A clydesdale no more!

This week is going to be a cut back week to get ready for Snow Canyon.  Started with 3 easy miles to warm up then ran 2 miles at 1/2 marathon pace.  Splits where 6:29, 6:28.  Breathing was good and if I concentrated my legs felt really strong.  I let my mind wander occasionally and when I did the legs did not move as well.  Cooled down with 2 easy miles.

Just your basic run of the mill run.

Absolutely no power in my legs today.  They felt completely empty.  I'll just chalk it up to one of those days.

Felt really tired during the run.  Decided to cut the run short because I wasn't having any fun.  Ran the last 2 miles a little quicker and I felt a lot better at the quicker pace.  

Wanted to run 7 but work got in the way so I had to cut the run short.  Pressed the pace a little and it felt good.  

Not what I was hoping for this weekend.  Figured if nothing else, I would get a nice relaxing night in a hotel without kids.  Checked into my "no smoking" room and it smelled like a casino.  On top of that, it was right next to the indoor swimming pool that was open until 11 and below the rowdy high school swim team.  I wasn't overly concerned about getting to bed early since the race didn't start until 9:15 and actually slept pretty soundly once I drifted off.

Got to the start line early as usual and jogged a little over a mile.  Met up with Cal, Bill and Don.  Asked Bill for advice on the course and he said to resist the temptation to hammer the first couple of miles (should have listened to him).  I analyzed splits from other peoples races last year to try to get a feel for the course.  It would have actually been a decent predictor if I would have followed it.

When I finished I thought my final time was 1:25:41 because that was what my Garmin showed.  While I was disappointed with how I felt at the end I felt good about the time.  Once the results were released, I realized that not only did my Garmin stop measuring when it lost it's signal but the timer stopped too.  My final time was actually 1:29:14.  To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.  I could not believe that I was that slow.  After a lot of reflection during the drive home I am more at peace with it and have come up with a few thoughts about the race and my training. 

The fact that most of my daily runs are 8 miles and I fell apart after 8 miles in this race is not a coincidence.  I have not done enough consistent long runs (15+ miles) in the past few months to sustain race pace in a half marathon.  When I PR'd in August, I had a couple of months of decent training including long runs.  Since then, I have run very few runs past the half marathon distance.  Not only is there a physical limitation but the mental skills required to push through the discomfort is missing. 

I usually take a GU at the halfway point.  While you do not need the extra carbs during a 1/2 marathon, it always provided a little pick me up.  Since I forgot mine and only got 1/2 a clif shot at mile 9 I think this may have hurt me a little (especially since I went out too fast).

Despite the race starting later than most races and it being unseasonably warm, I do not think the heat had anything to do with my collapse. Even though my shirt was soaked, I never felt hot during the race. 

My weight is probably a limiting factor in me being fast right now. I have to decide if I want to allow my weight to drop and become gaunt again to run faster times.  I look a lot thinner than I really am and I'm not sure I want to be 15 pounds lighter with where I am in my life right now.

While not entirely thrilled with the race, I did complete one race in the Runner's Series which is the most important thing.  Now I have to decide if I am happy being a 1:27-1:29 half marathoner and 3:05 marathoner or if I want to refocus on training serious and dropping weight and becoming a 1:20 halfer and 2:50 full runner.  Does it really make a difference in the grand scheme of things?

Legs are super sore (especially my left glute).  Took it really easy.  Felt a little nauseous half way through the run.  It seems like I always feel this way after a race.  Very strange.  

Why did I run today?  I didn't sleep last night, I feel nauseous and my legs are still crazy sore.  What kind of day would it be if it didn't start with a run?  I wouldn't know what to do with myself.  Ran at a super slow pace and felt alright once I got going.  Will continue with the short and slow runs until I feel pep in my legs again.

The recovery continues.  Feel a little better each day.

It was warm this morning and very windy.  I guess a storm is blowing in so I enjoyed what is probably the last warm weather run for awhile.  Other than a little soreness in my joints, my legs feel like they have recovered.  Felt good at my 5 mile turn so I kept going.  Did the same thing at the 6 and 7 mile turn.  It was a good run even though it was slow.

That was weird.  Got to the top of the street (0.3 miles) and something didn't feel right.  It wasn't the legs but something was telling me not to run this morning.  Turned around and went back home.  Cannot explain it.  Guess I just needed a break.

Was up early this morning (dang body clock) so I went to the LPT to get in a few miles before the club run.  I knew the run with the club would be short so I was glad that I got out early to get in a few extra miles.  The battery in my Garmin is dead so I am guessing on the mileage but am pretty sure it is close.  Ran 10 miles on the trail and passed Kathie on the way back.  Didn't recognize her at first since she wasn't wearing her blue jacket.  I was still very early and didn't want to stand around that long before starting up again so I grabbed a drink from the car and headed back out for 1.5 more miles.  Kathie was right at my turn around spot so I ran back with her.  Met up with the club and ran 4.5 miles with Trevor.  Either I didn't take in enough fuel or my body isn't processing it very efficiently because I really started to feel hypoglycemic 1.5 miles into the last segment of the run.  I started seeing spots as we went into the tunnel and my arms and hands were tingling.  This lasted for 1.5 miles then the last mile felt a lot better.  I thought about the pop tart that I had in my car the entire time and that is all that kept me going.  When I got back to my car, it was gone.  Guess I ate it before the run and forgot.  Glad to get the mileage in and despite the 2 miles of being low, the run felt good.

Bitter cold this morning.  I'm going to have to start doubling up on the gloves.  Took awhile to warm up then felt decent the second half of the run.

Couldn't sleep last night so I was very tired during the run this morning.  Remembered my ear warmers and second pair of gloves so I was much more comfortable during the run.  First few miles were pretty blah but then started to feel a little better towards the end.  Started at 8:00/mile and sped up a little each mile finishing at 7:30.

