Not-so-fast-running-blog

Long run with an easy pace: 10:07

• 2 mi - 10:41 / 4 mi - 10:22 / 6 mi - 9:51 / 8 mi - 9:59 / 10 mi - 10:07 / 12 mi - 10:08 / 14 mi - 9:38
• I like starting my runs long before dawn. I constantly gaze at the stars and am reminded of my smallness in relation to the universe. The pace, hustle, and bigness of which I often choose to live my life comes into stark perspective at these moments. Jesus' entire life was small - his entrance into the world through a manger, his vocation as a carpenter, his death on a lonely cross, even his private resurrection from an empty tomb - all declared his humility and acknowledgement of purposes that far outreached his earthly body. Small is how I wish to approach God, others, and myself. My 14 miles was time well spent,

Recovery Run:

My son stopped by the house this morning. We ran the neighborhoods. We got lost in our conversation which meant we lost track of our pacing. It was a nice way to start the day.

Workout: Tempo

• 1 mi - 10:00 / 2 mi - 8:57 / 3 mi - 10:00 / 4 mi - 8:57 / 5 mi - 9:57 / 6 mi - 8:57 / 6.67 mi - 10:00

Long Run: Recovery pace (10:29)

• 2 mi - 11:40 / 4 mi - 10:27 / 6 mi - 10:06 / 8 mi - 10:13 / 10 mi - 10:41 / 12 mi - 11:04 / 14 mi - 10:12 / 16 mi - 9:32
• It was a nice, cool morning for a long run. Rain is in the forecast for the next two days so it felt good to bump this run earlier in the week. This is one of the many perks of being on summer break.

Recovery Run: 10:20

I am experiecing a lot of inner abductor discomfort. I took aleve before running again. It helped. I'll take the next few days off to see if rest and streching will relieve whatever is going on with my thigh.

Recovery Run: 10:01

• I have exercises now that target my Psoas muscle. Hopefully this will provide the healing that I require to address the pain before it becomes more than a nuisance.
• 1 mi - 11:11 (that first mile is so painful) 2 mi - 10:20 / 3 mi - 10:00 / 4 mi - 9:34 / 5: 09 - 9:03
• No more running until my race on Sunday. Rain is in the forecast.

Overall Average Pace: 9:07

Splits:

• 2 mi - 8:45 / 4 mi - 9:18 / 6 mi - 9:15 / 8 mi - 9:07 / 10 mi - 9:20 / 12 mi - 8:59 / 13.3 mi - 8:50

Thoughts:

I'll start with the positives because the fam says that I focus on my disapointments too much. I appreciate their honesty.

• This was the first time that I did this race. The course was beautiful! I loved running through the city. There was so much variety for the eyes and ears to observe and hear. The course took me on streets, bike paths, steel bridges, and brick paths. I enjoyed the assortment of textures for my feet to experience as I ran. The bridges were slick due to the steady rain, but they were fairly short. The last four miles or so were along the river canal. That was absolutely picturesque.
• The medal is HUGE. It represents everything powerful, strong, and invincible that the race promotes about females. I felt that way finishing this race in the rain today.
• Cake! Yes! Cake at the finish line! Who does that? Sign me up for next year!

I have only one not so positive moment which is pretty good for me!

• Race pacer - I put myself with the 2 hour pacer. I assumed that this would keep me close to my goal finish of just under 2 hours. The first 2 miles were incredibly fast for a 9:10 pace. I ran an 8:45. I could barely see the pacer. I knew that my current recovery training had not prepared me to sustain this type of pacing so I had to slow down. My thought was to keep the pacer in my view at all times and just hope that I could stay close enough to have a strong finish. By mile 10, I saw her on the other side of the river canal. She was now running alone and had almost caught up to the 1:50:00 pacer. I do not know why this upset me so much, but it did. I pretty much gave up at this juncture of the race. Fortunately at mile 12, I stopped my pity party and kicked my pace into high gear. I passed runner after runner until I got to the finish line. I achieved my goal by the hair of my chinny, chin chin!

Workout: Conversation Pace (9:30)

• 2 mi / Warm-up / 10:20
• 4 mi / CP / 9:12 @ 1 mi - 9:32 / 2 mi - 9:07 / 3 mi - 9:16 / 4 mi - 8:56

I wasn't sure how my legs would feel following my half-marathon race yesterday. I had some Psoas muscle soreness at the get-go, but it worked itself out during my warm-up miles. I should have stayed closer to my CP for the first 3 miles to stay true to my training regimen. Practicing pushing through the final mile is something that I am finding of value.

Workout: Speed work (treadmill)

• 12 x 400/400 recovery
• Paces - 8:07 / 9:40

It was a struggle to head out the door. I am presenting at a conference today. My brain is scattered with all of my ideas. I finally decided that a run would settle my nerves and organize my thoughts.

I had a lot of pain for the first 2 - 3 miles in the psoas muscle area. I took 2 Aleve, but probably did not do enough pre-stretching.

Long run

• This was an incredibly difficult workout. I had zero skippy in my zippy. No matter how much I tried to push my speed, I was just slow. It was beyond frustrating. I can't even blame the summer heat. It was a refreshing 50° early morning chill!
• I've got the grands all weekend so no more running workouts until Monday. I'll definitely be running just a different type of running!

Workout: Recovery Run (10:20)

Overall Average Pace: 10:00

Splits: 1 mi - 11:40 / 2 mi - 10:26 / 9:58 - 3 mi - 9;58 / 4 mi - 10:07 / 5 mi - 9:28 / 6 mi - 9:32 / 7 mi - 8:58

Workout: Conversation Pace (9:30)

• Overall Average Pace: 9:29
• Splits: 1 mi - 10:44 / 2 mi - 9:36 / 3 mi - 9:20 / 4 mi - 9:02 / 5 mi - 9:05 / 6 mi - 9:10
• Thoughts: I just returned from a relaxing but gluttonous Maine vacation. Our coastline rental on Harpswell was everything we had hoped for and then some. We read, hiked, sailed, shopped, and ate fresh seafood.
• I did ZERO running. I'd like to say that my run felt GREAT today, but it did not. I've got A LOT of work ahead of me. On the plus side, I feel refreshed mentally!

Race: Indiana Sports Corp Indy Ultimate

I ran today's event with my son. We completed the race four years ago during its inagural year. We really enjoyed it, but just never returned. First year attendees were encouraged to return this year with a significantly reduced race fee so my son and I said, "Let's do it!"

The course was red flagged by our start time of 8:30 AM due to the heat index. I felt fine throughout the course, but my son experienced some heat issues. It was good that the race promoters set up additional water and cooling stations.

The race was totally different from our first year. The staggered start was much better. We were released with about 50 runners which meant zero congestion. We also ran a longer distance to each fitness obstacle which also lessened congestion. I never had to stand in a line to start my obstacle and/or strength work.

Running through the city of Indianapolis was hands down a sight to behold. The canals glistened in the sun. The monuments begged me to linger a little longer with my gaze. The sky scrapers shaded my steps. The police officers cheered my efforts.

I experienced the rare opportunities of running the bases at Victory Field, kicking a field goal at Lucas Oil Stadium, hugging the NCAA Men's Basketball Trophy at the NCAA Hall of Champions, and kissing the bricks of the Indianapolis Speedway. What a great city!

Workout: Long run

This run went from hot to hotter then to hottest. I had to call it quits at 12 3/4 miles. I was scheduled to run 14, but I depleted my liquids and my pace was rapidly languishing. I'll need to start much earlier tomorrow.