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

I started to feel it

Today was pretty good. I ran pretty comfortable for the the first couple of km, then I got into a rythym that I hadn't really felt in some time. It felt good. I ran the whole distance without any thoughts of stopping. Funny how quickly it is coming back. Last week I couldn't run 3k without stopping. I'm pretty happy about that. The new running style is still causing my calves to burn and I am hoping that will go away soon but it isn't too bad. All in all, it pretty good.

6 km, 32:41, 5:22 pace
Sleep: 4.5 hr, 8/10 (+ 1hr nap)
Legs: 7/10

Happy day

Well I can run without stopping for a whole 5k. I didn't run as fast as yesterday which was a good move cause I'm not racing yet, silly. It was really warm out today and I was wishing for some liquid for sure. I kept moving even though I was tired. I felt pretty good despite the localized calf pain in my right leg, I'm sure it's just adjusting to the new running style which is tougher to keep straight than I like. Anyway, it was a good day for sure.

5 km, 27:22, 5:28 pace
Sleep: 7 hr, 9/10
Legs: 7/10 calves sore

Summer's come early this year

Hot day today, hit around 32C earlier. I waited till around 7 so it could cool down a little. I wasn't really feeling it but I also know it is some of the best time to get out and run. I am still very out of shape, the weight has crept up to an uncomfortable level but I am not letting that deter me. So I went out and changed my route up a little. I ran pretty comfortably, albiet too quick but with this new style of running I am running well with only my calves taking the beating but I'm sure it will get better. I ran longer without stopping, just over 3k. I was labouring a bit, a bit lazy, running too fast and not deep enough buy in yet. But that will come too. I still feel really good about what I am doing, it is really important to me cause it is the only way I know how to be better than I am now.

5 km, 26:17, 5:15 pace
Sleep: 7 hr, 9/10
Legs: 8/10

I'm back

Wow, it's been awhile again but now things have calmed down and are getting back to normal. The wedding is in the books and everyone has returned home. It was an awesome time and some serious fun was had by all.
Back to basics now though. I read an article about the Tarahumara tribe in Mexico. They run for hours on end, days at a time, without injury and stress. Seems very interesting to me. So I decided that I would take of some of their wisdom and try and change my stride as being a recovering heel striker and prone to injury that I would see if running even more forefoot. I'll expect some discomfort, plus getting back in the deep end of the pool is difficult enough as it is. So I'll give it a try for now and see what happens.
As for today, well it was rough. I did my usual of going out too fast and then dying. I know I will learn some day but damn soon would be good. So I ran then stopped for a moment, then ran and stopped and ran and stopped. But I didn't give up.

22:15, 4 km, 5:34 pace
Sleep: 6 hrs, 8/10
Legs: 8/10

May already?

It was a year ago today that I did my first ultramarathon. Seems like not that long ago but how things change. There has been some good and some real bad but I have continued through to till today. I am not very pleased with my personal performance of late and feel quite compelled to change it. I have the focus and ability but sometimes lack the "stick to it ness" that is really required to be my best. I know better. I train well. I just get in my own way far too often. So I'm going to take my time and train smart slowly, go with what works and be successful.
As for today, well I wanted to see how far I could go without dying. Seriously. I am carrying a truckload more weight that I have in some time and it equates to about a second per pound on average speed. That sucks. Slow and steady right? I ran a familiar route because I knew where the markers were and was pretty confident that I would be able to complete the distance. I ran nonstop, for which I am impressed as the last two runs I did I had to stop partway through. Times now seriously mean little only as a benchmark to measure my progress. My legs are stiff but that is to be expected. They were stiff this time last year too.

22:27, 4 km, 5:36 pace
Sleep: 8 hr, 9/10
Legs: 7/10

Good day for a run

Good weather and starting to feel better so I figured what the hell? I laced up and headed out. Nothing fancy just a little run well within myself to find out what I had. I could feel the fatigue early but that was totally expected. I felt myself labouring up the hills and my breathing and heartrate were high as I was running too fast. It was really good to be out, you know. So I pushed on and finished up pretty well. I'm going to run tomorrow again to make sure this just wasn't a fluke. Ha, I'll be fine I'm sure.

3.65 km, 19:40, 5:22 pace
Sleep: 5 hr, 6/10
Legs: 7/10

Testing

Ran today with the thought that if it hurt, I'd stop and walk it home. The pain abated again so I continued on. It wasn't anything fancy plus I've been feeling less than my best so it was just good to get outside. Regardless, I feel like I am back on the mend and maybe this year I might race but right now it isn't really looking good.

5 km, 24:36, 4:52 pace
Sleep: 6.5 hr, 7/10
Legs: 6/10

More snow, wtf?

