I didn't want to get up today. I pressed snooze a few times. But, I told myself I didn't have to run long. So, I did two loops of my block for a total of 1.92 miles running in 21:27. Better than nothing!
I didn't go very fast, but I guess there was a rather hard hill. Sounds like a good excuse to me! Even at that slower pace (average 11:11min/mile) my heart rate was up and I really felt my asthma, especially when I got inside.
It was 46F out with a 8mph wind. Not a bad day, but the wind at times was brisker than I had expected.
I've been eating like crap lately. I need to get that under control.
Showing posts with label hills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hills. Show all posts
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Hilly loops
Today I decided to do hilly loops around my neighborhood. Normally, I just roam around, turning where I feel like at the moment. Often I choose the flattest route. But, today, I decided to do three loops near my house. My road is a gradual incline of about 1/4 mile. The next street over, however, is much steeper. The steeper part is shorter, of course, and then any incline is more gradual than my street. So, I ran downhill from my house and ran up the steeper hill on the next street. The whole loop was 0.95 miles, which is a pretty nice, even number! Who woulda known?!
From top to bottom, the elevation change is only 162ft (49.7 meters) so it's not that big of a deal. But it's enough of a challenge for 5am in 39degF weather with 5mph wind. Actually, the weather was perfect. The coldness was just right. I could feel my lungs wheezing a tiny bit, but nothing to worry about yet. I wore about the same gear as last time. It was a bit on the warm side, I think. Not too bad, though.
I listened to a 156bpm Podrunner podcast called Running to Elysium. There is a line somewhere around 20-25 minute in that repeats "You don't stop" over and over again. That always makes me pick up my pace!
Overall, I did 3.04 miles in 31:05 for a pace of 10:13min/mile. That's pretty good for me!
No bunnies, but I saw a stray cat! I forgot to mention I saw one bunny during my last run. I'm sure you were wondering...
From top to bottom, the elevation change is only 162ft (49.7 meters) so it's not that big of a deal. But it's enough of a challenge for 5am in 39degF weather with 5mph wind. Actually, the weather was perfect. The coldness was just right. I could feel my lungs wheezing a tiny bit, but nothing to worry about yet. I wore about the same gear as last time. It was a bit on the warm side, I think. Not too bad, though.
I listened to a 156bpm Podrunner podcast called Running to Elysium. There is a line somewhere around 20-25 minute in that repeats "You don't stop" over and over again. That always makes me pick up my pace!
Overall, I did 3.04 miles in 31:05 for a pace of 10:13min/mile. That's pretty good for me!
No bunnies, but I saw a stray cat! I forgot to mention I saw one bunny during my last run. I'm sure you were wondering...
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Winter is on the way!
Last night I could already feel the tug to not go for a run this morning. It is getting cold at night now, close to freezing. Yesterday it was extra-cold because of the strong winds, on the order of 30mph. So, I checked the weather forecast and say that it was supposed to slow down to 6mph or less. So, I had no good excuse!
This morning, I tried to dress warmly without overdoing it. I think did pretty well. It was 36F for my run with a wind of about 4.5mph. That may not be much wind, but it's enough to make it feel even colder. I wore a short sleeve dry shirt under a sweat shirt, silk long johns under kind of thin workout pants (not sweats with a fuzzy interior), a reflective vest, a stocking cap, and thin gloves.
I was afraid I'd have problems with my cold-induced asthma. I have some wheezing as I type this, but during the run, I only noticed a tiny bit of squeak. Overall, not bad at all.
I got a bit sweaty, but since it was only a 30 minute run, it wasn't a big deal.
It was a good feeling run. I didn't even have the first mile dread I often have. I took an easy pace and chose a hillier route. There are some pretty decent hills in this area. Nothing San Fransisco like, but if I don't want hills, I have to pick my route carefully.
In 30:22 I covered 2.67 miles. That's a pace of 11:21. I ran to the Podrunner podcast "Definitive" at 154bpm. One of my favorites.
Here's to a great start to the day!!
This morning, I tried to dress warmly without overdoing it. I think did pretty well. It was 36F for my run with a wind of about 4.5mph. That may not be much wind, but it's enough to make it feel even colder. I wore a short sleeve dry shirt under a sweat shirt, silk long johns under kind of thin workout pants (not sweats with a fuzzy interior), a reflective vest, a stocking cap, and thin gloves.
I was afraid I'd have problems with my cold-induced asthma. I have some wheezing as I type this, but during the run, I only noticed a tiny bit of squeak. Overall, not bad at all.
I got a bit sweaty, but since it was only a 30 minute run, it wasn't a big deal.
It was a good feeling run. I didn't even have the first mile dread I often have. I took an easy pace and chose a hillier route. There are some pretty decent hills in this area. Nothing San Fransisco like, but if I don't want hills, I have to pick my route carefully.
In 30:22 I covered 2.67 miles. That's a pace of 11:21. I ran to the Podrunner podcast "Definitive" at 154bpm. One of my favorites.
