Back With a Capital Vengence!

Warmed up on the bike and then 30 minutes of run/walking on the TM followed by my super intense hip flexor strengthening routine. No more slacking on the hip exercises!!! 

First ever Sbarro run. Ran from me casa to 11th ave, down Memory Grove, to the City Creek food court, and then back home. Feels good to be running outside now, especially in the rain.

My PF is back with a vengeance and my lower legs are killing me though and I don't understand why. Previous to this year I have never even had sore calves after a big run. Is this just what it is like after a year layoff? Is my form weird because I think I am still favoring my good side? Is this just what it is like to get older? Is it the shoes? Is it all the stretching I am doing to try and make it better? Is it my diet? Or is it because I sit on my bum most of the day? This article scares me!

If you exercise for 30 minutes a day, she says, “take time to reflect on your activity levels for the remaining 23.5 hours,” and aim to “be active, sit less.”

Think cycling season is over. Froze my freaking bum off riding down Emigration. Soooo cold. 

Got a free entry into the Buffalo Run 50 something today for being such an amazing volunteer this year :) Think I got signed up for the wrong race though... ha ha ha!

Quick little RUN on the TM.

A little nervous for the big family relay this weekend. I need to run around 10 miles over 2 legs this Saturday. I think I can do it, but I just really, really don't want to mess anything up since I am finally making some real progress.

Here is a clear illustration of my nervousness. I have only had four 10+ mile weeks in all of 2012. Just for fun, here is my weekly mileage for the past year:

December: Surgery :(

Jan-May: Negligible

June: 4.2, 9.9, 14, 4.5, 7

July: 3.55, 17.55, 7.9, 0

August: 1, 4, 2, 2, 4.2

September: 2.1, 3, 3.55, 7.40, 12.53

October: 11.25, 8+

The Fall 50's course directions: Start running at Gill's rock and don't stop until someone hands you a beer. 

I have to say that is was pretty special that my first real big run race dealie was with my family in WI. It was pretty much Wisconsin's version of the Ragnar, but with lots and lots of beer. 

Found out the night before the race that I would be running 3 legs of the relay meaning 4.5 more miles than the 10 I was already freaked out about running. Not to mention the fact that I was totally sleep deprived after my "red eye" on Friday morning.

Leg 2: 6.5 miles in 53 minutes. Was shooting for 9-10 minute miles, but hovered around 8's and it felt AWESOME. So much for WI being flat. Leg 2 began and ended with B Street type hills - what the heck? 

Leg 9 & 10:  Was already sore from my first run 5 hours before so I have to admit I wasn't too psyched for 8 more miles. Ran the first five miles in the low 8's and then met up with my few months shy of 70 uncle and ran to the finish at a glorious (more relaxed) pace.

14+ miles - and it wasn't that bad - cannot freaking believe it! The hip held out well, but my calves and abs have never been so sore. No hip or quad soreness whatsoever. Well maybe a little psoas stiffness, but not much more than a typical day in my office chair. Weird. I think I am ready to step things up a bit. I still think it is pretty crazy that I ran that far considering I have only done about 3 runs over 5 miles in the last year...