Stepping it Up

Disclaimer: The WEAV Run app is currently free but I will be receiving a lifetime subscription in January 2018 as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro(ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Google average running cadence and any number of sites and sources come back with 180 average steps per minute.   Dig a little deeper and some will say 180 and above is usually elite runners and most everyday runners average between 160-170 steps per minute.  Either way you dice it- I fall short.   I usually average in the low 140’s, my two fastest half marathons this year didn’t even hit an average of 160.  Ouch.

Knowing that it’s something I need to work on, Weav Run seemed right up my alley.   Weav Run is a newer app on the market that is designed to use music to motivate your running tempo.  Want to run 175 steps per minute? Weav Run can get you there.  Weav Run has 2 options for setting the tempo- detecting the tempo based on your movement or letting you choose your own.

Weav Run works with the individual music files in order to give the runner the best listening experience possible.  So instead of speeding up the entire song and getting that helium sounding effect, aspects of the background speed up while the lyrics remain pretty close to what you hear on the radio.   It’s like your feet are the DJ.

The set up questions were more in depth than I anticipated- where do I keep my phone?- but took hardly anytime.   Pushed a couple buttons and I was set to run.  But I was kind of injured, boo.  So, I adapted and hopped on the bike.  I used the “I Know My Tempo” option, set it at 150 steps per minute and figured I would test it out that way.    For once, my cadence on the bike was even!  It also helped me really familiarize myself with the app.

But how was running?

I say my right leg is the troublemaker but what I really mean is that my right leg is the dead leg. The lazy leg, the leg that never seems to want to do any work. As a result I over compensate with my left and end up hurting. All previous attempts to focus on my form and bringing my leg around have ended in failure. I would succeed for a short time but end up with a headache from having to focus so hard. So I usually gave up.

With Weav Run, I didn’t even have to try, somehow my right leg just wanted to join the party. Something about the beat and the music working together  and flipped a switch in my brain and both legs were on board and working together. I powered up a couple of hills in ways I never have- I felt kind of bad ass. 😛 Now, this isn’t saying it was all perfect- I have 2 left feet and no rhythm so I’d usually get off step at some point and have to work my way back but it’s awesome when I’m on point.

Since Vegas- I’ve been running less, a little sick and the air has been filled with smoke but the paces of my runs using Weav Run have all averaged about 30-45 seconds faster than they should be given my current state of fitness. And that’s with the walk breaks I’m still taking. Consider me a Believer. Which by the way is a song on the Weav playlist.


So-are there downsides?

  • I take walk breaks- it’s how I run these days. While the app adjusts to my pace and cadence pretty well, sometimes it has issues.  When I slow down, it seems like only half of it slows down with with me and the other half is too fast.  It eventually evens out but it’s kind of an odd 20 seconds or so.
  • The technology is new and while it is great that Weav Run is working directly with artists and music labels, the library currently only has 25 tracks.
  • This is a both a plus and a possible downside- As a BibRavePro, we were able to test some of the tracks that are coming in the future (you will be happy🙂) but all those tracks mean the app needs a little more space on your phone.   As I write this, the app is using 2.25 GB on my phone.  I have plenty of space on my phone but it something to keep in mind.
  • It’s currently only iPhone- ios compatible.

I look forward to many more runs with Weav Run and oddly more bike rides.  I rode the bike more since downloading the app than I have in months.   😛

What are you waiting for?  Go download Weav Run!

Want to read more?  Check it out-

Brenda– Lindsey– Meridith

Week 50- Behind

Barely running and I still can’t get these recaps up on time lately.  Oops.   End of the year ennui, maybe?  Embracing the inner Slacker? Hmmm.

Maybe I can blame the darkness?  Even though I actually did run more miles in November this year compared to last.  Fingers crossed that pattern holds for December!  Though considering I had the flu from hell last year, that’s a low bar.

Last week saw me starting PT, so you’d think my body would be feeling better.  And it kind of did… on Monday.     And mostly Tuesday.  Too bad I didn’t run those days.  🤔  Instead I deliberately rested since I had run Saturday and Sunday and then had PT.    I completed my PT exercises 3 days last week and would have twice more but my stomach was being a total asshat.   Kind of hard to focus on moves that rely on your core when your stomach is behaving like a demon.   Grrrrr. As for the other 2 days, well that was just me being a Slacker.

So what did happen?

Monday-  Physical Therapy  Why is my right side such a problem child???  And I’m so glad I had the forethought to change into running pants first.  Some of those exercises were awkward enough in pants- what would have happened if I had left my skirt on???  I also experienced a TENS device for the first time.  Kind of odd.

Thursday- 8 miles bike I had planned on running.  Took all of my gear to work with that intention but then the day just ran me down.  Work ran over and I was exhausted and my right leg was oddly sore/ numb.  My head was hurting but I told myself to suck it up and run so I changed into my running clothes and headed for home. Where I somehow put my shoes on the wrong damn feet.  Ok, universe, message received.    I went home and rode the bike instead.

