Tag: Trail running

Getting twitchy

Normally, the first few days after a big race, I feel sore and achy and look forward to rest days.  This time around, I have twitchy feet.  I want to run so badly, but haven’t worked it out yet.

Monday was a holiday and a day off for me, so I thought I would be able to get in a very, very easy 2-3.  But between physical therapy, running errands and the sudden urge to overhaul my entire closet, I ran out of daylight.  I had a short amount of time when I may have been able to squeeze in a run but my guilty conscience reminded me that I have a big exam that I needed to study for. 😦

Tonight was volleyball and I wanted to run instead.  However, I have never missed a game (5 years!), so I followed through.  I am glad I did, it was fun and we played really well.  I finally ponied up and bought new shoes, actual volleyball shoes this time.  Not sure if it was because I don’t have a big race on the horizon (less fear of injury) or if it was the shoes but I was like a freakin’ jumping bean.  I didn’t know I could block like that.   Hopefully, that skill sticks around.

 

So damn white!
So damn white!

Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday (27, I feel so old) so it will be a speed race back to town for dinner with the family.  Thursday is supposed to be a business mixer after work, then off to school for the big exam.    So, short of dragging myself out bed at 4:00 in the morning, I have a schedule problem.  No lie; I am a huge Slacker in the AM.  Big time.  The bed is so warm and comfy, yay for flannel sheets!  Transitioning to a daily commute was hard enough.

 

I want to run and I want to race.  I am a procrastinator when it comes to registering for races; you never know when life may throw a speed bump.   There is a half locally on the 27th that I kind of want to do, but it’s freaky expensive.   There are 3 races in November I am contemplating and I am still looking for December options.

Two of the November options are Turkey Trots.  The other November race sounds awesome, it’s a 7 mile trail run at a nearby state park.  What makes me leery is this:

 

Yikes!
Yikes!

Yep, that says a 1700 foot elevation gain.   I have actually done the incline portion before.  Now, granted, I walked a lot of it last time, but my splits looked something like this-

IMG_1954

And I almost took a header on the way down.   Hmm, decisions decisions.  There are also 3 half marathons in the beginning of 2014 I am interested in.   Those will be determined around finances.  I will admit it, races cost money!!!!

 

I hope everyone is having a good week so far!  How is it almost Wednesday?

 

Any thoughts on what to get a 27 year old with expensive taste for their birthday?  (yeah, I procrastinated that too.)

Run, Run, Run!!!!!

So Sundays planned day of rest turned into a 4.5 mile trail run/walk. This was after a yummy lunch and a little shopping 🙂  While shopping I picked up a pair Yurbuds.  I could never find a pair of earbuds that didn’t hurt in some way, so I thought I would step up the money and see if it was worth it.  Worn them twice so far, and have to say, pretty nice.

I told myself I was going to take it easy on the trail run, and I did half the time, I ran the other half.  It was a very pretty trail.  Could have done without the snake that decided to say hi, I think we equally scared each other!  I may have to do this again sometime.

Nice little up!
Nice little up!
So pretty :)
So pretty 🙂
Really liked this tree for some reason
Really liked this tree for some reason

After running on Saturday and the trail on Sunday, I really should have taken a rest day today but I was so close!  After the trail, I noticed that my Nike+ app said 997.1 miles.  I was almost at 1000!!!  I wanted to hit that number so bad, so I went for a run after work.  Figured I would force myself to go easy for 3 laps of the park.  The weather was good except for the backside of the lake, the wind was ridiculous!  And of course, I was running into it 😦

So my ankle was not feeling so great and I was tired, so I was actually taking it easy.   As I’m running, I’m telling myself that my slow today is still faster than when I first started running and this time last year and at least I was getting in a workout.  Of course, while I’m trying some motivational self-talk, what happens?  A freakin’ turbo comes flying past me, leaving me in the dust.  Gee, thanks dude, did you miss my inner pep talk?!  Seriously, he was fast, and more power to him, I was just envious.

But Turbo-Man aside, I hit 1000 miles!!! Hell Yeah,  Little happy dance.
🙂

Hell yeah!!!!!!
Hell yeah!!!!!!

Now if only the average pace was more reflective of the past year, hehe.

Tomorrow is definitely going to be a rest day and since I work later than usual on Wednesday; that will probably be a slacker day.  I’ll get running again on Thursday.

Anyone else have any turbos on their runs?