Getting back to Boston

Took yesterday off for moving and date. I'd planned to meet Rose and Martha for a run at Ben Geren this morning. Well, we all showed up -- but they took off without me :( Since I was out there anyway, decided to do the run I'd planned. Except that I changed those plans quickly. Instead of three loops around Ben Geren, I veered off on a bike trail I'd never used, which turned into directing me over to Chaffee. So in essence, my run was Ben Geren to the WAR Room and back, with a few twists and turns. Did a good job of keeping my heart rate down, even with late-run cardiac creep due to a bit of dehydration (didn't take water or gels, intentionally). Take out the first mile, when the HRM doesn't read right anyway, and my AHR was 127 -- right where I wanted it, even with the creep.

Also weighed before and after the run. Before, 162. After, 156 (remember, no water or food). So I lost (or wizzed) nearly three liters of fluid.

All in all, a good run for 14 days out from a marathon. Actually, it felt quite similar to those late miles when I was struggling, difference being that I was OK with 10 minute miles today, while two weeks ago I wasn't.

Very pleased with last night's date. Carol is very nice and definitely prettier in person than her Facebook pic suggests. Hoping we will go out again soon, like before NYD. And maybe I can get her back into running.

Yesterday turned into a URD thanks to Max's trip to the vet for his ulcerated leg. So I got up this morning planning to get in an early 6, only to find the Garmin wasn't charged. So I waited 45 minutes for it to (almost) charge, then went to the gym so that I'd be handy when, inevitably, I got called. Which happened at the 5 mile mark.

I was trying to keep the rate under 130, and failing. Not sure why I can't keep the rate down at the gym. Is it because it's warmer there than outside? Maybe. I was in the high 9:50s pacewise, and still averaged 134 HR.

Finished 80 laps, then showered and went straight to the ER. Legs were fine, no issues there. I guess I just have to make myself slooooowwww dooooowwwwwnnnn on that track, stay well over 10:00 pace.

Thought I was going to do a slow 6 this morning, but I looked at Hadd's schedule, and he calls for two runs a week that are a little longer and a little harder. So I decided to do one of those, 75 minutes at up to 145 AHR. It's 40, overcast, very little wind, perfect running weather. So I set out toward SHS, and realized, even pushing the pace and going uphill, the HR was barely above 130. So I pushed a little harder. Still in the low 130s, or lower. Turned downhill on Old Greenwood, even faster, still low HR. All the way home, same thing.

So, running 55 seconds a mile faster than yesterday, with hills and everything thrown in, my heart rate was 8 bpm LOWER. That tells my just how much temperature affects me. That extra 25 degrees in the gym outweighed running faster and harder (up the hills). 

Low and slow today. Really kept the heart rate down, in spite of the Free Ferry/Old Greenwood hills. AHR of 120 once the HRM settled in. Pace was about 10:07, but that's really not a consideration at this point. I want mitochondria, not speed. Get the mitochondria, the speed will come. Or at least that's the plan.

Another "until" run at MAFC, with the call coming almost exactly at the 6-mile mark. Worked really hard to slow down and keep the AHR down, and it actually was effective. Once the monitor locked in after a half-mile, the AHR was 127. Right where I want it. I was just barely a smidge under 10:00 pace for the whole 6 miles. Also confirmed, as I had thought, that the temp at MAFC is ~68 degrees, which is good for the summer, not so good for the winter.

Tomorrow, plan 12 at dawnish before work. Or two hours, really, although I suspect that will be more than 12 running outdoors in cold weather. Probably a fish on Christmas Day.

Two hours, 13 miles. AHR 127. Cold and foggy; fog didn't burn off until after 8:30. Got it done, though. Now to go to work and get slammed.