Wanted to see how my leg was feeling after the short run yesterday so I figured it would be good to go out to Thetis and get offroad. I headed out after work, a day in which we had a dusting of snow early in the morning but by noon it had pretty much left us, except for the trails. I picked the Stewart Mtn trail as it is familiar and prior to reaching the mountain the trail is rather kind. I thought about running 10 or so but eased back on that just a bit as I was picking up Andy after so my time was a bit limited. I was out of shape and slow early on but was feeling pretty good. No pain. The trail was a chore though. The snow had sort of melted but was also frozen in some spots creating a minefield of sorts. Up the Mackenzie trail, the water was frozen over in places and the mud was slushy. Fuck that water was super cold too. My feel went numb for a spell as I barrelled through it all. I stopped at 4k and took a breather. I wasn't hurting but was tired. I doubled back the same way I came and when I got to the car I was glad to be out and done. I'm going to take a week off and rest up and let my leg heal more then try again next week.

8 km, 49:09, 6:08 pace
Sleep: 6.5 hr, 8/10
Legs: 6/10

Well, let's see now

MTSS, or shin splints. I've got a case of them apparently. Went to see Bruce last week and the massage seemed to work but the pain was there. So, stretching, ice, rest, the usual. The pain has lessened over the last couple of days so I figured I would give it a try, nothing to fancy, fully prepared to walk home if need be. The weather today was perfect, cold but clear and no wind. So I started out and headed down into the park for a quick lap around. I didn't feel any pain at all until just about 3.5km but it wasn't anything terrible. I finished strong even though I felt like I was dying, man am I out of shape and way too heavy but it's been eight weeks of easy living and more than time to get serious. Then my leg got sore and now I am seemingly starting over again but at least I am starting over. I was pretty happy with today, it was just nice to run. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow. I iced and stretched today after and my leg feels okay right now.

5 km, 24:27, 4:53 pace
Sleep: 8 hr, 9/10
Legs: 6/10

Finding the right road

Volunteered for the first race of the VIRA series this morning, fun to watch the fast guys run. Was pretty impressive to watch the top two gun it out over the last 50 meters in near Canadian record time. Beyond that I have been nursing a sore leg for the last week or so and it has been affecting me more than I have been willing to admit. I almost didn't run today due to it but finally made the decision to go out and give it a try. The real challenge has been of late to find a stride that feels comfortable, I just feel out of sync. Reminds me of the TED episode on the same subject. It took me almost 8km to find the right feeling again, despite the pain in my leg. I didn't want to push it or my luck for that matter so I called it a day shortly after that. I feel really good now, my leg aches but I can manage, stretch, ice, arnica and probably run again tomorrow.

10 km, 52:30, 5:14 pace
Sleep: 6.5 hr, 5/10
Legs: 4/10

Just one of those days

I had an unfortunate experience today that caused me some great effort and humility on my part but let it be said that I was at least prepared and did the best I could despite the circumstances. It was messy and awkward but after I was all cleaned up, everything is back to normal.

10 km, 54:00, 5:24 pace
Sleep: 5.5 hr, 7/10
Legs: 5/10

A test of sorts

On new years this year I wrote my list of resolutions, nothing too concrete but more of a list of intentions. Today was the first test of that list. I have had a long history of self sabotage, you know when things are good I take a left turn into traffic, upsetting the balance. Today I had fully decided that I wasn't going to run for reasons that still elude me but that was my stance. Now I have lofty plans for this year with some 4000km of training and 6 large races planned. So it made no sense to not train today, I'm healthy, the weather was near perfect for early January, the list goes on. But I had this thing in me that wasn't going to let me do it because I just get in my own way. So I meditated on it for a while and in short order I got my shit together and got outside. Not that the run was anything to write about, that is not the issue, the key here is that the feeling of satisfaction and pleasure, the real reason I run, was there at the end, as it always is. Riding the elevator back to the apartment, it occured to me that I had won this round but will have to continue battling from time to time until I can figure out just how to be my own best friend and welcome success.

8 km, 42:29, 5:17 pace
Sleep: 6 hr, 4/10
Legs: 6/10 (right anterior ankle pain, ice, arnica, neproxin)

And the heavens opened...

To say it was raining hard today was like saying the shower is just a little damp. I had a short but hilly run planned so when I got home from work I decided to suck it up and get out there. I was soaked waiting for my GPS to catch the satallite relay. Some of the hills I ran today had rivers that were a foot wide along with rain soaked leaves creating rapids that were jumping the sidewalk. It was hilarious. I got some strange looks from people trying to stay dry under their umbrellas heading home. I couldn't run as effectively as I had wanted to but it was fun running through puddle after puddle. By the time I got home, my shoes had an inch of water in them, so I undressed in the shower and wrung out my clothes before I washed off. Apparently an inch of rain has fallen today, must have been while I was outside.

8.6 km, 45:57, 5:18 pace
Sleep: 8 hr, 8/10
Legs: 8/10

Finally the snow has gone

And I can run free again, seems like alot longer than three weeks but it's high time to get back into the flow. Training takes a big turn come Monday as my goal setting is now complete and I've got some big races planned for this year. Today was an easy day to get out and warm up, just to run free admist the hundreds or so people out walking their dogs and strollers. I ran well early then eased off realizing that I was running too fast for today. The shortest race I'll do this year will take just over four hours, the longest probably as long as nine and a half, so there isn't a need to run quickly now. Tomorrow is the last day off for a while and I intend to enjoy it.

7.6 km, 37:22, 4:56 pace
Sleep: 6.5 hr, 9/10
Legs: 8/10