shublog's Journal

Sunday.
Date: 07/12/2009
Time: 9:26am
Duration: 0:41:19
Location: Shoal Creek/Great Northern loop

Sport: Running
Workout: 4 mile run
Distance: 4.06 miles

Weather: Hot, humid, sunny
People: Alone

Comments:
Needed to get out of my immediate neighborhood, so I slept in a bit, then drove over to Great Northern. Ran the loop there, which was less shaded than my neighborhood would have been, but flatter and at least different. Camber irritated my ITB some. Tons of cyclists out there, so I spent some time dodging and sidewalking to not be irritating. Went out slightly past White Rock on SC, so I wouldn't have to run past my car and not be done yet. Finished at the car right at 4 miles.

Oh, and I wore a new shirt I bought that has a built-in sports bra. Yay for being smallchested enough to do that without discomfort. It's definitely much cooler, but also harder to deal with wiping sweat out of eyes, since there's not so much material to drag up to the eyes.

Date: 07/11/2009
Time: 5:38am
Duration: 3:02:10
Location: Park&Ride, through northwestish Austin

Sport: Running
Workout: 18 mile run w/ 4 strides
Distance: 18.13 miles

Weather: Normal, started around 80 and high humidity, sunny when the sun came out
People: Andi, Kris, Brian, Lori, Belle, Mae

Comments:
Another long, hot run. Started at 5:30 instead of 6, which was nice (from a heat perspective, anyway), and once again spent the first 10 miles trying to name Mae's protobaby. She cut out at 10, then we split off from Lori and Belle just after, as they were doing 16 and we were doing 18.

At that point it was really hot and sunny and Brian and I were both a little less distance-trained than Kris and Andi. I managed to stick with them, but Brian fell back. We slowed out pace down trying to let him keep up, but we kept pulling ahead. Ran right past Leslie's house, but we didn't want to stop, because we weren't sure we'd get going again. Lingered at the last water stop to make sure Brian was okay, then pushed it in the last 3 miles. I was really struggling the last mile (I was jumping from 15 to 18, so not surprising), and I kept wanting to cut it short and just run straight in. The next turn was supposed to be Oak Knoll, and I looked up at the street ahead and said in my head "If that isn't Oak Knoll, I'm turning on it anyway and going back". Fortunately, it was, so I didn't have to wuss out! Oddly enough, our last mile was by far our fastest. Maybe that's why it felt so hard.

We were damn proud of ourselves for getting through that run.

Thursday.
Date: 07/09/2009
Time: 5:19am
Duration: 1:24:58
Location: Northwest Park loops

Sport: Running
Workout: 8 mile run + 4 strides
Distance: 8.01 miles

Weather: 80 degrees, humid
People: Andi and Kris

Comments:
Very light turnout for this run from our team, it seemed. Andi said she wanted to take it really slow, because she still hurt from Tuesday, and Kris and I agreed that was a wise idea, especially knowing we had a hot 18 coming up on Saturday. So we just chatted and ran slow and got through it.

Oddly for a Karen run, the run was short of 8 miles. After strides, it was still short, so Kris and I both ran around the parking lot. One of my OCD things. She has many more than I do. She listed some of them.

Slowest run I've had in a long time. Which is kinda cool, 'cause it's about the pace we used to do all our runs at.

Wednesday.
Date: 07/08/2009
Time: 10:50am
Duration: 0:40:00
Location: Gregory Gym indoor track

Sport: Running
Workout: 40 minute run
Distance: 4.29 miles

Weather: Blissfully air conditioned
People: Alone

Comments:
Given how I felt Tuesday night, even after the run, I knew it was unlikely I would be able to wake up at 4:45am to do my 40 minute run, so I just set my alarm for normal time (mmm, sleeping in until 6am). I woke up around 4:30 and briefly considered getting up to try to run, but couldn't rouse myself. Didn't really get back to sleep after that, but couldn't make myself get up. I knew I wouldn't run after work, since it would be hot, and since it would be so close to the Thursday morning run. But I threw my running stuff in a bag to bring to work, in case I felt motivated at work. Didn't have high hopes.