Hilly run up 1800 S to the mouth of Mueller Park canyon.  I felt very "heavy" this morning while I was running.  Couldn't get the legs to move right.  The effort didn't kill me going up and I really didn't pound the pace coming down.  As I saw my reflection in a store window I realized my form looked really bad.  Too much bending at the waist.  This has always been a problem for me and I think the cause is that my backside is disproportionately bigger then the rest of my body and I bend at the waist to compensate.

Yesterday's downhill run aggravated my right ankle.  Kept the pace nice and easy and treated the run as a recovery run.

It took a little extra work to get myself out the door this morning.  Very cold so it took awhile to warm up.  Half way through the run I realized that I really don't push myself hard enough.  I get into a comfort zone and don't push the pace as much as I should.  I don't want to run so hard that it hurts but I should be going a little faster than I am. 

What is that they say about people who do the same thing and expect different results?  Went to the LPT an hour before the club run to get in 8 miles before the club met (avg pace 7:45).  I forgot my fuel belt again so could only get a drink of Gatorade after 8 miles.  Ran 4.5 with Trevor and started to see spots again and feel hypoglycemic about 2.5 miles into the run.  It was not as bad as last week and lasted less than a mile.  Grabbed a drink and headed out for another 2.5 miles.  Averaged 6:50/mile with Trevor and 7:30 for the last 2.5.  Felt really good at 6:50 pace (aside from the spots).  Actually felt better running close to 7:00 than I did at 7:45.  Probably due to a better running economy at the faster pace.

Very, very, very slippery.  It stormed just enough to put a layer of super slickness on the road.  The first few miles were alright but the last two were treacherous.  Almost went down a few times but luckily was able to stay upright the entire run.  I'm staying home with a sick kid today so I don't have to deal with driving on the roads.  Be safe everybody.

A little colder each day.  Middle miles felt really good but started to get a little tired the last 2 miles.  Averaged 7:30/mile for the run.

I had another one of those "I really don't want to run" mornings.  I usually run a little harder on Wednesday mornings but decided to take it easy since there was little motivation.  Felt pretty yucky and slow throughout the run but glad I got it in.

Started the day with 8 chilly miles.  Felt good during the run and averaged 7:30/mile.  Got home, picked up Ashton and went to the Turkey Trot at the South Davis Rec Center.  I didn't think that Ashton wanted to run it but he has been running a lot in PE so he wanted to give it a go.  I told him that he could set the pace and I wouldn't try to push him at all.  This was the first time that I was in a race without racing.  It was a strange feeling.  I still found myself sizing up the competition and getting the usual pre-race jitters.  The first mile went really well (9:50) but he was feeling it.  Saw Fly running with his daughter.  We walked a little after 1.25 miles and then ran to the 2 mile marker (11:11).  Ran for another half mile then he had to walk a little again.  Told him that once we hit the last turn, I wanted him to stretch out his legs and really push (3rd mile was 11:09).  He really pushed hard the last little so he definitely could have run faster.  I don't think he realized what a 5k is supposed to feel like so held back during the race.  I was still really proud of him because before school started he got really out of shape and I was surprised that he even wanted to do this.  After the 5k my girls ran in the kids k.  Gracie took off way too fast (she is incredibly competitive) and felt really bad after the race.  I tried to explain to her if I don't feel that way after a race then I know I didn't push hard enough.  I think Emma isn't fully recovered from being sick so I ran with her at a more leisurely pace.  It was a lot of fun and am glad that I was able to run a 5k without dry heaving at the end.

After the race, I went back to the finish line to see Kathie finish the 10K and was surprised that she was already done.  She ran a really great race and can't wait to read the report (whenever she gets around to writing it).

My legs felt really tight this morning.  Was going to cut the run short at 5 miles but decided to go a couple of extra just for fun.  Felt better as the run progressed.

Went to the LPT to get in 8 miles before the club run.  I didn't feel too energetic so I just ran at a nice and easy pace.  Left my Garmin at home so I have no idea how slow it actually was.  Another runner hopped on the trail behind me and passed me so I must have been going slower than I thought.  As she passed I realized it was Jill Stevens (former Ms. Utah).  She is a 3:15 marathoner so I decided to try to maintain the same pace as her and ran about 20 yards behind her for a couple of miles until my turnaround.  The pace felt good (I'm guessing it was around 7:15/mile).  I have got to find a way to self motivate myself better.  If I run with somebody or have somebody to push me I feel good but when I'm alone I fall into a rut and allow myself to run at a slower pace than I should.  Tried to maintain the same pace on the way back.  Met with the club and was planning on running another 7 miles.  Felt good at the turnaround so I tacked on an extra mile.  I remembered my fuel belt this week so I felt a lot better during the run and didn't get hyperglycemic. 

I'm running the Jingle Bell 5k on Friday night and since I have not run a 5k in a few months and not experienced 5k pace for a long time I realized that I am in a lot of trouble.  I wanted to get in a little work at 5k pace this morning but not so much that it would wear me out for the race.  Warmed up with 2 miles then ran 4 X 1/2 mile with 1/4 mile rest on the new paved trail in West Bountiful.  I just wanted to run by feel with out monitoring the pace on the Garmin.  The pace did not feel comfortable.  My legs felt alright but the breathing was a little too labored.  I was able to recover pretty quickly between each repeat but they all felt a little off.  Had no idea what the pace was until I finished and reviewed the splits.  Assumed they all came in around 3:07 (6:15/mile pace).  Was surprised to see them at: 2:55, 2:59, 3:00, 3:05.  Although these were at a decent pace, they did not feel the way I want them to and I realized that I have a lot of work to do to get back into shape.