| 10/22/08 |
Track Work |
South High |
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My first track / speed workout went fairly well. It was cold and windy and dark - and those conditions will not improve as the months go on. My 400 times were: 2:06 (too fast!); 2:25 (too slow); 2:09 (almost just right). I'll get to know my track speeds the more I practice just as I now know my long run and race paces.
I'm guessing it was from Tuesday night's rock climbing but after the track workout tonight, my arms started to hurt badly. We did a couple plank exercises and some push-ups but I definitely didn't do enough upper body work at the track to merit the pain and stiffness I felt. It had to have been a delayed reaction to the climbing - I really need to build up some upper body strength!!!
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| 10/21/08 |
X-training |
REI |
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Had my first experience in rock climbing tonight and I did better than I thought I would. I'm certainly not a natural at the sport but I did make it up a couple 5.6 climbs, which for my first time out was good. I only got halfway up the 5.7 before I got stuck (damn these little arms and legs of mine!!) I hope to go back and try it again soon - but in the meantime need to work on some strength training for sure!
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| 10/20/08 |
00:31:35 |
City Park loop |
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They just laid a new running path in City Park so I thought I'd give it a shot tonight. Overall it was a decent run - very level. However, the path is not yet completed so it wasn't a great idea for me to run there. Sections of it still had mounds of dirt and since it was so freshly laid, it was actually too soft for me to run on - it was great for the knees but tough on the ankles.
I started out the run tonight with what felt like shin splints. I walked to the park as a warm-up and felt fine but once I started running, every time I landed on my right foot, I had a sharp stabbing pain in my right shin. I ran as easily and lightly as I could and it was sore but bearable. ** I have to make sure I stretch out well enough after a run!
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| 10/19/08 |
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Denver Marathon |
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No I didn't run it but I was as sore after it as if I had! I worked in the finish area collecting timing chips and handing out medals. I worked almost an 8 hour shift and stuck around until the last runner came through (even after they shut down the course). I remember what it felt like in Anchorage when I FINALLY got to that finish line and remember how grateful I was to the person who clipped off my chip without making me sit down and to the person who handed me a cup of water and something to eat.
I am now a firm believer that all runners should give back to the running community by volunteering. Those of us who love to race wouldn't have as many opportunities to race if it weren't for the volunteers. They work just as hard (if not harder) than the racers do and I believe that it is every runner's duty to help out in some way.
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| 10/18/08 |
01:52:34 |
Washington Park
4 loops -
10 miles |
My longest run so far! I thought I was going for slightly more than 7 and a half and when I recognized I covered 4 loops instead of 3, I did the math quickly and realized I had run 10 miles!! Already up to the double digits!!
It was kind of a tough run today - not really the distance; I just trudged along. But I think it was almost boredom that got to me today. I brought an iPod and turned it on 45 minutes into the run and it helped for a while - lots of those great 80s tunes that keep the legs turning over and over! I like running in Washington Park but 4 loops is a bit much - maybe next time I'll venture out to Speer and run along the Creek for a stretch. Although there is a perk to staying within the park perimeter - bathroom availability!
What I learned:
- Need more practice with gels and sports drinks - used 1 gel on this run in 2 servings, utility belt had 1 water bottle & 1 gatorade bottle; tummy was not liking the gel but I did get an energy boost each time I took it
- Footloose is a great song to run to!
- Stop wearing the light blue shirt (it badly chafes the right underarm) - keep wearing those injinji tetratsok performance sock (no toenail pain since I started wearing them!!)
- Leave earlier!!! I'm late every week! (fortunately so is the group when it comes to hitting the trails!!)
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| 10/11/08 |
01:20:29 |
Highline Canal Trail |
When I run, I run like I was The Fonz. Why I do this, I have no idea! I first noticed it in my Anchorage photos and 4 years later, I'm still doing it. I learned to pretend you have butterflies in your hands to keep yourself from gripping your hands into tight fists while you run. In an attempt to keep my hands relaxed, I always seem to end up running giving two thumbs up. I often wonder if the other runners I pass on the trail think I'm encouraging them on when in fact I have no awareness of what I'm doing and am really just trying to relax my hands.
Today was my first time running along the Highline Trail I've heard so much about. It was a good running path but I don't think I'd head out there on my own as it's a bit isolated for my taste. It was really cold this morning but something tells me even colder mornings are still to come... Overall, not a terrible run - would've been better if I didn't get hungry before I was even halfway done! But I finished strong and no pain in the toes so all in all, I guess you could say it was good!
What I learned:
- Eat more calories the day before a long run - my tummy started growling at 30 minutes.
- Stretch before getting in the car to head home - otherwise my knees lock up.
- Good start on the fundraising front - but there's still a long way to go!
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| 10/09/08 |
00:32:42 |
Run to and around Cheesman Park |
I am lovin' the new socks! It was a short run but hopefully they'll keep working as well as they did tonight - I completely forgot about them once I hit the pavement, which I think is the best thing that can be said about a pair of socks! No toenail pain tonight - while running or afterwards.
