Cool Runnings!

This morning's run was extremely difficult - not because it was fast, but because my body was stiff and still a bit sore. It was really hard to get going - even after I warmed up, my legs just didn't have the higher gears today. First mile in 8:46, second mile in 7:45 (I couldn't go any faster), last segment in 9:01. Total time was 25:33. Stretched out good afterwards, but my left calf is still tight. I have been following the AI stretching method, but in general have not be stretching before my run, but after, and have just been warming up before getting going. I think that I am going to start to incorporate some stretching before my run as well, in the hopes that this will help to limber me up more.

Rode the bike this morning for approximately 8-9 miles (not sure on the distance). Quads and hamstrings were both burning (good sign) by the end of the ride, and the absence of pounding felt good to my legs. Talked to a sports chiropractor about my hip flexor and got some good advice - I may start to see him to help me get back to 100%. On his advice I am going to put a hot pad on my hip flexor prior to running and ice it down afterward. This is probably also going to put a halt on my early morning runs, as it would take too much time to complete this ritual and still be one time for work. But it has cooled off here, so I will enjoy running in the afternoon now and be able to run in the daylight.

Had a good run this afternoon. Beautiful weather, about 75 degrees. Put the heating pad on my hip flexor before running to get it nice and warm - seems to have helped. Ran the first mile in 7:48 - this was faster than I had anticipated and was also into a headwind. Second mile was 7:23, also into the wind. Felt a little strained because of the wind, but overall not too difficult. I pushed the next 1/2 mile, and ran it in 3:30 - this felt extremely easy, but I also had the wind at my back - then slowed a bit, but not very much, and ran the last mile in 7:18. This also felt easy because of the wind at my back. Total time was 26:00. Overall a very good run. Will probably ride the bike again tomorrow.

Wow, this run felt hard. I really wanted to go for a run today, but I had a lot going on - make dinner, go to cub scouts (I am one of the wolf/bear den leaders now), do some work from home, make cupcakes for my 6-year old's birthday party tomorrow - next thing I knew it was 9:30. But I decided to run anyways. I could really tell that my feet and legs had taken a pounding today. My stride was choppy and inefficient, although the breathing was not bad. Nevertheless, I plodded on. First mile in 8:27, not feeling too bad, although I can't get into a good rhythm. Second mile in 8:02, felt faster than it was, this was when I knew the run was going to be hard. Turned around, third mile in 7:40. Wow, I thought this mile was quite a bit faster - I was expecting around 7:00. Nevertheless, only a mile to go. Last mile in 8:04. Total time was 32:14, only slightly more than 8:00/mile. I will probably not be able to run tomorrow, but will try to get in 5 or so nice, easy miles on Saturday.

I was planning on doing 6 miles, but felt bad enough to cut it short. Just like Thursday, my stride felt choppy and inefficient. I slogged through the run, and at the end, felt bone-weary. I'll have to see how I feel on Monday - if I continue to feel this bad on my run, I may need to see if there is something that is causing the tiredness.