In the Pursuit of Wonder

Went for a walk with my daughter at the greenfield desert riparian water park.  Went 1.63 miles in 1:02.  Trying to figure out what kind of hummingbirds we have been seeing.  I think they are black-chinned hummingbirds.  We also so gila woodpeckers, curve billed thrashers, a snowy egret, as well as all the usual ducks.  Lots of birds were gathering material for their nests.

AM - Left the house at 7:00 with a friend, destination wind cave trail in Usery Park.  It was around 45 degrees at the start.  Took 37.18 to go 1.6 miles and 800 foot elevation gain up to the cave.  Spent about 10 minutes resting and watching the ground squirrels which are always there.  No bees this time with the cool weather.  Decided to check out the trail past the "enter at your own risk" sign.  It was a lot further than I thought We saw a hummingbird on our way up to the ridge where we could the goldfields to the east.  We also had a good view of the pass that pass mountain trail passes through.  Including the rest at wind cave it took us 43:54 to make it up to the ridge and back down to the cave.  I don't have any data for the distance, but the guess is about 1/3 mile up and another 200 foot elevation gain.  Took another 35:17 to get to the car.  for a total time of 1:57.29, 3.85 miles and 1000 foot elevation gain.  The Mexican Gold Poppies were starting to bloom.  I was hoping it would be warm enough for them to open up on the way back down, but it was still too cool.

 I plan on going to YC's Mongolian restaurant for lunch.  Hopefully I can get a short run in this evening.

PM - Ran 1.92 in 22.48 AHR 152, 74% of max, HR Range 148-163, 17:36 in zone, peak 165, cal 516 based on 232 lbs. 11.53 pace.

This was the first time since high school I have ever ran over a mile without stopping.  I know I ran the mile in high school as part of PE, but I don't remember whether I ever did it without walking.  I was never the poor soul who walked almost the entire way and did it in like 15 minutes, but I doubt I ever did it without taking some walk break, if just because I didn't care that much about it.  Today I made it almost to the 1.5 mile mark when my hr monitor told me to walk.  I only took two walks and they both were around 30 seconds.  This was after my fairly rigorous hike in the morning.  Up until this point I have been making progress, but in pretty small increments.  Today was a pretty big jump.   I did get a headache during the run, which I attribute to only eating a muffin for breakfast and a trail bar and dried peaches at the top of the mountain, and then a huge lunch, but nothing for dinner and then ran around 9PM.

PM - Ran 1.92 in 22.07 AHR 144, 67% of max, HR Range 148-163, 11:36 in zone, peak 169, cal 455 based on 232 lbs. 11.31 pace.

I planned on running yesterday, but had cub scout blue and gold banquet and went to get a hair cut and didn't end up running.  My calves were sore from my president's day hike so it was probably a good day to miss.  My calves were sore today as well.

A couple of runs ago I tried running slower to keep my heart rate down and eliminate my walks thinking that would give me a better time.  That theory didn't hold up.  So this time I ran a little faster and took more walk breaks.  The result was shaving over 20 seconds off my pace.  I have never had the opportunity to pass anyone on a run before.  Today I passed two different sets of arm pumping fitness walkers.

PM - Ran 1.92 in 21.45 AHR 153, 74% of max, HR Range 148-163, 18:22 in zone, peak 165, cal 497 based on 232 lbs. 11.20 pace.

Ran faster than yesterday with more walks, lowered pace by 11 seconds.

PM - Ran 1.92 in 22.21 AHR 154, 74% of max, HR Range 148-163, 18:38 in zone, peak 168, cal 517 based on 232 lbs. 11.38 pace.

 Right shin hurting.  It is always my right side that hurts.  Don't know if I have some form issue or if it is because of the slight camber of the road.

PM - Ran 2.51 in 31.20 AHR 149, 71% of max, HR Range 148-163, 19.06 in zone, peak 166, cal 685 based on 232 lbs. 12.29 pace.

Today was Saturday with my planned day off tomorrow, so I planned a 2.5 mile run compared to my typical 1.92 mile run.  after about 3/4 of a mile, my right calf started to hurt.  I didn't think much about it as I usually have some pain on most of my runs.  About half way through the run, it was affecting my gait pretty good.  It's hard to explain, but it is like the strength in my calf faltered for a split second while that leg was on the ground and I had to sort of fall forward a little bit.  I kept hoping it would get better.  Even during my walks which are now generally like 5 seconds my gait wasn't normal.  At about the 2 mile mark the bottom of my left foot started to hurt and I figured it was because I was running with such bad form and decided to walk the rest of the way home.  I think there is a good chance I will be skipping monday's run, but I hope not.  The last time I ran this distance was on Feb 11th.  I ran it a minute quicker this time even walking the entire last half mile.  Perhaps I am pushing forward too fast and need to cut back my mileage next week.  I don't have a gym membership or a treadmill at home, so I don't know what else to do to keep my cardio going without running and I need the mileage to lose some weight.  It is kind of a catch 22.  Can't increase mileage to lose weight because I will get injured, but can't lose weight because I can't run the miles.  I will try not to get to dissappointed and will try to think it through with a clearer head tomorrow.

I plan to run every day, so thought it was a good idea to get a second pair of shoes.  I have been running in Brooks addiction and bought a pair of Brooks Adrenaline today.  They did a gait analysis on me at the running store.  I ran on a treadmill for the first time in my life while they video taped it to show me my gait.  My left foot pronates slightly, while my right foot pronates moderately.  The sales person thought my current pair of shoes had a little too much stabilization.  I liked the lighter shoe and the little more cushioning.  I don't think the new shoes caused my problem today, but I can't completely rule it out.  One thing I noticed about the new shoes is when I step on a half inch sized pebble, the shoe kind of cushions it as I run over it.  My other shoes are much stiffer and I kind of roll over the top.

I saw a running/pirate movie today.  I can't imagine coming up with such an idea, but that is what Disney's Blackbeard's ghost is.  Blackbeard is cursed to limbo until he does a good deed and his good deed is attempting to help a track team win a tournament.  There are funny moments, but the acting is bad and the special affects are atrocious.  I highly recommend it. lol.  Well if you actual read all that then thank you for listening to my ramblings.  Hopefully my next run will have a more positive outcome.