Ultra Running: Trials of the Trail 

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

Quick jog with the X-Country team.  Thought about not going with them today, but knew it was my only opportunity to get a quick jog in before heading back to the real job.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/14/2008
• Time: 15:30:00
• Total Time: 00:24:06.00
• Distance: 2.6 miles
• Average Pace: 9:16.41/mile

We hosted a meet today for 3 other middle schools.  I went to the school early to mark the course and set-up.  I am counting this prep work and the meet itself as a workout.  Yes I am desperate to fill my log with workouts, but yes it really was a workout.  Pushing the 4 wheel chalker around the mile loop of grass and gravel put me in a full sweat and I actually felt my legs and glutes being worked.

For each of the races, girls and boys, I ran like the maniac coach I am from point to point on the course cheering the first to the last runner.  So much so that I almost logged this as a run, but  could lie to myself that much.

My kids ran tired today, it is the exact middle of the season and they are feeling it.  Our course is also .25 miles longer than the other course we have been on, and at race pace that is a long way for 12-13 year old bodies.  I will make sure to talk to the kids about building than tapering to the best performances at the district meet at the end of the season.

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 10/02/2008
• Time: 03:00:00
• Total Time: 1:00:00.00

Last run of the month, a whole 2 miles.  Yes that’s sarcasms.  I am not happy with my September, I don’t think I hit a single goal.  Certainly not running goals, but not work goals either.   I am just going to say goodbye to September and leave it in the rear view mirror.  I am facing forward.

I just want to note the disappointment I am feeling so I have the right motivation to do whatever is necessary to not feel this way again at the end of October.  I will take some time and right some tangible goals for the 30 days.  

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/30/2008
• Time: 15:30:00
• Total Time: 00:17:51.00
• Average Heart rate: 156
• Distance: 2 miles
• Average Pace: 8:55.71/mile

Web-eater wanted! apply online.  I hit a quiet trail behind the library today, apparently I was the first person on the trail this morning as I had to take on the webs strung across the trail.  Usually I run behind someone taller so I don’t have to face the webs, literally. 

This is the type of run I need to do to get back in shape.  I kept my average heart-rate in the perfect training zone for me and also did over 1,000 feet of climbing in an hour.  I am only a tiny bit discouraged that the pace I had to run was slower than expected to keep my heart-rate in range.  I like the discipline aspect of running slower.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/24/2008
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 1:02:23.00
• Average Heart rate: 155
• Max Heart rate: 177
• Calories: 715
• Distance: 6.72 miles
• Average Pace: 9:17.28/mile
• Ascent: 1,456 ft
• Descent: 1,600 ft

Ran 16 minutes with the kids the workout was a ladder, run 3 min. hard, 3 min. easy, 2 min. hard. 2 min. easy, 1 minute hard, 1 min. easy.  The we did some down hill striders working on running techniques and relaxation when tired.

When I got home I wanted a little more of a workout in, but I didn’t have running legs.  I did an indoors strength workout I used to do in hotel rooms when I traveled a lot for work.  Push-ups, sit-ups, and stretching.  Truth be told I put my IPOD on and dance like a teenager, luckily my own teenager was not aware of my display of  ”grinding it out”.   Hard to put that in a category on my workout chart, broke a sweat, heart-rate up and lots of abs and hips.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/23/2008
• Time: 15:00:00
• Total Time: 00:16:00.00
• Distance: 1.6 miles
• Average Pace: 10:00/mile

Wanted to get a flexibility workout in to finish up a good first week back in training.  My hot yoga friends were not around to go to class with, and I did not want to go alone, so I dialed up yoga on my cable on demand feature.  Pretty good yoga for free and in my living room.  I barely got out of my pajamas into some of my old not so flattering old 1990s style shorts.   This was a good alternative to heading out and spending time from home.  My 14 year old harassed me for a while and then joined for a while.   Once we were finished we spent some  time together in the kitchen, something we both enjoy, but don’t do enough. 

Workout:

• Type: Flexibility
• Date: 09/21/2008
• Time: 12:00:00
• Total Time: 1:00:00.00