But I was feeling okay as lunch approached, so I decided to hit the indoor track at Gregory Gym. I figured running in the AC felt like cheating, but better to do the run comfortably than not do it at all. I wasn't sure how a track was going to feel on my ITB, with all the turning, but I figured I'd just stop when it got bad. It twinged some, but never got really bad, so I just kept going. 7 laps to a mile is mind-numbing, but the track is really nice with good views, so I just kept running. It was nice to see lower numbers on my per mile splits, due to the cooler temp, even without pushing it. Also nice to lap people over and over, despite them probably being half my age, without pushing it. :)

Date: 07/07/2009
Time: 6:29pm
Duration: 1:18:02
Location: Anderson HS, crossing Mopac

Sport: Running
Workout: 8 mile run
Distance: 8.04 miles

Weather: 100 degrees
People: Andi, Kris, Brian, Lori, LauraKate, Megan

Comments:
I was excited because this was a new route, and a single loop. Then it turned out, the beginning was all downhill, which meant the end was all uphill. There was a waterstop we hit twice, but it really wasn't enough for how hot it was. The first 5 miles were okay, though I was struggling with the heat, which was making my stomach not feel so good. Coming back on Shoal Creek, my right ITB started to hurt (an ongoing problem, but one that doesn't normally happen WHILE running), and I started to struggle to hang with the group, and Brian and I were both falling back. Then running up Cima Serena, which is hard anyway, and I fell back further, and Brian fell back behind me. Then up Robbie, and I caught up to Andi and I mentioned my dismay that we had to go PAST Mesa before heading back to Anderson. Evidently she didn't know that, and was already low, so that inspired her to need to walk. Oops. So I just tried to keep Kris, Lori and LauraKate in my sights, as I kept falling further back. The last 2 miles were a big headgame, and there were at least 3 times that I almost just ran straight back to Anderson rather than looping around it as we were doing. But I got through it. ITB calmed down for the end of the run, stomach never really calmed down. I was proud of myself for gutting out the last 2 miles alone in that heat uphill, and never resorting to crying (which I wanted to do).

There were many people who evidently had bad runs, so I think it was the weather, the hills on the course, and the fatigue of the high mileage catching up to us. Also, I think I've been running into dehydration problems, so I'm trying to get more electrolytes in me during the day, and I'm going to start taking salt pills before and possibly during my runs.

Sunday.
Date: 07/05/2009
Time: 8:45am
Duration: 0:59:167
Location: Neighborhood loop

Sport: Running
Workout: 6 mile run
Distance: 6.05 miles

Weather: Mid 80s, high humidity, sunny
People: Alone

Comments:
Because we had a shorter Saturday run, Karen made up for it with a longer Sunday run. I slept in a bit (8am!), then got up to run before it got too deathly hot. Only slightly successful, since it was.. hot and humid. My legs felt bad starting out, but warmed up after 2 miles. Definitely a progressive pace run, as my last couple miles were downhill with a breeze, so I was able to pick up the pace some.

Saturday.
Date: 07/04/2009
Time: 6:00am
Duration: 1:51:20 or so
Location: Karen's 'hood.

Sport: Running
Workout: 10 mile scavenger hunt run
Distance: 11.14 miles

Weather: Low 80s, humid, sunny
People: Kris, Andi, Brian, Mae, Lori, LauraKate, Megan

Comments:
Because it was a holiday weekend and because of the heat, Karen postponed whatever run we should have done, and instead made it a 10 mile scavenger hunt run. At each water stop we had to pick up a question (4 total), and then answer them when we got back to Karen's. We had a big group of us running together, which was fun. It was only 10 miles, but it was hilly, so it felt hard. Plus, y'know, weather. Making every run harder. But still fun. We were glad when it was over. Then we soaked in Karen's pool and ate breakfast tacos and answered our questions. Andi and I got to split the bonus questions prize, because I sucked up to the judge in my answers. I learned that from playing Apples to Apples.

Also, we spent the entire time we were running trying to name Mae's unborn child. Mostly based on the street names we were passing. I think we finally decided Darth Tater Coffman.

Thursday.
Date: 07/02/2009
Time: 5:21am
Duration: 1:02:30
Location: Northwest Park loops

Sport: Running
Workout: 6 mile run w/ 4 strides
Distance: 6.18 miles

Weather: 80, humid
People: Kris, Brian, Mike

Comments:
Another run that should have been 8, but was remapped to 6 under Karen's down week. I had cramps again during the beginning of the run, and just tried to gut it out. It was the slowest run we've had in a while.. not sure why. I never felt like we were going particularly slowly compared to other runs.

Wednesday.
Date: 07/31/2009
Time: 4:58am
Duration: 0:29:29
Location: Neighborhood loop

Sport: Running
Workout: 30 minute run
Distance: 3.02 miles

Weather: High 70s, high humidity
People: Alone

Comments:
Woke up before my alarm, so decided to just get up and get it over with. Down week brought this run down from a 40 minute run to a 30, which was nice. Unfortunately about halfway through the run, had some major cramps (not entirely unexpected, but would have been nice if they'd waited 'til after the run). Felt like I slowed down a lot, and when my watch hit 3 miles, I figured that had to have gotten me at least 30 minutes with the slowdown, so I stopped my watch and walked the rest of the street to my house. Was surprised to see that I was actually short of 30 minutes. Guess my body pushed me in because it felt bad and wanted to be done.

