Month: August 2023

Well, I suspected that a few days off really wouldn’t help the left shin much and I was right. It’s not bad, but it’s there. Time for a different approach.

Also time to start pushing the pace and getting that mindset in place. I’ve noticed that I pay too much respect to the longer distances. “I better take it easy — it’s a longer run today.” Enough of that nonsense. Let’s see what happens if I don’t take it easy. They are races, after all.

Today’s run was a 14.74 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 9:23. Weight was 152.2.

A nice, mild, humid mid-morning for a run. Get out on the road and get some work in when it’s sunny and a little sticky. The early morning runs during the week are in a higher humidity but the Sun adds an energy-sapping element.

The left shin is still sore. Odd. Might give it a rest for a few days. Past experience, though, is that only a few days doesn’t really do anything.

Today’s run was an 11.33 mile rolling hills route. I mixed in one short snippet of a walk at about mile 10 up a hill (thinking about the sore shin). Pace, including the walk, was 10:02.

A mild, stormy morning. Pouring rain making for lakes and rivers along the berm of the roads. Can’t go very fast, and also all that water keeps the shoes waterlogged and heavy. Good training, though. More work.

Today’s run was a soggy 14.74 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 9:57.

First day back on the road after a few days of rest. One issue I’ve noticed is somewhat sore left shin and Achilles Tendon. It’s due to that long climb at the start of the race last Saturday. It was long!

Today’s run was an 8.05 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 9:15.

Race day. Whew. What a course. After a mile it’s a 3 mile climb up to about 7100 feet, then a creeping gradual rolling climb to a max altitude of 7600 feet. I tried to manage the effort with walking the really steep parts, but it didn’t help much. By mile 5 I was beat. OK, run what you can and mix in walking. Not sure how much of the impact was due to the altitude.

After about 1.5 miles the road turns to dirt/gravel. As the race progressed I accumulated lots of gravel in my shoes. Very painful. Lesson learned: do something, e.g., gauze, some product, etc., to try to keep gravel out of the shoes.

Today’s run was a 26.2. mile run/walk. “Pace,” if you could call it that, was an embarrassing 13:27 (reflects all the walking).

After driving around Rock Springs a bit yesterday, I found a street with a good climb. Not too long but with parts at an 8% grade. One more day of getting acclimated to the altitude.

Today’s run was a short 1.42 mile hills route. Pace was 10:46.

First day in Rock Springs. We’re at about 6200 feet in altitude but I don’t really notice it. The plan today is to put in a little work and see how it feels. Start to get acclimated to the altitude.

Today’s run was a flat 2.52 route. Pace was 9:29.

Last run at home before heading off to Wyoming. Don’t mind getting in some work on a mild, rainy morning before sitting on a plane for hours.

Today’s run was a 12.5 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 9:49.

A warm, very humid and sunny mid-morning for a run. Conditions that sap your energy completely. Good but brutal training weather.

Today’s run was an 8.05 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 9:55.

One more nice morning for a run. Temp around 66, somewhat humid, not a cloud in the sky. It rained, apparently, not long before I hit the road.

Today was to be an easy recovery run, but as usual I decided to push it a bit after I hit the pavement. One more day before backing off to taper before the race in a week or so. I feel like a slacker if I’m trying to “take it easy.”

Today’s run was a rather flat 4.22 mile route. Pace was 9:16. Weight was 146.2.