Running in Life's Slow Lane

A noncompetitive 5K Walk/Run event is held along with the Marathon and Half-Marathon events. Teresa and I chose to run the 5K along with thousands of others. Before the race it was announced that over 16,000 people were participating in one of the day's events.

Everything that I might dislike about a race start was rolled into this one event. It was too early, too dark, too cold, too wet and way too many people. From the time the clock started for the competitive marathon and half marathon it was almost 16:00 before Teresa and I got across the start line.

Walkers are dangerous. Significantly dangerous when massed together and turned loose as cattle.

My main focus for the first mile was too keep Teresa safe from all that was going on around her since this was her first race. She was timid about maneuvering around the walkers so I took the lead and would put my shoulder to good use if my shouts of "Runner on your left" or "Traffic on your right" was not heeded. Entire families had lined up 5-6 across and apparently did not understand the notion that they had to share the asphalt with others. I saw more than one runner chase up the heels of a walker that chose to change direction without warning. Luckily Teresa and I avoided those issues.

I have no idea what our split times were but tried to keep myself at 11:00/mile (by estimating with my watch since I had stashed the iPod away in my pocket) or under as long as I didn't feel any strain on the legs. Definitely made an effort to push on the long hills including the one at the 2.5 mile mark. Really felt smooth running and knew my pace was better than usual ...

...until I charged ahead and crossed the finish line.

 
When I looked at my watch it said 35:15! That was unbelievable given the way I had been running and the long sprint I made at the end. Teresa finished about 20-30 seconds behind me and commented that it sure felt longer than the 5K that she had been running at home. Looking at my iPod it said the distance was 3.26 miles so I am not sure if the course was long (my guess since it was a noncompetitive event) or all the weaving cost us the extra distance. If I accept the 3.26 distance then my pace was 10:48/mi which matched what I was feeling and had estimated with my watch during the race.

No official times of course so I will go with the 35:15 as my time for the event and believe that I may have run something less.

I talked to lots of folks that did the 5-person relay marathon and am committed to having a team that runs that event next year with me on the middle 12K leg.

Slow 45 minute trail run with a bit of walking at the midway point. Plenty of hills, soft footing, and tired legs kept me from worrying about the pace and just focused on burning calories.

Location: Wichita Mtns Wildlife Refuge

0.85 mile in 10:00  (11:46/mi)
1.69 mile in 20:00  (11:54/mi)
2.48 mile in 30:00  (12:40/mi)
2.89 mile in 35:00  (12:12/mi) 12:07/mi average
- walk back to the car

Ran the dirt trails at Elmer Thomas Park. First time I have tried those and will use them more in the future. They are a good alternative to the concrete trails in that same park.

My ankles were a bit cranky after yesterday's trail run and I had to stop and walk from 22:30 to 25:00. The fact that I still had a 12:40/mi pace in that phase of the workout shows that my pace was too fast throughout. Right now a 12:15+ pace feels less strained and is my target for my easy days.

Tomorrow's goal is a 45 minute easy jog so I need to remember as I start to ease up just a bit to maintain a good pace throughout the entire workout.

0.83 mi in 10:00 (12:03/mi)
1.63 mi in 20:00 (12:30/mi)
2.41 mi in 30:00 (12:46/mi)
3.17 mi in 40:00 (13:09/mi)
3.58 mi in 45:23 (12:12/mi) 12:34/mi avg pace

Course: S Flowermound Out and Back

I had forgotten how much of this run involves a long gradual incline on the return leg of the loop. It really shows up when looking at the paces I ran today. Significantly so when combined with the 20-25mph winds. My legs felt like rubber trying to get over the last bit of the climb.

I notice that the course tool apparently does not have access to the elevation data for my area or else I'm doing something wrong when I tried to analyze the course.

Calves were a bit cranky today. And I seem to notice that my ankles are bothered when I run several days of hills in a row (e.g. Sun, Mon, Tue, and Wed of this week). Could it be that I am pitching a bit too far forward as I struggle up the slope, putting strain at the area right where my ankle connects in the flat surface of my foot? Suddenly I realize I know almost nothing about the anatomy of my feet.

Wildflowers are gorgeous!

Location: Lawton, Oklahoma.

I have to start the new month with 0 miles as the entire day was chewed up with travel. Working some odd hours the next few days will challenge my dedication to running.

So today was nothing like the slow 45 minute workout I had planned.

Instead I started my jog and felt my calves immediately tighten to the point where they became painful, forcing me to stop 8:09 into my run. I spent the next two minutes or so pacing around, stretching and generally convincing my legs that it was okay to run again. At this point I decided to just run back to the car and if the pain was too much, call it a day. That leg went well but there was still a bit of tightness so I alternated stretching and running one more set of out-and-back.

I was running the part of the Hampton Inn 5K that stays within the park, which measured 0.68 mile one way.

0.68 mi in 8:09 (11:59/mi) * tight and painful
walk and stretch
0.68 mi in 7:25 (10:54/mi) * felt really fluid as the time shows
walk and stretch
0.68 mi in 7:30 (11:02/mi) * starting to really pour the sweat on
walk and stretch
0.68 mi in 9:00 (13:14/mi) * I was feeling the heat and humidity on this one
walk and stretch

The calves were still sore so I didn't run more. Tomorrow I hope to have a bit more sleep and will try to get back to my slow steady runs.

Location: Chesapeake, Virginia

0.86 in 10:06 (11:45/mi)
walk and stretch
0.84 in 10:01 (11:56/mi)
walk and stretch
0.79 in 10:01 (12:41/mi)
look at sore toe
0.81 in 10:08 (12:31/mi)
walk home in sock feet
 
Going back to the run/walk pattern initially to help relieve the stiffness in my calves. Then at the end of my third interval I could tell my left pinky toe was rubbing a blister against my shoe or sock. I took off my shoe and found nothing inside that should have been a problem. Did notice that the seam on my sock could be a problem though I have worn these same style of socks many many time. Turned the sock inside out thinking it might help. Ran another interval and I had to stop there. I wanted to go one more 10:00 interval but no way I wanted to risk a nasty blister. To relieve the irritation I took off my shoes and walked the last 0.50+ mile to the hotel in my sock feet.

I have some "running" socks with me so I will try a pair of those tomorrow and hope for the best.

Hot and sweaty today.

Location: Chesapeake, Virginia