Tuesday.
Date: 06/30/2009
Time: 6:31pm
Duration: 0:59:53
Location: Anderson HS 5k loop

Sport: Running
Workout: 6 mile run
Distance: 6.21 miles

Weather: High 80s/low 90s, sunny, humid
People: Andi, Kris, Brian, Lori (sometimes LauraKate, Megan and Erika)

Comments:
Karen decided to take pity on us running in the heat, and made this week a "down" week. The Karen definition of "down". So what should have been an 8 mile run became a 6. Unfortunately the rain and mid70s didn't stick around until the evening, but it was cooler than it's been on Tuesday nights, which was nice. It still wasn't pleasant, as it was warm and humid, but we found our pace picking up because of the cooler temps. Of course, shorter run and nicer temp somehow meant our whole run was obnoxiously hilly, but.. ahwell.

Sunday.
Date: 06/28/2009
Time: 9:06am
Duration: 0:41:35
Location: Home, out and back to Far West

Sport: Running
Workout: 4 mile run
Distance: 4.06 miles

Weather: Mid 80s, sunny
People: 2 seconds with Matt, then alone

Comments:
First run with new hair. I wore a hat to keep it under control, but having it off my neck was fantastic. Started the run with Matt, but told him I knew I was going to be very slow, and I was, and I gave him my blessing to go ahead and run on, and he did. Probably good, because my legs were very tired, and it kept me from going too fast just to try to stay with him.

Just kinda slogged through it, and stayed on the same street for both out and back, because more shade lived there. Slowest average speed I've had in a while, but the run was okay.

Saturday.
Date: 06/27/2009
Time: 6:05am
Duration: 2:30:11
Location: NW Park to Duval, 38th, Brentwood, etc and back

Sport: Running
Workout: 14-15 mile run + 4 strides
Distance: 15.18 miles

Weather: 80ish at 6am (ugh), warming to high 80s by the end, sunny, miserable
People: Andi, Brian, Kris, LauraKate, Mike, Lori

Comments:
Oof. Painful run. I intended to run 14 and then if I felt okay, do a mile out and back. But we took several wrong turns, had to backtrack, got lost, etc, so when I finally got back, I was already over 15 miles. Made my decision easy, at least. The heat and humidity were pretty bad, and there were many times that nobody said anything at all for minutes. We were all just trying to survive. We were all doing different distances, so at one point I split off on my own to run the rest of my miles in. I ran out of the water I was carrying and I was kinda miserable and hot and grumpy, so I asked a guy doing yardwork to fill my water bottle from his hose. That helped. The last couple miles were a death march. The good news is, average for the run was still under 10min miles, and the death march miles were only just barely over 10 minute miles, so it wasn't as deathy as it felt like.

Additional good news is that I got to pet a puppy. Everyone was awwwing over something, but I didn't see what. They said it was a puppy, so I went back to see, and waved everyone on while I loved on the adorable puppy. Then had to run faster to catch up afterwards. Yay, puppy!

Thursday.
Date: 06/25/2009
Time: 5:18am
Duration: 1:21:50
Location: FW HEB loops

Sport: Running
Workout: 8 mile run
Distance: 8.20 miles

Weather: 80 (at 5am!), supposedly less humid though I couldn't tell
People: Andi, Kris, Brian, Mike and Andrea

Comments:
Two early mornings in a row. Tough. But we got out there and got 'er done. One 5 mile loop then one 3 mile loop, so NorthHills twice and Running Rope once. Felt okay, though we were slow, picking it up a tiny bit at the end. I have a big blister on my left foot, and I put duct tape over it to protect it, and it worked. Gonna have to get some of those blister bandaids or something.

18 miles in three contiguous weekday runs. The miles ramp ever upwards.

Wednesday.
Date: 06/24/2009
Time: 4:57am
Duration: 0:40:10
Location: Neighborhood loop

Sport: Running
Workout: 40 minute run
Distance: 4.09 miles

Weather: 80 degrees, humidity supposedly surprisingly low
People: Alone

Comments:
Ah, Wednesday run. You are not my favorite run. After a hard and hot Tuesday run, getting up really, really early to run again is not pleasant. But I managed to get up and get on the road and get it done. Did a loop and realized as I got near the end that it wasn't going to get me to 40 minutes, so I did a little out and back on a random road, and came in pretty perfect.

Even though weather underground claims lower humidity, I'm not sure it made the run feel any better. Maybe that was the started-at-4:57am factor, though.

