Ultra Running: Trials of the Trail 

First day of my week long trip to Argentina.  I have never been to South America.  This turned out to be my only run of my trip.  I was down there fir work and wow did I.  Long days!!  I loved every minute of it.  The food was amazing.  I ate more steak in 5 days than I had the previous 3 months.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/11/2008
• Time: 17:00:00
• Total Time: 00:42:00.00
• Distance: 5 miles
• Average Pace: 8:24.2/mile

Finished up my week with a steady effort on the treadmill. Wanted to keep the heartrate under 150 to work on building VOMax.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/09/2008
• Time: 12:00:00
• Total Time: 00:51:52.00
• Average Heart rate: 147
• Calories: 702
• Distance: 6 miles
• Average Pace: 8:38.73/mile

and kept indoors for my run. I know I will be on the treadmill all next week because I won’t run alone outside in Argentina. I might as well get used to the grind. The run itself felt fine, I have a blister on my second toe right foot that is causing a bit of trouble. This toe regularly has gnarly blisters and issues, after healing completely during my layoff, I can see I will once again be lancing this toe regularly to drain the fluid. Is that too much information??

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/08/2008
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 00:40:29.00
• Calories: 927
• Distance: 5.1 miles
• Average Pace: 7:56.19/mile

Went to the gym and did another night on the treadmill.  It has been raining all week, so I can’t get myself to strap on a  headlamp and run in the dark and rain.  It took awhile for a treadmill to open up, all the dedicated people working out on a Friday night.  I did a few light weights before to kill the time.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/07/2008
• Time: 19:00:00
• Total Time: 00:58:08.00
• Calories: 985
• Distance: 7 miles
• Average Pace: 8:18.61/mile

I can swim!  No matter what my husband says….he said to me “glad you’re alive” when I told him I swam for my workout tonight.  I wanted to run but my body does not like to run 3 days in row.  I lifted upper body again, worked the guns.  Also did some ab and core work.

Workout:

• Type: Swim
• Date: 11/05/2008
• Time: 18:00:00
• Total Time: 00:17:00.00
• Calories: 210
• Distance: 250 yd
• Average Pace: 6:49.09/100yd

Nice trip, half on trail half on road.  Happy with the effort and run.  Feel good about hitting my goals so far in October.   Lots of rolling for a great challenge climbed almost 3000 feet, that’s a good workout.  Wish I was a little faster, something to work on.    I wore my Saucony heavier street shoes, by 9 miles I was getting tired of them on my feet, won’t take them out for longer than 90 minutes in the future or on trails,

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/26/2008
• Time: 10:30:00
• Total Time: 1:41:00.00
• Average Heart rate: 160
• Max Heart rate: 174
• Calories: 1119
• Distance: 11.1 miles
• Average Pace: 9:06.28/mile
• Ascent: 2,971 ft
• Descent: 2,971 ft

I will do my long run tomorrow, but wanted to set out and get a few miles in.  This is roughly the same course I ran 2 days ago that felt like crap.. What a difference today.  I will chalk it up having the opportunity to do an afternoon run, my favorite time of day to get out.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/25/2008
• Time: 12:00:00
• Total Time: 00:32:51.00
• Max Heart rate: 178
• Calories: 450
• Distance: 4.04 miles
• Average Pace: 8:07.8/mile
• Ascent: 1,282 ft
• Descent: 1,282 ft

Should not be this much effort to run 5 miles.  But sometimes it just is harder than usual.  Also ran around mad at the last X-country meet of the season.  Tired today, felt like I had already put too miles in this week and I haven’t even done my long run.  Have to remember I am building a base for Western States.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/23/2008
• Time: 10:30:00
• Total Time: 00:44:44.00
• Average Heart rate: 169
• Max Heart rate: 180
• Distance: 5.1 miles
• Average Pace: 8:46.32/mile
• Ascent: 1,300 ft
• Descent: 1,300 ft

Had a decent run this morning.  All good.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/20/2008
• Time: 09:00:00
• Total Time: 1:05:51.00
• Distance: 7.5 miles
• Average Pace: 8:47.09/mile