Chug-along-chica!

Today I drove home from New Mexico with the kids.  I was planning an evening run on the treadmill, but it had a major issue which made it impossible.  The treadmill seemed to be skipping--the belt would slip and catch and slip and catch.  (Either that or it was trying to buck me off!)  It was good for a laugh, anyway.  I almost fell off the darn thing even at walking speed.   I hope we can get it fixed!  Anyone else's treadmill ever done this?

Anyway, I ended up outside in the heat for 3 miles.  I enjoyed this run.  I tried to focus on keeping my turnover faster than usual, and I have to say, it really is easier for me to go faster this way, rather than just pushing off the ground harder with each stride. 

My splits were:  10:05, 9:39, 9:40 for a total time of 29:25.  My average pace was 9:48.  For those of you who are not familiar with my training, let me just say that this is much faster than I usually run.  A more common pace for a 3 miler for me would be 11:10 or so.  For not much more effort!  I am really excited about this. 

OK geeks:  I've got a challenge for you.  There must be a mathematical way to find the optimal mix of stride length (x) in feet and turnover (y) in bpm.   I think the best way to look at it is to find the way to expend the least ATP (energy).  OK, so let's say that stride length varies between 2 ft and 6 ft.  Let's say that at 2 ft per stroke you expend z ATP per....oh forget it!  I can't even figure out how to get started on making this into a math problem.   But I bet somebody on this blog can. I know we are trying to optimize speed and conserve ATP.  10 points to anyone who can figure out how to make even an extremely rudimentary mathmatical equation out of this problem.  Nevermind realistic data.  20 points to whoever comes up with the best equation possible.  30 points can be redeemed for ... a snow cone?  How about status as top nerd of the blog?

2 Miles outside at night in the heat.  First mile in 9:39, 2nd in 9:56.  The heat bothered me more on this run than usual.  I felt a little sick to my tummy at the end. 

I woke up this morning feeling a little sore.  I think I should have warmed up better yestereday when I ran.  I started off fast--like 8:00 pace and gradually slowed down the whole way.  Should have done the opposite.  Oh well.  The way I feel today, I think I better take it really easy tonight--not in mileage, but in pace.  I plan tp do 3 miles tonight--stopping every mile at my house to douse myself with water.  It really helps that everyone around here uses their sprinklers at night.  It is a cardinal rule of mine to always run through sprinklers if they are on.

I set couple of records this run: one for having the most high-tech gadgets on my person, and one for being the soggiest run ever.  I had 4 gadgets--the garmin, my mp3 player, a heart rate monitor, and I held a pepper spray thingy in one hand.  Pretty cool.  In lieu of talent, I've got gear.   Not that there is anything wrong with being speed-challenged, and it is certainly not an excuse for slacking on the training.  Right, Sasha?

I was extremely fortunate in my sprinkler timing today.  There was a long stretch of grass by the lake with sprinklers on the whole time, so I just kept running the same .33 mile loop around that one lake and completely soaking myself each time.   They were the kind of sprinklers that hold still, so if you run in the right line, you can get COMPLETELY drenched.  It was heaven.  I didn't even notice the heat.  My shoes made that squishy sound with every step this whole run.  Fun stuff.

Well, now for a confession.  I've been slipping furthur and further from my eating plan these last few...oh, for about a month, and this crazy thing happened--I stopped loosing weight.  I didn't gain any back, I think (hope).  I credit running for that.  Anyway, tomorrow I really need to drag myself back to my WW meeting, but I don't really want to because I am afraid it will be bad news.  OK.   Now that I've written it down I know I will do it--7am tomorrow, providing James is back from his long run.

2 miles outside tonight.  I am crediting this blog for the fact that I got out today.  It was a small miracle.  I am learning that you don't have to want to do it, you just have to DO it.  It is easier when you want to, though.

I missed my weigh-in this morning.  Oops.  Big goal for next week is to get that done.  2nd big goal is to not miss any running days.  Alternate doing 3 miles one day and 2 the next.