Here's to a great start to the day!!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
G28K W3D1 - Bunnies, bunnies
Well, it's 6:07am and I finished the first day of week 3 of Gateway to 8K. Today I tried pushing it a bit harder. I am ultimately trying to improve my 5k time, so that should help. I tried to keep the pace normal and then during the last couple minutes of each run, I'd pick up the pace. For some reason, I doubt I ran faster, though. I had to walk pretty slow to get my HR down during those one minute intervals. (Today was 4x 9 minutes running with one minute walking in between.) Checking.... Map my run says I still only did 11.5 minute miles (including the three walking breaks) for 3.4 miles during 39 minutes. Granted, there were several hills, but darn it, I want to run FASTER!
During a few of the hills, I got in a very interesting zone. I focused on my form and my legs just carried me up the hill. It didn't seem hard, although I think my HRM would tell you otherwise. It registered a max HR of 184 today, although I didn't have it working for at least a portion of the first run. I almost felt like I was flying. Some of the hills took 2-3 minutes to run. Not huge, but enough to get my heart really pumping.
I hit the road at 5:20am. During my whole run, I didn't see one person that wasn't encased in wood or metal. Some people were leaving in their cars for work, but no other runners or walkers.
Although, I didn't see people, I did see plenty of bunnies. Most were alive, one wasn't. I think I should start a bunny count for each run. I wouldn't notice them, but when I get anywhere near, they scurry off, their bright white cotton ball tails advertising their location.
Time to start my day. Have a good one!
During a few of the hills, I got in a very interesting zone. I focused on my form and my legs just carried me up the hill. It didn't seem hard, although I think my HRM would tell you otherwise. It registered a max HR of 184 today, although I didn't have it working for at least a portion of the first run. I almost felt like I was flying. Some of the hills took 2-3 minutes to run. Not huge, but enough to get my heart really pumping.
I hit the road at 5:20am. During my whole run, I didn't see one person that wasn't encased in wood or metal. Some people were leaving in their cars for work, but no other runners or walkers.
Although, I didn't see people, I did see plenty of bunnies. Most were alive, one wasn't. I think I should start a bunny count for each run. I wouldn't notice them, but when I get anywhere near, they scurry off, their bright white cotton ball tails advertising their location.
Time to start my day. Have a good one!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Today's run
I was at my parents' house today. My son, who doesn't know the meaning of sleeping in, was bugging me. Nobody else was half awake like I was. So, eventually, I got up and started getting ready for a run. Then others began waking. My daughter seemed willing to get out and about, so I took her in the stroller and headed out for a run.
My parents' neighborhood is very hilly, so I thought I'd head down one of the older neighborhoods to a park creatively named "Central Park". I had google-mapped the park and saw that there were several paths through the park. I should have remembered from my childhood that those paths were on the side of a hill and using them negated any benefit of not running in my parents' neighborhood! Actually, they did have one positive. They had shade. Since I got out of the house later than usual, the shade was very welcome. It was a warm morning and humid. Also, very sunny.
My run was only 5 minutes warmup and 20 minutes running. But, I figure I had the added difficulty of pushing an extra 30-40 lbs and that up steep hills, so it was strenuous enough. The older sidewalks were uneven and bumpy. It worked ok, but made it a bit harder to push the stroller. I use a regular stroller with rather small wheels, not a jogging stroller with larger wheels. My daughter enjoyed the ride, though.
One thing that annoys me sometimes on my runs is that my heart rate monitor loses my heartbeat. Then I end up fiddling around with the strap rather than keeping good running form. I have the Polar T31 coded strap. Sometimes it works perfectly... sometimes it barely registers a heart beat at all. I'm sure it's because it sometimes doesn't get a good contact, but I do the same things each time to supposedly ensure good contact. I don't get it. It's doubly frustrating because I feel like I'm not getting credit for my hard work. When I'm sweating buckets, huffing and puffing, and the HRM is reading 78 bpm, it makes me mad!
My parents' neighborhood is very hilly, so I thought I'd head down one of the older neighborhoods to a park creatively named "Central Park". I had google-mapped the park and saw that there were several paths through the park. I should have remembered from my childhood that those paths were on the side of a hill and using them negated any benefit of not running in my parents' neighborhood! Actually, they did have one positive. They had shade. Since I got out of the house later than usual, the shade was very welcome. It was a warm morning and humid. Also, very sunny.
My run was only 5 minutes warmup and 20 minutes running. But, I figure I had the added difficulty of pushing an extra 30-40 lbs and that up steep hills, so it was strenuous enough. The older sidewalks were uneven and bumpy. It worked ok, but made it a bit harder to push the stroller. I use a regular stroller with rather small wheels, not a jogging stroller with larger wheels. My daughter enjoyed the ride, though.
One thing that annoys me sometimes on my runs is that my heart rate monitor loses my heartbeat. Then I end up fiddling around with the strap rather than keeping good running form. I have the Polar T31 coded strap. Sometimes it works perfectly... sometimes it barely registers a heart beat at all. I'm sure it's because it sometimes doesn't get a good contact, but I do the same things each time to supposedly ensure good contact. I don't get it. It's doubly frustrating because I feel like I'm not getting credit for my hard work. When I'm sweating buckets, huffing and puffing, and the HRM is reading 78 bpm, it makes me mad!
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