Training Log 10/14/20

Good morning for an early run. Venus is up in the east just above a crescent Moon and Mars is bright in the western sky. The route I ran is a figure-8 type route, run in both directions, to take advantage of what hills are nearby. There’s a guy who is doing some bike work on part of the route as well, so we pass each other occasionally. Another crazy out at 5AM.

I’ve been nursing a bit of a “runner’s knee” for about a week or so. Annoying. Some ice, rolling, and a massage after a run seems to be sufficient. Interesting that there’s a dark bruise behind my knee on the inside-leg side. It feels superficial but something to keep an eye on.

Distance: 6.85 miles. Target pace: 9:50; actual: 9:51. Target weight: 145.7; actual: 149.4

Training Log 10/08/20

Had to improvise a course due to telephone poles and trees being down on roads and those road then being closed. The power was out so it was a real challenge to see it all in the dark.

My Samsung Gear 3 watch for some reason didn’t really time the run. I started the timer but it didn’t apparently actually start. Not a crisis obviously, but it is something to pay more attention to when it’s really needed, e.g., a race.

Distance: 4.35 miles on a generally flat course. Target pace: 9:10; actual: guess around 9:30. Maybe less–doesn’t really matter too much. Target weight: 146.6; actual: 148.2.

Training Log 10/07/20

Nice, cool morning for a run.

One of the things I’ve noticed about distance running is that the mental part is just as, if not more important than, the physical part. We need to train our brains to be patient — we’re going to be out here for a while. Relax.

Distance: 8.05 miles on a rolling hills course. Target pace: 9:10; actual: 9:12. Weight: target 146.5; actual: 148.0

Training Log 10/05/20

After running for about a month with rest days worked in between running days (usually), I think everything is in good enough shape to start running daily. I haven’t felt anything from the stress fracture I had and my left knee feels a bit sore after a run but by the next morning it’s OK. I ran 8 miles this morning — no problem. I’ll pick up virtual racing with the Ocean View Half on November 8th.

Distance: 8.05 miles on a good rolling hills course (about 400 feet of climb). Target pace: 9:10; actual: 9:12. Target weight: 146.7; actual: 149.4.

Training Log 10/01/20

Very nice early morning for a run. Clear skies, 56 degrees, no wind, and a near-full moon low in the west. No skunks.

I’ve noticed, now that I’ve been tracking my weight each day, that it varies by several pounds day to day. I always weigh myself first thing in the morning, so that I can get as consistent a daily tracking as possible. Yesterday my weight was about five pounds heavier than today. I’m focused (correctly) on the trend but the daily variation is surprising.

Distance: 7.15 miles on a fairly flat route. Target pace: 9:10; actual: 9:15. Target weight: 147.1; actual: 146.4.