Ultra Running: Trials of the Trail 

really no real desire to run or workout, but I suppose I would be really angry at myself tomorrow if I skipped another day. The Christmas was awesome and of course I got a couple great running gifts.  A new hot pink running shirt, socks, new pair of trail shoes and GU in my stocking.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 12/29/2009
• Time: 13:33:28
• Total Time: 00:41:43.88
• Average Heart rate: 163
• Max Heart rate: 170
• Calories: 528
• Distance: 5.11 miles
• Average Pace: 8:09.8/mile
• Max Pace: 7:05.53/mile
• Ascent: 582.94 ft
• Descent: 300.74 ft

Fun Fun Fun, played 4 shortened indoor soccer games in an over 40 tourney.  We lost all four, no surprise but had a ton of run and ran hard.

Workout:

• Type: Other
• Date: 12/23/2009
• Time: 19:30:00
• Total Time: 1:00:00.00
• Calories: 274

Should be a pretty calm week.  Taking time off work and enjoying family for Christmas.  Getting to the gym first thing this morning was a nice way to start my week.  I have begun to think about my running goals for 2010.  Should I run another 100? how about my desire to run a new PR for the half marathon?  Let’s not forget about my announcement that I would overcome my fear of water a do a triathlon?

Add the normal life , family, financial and professional goals and it is enough to make a person catatonic.  I guess I’ll just have t keep putting one foot in front of the other and trust that the right mindset will be the best preparation to face all the opportunities in front of me.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 12/21/2009
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 00:49:33.00
• Calories: 513
• Distance: 6 miles
• Average Pace: 8:15.19/mile

We won’t run with Lisa and Andrea until our new year gathering Jan. 1 2010. We always have excellent chats about running and family, this morning was no different. Even though we are each at different levels of fitness and training for different goal, we settled into a nice workout. It was a pretty good effort for me coming off a long run from yesterday, Andrea floated along easily and it was Lisa’s long run for the week.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 12/20/2009
• Time: 07:13:08
• Total Time: 1:19:38.55
• Average Heart rate: 145
• Max Heart rate: 167
• Calories: 953
• Distance: 8.52 miles
• Average Pace: 9:20.75/mile
• Max Pace: 7:56.82/mile
• Ascent: 1,825.27 ft
• Descent: 1,761.8 ft

I was pretty whopped after 10 and had to work pretty hard to keep up with Bob. Great Ultra running practice.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 12/19/2009
• Time: 07:13:01
• Total Time: 3:02:32.40
• Average Heart rate: 143
• Max Heart rate: 170
• Calories: 1220
• Distance: 15.36 miles
• Average Pace: 11:52.87/mile
• Max Pace: 7:33.97/mile
• Ascent: 3,065.48 ft
• Descent: 3,021.07 ft

Running was great tonight.  Hit a big target.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 12/16/2009
• Time: 19:00:00
• Total Time: 00:37:16.00
• Calories: 386
• Distance: 4.61 miles
• Average Pace: 8:05.18/mile

This is the first time I have ever run at Paradise Valley near Maltby, WA. The 19 degree weather didn’t deter us this morning for a 3 hour effort on this most lovely and scenic trail. As usual on the trail my Garmin may be less than perfectly reliable so these numbers are an approximation.

It was so cold that my hair froze after the first hour and the Gatorade turned into slush by the second hour. The run itself felt really good, nice to build some miles and time back up.

I am only four miles from hitting 1000 miles for 2009!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 12/12/2009
• Time: 07:26:22
• Total Time: 3:00:00.00
• Average Heart rate: 148
• Max Heart rate: 173
• Calories: 1295
• Distance: 15.5 miles
• Average Pace: 11:36.32/mile
• Max Pace: 7:41.54/mile
• Ascent: 1,786.3 ft
• Descent: 1,807.99 ft

Don’t want to face the treadmill later tonight, so I took a very quick run midday. My right hip is just the slightest bit achy, I needed to hit the pavement not the tready.  I planned on getting out during the warmest part of the day. Temperature soared to 26 degrees by 1:00. I had a snack of instant oatmeal (my favorite pre-run food) before heading out.

I had a lot of clothes on and I am glad for it. 2 pairs of tights, 4 layers on top and two pairs of socks.  A little overkill I know, but I HATE to be cold.  The run was not easy, good news I was sub 8 minute pace.  I left my heart rate monitor off on purpose, this was the same route and pace I did a few weeks ago that resulted in a 200 HR.  Ignorance is bliss!

Got back to work in the afternoon preparing for tomorrows appointments and last months expense report.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 12/09/2009
• Time: 13:29:09
• Total Time: 00:31:39.48
• Calories: 456
• Distance: 4.02 miles
• Average Pace: 7:51.82/mile
• Max Pace: 6:38.23/mile
• Ascent: 455.73 ft
• Descent: 551.53 ft

Jumped on a bike at the gym.  Wanted to do something that would give my legs a rest after my 21 mile weekend.  Very light lifting afterwards

Workout:

• Type: Cycle
• Date: 12/07/2009
• Time: 19:00:00
• Total Time: 00:45:00.00
• Average Heart rate: 123
• Calories: 648
• Distance: 16 miles
• Average Speed: 21.33 mph