Decided to end the lazy post-race week this morning, and headed down to the Slug Club meeting point. Ernie and Mike were there at 6:10 am, looking for 14 miles at 7:30 pace. I would have liked to run 7:30s, would really have liked to. We hit 7:30 for the first three, and again for mile 5. I felt good at this point, real relaxed and enjoying a dark and drizzly Washington morning. But something happened and we'd push the pace then back off, then push, and splits were all over the board -- 7s, 7:15s, even one or two under 7. About mile 7.5 my quad developed a knot in it. I tried to stretch some to no avail but kept on going, kind of subtly prodding (I'm still kind of new, after all) that we get back to a slower pace. But there's a few little downhills on the way in and the sun was coming up, so we stayed with the faster pace. They seemed pleased with it, not too much complaining. My hamstrings were complaining though. I really tightened up, the pain moved back there and I was spent by the last few miles. I stuck with the guys, we finished 14 miles in 1:41:41 (7:13 or so overall?). Now, my hamstrings are killing me. I've stretched, heated/iced, they're just blasted and I'm shuffling around. I wasn't sore the days after the Moab race, but not running much since did this, I suspect. I think I didn't clean whatever junk out that needed out, so loading 14 decent miles on took its toll. I'll run easy tomorrow to loosen up, maybe take a walk this afternoon. Maybe even a walk behind the lawnmower, since the sun is coming up. Any advice for the hamstrings is appreciated.
supernova -- 220.5 | 