Tuesday.
Date: 06/23/2009
Time: 6:11pm
Duration: 0:58:34
Location: Anderson HS to West Rim area

Sport: Running
Workout: 6 mile run + 4 strides
Distance: 6.11 miles

Weather: 103 with heat index of ~108, sunny
People: Andi, Brian, Kris, Lori, Mike

Comments:
It was uh.. hot. Kris was obviously feeling stronger than anyone else, so she took the lead and we all just tried to stay with her. My legs felt like they just didn't want to pick up, and there were many times when, despite the number of people we had running with us, nobody would have the energy to say anything. I was surprised at our pace at the end.. it felt more like 12 minute miles.

Then Karen had popsicles at the end, and life was good again.

Sunday.
Date: 06/21/2009
Time: 8:25am
Duration: 0:40:30
Location: Neighborhood

Sport: Running
Workout: 4 mile recovery run
Distance: 4.09 miles

Weather: Warm and humid (it's a theme)
People: Matt

Comments:
I kinda wanted to go elsewhere to do this run, because I'm tired of my neighborhood already, and our Tuesdays runs happen in the neighborhood, as well. But then Matt asked if I wanted to run with him, and I'd rather have company than go elsewhere. So we ran together, but decided to run his normal 4 mile route backwards. It was a nice change, and nice to run with Matt. And nice that he was breathing hard at times, too. The weather is just rough.

Legs were fatigued a bit from Saturday, but not horrible.

Saturday.
Date: 06/20/2009
Time: 6:04am
Duration: 2:03:00
Location: From Park&Ride on 183, around Karen's 'hood

Sport: Running
Workout: 10-12 mile long run
Distance: 12.32 miles

Weather: Hot and humid
People: Brian, Kris, Andi, Mae, LauraKate and Ashlie (Ha)

Comments:
Since I started the program late, I'm still playing catchup with the group/macro cycle. Karen said to do 10-12, and I managed to do 12 (macro said 14). I felt much better than last Saturday, too. Ran with Brian the whole time, and others random times (Ashlie did 3 with us, Mae did 10, and Kris, Andi and LauraKate were doing 14, so went a different way just before mile 10).

It was miserably humid out there. We could literally wring sweat out of our shorts by mile 4. My first really, really, really sweaty run in running shorts. It's.. interesting. If you like to feel like you wet yourself.

Thursday.
Date: 06/18/2009
Time: 5:18am
Duration: 1:11:59
Location: Northwest Park area

Sport: Running
Workout: 7 mile run
Distance: 7.29 miles

Weather: 80 degrees, over 90% humidity, so humid it drizzled a few times
People: Andi, Kris and Brian

Comments:
Humid. Hard to breathe. But it was nice actually do my Thursday morning runs with people rather than starting obscenely early before anyone else. It was a rather slower than normal (uh, normal being the only 3 other runs I've done lately) run, but we had a nice chat, and just tried to enjoy ourselves.

Wednesday.
Date: 06/17/2009
Time: 5:11am
Duration: 0:27:19
Location: Neighborhood

Sport: Running
Workout: 30 minute run
Distance: 2.76 miles

Weather: 80 degrees, high humidity
People: Alone

Comments:
After last night's run, I just decided to see how I felt when I woke up, as to whether I did my run. I certainly wasn't going to do it after work. But I got up and felt okay, so I rolled out of bed and did the run. I did a route that I knew wouldn't get me to 30 minutes, then figured I'd tack on an out and back if I felt it necessary. When I got back to my house, my stomach was just starting to feel really bad, so I decided that 27 minutes was good enough. My body is definitely still getting used to the higher volume of running, and I want to be as nice to it as possible.

Tuesday.
Date: 06/16/2009
Time: 6:15pm
Duration: 0:58:22
Location: Anderson HS neighborhood

Sport: Running
Workout: 6 mile base run + 4 strides
Distance: 6.08 miles

Weather: 100 degrees w/ heat index of 103 or so, very sunny
People: Karen's group

Comments:
I keep going into these workouts with a great attitude, expecting that to pull me through, but I end up falling apart. Then again, this was my first Tuesday workout, and my body isn't yet acclimated to the heat, and it showed. Started out with Robyn, Andi, Kris, Megan and SarahKate. Robyn wasn't doing the full thing, so she peeled off after 3ish miles. Kris got up ahead of us. At the end M&SK pulled ahead. Andi was kind enough to stay with me 'til the end. I was not in a good place, though. Karen had told us that our pace was to be whatever we needed to do, and to stop if we felt lightheaded or unwell. I never got to the point where I felt like I should stop, but I certainly could tell that I could easily get there if I pushed myself any harder.

The good news is, even though it felt awful and like we were running 12 minute miles, our pace wasn't as horrible as it felt. And hopefully each Tuesday will get easier, as I get used to the heat.

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