Fly me to the moon...

It was a nice sunny morning run with Sasha, Jeff and Mary Ann.  Mary Ann was telling us about an idea she has for testing how different shoes with varying weight affect a person in a run.  It turns out that it will be a very difficult experiment to do with many factors coming into play.  I don't think the data would be good enough or believable enough to quantify the results.  Perhaps the best you could do is conclude that heavier shoes slow you down more than lighter shoes.  Sasha was having a VPB day during this discussion.  Total time for 8 was 63:36 (7:57/mile).

We had some different people on the run today. Mary Ann brought her friend Cindy and she did 2 with us before turning around. We kept going and caught up to a girl named Kristy. We all turned around at 4 miles since Jeff was only running 8 today to taper for the Salt Lake City Marathon this weekend. Kristy turned around when we turned off the trail. We finished the 8, and then Sasha, Mary Ann and I did another 2 miles. It was pretty warm this morning, but it was sprinkling a little bit. The legs are still a little sore. Total time was 1:24:17 (8:26/mile) for 10.

We had another good group this morning with the usuals plus Matt and Cindy.  Ben was also supposed to be there, but he got pulled over on the way to Sasha's.  We found out later that his car was impounded.  We all started out together in the rain.  Cindy turned around at 2, and we all turned around at 3.  Jeff continued his taper by only doing 6.  Sasha, Mary Ann and I did another 2.  Total time for 8 was (8:07/mile).  The legs are still a bit sore.

Eight miles with the usual group. It was interesting with the big snowstorm we had. There were branches all over the trail and even a large one that was about half the tree. We went out 2 and turned around since Jeff was only doing 4. Then Sasha, Mary Ann and I went out for 4 more. Total time was 69:41 (8:42/mile). There was some lively discussion during the run.

It was just Sasha and I this morning.  Mary Ann was running later, and Jeff was only going 2 and planned to run alone.  We talked about muscle fatigue and running form.  We both notice sore quads before anything else, and it is due mainly to our running form.  World class runners know how to use their hamstrings, glutes and calves better and more efficiently.  This allows them to run faster and longer with less muscle fatigue.  I noticed in college that when I started running longer distances my stride changed.  I had a lower leg lift and didn't use my hamstrings, glutes and calves as much except in short distances.  Perhaps it was a subconscious change in order to protect myself from injury.  As a test during the run, I tried to use my other leg muscles by using a higher leg lift for about 200m.  Within 100m, my hamstrings were feeling fatigued.  Granted it was at the end of 8 miles, but it was interesting.  It was a good discussion.  Total time for 8 was 65:19 (8:10/mile).

My training partners were doing the SLC marathon or 1/2 marathon this morning so I slept in and ran later.  I decided to do a little bit of speedwork.  I started with 2 miles warm-up and then did a mile in 5:50.  Then the plan was to pick up the pace and hit the next half mile at 5:30 pace.  I came in with a time of 2:46 (5:32/mile) so it was pretty close.  I finished the rest of the 8 miles at a fairly easy pace and finished with a total time of 56:31 (7:04/mile).  I felt good during the first mile, but the 5:30 pace was a little tougher.  I think I probably could have gone a little further (1-2 miles) at that pace, but it wasn't easy.  The legs felt fine.