Running in the Rockies

AM: Ran ~3 in 11:47 avg pace with L and B pup. Avg heart rate: 150, Max heart rate: 179. Avg elevation: 8,500'; ~400 gain/loss. Legs felt awesome after the 6 weeks off (more on that below), heart rate was all over the place and I'm wondering if that was me or the heart rate monitor. Maybe a bit of both. The hills felt so easy after hiking all summer so I need to keep this leg strength up throughout the next few months (and hopefully longer). The breathing wasn't so great, but not as bad as I thought it would be. The pups did not do so well on leash on the roads. L pup has gotten significantly worse since I left in June.. not sure what that is all about. Maybe he is emulating B-pup and thinks that is okay? He did better towards the end of our little run though. B pup was just terrible. She's much stronger now than when I left and she does not run in a straight line, pulls terribly, tries to chase cars, and wants to bark somewhat aggressively at other dogs, mailboxes, and sometimes large rocks. I think she's just young and a little stupid yet. I think the hubby allows them both to pull much more since he is stronger than I am, but my form was just terrible with them and I think I may have pulled a muscle in my back trying to keep them from chasing another dog. Ugh. Definitely need to look into some training for them.

I arrived back in CO late Monday night after the hubby drove all the way to SW Montana over the weekend to pick me up. It was a long drive home on Monday, but I'm happy to be back. While it was difficult to be away from home, the hubby, and the pups (and kitty) for so long, I had such an awesome 6 weeks! Great geology, awesome people, I had so much fun teaching again and I relearned so much geology. I also solidified a more permanent teaching position and so we will be making this course a constant in our summer schedule. Definitely not an easy decision, but we agree that it is really great for my career and I enjoy it so much. Other than being away from loved ones, a pretty significant downside is that running alone was prohibited this summer because a student was stalked by a mountain lion just outside of camp last year. I probably could have made an effort to run with some of the students, but I felt a little weird doing that. I also probably could have gotten away with running alone since I was staff, but I thought that would not be setting a good example. To be honest, hiking up and down 200-1000' ridges and hills multiple times a day, 6 days a week, for 6 weeks left me a little tired anyways. The schedule is pretty grueling- up at 6am, field work for 8 hours or more, grading, helping students for a few hours every night meant I didn't get to bed before 11 pm more than a few times. I probably should have done more cross training and strength training, maybe I can work that into my schedule next year.

So, I've obviously had to significantly re-analyze my race schedule for the year. I've decided on the CIM again this year. It is not ideal as I would much prefer to run a new race, but I fear that most races in October and November would be too soon and I would not be in good enough shape to do them safely. The CIM works well with travel to the annual American Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco the following week, so that is a big plus.  I've put a few 1/2's in there and a couple 10k's, which I have not done in some time (I fear how slow I will be!).*Side note* Many of these races will be training runs. Especially those I've registered for in the next couple of weeks (e.g., heart and sole 10k, Coal Creek Crossing 10mi, and Boulder 1/2). I figured it was good to at least get some races on the calendar even if they are just for fun. Although, that being said, all races for me are for fun. Some races I just want to run faster than others :)

Hope everyone had a great July/ early August!

AM: 3.15 in ~10:45 avg pace. Avg heart rate: 158, Max heart rate: 182. Avg elevation: 8,500; 329' gain/loss. No pups today; arms are still sore from yesterday and L pup doesn't seem to be feeling well. He didn't eat dinner last night and has been pretty lethargic since yesterday afternoon. Although he ate breakfast this morning. Will see how he is feeling by the PM and maybe go for another short run on the trails with them. If he's not feeling better then I guess we're going to the pup doctor tomorrow. 

 Lower legs were a bit stiff this morning.. so maybe the lower leg strength isn't what I thought it was. I guess that makes sense; I was hiking in boots for the last 6 weeks. Best work on some ankle/foot strength. 

Mid-AM: Stretching and strength exercises. 

Noon: Maya Vinyasa Yoga. Awesome class and only ~1 mile from my house. Yay! I think no PM run. Lower legs are a bit sore from even the short runs the past couple of days. Would like to do 5 tomorrow and maybe 7-8 on Sunday. Fingers crossed. I also went back and looked at some data from after I took some time off this past winter for the IT band stuff. I'm doing better then what I could do back in Feb., so that gives me some confidence that I'll be okay for a December marathon. I'm certainly starting a bit earlier than last year and should have more time (not finishing up a phd and all). Plus, I think I've got a better base and am stronger this year than last year. We'll see. I don't know if I will shoot for a BQ though.. that may have to wait until the spring. Happy Weekend!