Run Derneld, Run!

Long run around Idaho Falls. I've been doing this longer route once each week for the past 3 weeks. Each time I add a little more. The only race I have left this year that hasn't been cancelled is STG. With the current trajectory, I don't see it happening. I'm thinking if it does get cancelled, then this will be the one race I do not defer and choose the virtual option (if available). This is the one race that I really don't want to see go out of business, and I do want at least one more goal race to train for this year, even if it is virtual...

No running today. Just my standard strengthening exercises given to me by the PT. My left knee is sore in a way I have never felt before. It is in one small location that I can touch and feel. It gives me no irritation at all walking on level surfaces. I immediately begin to notice it going up or down stairs. It is better this morning than yesterday. Fingers crossed that this is a matter fixed my a little time off.

Back at it. My knee is mostly better. This run didn't seem to irritate it at all.

Opted for an early morning 5-mile walk instead of a run, just to be cautious with my knee. I was pleasantly surprised that I couldn't feel it by the end of the walk, nor at our family's hike a couple of hours later at Hell's Half Acre.

Long run. Knee doesn't bother me after the first half mile (same thing as Thursday's run). We'll see if it gets sore later. I kinda fell apart towards the end, and started pushing harder.

Based off observations of my knee on Saturday's run, and a 5-mile walk on Sunday, I betted on a relaxed 1 hour run today. It was noticeably slower than similar runs at first, but I slowly got more efficient and comfortable. My knee felt stiff through most of the run, but really loosened up in the last 2 miles, and I finished with a really good final 0.2 miles. This discomfort in my knee seems to be getting better with USE rather than REST. I am saying that because I took almost all of last week off and it didn't help at all.

I went into this run not expecting much, but my knee actually loosened up within the first mile. I also felt more energy than usual and felt good about this run. It's been many months since I could comfortably jog 11 miles in 90 minutes. I also slept in a little bit today, which might have helped. I started this run at 5:30am-ish, as opposed to 3:15am.

My work has begun requiring us to telework 50% again. We got the announcement yesterday late-morning when I was in the office. I decided to take today off instead of spending all my time yesterday in the office getting materials prepared for working at home. I'll be in the office Wednesday/Thursday and hopefully by then have meaningful telework figured out for Friday...

Morning run

Morning run.

Lunchtime run at work.

Telework day. Easy 90 minute run.

Added another mile to my Saturday loop. If I continue to add a mile each Saturday, then I'll complete a marathon on October 3rd, which is when STG would've happened. I should be out of town only one of the weekends before then, so sticking to my schedule should be fairly smooth.

Regarding today's run, very smooth. I went at a calmer pace, and was in control the entire time. I could've added a little more, but I am happy with this slow weekly progression.

Telework day. 

This morning I discovered that the Mesa Falls Marathon is still a go for this Saturday...I am really close to making the most impulsive decision of my life!

Some faster intervals mixed into this one. I'm excited about Saturday. A little scared, but mostly excited.

Broke open ISO Pair 3 today to start walking around in. Hopefully they're ready by Saturday.

Very easy effort, staying inside the neighborhood. Telework day, so didn't have to get up in the middle of the night.

First run in pair 3. 24 hours remaining.

What a fun day! Ashton really puts on a good small town race, and it draws a high percentage of vacation racers from across the country (even in the middle of COVID-19). For having decided to do this race 5 days earlier, it went surprisingly well. Some minor hiccups were chafing on the skin around my left Achilles tendon began at mile 10 and continued through out the race, and I got a rock in my shoe at mile 3 and couldn't get it out unless I wanted to completely untie my shoe (which I chose not to do). I paced pretty decently, but I also was pushing myself very hard. I did not expect half of the race to be low-maintenance gravel/ATV trails (I did not read the course description closely enough I guess). I spent a good part of the race chasing people, and I caught a lot of them on the big climbs in miles 17-20 (at the end of the race, I found out a lot of them were actually relay runners, oops!).  Mile 26 definitely had that "holding on for dear life" feeling. I went straight to the medical tent afterwards for some help with my chafed ankle. My sock and shoe had both soaked up quite a bit of blood (2nd time I've done something like that). If STG ever gets cancelled again, I'll definitely consider doing this race again.

Note to self: PB&J sandwiches are a pretty nice snack for carb-loading the day before.

I planned to just walk this morning, with some short intermittent jogs, as that is what my legs have usually permitted in past marathon recoveries. This is the first time I've been able to go out and do a very consistent slow slow jog the whole time. It felt really nice. This is the first recovery where I haven't felt any deep muscle pain too. Does this mean all my marathons should be planned 5 days in advance??

Had surprisingly normal run. This is the best my legs have felt 3 days after a marathon. I've signed up as a pacer at the new Beaver Canyon Marathon on October 3rd. It is basically someone cashing in on the big September/October races being cancelled in Utah. 

Wow this recovery is going great. Took some time off today for my daughter's second 1st day of preschool. Used the early morning to test out a 15 mile run. 

Wasn't sure about the weather, so opted for the treadmill. Made it 2 miles, then went outside and just stayed close to home.

9.2 more outside. The weather was actually perfect.

Easy miles before work.

Felt adventurous and went for 21 today. I brought a Wasatch Nectar gel packet and a small gatorade I got in a hotel COVID breakfast bag several weeks ago. Wasatch Nectar is a relatively new company down in Utah that makes gel packets that have only honey, water, and electrolytes. They are less viscous than GUs, and I think I prefer them. I've never actually bought any gel packets though, since I just use whatever I get from my previous races. So...I'm not sure this comparison has any value to me. On long runs like these, as long as it isn't a moderate or hard effort, I am usually content just carrying a traditional CLIF bar. Anyways...the run went great, and I kept a steady pace the entire time. Floating around 8:20/mile.  

90 minutes. Decided to attempt some strides. They were pretty sloppy. My legs just won't move really fast right now, but that's probably because I haven't done any real speed work in months.I have another race on October 3rd, so I'm not planning anything crazy, but it is about time to start putting some more effort into my runs occasionally.