Run your own workout

Usually I'm pretty good about running my own workout. Lately, I've been tagging along chasing someone else on their workouts. It's had the desired results. My steady state runs have become quicker and farther. Time to add some speed to the equation.

I've determined my VDOT is 47. This gives me a idea where to try and run my workouts. What I failed to do is look up the actual schedule in Daniels book. This morning I attempted 9 x 400 meters at R pace. The bigger fail was trying to use the youngster's time instead of mine. I attempted 2 repeats at his pace and then just settled in behind and ran my own pace for the remaining repeats.

Still prefer to run on the track chasing or being chased than running solo. At least for this type of workout. Almost comforting having the known distance of the track in front of you versus the uncertainty of the remaining distance on the road.

Runbayou VDOT calculator (link on the left)

Patience

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Can't imagine I'm the only runner who is impatient for the results of days past. Hard sometimes to trust the training process to bring us back to that level of fitness. Guess that's one of the benefits of keeping a running log. It's nice to go back to the beginning of a training cycle and see the progression.

I"ve started doing some steady state runs. This past week was the 3rd one in the last 3 weeks. The times have been discouraging. At least, until I put them in perspective to my last buildup. It really isn't a fair comparison to look at numbers from 4 years ago with a base and temperatures below 40 degrees for most every run. I've even used this data to convince myself that my last marathon PR really could have been a sub 3:00 on a little bit cooler day.



Strange foot issues for the first time. It's in the foot I broke, but that's not the issue. The 3rd and 4th metatarsals are really sore after most of my runs. It's almost like the work into a knot or something. It's usually gone by the end of the day. Just a different issue that I've never dealt with. I'll guess it's caused by walking around on my heel in that damn boot for 6 weeks. Perhaps the muscles and or tendons have atrophied? Probably aggravated by the arthritis in my big toe. (self diagnosis) According to the web, I should eat foods rich in amino acids. (meat, eggs and animal protein)

I am going to measure the widths of the different running shoes I'm wearing. At one point I was convinced a narrow toe box was causing my foot issue. That's probably not the case, as the issue is only with the right foot.

Oh and the silly running streak. Still going. Day 36.

Remember our Veterans

By the numbers

Not on pace this year to hit 2,000 miles.Only ran 1,845 miles last year. I've increased my daily run to 6 miles this week. By the time I get to 8 miles a day that should be enough to get me to 2,000 by the end of the year. That is if I can stay injury free. About 8 weeks into the latest comeback. Of course the only way to jump start the training is a streak. Today was day number 15 of the current streak. But of course running streaks are stupid. Goal this week is 40 miles. Only missed it this past week by a half mile or so.

Would really like to be in marathon shape by this fall. No interest in getting a qualifier to make the show at Boston in 2014. I'll probably enter the lottery for the Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon. The goal for that race would be a BQ qualifying time. (on a non-BQ course) Could have my arm twisted to make another fast marathon attempt at Rocket City, if any of the guys are training or have similar goals.

Probably skip the 10 miler at Bell Buckle. Never really have been in shape for that race. Hope to have enough of a base in the next couple of months to start some speed work. Maybe a fast mile or 5k at Smyrna in August.

First casualty of the running streak is the weight workouts. May try to do some kind of crossfit type of weight workouts to mix things up. Only downside to that is finding time.

10 more weeks

Decided I'm at least 10 weeks away from being in halfway decent shape. At least the kind of shape to start thinking about speedwork and planning workouts. Right now, I'm just happy to be able to get out the door and slog for a few miles.

Started another streak, just to try and turbo kick my running. Also had a pretty decent run with Speedy this morning out at Spain Hill. The hills really worked in our favor and we negative split the run. I'll take my excitement anyway I can get it.

Yesterday we saw the Rutherford Relay folks running all around town. Still don't get the big deal about relays. (Yeah, it's great they're raising money for a good cause) Every runner I saw was all by themselves on some of the really shitty/busy roads in Murfreesboro. They even ran down the road by my house. The road they are in the middle of resurfacing. That had to be a fun section.

I will have to give the city credit for putting in a pump to keep the streets from flooding in our neighborhood. That really surprised me. But, it wouldn't even be needed if the planning commission actually did what they are supposed to do. Also, found out our quiet section of town will be getting a Lowes/Home Depot in addition to the 4th Walmart. (like we really need another one of those)

The start of this cycle I planned on tracking my heart rate to make a pretty graph. Done with the heart rate monitor. This mornings long run was the last time. It did confirm that I'm not training hard enough, but at this point in the cycle that's a good thing. Don't need to get injured by doing to much to soon. Infographics are where its at.

Middle of the road

Finally a decent run. First run getting up at 3:30 am to get out the door by 4:30 am. Pretty hard to get to excited running 5 miles in 45 minutes. The stiffness in my ankle has just about gone away. Breathing wasn't an issue, maybe the pollen is about done. This spring has been terrible for the allergies, probably because I'm not running very much.

Perhaps next week I'll try to run with the guys once or twice. The main road out of my subdivision is being worked on in both directions. Talk about a cluster fuck. The city is putting in a traffic light in one direction. That's good, its been needed for awhile. The boneheaded thing is resurfacing the entire road in the other direction at the same time they are making every corner wheel chair accessible. That's all well and good, but why make a corner accessible if there isn't a sidewalk leading to that corner? Even dumber is resurfacing the road which is due to be widened in the coming year.

Creepy headline of the day

Baby girl sacrificed on bonfire after sect leader says tot is the Antichrist, Chile cops say

 "Everyone in this sect was a professional," Ampuero said. "We have someone who was a veterinarian and who worked as a flight attendant, we have a filmmaker, a draftsman. Everyone has a university degree. "

Weather for this weekends Country Music Marathon continue to improve. Temperatures will cooperate, the rain may not even be a factor. Spring marathons are such a crap shoot. My target marathon last weekend had good weather but the course had to be rerouted because of flooding. I've run a marathon on a flooded course where they didn't bother changing the course. It was an adventure by a shody/less than ethical race director in Texas. We have them here in Tennessee as well.

 "Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness." Edward Stanley (1826-1893)