Tag: run

Week 46- Solid

By most standards, last week would seem less than stellar. By my standards, it was a surprisingly solid week.

Not that it was without it’s ups and downs but I’m going to stop challenging the universe by saying “things should calm down soon”. The past few months have shown that it only comes across as a challenge. Message received.

Monday- Rest
Normally on days when I don’t work, my goal is to push for extra miles. However for the first time in months, I actually woke up feeling not tired. It had been so long I almost forgot what it felt like. I was loathe to lose that feeling so I just enjoyed it.

Tuesday- 3 miles
I wanted to try the river path for a night run. I knew most of it was lit but was unsure on the rest. Good news- the big section has the most lights I’ve found in my town. Bad news- the dark section is DARK. I’m still looking for the best option for night running. Plus was this run was pretty chill.

Wednesday-????
ummmmm, crickets?

Thursday- Nothing
I should have run but I wasn’t feeling it. Stupid.

Friday–
Let’s just forget Friday was a thing.

Saturday- 6.3 miles
I was feeling not great, not horrible but off. I had an odd back pain and felt just sluggish. I headed out in the mid afternoon, not expecting much. I never got over the sluggish feeling and there were plenty of walk breaks- ok, let’s be real- run/walk intervals- thrown in. That being said, it was a decent run.

Sunday- 3.5ish miles
Dirt. I headed for a trail to get in some time on the hills. This was also the first time I’ve run trails by myself so that was pushing my comfort zone more than a little. There were plenty of people out there but I never realized how the time change effects the light on the trail. So much shadier and darker! Not cold- it was 85*, ha! Where is fall? But it was exactly what I needed. Just me, my running shoes and the dirt. Can’t think about anything when you have to watch your footing right?

So, 12ish miles for the week. Like I said not much by most people’s standards but decent by mine. Especially recent weeks.

How was your week?

Week 42- Whiplash

This weather is giving me whiplash. One day it’s 90 something then it’s 60ish with 20+mph winds. I actually like the lower temps but the fire winds could leave anytime. Soon would be better.

I had the beginning of the week off of work. I was so looking forward to a few days of rest and getting all those backed up errands done. Somehow, I never napped and the errands still need to be done. Like cleaning my car and an oil change. Oops. The time just seemed to fly by and then I was back to work on Wednesday.

Monday- 36ish minutes on the bike
I was going to run in the early afternoon since I had the day off. However I ended up taking my dad back to the doctor. By the time I got home, I was feeling super lazy but I made myself ride the bike while watching Ridiculousness. That was what my brain could handle.

Tuesday- 3 mile struggle bus run
I don’t know if it was because it was over 90 again, or if it was lingering asthma issues but this run was rough. I had originally planned on running more but just couldn’t.

Wednesday- 30 minutes on the bike
Wasn’t feeling a run but didn’t want to be lazy.

Thursday- 3.1 miles
Dude. This run was so easy, breezy. The temp had dropped, my heart rate stayed low and it wasn’t a struggle to legit run easy. It was such a chill run I was kind of in shock. Even the crazy wind wasn’t a downside. Why can’t all runs be like this?

Friday- Nope
Open to close is going to be the name of the game for a while at work. I don’t see much in the running front on any Friday in the future.

Saturday- Nap
I worked in the morning but I really did intend to run in the afternoon. I did but instead I napped for 2 hours. Oops.

Sunday- 6.3 miles
Miserable miles. I had plans of running 7-8 miles but hopped on the struggle bus from the get go. It was warmer than I thought it would be, my asthma was flaring, I was crawling. It was all I could do to finish the 6.3. I even parked it on a bunch 5ish miles in because I was so done. Grrrrrr.

12ish miles for the week. And Sunday’s miserable run was followed up by a massive asthma flare on Sunday night so that was fun. But hey 5/7 days isn’t bad! At least for me.

How was your week?

Week 33- Recovery

I did something last week I haven’t done since my first few half marathons.

I took the week off.

Well mostly, I jogged a short 2.5 mile run, did 5 Morning Meltdown workouts and took the puppy on a walk.

So not completely lazy.

I planned on running more but then I started to think about it. I used to take time after a race, then as I started running more and spending time on social, I started taking less time off post race. Even of after my first and second marathons, I was running by day 2 or 3. Why?

And I’ve been in a constant cycle ever since. So last week, I said Nah.

Don’t get me wrong- I still have 3 half marathons in October and I realize that I need to train for them. But one week wasn’t going to hurt me. Well, at least I hope so. If not, I’ll let you know in a few months.

