Well after a 51k week last week, I had finally reached one of my recovery weeks. this week I only had to run 45k but at a more relaxed pace. So thats what I did, until yesterday. I did my usual Tuesday night run (9k)with my better half, taking it easy the whole way. Still turned out to be a bit of a slog due to the snow/ice on the sidewalks, but hey, its winter and you have to learn to expect that, right?
Wednesday was my night off so I stuck with the program of working on my hips, and IT bands with the foam roller. On Thursday, I ran 8k with Stacey running the final 5k with me on the track. For me, the jury is still out on track running. the surface is nice and soft but the variety of running leaves a little to be desired. kinda like one step up from a treadmill, which i compare to a hamster on a wheel. Sure, you're making it spin but you ain't goin' nowhere and for me, the whole point of running is to actually go somewhere.
On Friday, I took advantage of another day off from work to run my 5k recovery run with 5 or 6 strides tagged on to the end of it. I think I ran the 5k in 30 minutes, not blazingly fast but thats not the point. I notice that i don't focus so much on times anymore but what my average heart rate is for a given run. that gives me a better idea of how hard i'm working. As with the previous Friday, it was warm enough to wear shorts and this was another run with the New Balance Minimus shoes.
On to my long run. Like two weeks ago, this was a 22k run from home to the Halifax Shopping Center, where I would meet Stacey and have a cupcake as a reward. This was also my 43rd birthday and during a couple of times I thought to myself, "how many 43 yr olds can run 22k?", of course my mind answered back "how many are dumb enough to try?" lol I was concerned going in to this run because my knee was a little sore during the morning before the run. I don't know if its from the work from the week catching up with me or going up and down our steps so much due to keeping the wood stove going. It could also be paranoia for the upcoming run. The long runs still make me nervous. I keep thinking back to by blowout during the Valley Harvest. anyway, I had a great run, no knee/hip issues again. I ran 22k in 2:12, which was faster than I should have run it given that it was supposed to be a recovery week. I got a little carried away at around the 13k point when I saw that I had the opportunity to catch and pass someone so for the next 4k I passed her and left her in my dust. lol I burnt 1400 calories and my avg heart rate was 161 bpm. I rocked the run listening to Dave Matthews' "Crash" and "Before these Crowded Streets"
I'm going to need new running shoes soon as my Kinveras are almost worn out. I usually like to limit my shoes
to about 500k before retiring them to pasture. I may buy two pair as I've noticed that on my long runs, my feet swell up and make my current
size a little too tight. What I'll probably do is buy one pair thats 1/2 size larger and just wear them for my long runs so my toes don't wind up all scrunched up in them.
I have some big mileage weeks coming. 53k this week, 57k next and 60k the following week. Crap. Another test. I suppose I should make the physio appointments now in preparation. When does it all end? oh wait I know, May 20th at around noon or a little later.
Onward and upward.
"Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight" - Bruce Cockburn
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