Going Long (again) in 2024

8:58 pace.  Legs are still a bit heavy, but I was reading through my notes from this time 5 years ago, and I see I'm way ahead of where I was then.  No injuries this time to work through.

Very humid today. Heavy legs still, especially at the end, but no pain and feeling stronger. 9:10 pace.

Another very humid day. 9:05 pace.

Felt my knee tweak at 1/4 mile.  Thought I could work it out by slowing down and keep going, but when I got to 3/4 miles I thought it best to cut the run short and turned for home.  It felt like more in the muscles around the knee than the knee itself.  Maybe the lower quads.  I'll try again tomorrow.

Much better today; 8:53 pace.  I'm thinking my issue yesterday was the sciatic nerve.  I did some stretching and had no problems with the knee today.

I did have my first black bear encounter of the year.  It stepped out on Goodwill Drive from the woods, just in front of me, right at the end of my run (last half mile).  It gave no indication of having seen me, as it walked slowly ahead of me, so I cleared my throat and said "excuse me".  It stopped, turned, and took 2 steps toward me, so I stopped.  It then turned and continued on in front of me.  

We were just a stone's throw from Falconbridge Road, which is always busy with the commuter traffic in the morning.  It didn't seem to bother the bear.  It just kept walking towards it.  So, I just kept on behind it, talking to it the whole time:

"So, if you don't mind, I'll just follow you."  "Don't mind me".  "Think you can walk a little faster?"  "Passing on your right".

By now, it was at Falconbridge Road and I needed to get past it.  There is a broad turnaround there, so I managed to give the bear a wide berth, but by the time I got to the shoulder of Falconbridge, it was also there, still about 30 feet in front of me.  It stopped and just looked at all the traffic.  Not sure if it planned on crossing, but I had to cross to get home.  At this point, the cars were stopping to let me by.  One guy asked me if I wanted to jump in.  I told him "maybe - let's see what happens".  Others made jokes that were variations on the theme that I wasn't running fast enough.

Anyway, with all the cars stopping, I was able to get across and the bear turned and went back into the woods.  It was neat being so close to a full sized black bear, and it reminded me that as unsettling as these encounters might be, they are not nearly as unpredictable as those with unleashed dogs.  I'll take the bear any day.

Same route as yesterday.  No bears.  8:54 pace.

Was ambitiously hoping for a 12 miler.  Ended up running 2.5 and then walking 2.5 to get home.  My left hamstring seized up and I chose to walk rather than risk any further injury.  I think I then overstretched it when I got home, as I felt a pop.  Hurts more now.  Tomorrow rest, then we'll see.

Not the week I wanted, but at least I managed a run today.  Well, a run/walk, with most of it running.  Combined, a pace of 11:18.

After I pulled my left hamstring last Saturday, I was hurting pretty good.  I tried a brisk walk on Monday, and ended up limping home after just a quarter mile.  So, I rested, stretched and took lots of ibuprofin.  It was still tight this morning, but not sore, so I tried a walk which turned into a very slow jog.  The last mile or two, I picked it up to a slow run and felt pretty good.  The hammie loosened up as I went and I finished with it feeling about the same or a bit better than when I started. 

I'm hopeful I can keep it up on Monday, after tomorrow's rest.  I looked back over my notes, and it has always been my right hammie that has been a problem, so the left one is new.  Hopefully, that means the recovery will be quick.

The other challenge is my allergies.  They have gone into overdrive ever since my 50 miler.  I've been on reactine for over 30 years, and I'm thinking the effect of it has diminished to the point of not helping.  So, I've switched to Claritin; today is the first day I've felt some improvement in that area.

I was aiming for a two hour slow run - about 14 miles. I was doing ok, despite the tightness in my left hammie, until mile 6.5. At that point, I had to slow to a very easy jog. Ended up with just under 90 minutes on my feet. 9:20 pace until I had to ease back.

Left hammie still hurts, and I think I made it worse yesterday doing some heavy lifting.  Still, I was able to run today at a very slow 10:53 pace (a little bit of walking in there, but not much).

Tried to run yesterday, but the left hammie was way too sore to let me.  So, did lots of stretching instead.  Today, headed to the track across the street to try again.  I didn't want to get far from home, and the track gave me a softer run on a flat surface.  Was able to run 6.5 miles at an average pace of 10:20/mile.  The hamstring held up, even though it was tight the whole time.  It was some sciatic issues that stopped me - that has been an on again/off again issue lately.  Today, it was doing some wonky things in my left foot and calf.

Hamstring is feeling better, although I had to watch my speed and I still felt tightness throughout the entire run.  Kept it at a 9:40 pace; hoping to up my mileage tomorrow - maybe 15 miles if all goes well.

Feeling stronger, although I need to watch the downhills; my hammie is still not 100% and it let me know it when I pushed a little too hard.  Still a few sciatic issues as well.  Still, I ran 17 miles at a steady 9:23 pace.  I'll take it.

Feeling better; 9:08 pace.  Massage later this morning.

Pushed it a bit harder today; 9:04 pace.  Second half faster than the first by 18 seconds/mile.  No pain or tightness in my hamstring, and my sciatic issues didn't seem to bother me.  My massage therapist really worked hard yesterday on my back, glutes, hamstrings, hips and calves.  It was almost painful, but a good painful!  I felt a lot better afterwards, and I think it made a huge difference in how I felt today.  I might even have time to get in decent enough shape to run my 100 miler in 11 weeks.

Comfortable 9:08 pace.  Black bear on the road about 300 meters ahead.  Picking through the garbage bags at the curb (garbage day).  Took off in the woods when it saw me.

9:04 pace.  Was going to run 12, but my left knee felt a little off, so decided to save it for tomorrow's long run.

A soaker rain that didn't let up the entire 3 hours of running.  Temperature was a comfortable 16C/60F, and there was little wind.  Humidity was 100%.  So, wet through and through.  My hamstring and knee held up well.  I kept it slow and steady, running a fairly even 9:26 pace.