Today's run started out a bit later than intended so I only did one full loop in Cheesman and one partial with some street running - it got a little too dark and creepy to stay in the park (thoughts of the Central Park jogger always seem to enter my mind when it comes to running in a dark park...) It would've been good to do the full 2 loops but I figured safety has to come first. Now that my weekly runs are getting longer and the days getting shorter, I will certainly have to try to get out earlier and find the best lit paths to run on!
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| 10/07/08 |
00:41:42 |
City Park run |
Did a shorter warm-up today - I started running only a couple blocks from my apt instead of walking all the way to the park and then running. It was a decent run - I got passed by a woman about halfway through and decided she's be the marker to keep my pace up. I knew I wouldn't be able to catch her but I ran faster to hold the distance between us and not let it get any bigger - it seemed to help push me a bit more. Still having some toenail concerns though - gotta figure out something soon!
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| 10/04/08 |
01:14:55 |
Holiday Inn to Wash Park (est. 7 miles) |
Good long run today - can't believe I can get my butt out of bed at 5am on Saturday mornings but I did it again today! Ran with the TNT South & Central team today; started at Holiday Inn and ran to Wash Park (mix of concrete and gravel paths). Had a slight negative split on the way back. Some toenail pain today but not terrible.
We had a fundraising clinic after today's run - lots of helpful ideas! Not sure what I'm going to do yet but will have to figure it out soon (especially while I have this "flexible" schedule!) I got to meet Brandan today at the Clinic. Knowing his story and all that he has gone through in the past year, it was so great to see him so full of energy, running around, smiling. If my getting up at 5a on Saturdays leads to more of that, bring it on!
What I learned:
- Going to bed by 9p worked well
- STRETCH!!!
- More patients than ever will apply for funding from LLS this year -- so I'd better get moving on the fundraising planning!!
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| 10/02/08 |
31:46 |
3.2 miles (2 loops of Cheesman Park) |
| Great run tonight! Ran with my best pace since coming to CO (9:55) - apparently it took me about 2 months to acclimate. Wore the new Asics & still had some toenail issues :( - it could be the dry mountain air. Good negative split on second lap - 16:01 lap 1 - 15:45 lap 2. |
| 09/23/08 |
30:00 |
City Park |
An okay run tonight; wanted to loop the whole park but only did an interior loop instead - legs are tired today after running so many days in the last week but they're starting to get stronger!
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| 09/21/08 |
10W/10R/20W |
Cheesman Park |
Went out to run a 30 minute recovery run but after running for just 10 minutes, I bonked. Never bonked before and it was a little scary - had to stop running and slowly walk home. Would've been helpful if I had candy or Gatorade with me - bonking seems to be a drop in blood sugar. Good recovery walk at least!
If there's any doubt I'm not suffering on my end - I walked through a spider web on the way home and apparently a large spider hitched a ride home on me! If that ain't suffering, I don't know what is! Ew!!!!!
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| 09/20/08 |
1:12:01 |
along Cherry Creek
(7 miles?) |
My first run with the Rocky Mountain TNT group was this morning and it went well considering! Considering I was sick for a couple hours leading up to bedtime the night before - considering I got NO sleep the night before (woke every hour because of neighbor noise or the cats) - considering the nausea I've come to know all too well over the past 2 years hit hard that morning before I left. But I was up at 5:15a, ate my English muffin & drank a whole bottle of water, dressed well for the weather - and I got there at 7am on the nose. I went out slow (as I had planned) and picked up the pace on the final mile (one - because that's how I like to train and two - because I had to pee really really badly and there were no port-a-potties on the trail!) 4:30:00 is looking like a real possibility at this point!!
What I learned:
- **pee before you hit the trails**
- you need to apply sunscreen even if it is pitch black when you leave the house
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| 9/18/08 |
00:39:19 |
around City Park |
Today's run was great! It was fueled by the fact that I finally got called in for that city job interview - nothing like a little good news to make the time fly by! I haven't ran much since coming to CO but tonight's run already felt a lot easier than my previous outings here - could've been the good news or just the fact that the more you run, truly the easier it gets. The hardest part about today was getting my butt out the door - but I put on my remembrance bracelet to remind me why I signed up to do this and it helped. Once you get past that hurdle of getting out the door, it becomes a piece of cake to get the run done!
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| 9/16/08 |
30 minutes |
? |
The plan was to meet up in City Park with the running group but as I walked there, my left glute got really sore (fell in the stairwell yesterday!) So I opted for a 30 minute walk over a run to walk off the soreness and not overwork my right ankle (which I nearly twisted twice yesterday!)
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| 9/15/08 |
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Planned REST day (went to the driving range to "cross-train"!)
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| 9/13/08 |
00:58:40 |
5.2 miles |
Not bad for a first long run - was a bit warm though! The plan was to do an hour and I thought I was crazy to attempt this seeing as how the longest run I've done in CO so far has only been 30 minutes. But with a couple brief walking breaks to take a sip of water, I got 2 loops of Wash Park done in a decent time frame. Predicting sore knees tomorrow!
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| 9/11/08 |
31:06 |
Distance - ? |
The marathon is 4 months from today!! Weather tonight was cool (50s) and misty - wore shorts & long sleeves & Red Sox cap (got warm quick); Not a bad first training run - did the planned 30 minutes but had hip pain 10 minutes in (could've been the crooked stones I ran on).
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