Seymour and I went out last Thursday morning for a 3 miler near the house. There wasn't anything spectacular about it, really. We just ran. It wasn't a great run, actually. I didn't feel "on" and I struggled to enjoy it. I realize not every run is going to go well and I won't always feel great when I'm done, but it sure would be nice. Rather than push myself to hit a particular pace, I just ran at whichever pace felt decent, and it turned out it wasn't terrible.
3.2 miles in 34:14
Avg pace 10:40/mile
We went rafting after work on Friday on the SF Payette. I had pretty crappy runs on both Staircase and Slalom, but I also got to have the GoPro camera on my boat, so I got some stellar video of me rowing my boat! When we got home from rafting that night I made Josh watch the footage with me. The first words out of my mouth were, "Oh my gosh, look at my muscles!" I wonder if I can get a still shot of it somehow...
Saturday morning came early, as I met up with my Dirty Dash teammates (aka "Slow Children at Play") to run what I thought was going to be a 10k with a few obstacles and mud pits. Turns out they slashed the mileage on the Dash and we only ran about 5 miles...uphill. The obstacles were plenty, and despite being cut short on at least 1.2 miles, I was really surprised by the number of people there who appeared not to have a lick of athleticism in them. I felt under prepared just having to walk up the hills (I don't remember seeing any information about the actual course, so I didn't run any hills leading up to the event), but was glad I was able to at least throw myself over hay bales, climb over ladders and heave myself over walls with mud pits on both sides. That being said, I'm fine with having this event be my first and last Dirty Dash. The mud was fun enough and the shirts are pretty cute, but it really wasn't my idea of a great time.
We boated again on Sunday, which was a great time. I had every intention of getting up this morning to make my long run since that didn't happen over the weekend, but I slept for almost 2 hours after my alarm went off! My mind and body were exhausted, I had a headache, and I just plain didn't feel great so I called off work today and rested. My body needed it. I did manage to feel better later in the afternoon and spent an hour on the elliptical, but I'm exhausted yet again and am ready for bed.
Hopefully I can manage to get out of bed in the morning for a run with Seymour before work. I've been feeling somewhat down lately, which is a true indication that I need to get myself out running and working out more often so I can at least feel like I'm managing life instead of just dealing with it.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Greenbelt - Eagle to Boise (10 mile recap)
Yes, it really is possible to get from Eagle to Boise via the greenbelt! I searched and searched the internet with no answers before posting on facebook to see if a friend knew. I got my answer via another mutual friend - yes, the greenbelt between Eagle and Boise connects, and as I found out yesterday, it's a nice little trail! I was hesitant, as Roger informed me the connection takes some maneuvering through a neighborhood, and I have the world's worst sense of direction. