Watt's Running

Well today was the longest run so far – 22 miles. I woke at 4:20 AM, and decided to get up instead of waiting for the alarm at 5 AM. I dressed, ate breakfast, and drove to the end (RunTex Riverside). Rushing around there I accidentally dropped my car key and had a hard time finding it in the dark. Luckily a young lady helped me and found it. At 5:30 AM I caught a ride with Larry and Dan to the start (RunTex Gateway). At 6 AM we started. It was drizzling and cold (39 degrees Fahrenheit). I wore tights, three upper layers, ear band and hat. For the most part I was warm running. In the end I ran it all, that is, no walking. However, it was ugly, and I ran anyway I could – you could say at the end that I shuffled. Regardless I just put one foot in front of the other, and I completed it in 3:58. Not very fast, but hey I ran it all and that made me feel good. Most years I don’t do as well. By the time I was done I was soaked through. My clothes probably weighed over a pound with the water weight. This time I tried to bring electrolytes. Having not bought any earlier in the week I tried REI the night before but they don’t carry any. So I brought about a teaspoon of salt in a baggie and one small bottle of Electromix. I was planning on only using the Electromix, but after the first use I forgot to close the squeeze cap and by the next stop it was empty. This wasn’t good. So I switched to Gatorade loaded with salt from my baggie. It tasted awful and it upset my stomach a bit. However at the end my legs weren’t cramping so I’ve got to continue to do something like that. I was to run MGP from 6-10 and 14-18, but only really tried from 6-10. The rest I just slogged along by myself in the drizzle and cold at whatever pace I could make myself do just to move along.

Today I had a 16 mile long run. I did the best I could. I chased John Z. and Belle. A few miles into it I had a bathroom break yet I was able to catch up to them on Lamar. We ran part of the marathon course especially the series of hills starting around mile 9. I stayed nearby John and Belle until the last few miles. Then I just couldn’t keep up and had to slow down – I was so stiff and sore. I only had one Clif-Shot about one hour into the run – maybe that affected me. After a while my left hamstring and ankle were causing problems again. However I ran the whole way with no significant walking. I did lop off some of the course to make it a bit shorter keeping it to about 16 miles since it was initially 16.7 mile – thus making it easier on myself. I finished in 2:42 – about 10 minutes per mile. Afterwards I did my foot exercises and stretched. Then headed home.

This weekend we were to run 10 miles “on your own” (OYO). Coach Karen however set up an unofficial group run this morning at 7 AM. I followed a group of four women most of the way. They were my pacers and map readers. John Z. who is hurt manned the one water stop on Exposition. The first two miles were on the Town Lake trail, the next miles were on the upcoming marathon course. I counted 7 hills though the marathon section. At 35th street we turned around and headed back downtown. Based upon our map I completed about 11 miles in about 2 hours. For the last few miles my left hamstring was giving me problems. It was making it difficult to run up hills – the muscle was tight and sensitive. Afterwards it’s now aching and throbbing. My heart rate monitor was again not working even though it has a new battery. I finished the run, but I can’t say it was fun or easy even though this is a recovery week and it should have felt that way.

We had to do 18 miles this weekend (someone said afterward it was more like 19). It was to be a comfortable run, but 18 is still a long long way. The weather was warm with us starting out in the mid 60s. My ankle was bothering me most of the time and I tried to ignore it, but it finally took its toll causing me to slow down. I pretty much ran by myself. We left downtown and ran north to Ladera Norte which is a very hilly road, but just as we got there our course map skipped the hill and had us return to downtown. So although the course was called Ladera Norte, we didn’t really run that particular part. During the first half or so I tried to catch Belle and John Z., however at about 12 I just let them leave me behind since I had to go slower than them. At one stop Coach Karen asked how my ankle was and all I could do was laugh and say I’m making due. Near the end I forced myself to run the entire thing and I finished in 3:14. Afterward several others said that it had been a tough run. In the Annex I did my foot exercises and stretched my legs, but they were quite tight and throbbing. When I got home I sat in a cold water tub with all the ice cubes from the refrigerator for 20 minutes. I sipped on hot choloclate to keep my inner core warm as I read a magazine to kill the time. Then I took a hot shower. Overall I’m not damaged, but these past two weeks have been a challenge. My left hamstring is aching.

For the past few weeks my heart rate monitor needed a new battery so there hasn’t been any graphs, but this week I finally got one and here is my heart rate.

Our long run today followed the AT&T Austin Marathon course. It was a LAB (as in laboratory) run so we were to try to run it as if we were really doing the marathon, and not as an easy long run. We were to start at mile 9 and run to the end (mile 26.2). We were to complete 18 miles including about a mile extension at the end to get back to the RunTex building. I was thinking of running with the 4:30 group, but started with the 4:15 group. Dan-O was the pace leader who I know. The first three miles were a warm up (in 38:08 – I started my timer too early before we really started running so this time is inaccurate). The next four sets of 3 miles were to be done at MGP with a 1-3 minute break between each. The final 3 miles were to be a cooldown. Well I started with the 4:15 group, but at the second water break (in 28:04 for miles 3-6) I just couldn’t stand around waiting, so I took off and chased the 4:00 group and caught them (in 27:56 for miles 6-9). The pace leaders were running too fast (8:30/M), but I tried to keep up with them for that first section (in 26:51 for miles 9-12). Remember these times include 1-3 minutes of resting at each water stop. We were really running. However, the next one I began to slow down (in 29:20 for mile 12-15). After these two faster sections with this crowd I finally decided to take it easy and really cool down for the last 3 miles back to RunTex (in 30:58 for miles 15-18). I was getting really stiff near the end. After it was all over I don’t remember much of the course unfortunately except that there were a few hills that will be tough come next February.

I thoroughly enjoy Town Lake. It must be the natural setting of the trail as opposed to city streets. In any case I started out slow. I was thinking that this was my fate and I must accept it. I stayed with a few of the slower people at the back of the pack. However at about 2 miles into the 10 miles I passed them and ran to catch up with the next cluster of runners about 400 yards ahead. I caught them at the 3 mile water stop. So I began again to reel in the next group ahead of me, and caught them at the 5 mile water stop. At about 6 miles I saw Sadie, Belle, and Clarence ahead and slowly caught up to them. I was no longer running easy, but I also wasn’t over-my-head. So I stayed with Sadie and Clarence until the Mopac bridge and then to the end. It felt good to run like that – to let it out. I thanked them for letting me chase them. I complete the 10 miles in 1:35 or about 9:30/M. It felt good.

Nothing to say other than I did it. It’s been two weeks and the 16 miles are far behind me especially in my memory. I ran by myself. All I remember is that around 8 instead of making a left turn I went straight ahead and was following this guy who I later realized was running the 18 mile route. About 1/2 mile into it he was far ahead and no one had passed me which I hadn’t expected. It was then I stopped, took out my map and figured out my mistake. After two rights and about another 1/2 mile I was back on the route. This means that I actually ran about 17 miles, however, someone said once we completed that the 16 miles was really 15.2 so I really did 16 miles. In any case, this run again emphasized that I have appreciably slowed-down.

OK, so I ran with the class group even though the class doesn’t officially start until this week. As I said earlier I’m joining an existing class so I got up at 5:30 AM, left the house at 6 AM, and started at 6:30 AM with a few people from the class who I already know. That was real nice to have people I know to run with. I ran with Melody and Susan mostly and part of the time with Terry and Rasheev(?). We took it real easy, and we talked and chatted the whole way. It was fun and I’m glad to be back in class. I never started my watch nor looked at it during or when I finished so I don’t know how I did. I think that’s a good thing. I just need to relax and enjoy running for the pure pleasure of the experience. That’s something I’ve been missing. Right now I’m a bit sore, but that’s to be expected both at my age and since I’ve been taking it easy these past two weeks.

Note: I have signed up to watch the NYC Marathon live tomorrow morning on the internet through MediaZone.com. I’m interested in watching Lance Armstrong and to see how he does. My fingers are crossed for him. I wishing him well on his first marathon.

At 7 we ran 7 on the Town Lake trail. Chris, Bob, Ed, Kevin and I ran together. A few others ran too, but as soon as we started they were way ahead of us. We ran quite slowly. Chris and I chatted most of the time, and then he stopped to stretch at mile 6 and I finished with Kevin. At this time, I think Kevin and I might run the Chicago Marathon together. He’s hurt, and I’m hurt, so we’re a perfect pair – ha ha ha. Nothing fast, slow and steady – just getting it done.

Last weekend I was in Buffalo visiting my father so I ran 10 miles long run in and around Orchard Park NY. It was sunny and cool. Very nice running weather. I had previously done this same route about a year ago so it wasn’t a new one. I bought a bottle of water at mile 3 and carried and drank it the rest of the way. I took it real easy and completed it in about 1:37 which is fine. My thigh muscle was tight and bothering me throughout, but I tried to ignore it. Afterwards it was trobbing like a headache. It didn’t make me feel good about what is physically happening to me so close to the Chicago marathon. My plan is now to just (1) start the race, and (2) complete it. I don’t even have a goal of running the whole thing, and I definitely am not concerned with my time – whoa no way. However, when I get done I’ll be disappointed because my time will be so bad. Oh well, I’ve got to accept my role in life as a has-been – at least for the moment. P.S. No heartrate monitor.
Update Here is the route I ran: