Speedwork

I guess I haven't posted anything in two or three weeks so here's an update. I should be working on the company newsletter right now (including a story about the SLC marathon!), but I've been having a hard time getting motivated.

I've been running pretty regularly, 3 or 4 times a week all month. It's been unusually hot for June in Oklahoma with highs in the mid to upper 90's most of the month. It just finally decided to cool down a bit this week. So I've usually been waiting until 8 or 8:30 in the evening to go run. Even then the temp has usually been somewhere between 88—93...and the humidity's been a killer. I've done a lot of 4-milers. On mile 2 or 3 I'll think I can go 5 or 6 miles but by the fourth mile I'm thinking "maybe 4 is enough." Besides, when I start that late I don't get done until 9 or 9:30 (or later) and still need to get home and shower and hopefully not get to bed to late.

I got especially busy this past weekend. I finally ran further than 4 miles...did 5 miles Saturday evening. Then Sunday I decided to try some speed runs, e.g. pick a distance and run it fast, then rest for a few minutes and repeat. I thought I'd run a mile and do it three times. So I took off fast on the first mile. Too fast. A sub-7 minute speed. By the half mile mark I had slowed down to a bit over a 7 minute pace and then at a bit over 2/3s of a mile I had to stop and walk for 30 seconds or so. I finished that mile in 7:38—so there's my PR for a mile. Makes me think if I could run the whole mile nonstop I would be near 7 minutes. I caught my breath and drank some water before taking off again. The second mile I did in 7:53 and then on my last repeat I was really running out of gas and did it in 8:24 (which I can do on a regular 4 or 5 mile run). I also took a 20 or 30 second walk during the 2nd two repeats.

It was something different and also gave me another goal to shoot for: Running these and doing the whole mile with no walking. I think if I started off at something more like a 7:30 pace I might be able to maintain that and perhaps even have a bit of a kick at the end.

I also ended up doing a quick 3 mile run on Monday evening just because the high Monday was only about 85 or 86...the coolest day we've had in quite some time and probably for some time to come. I thought I had to take advantage of it. However I also think I'm generally better off with a rest day between runs. And three days in a row is probably overdoing it.

Run, Swim, Run

Beats me where everyone is - probably just slacking (ha ha). Curt and I went out for a jaunt on Monday. I think it was pretty good for him and mediocre for me. I ran 7 miles on Saturday so I blame that for my being rather sluggish. Anyway, we once again went up and around part of our little town. After about 4.5 miles we headed toward the beach because Curtis was so hot. For those who have been to our beach, we circled around and then he went and dove in by the Statue of Liberty (yes statue of Liberty, why? I have no idea and no I don't typically dive into our lake; too chilly for me). He floated around a bit, got out and we continued on our way with Curt nicely cooled off. We were on the last part of our run and my feet decided to really hurt. We shortened it a bit, got back to car and drove home.

So, why did my feet hurt, well and my calves. Again, I partly blame the Saturday run and then I decided I can blame the distance too. 8.53 miles!! So yay for us!

On a sidenote, we registered to do the Spokane to Sandpoint relay in August. I did it last year and it was pretty fun. So now we have something we are working towards which is good.

~Sherry

Where is everyone?

I see that I was the last to post a blog. What is everyone doing? Avoiding the heat? I only ran twice this past week. The heat is very intimidating. I ran Wednesday with Phoebe and it really wasn't too bad. Thursday and Friday I worked on the flower beds instead of running. Good excuse?

I ran my long route yesterday morning. I ran it last Saturday too. I decided to run my short route during the week, when I can get myself going and stretch things out on Saturday when there is more time. I tried to see how long it was, but got lost in the car. Some of the route can't be driven so I have to guess and then I missed the road that I should have turned on and it got worse from there.

Twice is better than none. Right?
Thais

Pounding the Pavement

I ran twice this week. We had a front come through that really cooled things down. I ran in long pants and wore a jacket. The jacket got too warm, but I was running with Phoebe and couldn't see how to take the jacket off.

I ran another route which is about 2.5 miles (almost). I like it because it feels like there is less uphill. Maybe the "hill" is more gradual, but it seems easier. Today I expanded my route, but don't know how far it was. I will have to drive it to see.

Cheerio

Happy Trails

Yay! It finally quit raining here, well at least for the last few days. We hit the 70's over the weekend which I loved. So Saturday evening we did a family run of 4.5 miles. I say family meaning that the 4 of us at home went and ran but not actually together. Mason and Sydney are faster than mom and dad, at least mom for sure. Mason is kind enough to come back and check on us every so often then bound forward again :) The trail we went on goes along the lake a couple of miles and stops at a big rock. Black Rock it is called, thus BlackRock Trail. It is a nice trail but I did almost fall. I caught a root or something but I saved myself. This is good, because I fell twice last year and it isn't really fun (which Thais totally understands).