Saturday – 6 miles 6 was always the plan but I underestimated how much smoke was in the air.  Again.  I also may have overestimated what my back was willing to do.  That or it just isn’t used to carrying water with my pack again.  It has been a while.  😛  I felt like I was huffing and puffing more than I would like.  My leg felt tight.  Everything felt rough.  Then my headphones died.  Grrrr.   Of course as I headed towards home, my leg loosened up.   When I looked at my splits later I may have been running a tiny faster than I should have especially considering the air quality.

Sunday- missed run Planned on Christmas shopping and running.  Failed at both.  Went shopping- ALL day but bought nothing and missed my run.

So, 6 miles run and 8 miles bike.  Blah.    Here’s hoping this week is a little better.

Except I already know I have issues.  How is it less than 7 days to Christmas?  I still need to finish shopping.  I haven’t made cookies.  Oh and my replacement bed is coming this week.     Ok, I will gladly miss a run for the bed if the new one is less of a brick compared to the rock I’ve been sleeping on for the last 3 months.  😛

How was your week?

Are you done shopping?

Rambling On 23

Has anyone else’s brain been on short circuit this week?

Or is it just me?  😛

I started PT this week.  That was interesting.   Turns out I do have a sciatica problem.  Oh and the machine they used to stretch my neck reminded of me the Rack.  Are they helping me or torturing me???  I mean it didn’t hurt but when she described it I think I had the “what the hell” face.  😛   Now if I can just do my homework.

Can you believe Christmas is 10 days away?  I am so not ready.   Part of that is the weather.  The mornings are cold-like in the 20’s- but the days are still hitting the 70’s, almost 80’s.   A 50 degree temp change is not abnormal around here but it’s not usually this consistent.  I gave up on snowy Christmas’s a long time ago but can I have a colder, gray one?

I have so many posts in my head right now but I can’t seem to get them down on the computer.  I wish I could think and type.  It’s when the hands get involved that things get all muddled.  Or I get lazy.  😛

It Star Wars weekend and honestly I’m not sure if I’ll go see it. Which is odd because growing up I was the biggest Star Wars nerd. Loved the movies and read all the books. And maybe that’s my problem- this version of doesn’t match with any of the storylines I read growing up.

What are you doing this weekend? Share something random!

Week 49- Of Christmas Lights and Colds

Last week was a little wobbly.

I ended up feeling like crap for most of the week.  I felt like I was fighting something and I had an odd migraine from Tuesday on.   I actually even went home early one day which is something I rarely do but my head was just so damn fuzzy I wanted to be off the hill before it got dark.

In one way, being sick wasn’t a bad thing- combine with the rest from last week, it kept me off my left leg for 8 days.   Had I not been sick, that would not have happened.  I probably would have run on Tuesday or Wednesday.  Instead by Thursday I was mostly pain free and outside of 2 truly gnarly charlie horses overnight, Friday was pain free.

I also admitted defeat and returned to the bed store.  The brick is going back.  I tried for almost 90 days to break in this new bed and no luck.  My whole body hurts.  Fingers crossed the replacement is epic-ally better because I used up my one return.

In bad news, the Thomas fire is out of control, it’s now pushed into Santa Barbara county.  The smoke has inundated our county.  We’ve had closer fires but not seen smoke like this.  They’re saying the Santa Ana winds are likely partially to blame.   Let me be clear that the fire is still over 100 miles away.

Saturday- 3.1 miles I ran!!  Some parts were so damn slow and other parts were probably way too fast but I ran!  I started off nice and easy and walked the first 10 minutes.   From then on I alternated walking and running.  I’m using a cool new running app and I’m hoping to improve my cadence so I have to say the running parts felt pretty dang good.  In fact, I hauled a** up a hill like I never have before.  It was awesome.  Until my lungs reminded me that I had been fighting a cold all week and I bent over wheezing at the top, haha.

My legs probably also didn’t appreciate the annual visit to Vine St but it’s tradition!

Sunday- 3.1 miles.  I had hoped for more miles but underestimated how much smoke was in the air.    I was wheezing 1/2 mile in.   I stuck it out for the same route as the day before but I took a more than a few breaks as I was wheezing more than normal.  Considering how visible the smoke was I just slowed down and headed for home.

6.23 miles for week.  It’s going up!  Baby steps! Baby steps!

How was your week?

Do anything fun this weekend?

Rambling On 22

Happy Friday!

Let’s add sickness to injury, cuz’ that’s fun right?? Grrr.

One of my customers told me he’s disappointed in me because it’s almost the middle of December and my hair is still blonde. 😛  I told him I understood.  He’s probably not the only one.  Normally by now I would be on “Fall” color #2.  I’ve just gotten lazy.  That would require so much work.  I told him he would have to settle for me taking scissors to it on a random basis.  Like Tuesday.  I think it may be crooked right now.  😛

Winter has arrived in full force.  I can’t find my gloves.  Well, I found one.

Confession- I have not run in 7 days and today isn’t likely either.  And I had to count that on my fingers.  Double Grrrr.

But really, anything I have to complain about is pittance compared to the fires burning South of me.  Thomas- you can stop growing anytime now- ok? Thanks.  In all seriousness, my thoughts and prayers are with everyone effected and serious thanks to all the fire fighters and volunteers.      Oh and just to mention- the Thomas fire is about 150 miles south of me so other than some smoke in work town, everything is fine here.

That’s all for now- tell me something good!