Running streak

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Back on the McMillan plan that very well may result in my death. I don't know that the plan is that difficult, but I know that it is pretty difficult for me right now. Today, the day after "National Running Day," which is a day I should've known about since I'm running every day now guy, the plan called for 10 minutes warm up followed by 20 minutes at 6:40/mile pace and finished with 10 minutes cool down -- actually, the warm up and cool down were probably supposed to be at like 7:40 pace or something, but I didn't read the plan that carefully because I didn't want to know...I was worried about the 20 hard for me minutes in the middle, so I decided I'd just go easy on both ends in hopes of making it. Anyway, I made it...stats are as follows:

1st 10 minutes: 8:27/mile pace
20 minutes at "Steady state": 6:40/mile pace (Yes, I was surprised that I got the pacing right)
Final 10 minutes: 7:31/mile pace

I guess overall pace for a "work out" type run is a bit pointless, but I like my little format so I'll keep including it, besides, I'd be much more likely to not include it on the recap of a trail run than of an effort such as the above.
My "issues" are improving, but not yet eliminated. Buying salt in bulk is really a great value.

Another "recovery run," as this is supposed to be a "recovery week." Yes, I realize I took it easy last week too, but since the McMillan plan says this week is to be easier I decided to start following the plan again :). Anyway, the streak goes on.
Poverty is easily seen in the neighborhoods around downtown Mobile, AL.

This felt like a much harder effort than the results would indicate -- felt like I was pushing for the first 5+ miles, though I didn't feel I was going fast, which I wasn't. The 20 seconds sprints that followed (7 of them) were uninspired as well.

"Recovery run," legs were pretty tight from previous day's hills etc. Felt like I was running much faster than this, but perhaps I was affected by the early morningness of the run....better get used to that though, or get a lot tougher.

Ran the "National trail" from the end of San Juans road to the east end of South Mountain with Dean. This run was absolutely fantastic, maybe my favorite trail in Phoenix...it was just really cool, well, except for the steep uphill stretch from mile 3 to 4 when I was pathetically reduced to walking/hiking. The run across the top of the mountain was great though and worth it...as was the downhill, even though it seemed to take forever to get to it. Overall another great long run with Dean, who likes point to point runs as much as I do, which, thanks to Kim was possible. Very cool.

No issues experienced with relation to my issue, seems I have no excuses anymore, though that issue is not yet resolved.

Treadmill run for safety purposes. Felt I needed to push a little further than the past few days and maybe even run 8 minute miles just to make sure I wasn't going to get all the way to South Mountain for my planned long trail run with Dean on Sunday, have a disaster and end up in the hospital. So that's what I did...not the disaster/hospital part. This run went really well, felt easy, gave me confidence that I could do the Sunday long run without hurting myself...that stated, I still decided to go to the doctor later in the day. Doc said he thinks I will probably eventually need surgery, but first try to reduce swelling with salt baths and some prescription Preparation H kinda stuff. I think the stuff works better than Preparation H, so on to the Sunday run I went...with half confidence at least. (Oh, yes, I asked the doctor if running and running hard would have an effect, he said it would not...he cautioned against sit-ups though, which is fine with me for now)