Friday as planned and today was to close to race tomorrow...

Fixing on some new goals

Ran on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday to adjust for the eight mile trail race on Sunday the 21st (next Sunday).  Did 3 miles on the treadmill, 4 on the pavement, and 5 in the woods respectively.  Also went to yoga on Friday but was very careful not to overstretch anything.  Still - my hips felt totally loose in their sockets that night and the next night my whole left leg, from knee to hip, hurt when I was bowling.
The trail run today with Lu was fun but not as successful as I had hoped.  I didn't want to push her, but I think she fools me by being so small.  She likes to stop a lot and sniff all the great gross smells.  I stop and let her sniff about every 10 - 15 minutes which makes the run not so smooth.  It works out fine when I'm not feeling rushed and its just to be out for no specific amount of time, but on days when I feel like I need to train, it is a bit frustrating.
So it looks like Jen and I will be doing the 21.5 mile Wapack trail race on May 7th and the New Bedford half marathon before that, on March 20th.  I'm going to start a 24 week Marathon training schedule soon, since this is close to marathon distance (although it will be much harder since its a trail race over eight small mountains).  I first thought it would be about 4500 feet in elevation gain, but it may be closer to 6000 - I'm going to investigate and get the actuals.  Anyhow - this will be as serious, or more, than a marathon...

Running the Turkey Trot 5 miler

Did a 3 and 3.5 mile road run on Monday and Wednesday at a pretty good pace.  Took the Lu with me for 1.25 miles of it on Wednesday.  Did a short run with some speed work on Friday - 2.25 miles using the treadmill.
Sunday race:  It was about 30-35 degrees with a wind-chill - a bit cooler than they said.  I ended up doing the 5 in 45:07 - just short of 9 minute miles.  So I kept about a 6.6 mph pace for the course - best time so far!
It was a really nice race.  Only 25 dollars, maybe about 200 people.  There was lots of food (pizza, fruit, muffins, donuts) and drinks afterwards in addition to a free 15 minute massage!