I mentally prepared for this run for at least two days, maybe three. Rain was in the forecast and I’ve been watching the weather around the time that I run in the morning. Every time I checked the weather it showed the same thing; 67% chance of rain at 5, 6 and 7 A.M. I was finally going to get the chance to run in the rain. I was grateful it was a short run…
One month of marathon training is done! Wow, I can’t believe how fast time has gone. I’ve finished four full weeks of training and so far the intensity has been pretty light. I don’t anticipate I will be saying the same thing at the end of the next 30 days. I wrote my training plan, so I know what’s coming. Base/Conversational pace run Today was a 6 mile base conversational pace run. Also known as…
I’m starting to notice a Monday morning trend. I nearly always feel sluggish when I start out on Monday mornings and it takes me a while to get my energy going while on the run. Today was one of those days. It was Halloween also but no costume or dressing up for me on my run. However, it’s fun to check out all of the decorations that are still lit from overnight. Monday’s are now…
One of the benefits to training over the winter months is that it stays cooler for longer. Therefore, I can sleep in a little longer and start my weekend runs a little later. I don’t need to beat the sun and the heat like I did during the summer months. Long run recap I started my run at 8 A.M. It was mostly cloudy and 55 degrees with no wind. A light overshirt and capri…
It was another tough morning today but for completely different reasons. My hip flexor was still tight but greatly improved. I focused a lot of time the day before on foam rolling, deep stretching, using the heating pad and applying KT Tape to the area. By the time I woke up this morning it felt like a slightly overworked muscle but my mobility had mostly returned to normal. What made it such a rough morning…
Some days are harder than others and they just don’t come together as easily as other days. To start with, I woke up with a really tight and sore right hip flexor. The day before, it was too cold outside to stretch on the patio so I came into the house. Then, I got busy doing other things and I forgot to stretch after a 6 mile run. Turns out, that was a big mistake…
Winter is here and it’s just going to get colder. It was 50 degrees, clear and crisp this morning. My hands were so cold by the time I finished with my run that I could barely open and close my fingers. I couldn’t pull my sleeve all the way down over my left hand because I wanted to be able to see my watch to gauge my pace and distance. I may need gloves next…
Day one of week four means I’ve moved into a new cycle in my training plan. I’ve entered the first part of the strength phase (Phase 2) and have added a second quality workout to my week. Oh, those hills! Monday runs now incorporate hills followed by kettlebell strength work. The hill I run is about a half mile long and somewhat steep. I’m not sure about the exact grade but if I were to…
It was a glorious 6 mile run today for my step back week. I felt extremely accomplished by getting out of the house at a reasonably early hour and to my running location. I decided to run at a nearby reservoir today where I haven’t run in quite a while. In the summer months there is very little shade there and it’s further away from the coast. Therefore, it tends to get really hot in…
I had an absolutely incredible run today! No pinching or pain in my back at all.It felt so good to just run and focus on my form and breathing instead of worrying about whether or not my back will seize up when I stop. Today’s run was a quick 5 miles at goal marathon pace. Although my pace was faster than my other weekly runs, it felt easy. This was a very encouraging run. My…