Whoa, what a rain storm

Ran with Andi for the first km non stop to prove to her that she could do it. It was a good intro for me to start out slow like that, I usually start much faster and that was different. I was going to run 10 but the weather took a turn on me and dumped an enormous amount of rain on me in less than 10 minutes, so I was soaked and decided to cut it short. I ran well, getting the feeling more for natural running and notcing when I get lazy. My pace was good, nice and easy, letting my hip just work. It doesn't hurt but itis still there so I will continue to stretch it and make sure I take care of it. Feels good to be running again. Real good.
6.2km, 37:17, 5:54 pace
Sleep: 7 hr, 9/10
Legs: 8/10, still feel hip but much better

The plan is...

To see how my IT band will hold up after laying off of it for several days plus active stretching and such. So I picked a flat easy route with lots of outs if it started to hurt early on. And I have to say that it was just fine the whole way around. Changing my running stride has been akward but I hope it helps some, now my calves are really feeling it too. I kept a real even pace today too, I could feel the subtle changes I was making in my stride and how it feels different than running heel first. The distance wasn't too bad, I don't feel like the time off made that much a whole in my fitness or endurance. Running tomorrow I think I will take it easy, go slower and really concentrate on putting the pieces together to make my stride something that really works.
10km, 56:01, 5:36 pace
Sleep: 7 hr, 8/10
Legs: 6.5/10 , right IT band still aching

The old IT band snafu

Seems like the problem I had last week of a right old pain in my hip wasn't so much my hip flexor as it was my IT band hurting from the top down. Holy hell did it hurt too. But I took a week off and looked after it, had a couple of rounds of massage (thanks Britney) and stretched the devil out of it. I also changed my stride yet again as the way I have been running is a large part of my problem. Even though I think I run well I am sure my mechanics can use an upgrade so I intend to spend the next few weeks working on form with regards to my stride, footfall and positioning of my body as I move forward. Seems like a simple thing running but when you are out of alignment or doing something incorrect, the results creap up on you and then it is too late. I am trying to be more proactive this time around and deal with the issues before the catch me. I don't intend to take any time off due to injury, or at least injury that could have been prevented.

6 km, 30:56, 5:09 pace
Sleep: 6 hr, 9/10
Legs: 6.5/10 , right IT band still aching

Time for a change

It really hasn't been two years since I blogged last has it? God, what has changed?
Anyway, I'll deal with that in other posts but for now a quick update. I have been running seriously since the start of spring and have had some reasonable success, having worked through some minor issues. I found the 5Peaks trail running series just after it started for the year and unfortunately I missed the first race. So I entered the second one and won my division. So crazy. So I trained hard and the next month I ran the next race in Camrose and won that one as well. The series is a good one, tough trails, lots of climbing and crazy downhills, and this year loads of mud. Great group of people too. So I'm second in the points with two races to go.
Other things going on, well I have a small problem with my hip that is annoying, but I am realizing that I need to be more flexible,stretch more and look after myself better if I am going to continue with what I want to do. So I have spent some time researching how to better do that and with yoga, strength training, stretching and other things like that to suppliment my training.
It seems that proper running technique is the key to my sucess and over the next while I am going to see how I can develop my running to be better, more efficient and injury free.
I have to say that my positivity has been the one big difference as I am not so bothered by small setbacks in the big picture overall. It's all just part of the process.
I have two more races that I am doing for sure this year and may consider some others as well but part of my thinking is now considering next year and start the planning process for the season coming as you have to enter races 6 months in advance plus setting a real good and deep base for the long journey ahead. That is what is important now, building a solid foundation that will enable me to be successful in the future.

Not too bad today

Wasn't feeling it you know? Wasn't going to run till later but as scheduling goes it just seemed better earlier. I have been feeling some twinge in my left hamstring and in my right calf muscle so I was a little concerned plus I am still not feeling all that shit hot anyway, more mind curses than anything else. So I went out and got after it. I felt some weakness in my legs as I started out, I felt fresh and was running what felt slow enough but kept going, feeling just fine. As I went on I felt some fatigue grinding on me, could have been my pace or just my fitness sucking the life out of me. When I finished I was pretty surprized by my time. I walked/runned home the 1.6km which was a good warm down. I need to do more of that and stretch baby, stretch.

5 km, 25:24, 5:05 pace
Sleep: 7 hr, 9/10
Legs: 7/10 (calves still sore)

Busy day

Went to Fort St cycle and found a pair of shoes and pedals that we're going to use when I get properly fitted for a bike later this week. Then I went to the Y and hit the bike for 40 full minutes, felt really good, strange what a change in perspective will do for you. Then I went for my run and I felt not too bad at all despite my effort earlier. That is the key here is to try to get two workouts in when the time permits and do them well. I ran better today, working on some dorsifelxion to ease the stress off my calf muscles. I noticed a little relief in doing so, so I will continue that next time.

4 km, 21:34, 5:18 pace
Sleep: 7.5 hr, 9/10
Legs: 8/10

Bad lunch choices

Suffice it to say that going to the fair and having dogs, candy floss, corn on the cob, then following that up with some nachos and beer left me feeling like crap. I got my run in shortened just a tick and feeling less than good. A close call with the scoots and super sore calves left me wishing my lunch had been a salad or some fruit. Live and learn.

4 km, 21:28, 5:21 pace
Sleep: 6 hr, 10/10
Legs: 7/10