What ever it takes!

Run went well today but I'm definitely riding a fine line between recovery and training.  Started out rough but about 2 miles in I started feeling pretty good.  I realized something, the faster I went the better my leg felt and the better my leg felt the faster I went.  There was a point at around 6:15 pace where I started having a cardio breakdown so my comfort pace seemed to be in the 6:40 - 6:20 range.  I attribute this to being forced to run at a more natural stride the faster you run.  When I run slower I tend to try and compensate for my achy leg but when I start running faster I have no choice but to run more natural.  HR is still pretty high compared to pre-injury for the same pace but the weird thing is the effort doesn't seem as hard as when I was in good shape and my HR was at 170.  170 is where I was at like 5:30 pace 6 weeks ago, now it's at 170 at 6:15 but 6:15 doesn't seem as hard as 5:30 did back then so I'm not sure what to make of that.  There are definitely other factors in play than just HR when trying to run at a fast pace.

Distance	Time	Avg Pace		Avg HR	Max HR
1	7:22	7:22		138	146
2	14:21	6:59		151	155
3	21:05	6:44		156	159
4	27:44	6:39		160	162
5	34:14	6:30		164	167
6	40:40	6:26		166	168
7	47:02	6:22		167	169
8	53:20	6:18		168	170
9	59:28	6:08		170	173
Total	59:33	6:36		159	173

 

I'm really struggling to find the right balance, I'm sure I could have forced my way through a run again today and I'm sure 2 miles into it I would have felt fine but I really want to be totally pain free again someday, but at the same time I don't think I can afford to loose any more fitness.  The rest of my body says go but my leg still says stop, it would almost be easier if I was sick with the flu or something so I didn't have the desire to workout but other than my leg pain I feel great all over.

I've already told myself my sub-2:40 probably ain't going to happen at UVM, right now I'll be lucky to even match my best time and at that point you start to wonder if it's even worth doing at all.  I guess we'll see how the next couple of weeks go, I know I was in at least 2:40 shape right before I did this to myself, everyone tells me you bounce back quick after a relatively short time off but I'm not so sure.

1600 meter swim in 35 minutes then I got bored, changed clothes and finished with 30 minutes on the elliptical.

Not a particularly pleasant run this morning, kind of achy all over. I do see a light at the end of the tunnel,  another week and I may be back to normal,  HR was a little more manageable today I had a weird blip in the 2nd mile but then it settled down.

I tried switching up my shoes the last couple runs, but I'm back to my Free's they are definately the most comfortable.

Distance	Time	Avg Pace		Avg HR	Max HR
1	7:04	7:04		142	174
2	13:52	6:48		159	186
3	20:32	6:40		153	158
4	27:02	6:30		157	159
5	33:28	6:26		160	162
6	39:50	6:22		162	164
7	46:20	6:30		161	163
8	52:43	6:23		162	164
9	58:56	6:13		164	166
Total	59:01	6:32		158	186?

My work buddy Danny has joined the blog.  I have mentioned him a few times in my posts and dragged him along with me on my crazy world travel runs.  Everyone Welcome Danny to the blog.  dkrieger.fastrunningblog.com

A couple of days ago I said I wish I had the flu so I didn't have the desire to run.  Well, I take it back, last night I started feeling like I had some stomach virus was up all night with an icky belly.  Went to the gym as much as my body just wanted to stay in bed, tried running and quit after 1/4 mile.  Went and swam 1600 meters instead and then sat in the hot tub and steam room for the next 45 minutes.

Due to early morning soccer games tomorrow I decided to try and do a long run today instead, plan was 16 so I asked Ryan if he wanted to run today instead.  He agreed and since he is recovering from Boston and I'm recovering from Stupidity we also agreed to run slow.  4 miles in I realized I wasn't going to make it the full 16 so at Legacy Center instead of continuing on to Utah lake we headed West to Willow Park making it 12 instead of 16.  After Legacy I slowed down a lot and then at mile 8 the pain finally went away, I tried to pick up the pace but my legs felt like I was 18 miles in to a 22 mile run, due to the low miles lately so my speed up was less than impressive.

Disapointing run,  I really wanted to get in a longer run, but my body was telling me I wasn't ready yet.

Distance	Time	Avg Pace		Avg HR	Max HR
1		7:15		145
2		7:24		155
3		7:18		159
4		7:07		158
5		7:56		150
6		7:56		151
7		8:07		148
8		7:59		151
9		8:07		150
10		7:58		153
11		7:23		161
12		7:15		165
Total	1:31:39	7:39		153

I have received an answer to my running dilemma,  I'm not going to disclose my premonition, all I'll say is that I wont be complaining about it any more.  Just posting my daily results.

8 Mile run, followed by 15 minutes on the elliptical as a cool down. 

Distance	Time	Avg Pace		Avg HR	Max HR
1	6:54	6:54		145	174
2	13:36	6:40		155	158
3	20:11	6:35		159	161
4	26:41	6:30		161	163
5	33:20	6:39		161	162
6	40:16	6:56		155	161
7	46:51	6:35		162	163
8	53:04	6:15		165	168
Total	53:08	6:37		158	168