Then this morning Curtis and I went out for a longer run. Remember in Sandpoint, to take a longer run requires you to run a good portion of the town. Anyway, we ran I would guess at least 8 miles. Again, we went on some trails and it is hard to measure those out but I was happy with that. I haven't had a good long run in a while and I felt pretty good for most of it. I seem to have a little down period lately then I get a 2nd wind and seem to pick back up which is good. My feet hurt now though. Oh well, they will feel better tomorrow.

By the way, I think that you guys would really enjoy running on our trails up here. Sue had a little taste of it last summer and it was good. Yes, Jay I think that you should do the Midnight Run!
~Sherry

I ran once last week. By the end of the week we had rain and cool temperatures. Cool is good, but rain is a downer. I walked the dogs on Friday and it poured the whole time. Pouring in Utah is not like pouring in Oklahoma, but Maggie was wet to the bone and Phoebe and I were pretty damp too. I am trying to think how I can run in the morning rather after work. I will say I was exercising last week. I was digging dirt and pulling out iris tubers in an effort to clean up the destruction of fence installation.

I did run once! Another week begins.

In a Groove

Like the other Oklahoma runners, I've been struggling with the heat. Summer has hit pretty hard for early June, and it's been really humid too which makes it that much worse. I've been waiting until fairly late to run, but it will still be in the upper 80's (if not warmer) around 8pm. I ran Sunday and Monday evenings, 4 and 3 miles respectively. Both days, I felt pretty good starting out, but after a couple of miles, the heat really started to get to me.

Then Wednesday evening I didn't get out to the park until around 8:30. The temp was around 85 with a breeze and really didn't feel to bad, but the humidity was over 60%. Still, after the first two miles I really caught a groove and had one of those runs where it just seems like you're cruising effortlessly. I ran 5 miles averaging under 9 minutes/mile and really felt like I could keep going, but it was getting kind of late, and I needed to go home and shower still. When I finished I was almost as wet as if I had jumped in a pool, but I really felt good. Additionally, my ongoing sore ankle didn't bother me during the run and was just a little sore yesterday. It seems to slowly but surely be getting better.

In other news, the Oklahoma City Art Center has a Midnight 5K in August which I'm really thinking I'd like to run in. Seems like it would be fun and something to look forward to.

June 8th

I just finished running and didn't go as far as I wanted to. I left about 6:30 pm because I wanted to get home in time to watch Glee (my sisters got me hooked in SLC). The news said the temp was in the 90's but it felt like 100 degrees but I thought....it will be okay. I really have a hard time running in heat so Thais, don't feel bad. I ran about 2 3/4 miles and that was stopping frequently to rest. I started to feel sick to my stomach near the end so I turned around and walked back to my car. I guess I will have to get up early in the morning and pray for a little rain.

Hi Ya'll. I didnnn't know we were still blogging and only found out from an e-mail from Sherry. I was wishing we were blogging this morning when I was running, so I am HAPPY! I have added a bit to my run a couple of times. One day I went a little further west on 1300 E before returning to my regular route. This morning I ran a completely different route and have no idea how far it was. I ran without Phoebe which was nice. I have been taking her with me to give her exercise. She is a good sport and keeps up with me, very easily I might say, but tends to want to stop and smell the roses. I tug on the leash and she comes, but I am always aware of where she is. I worry about her going in front of me and causing me to fall. As you know, I did that once and I don't want to do it again.

We ran at Liberty Park one day last week. I found it a difficult run, maybe it was the time of day. I will say, it is harder to run when it is hot, and it isn't even hot here. Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 80's. I ran four times this last week. Yay!

I think I need a pedometer since I run on sidewalks and don't know how far I am going. Leslie said I am certainly running further than she does.

Good week

I had a good week, running 22.5 miles in three days. Monday I ran 5, yesterday 7.5, and today I unknowingly celebrated National Running Day with 10 miles. I very briefly entertained getting a short run in tomorrow, but honestly, I'm tired. As far as pace goes, I ran my 10 miles in maybe 1:20. I didn't keep exact time, but I was gone from my apartment for less than an hour and a half. If I can maintain my pace I think I'm looking at a current 1/2 marathon time of about 1:45ish. May even be able to beat that if I continue at the current pace without any injuries and don't run a race until the fall.

Anyways, this week was my most intense to date. We'll see how tired I am at work this weekend and let my body tell me whether I should maintain that type of mileage or slowly build it. I feel good, but fatigued. Always hungry and a little sleepier than normal. Of course, my body isn't used to that weekly output quite yet.

It's National Running Day

Maybe a bit late in the day to alert everyone, but today, June 2nd, is National Running Day.

Everyone should go run today in celebration! I'm going this evening.