So I was completely lazy but I did manage to catch up on some things on my DVR. Is it weird that I felt like it was cluttered?

How was your week?

2019 SLO Half Marathon Recap

On Sunday, I toed the start line for my 5th SLO Half Marathon.

I have mixed feelings about this race. There was a time I loved it. Then it drove me batty. I’ve run it 5 times but only paid for it once. I was a race ambassador for the first few years but then I just couldn’t. Not to say I would have made the cut had I applied, I just stopped. This most recent trip down memory lane was sponsored by my work.

In the 5 times I’ve run it, I’ve run 3 different courses. I get that the city and the county dictate what roads could be closed and when but that’s a lot of change. The first course I ran was my favorite. I ran that one 3 times. Also, I seem to get slower every time I run SLO.

I headed into this race with no goal other than finishing. The preceding week and a half had wrung me out and I was hanging on by a thread. I was wondering why I hadn’t signed up for the 3 person relay. Oh yeah, needed 2 other people.

Unlike the last time I ran it, we made it into the parking lot before I jumped out of the car.

Then it became the “what pace is this?” game.

Mile 1- 10:10
Who starts a race uphill? I mean a short hill but still. Also I had to stop and tie my shoe so I don’t know where that pace came from.

Mile 2-10:35
Oh crap, I am already exhausted. This isn’t good. Oh, look another hill.

Mile 3- 11:00
Oh thank goodness, a water stop. Another reason to walk. More hill.

Miles 4- 11:13
More walking but a little bit of downhill. Also I know SLO pretty well but we’ve turned so damn many times I am so confused.

Mile 5- 11:42
Another hill, more walking and I must lose this long sleeve shirt before I melt. Oh crap, it’s under my pack. Why?! Oh and the work water station. Anyone want to tap in for me???? Please?

Mile 6- 12:44
Ok, I’m toast. Did I say I missed the Johnson hill stretch? I take it all back. Or as the pacer in front of me said- “Welcome to the hospital hills”.

Mile 7- 11:07
The climb is never ending. My brain broke. I had no sense of pace. I just remember walking. BUT I didn’t eat asphalt here like I did my 2nd time running it.

Mile 8-12:23
I’m done. Why do I do this to myself? Oh, Orcutt road is pretty, damn forgot about the hill. Not really, just lied to myself.

Mile 9-11:11
Tiny downhill, weeee! Also lost the 2:30 pacer, like they were miles ahead. Totally realizing this could very well be my slowest half marathon.

Mile 10-11:59
So much walking. Just keep moving, just keep moving. Oh look, it’s the railroad path.

Mile 11- 12:13
At this point I actually comprehend the numbers on my watch but they make no sense. Wait, if I drop 2 sub 10 miles, I’ll be around 2:25? Did I stop my watch somewhere?

Mile 12-12:30
Stupid, you don’t have sub 10 in you. Oh, hey it’s the criss cross bridge to run up to cross the railroad. Can’t we just run across? How much more is there?

Mile 13-11:14
I see the freeway overpass- run! The finish line is on the other side. I hate this last hill right before the finish- weeee! Downhill to the finish.

2:30:16

I had a team shirt on but was overheating from the humidity, I stripped fairly quickly after finishing

Wait, what? I started walking in mile 2 for crying out loud. I was ballparking a 2:45 finish, how the hell did I cut 10 minutes off of Oakland? I mean, yeah I was sick at Oakland but I was in a fog during SLO. I had no idea what pace I was running for 90% of the race. Or walking. So somehow I inadvertently proved I do better with hills. I’m not crazy!

Ok, maybe a little.

Rain or Shine? Run

Disclaimer: I received an entry to Oakland Running Festival 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!

Wait, it’s February? How did that happen?

That means 2 things- Super Bowl and Surf City. Now I could care less about the Super Bowl but Surf City is always the same day so I just pretend the excitement is for the race not the game.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am no where near race ready. When I toe the line on Sunday I will be fully prepared to take it easy and take my time. I have run/walk intervals set on my watch and ready to go. But I am looking forward to revisiting the race that started me down the path of (longer) distance running. The crowds are awesome, the beach view is great, I get to (hopefully) see a bunch of other BibRave Pros.

I posted this 3 years ago at my second Surf City

Now if the weather will cooperate. Granted, it is absolutely nothing compared to what is happening in most of the country but a rain filled Saturday and Sunday wasn’t exactly what I was looking forward to. I can roll with it though and have just changed most of everything I was going to pack and wear.

So, fingers crossed for a fun filled weekend that’s only slightly wet.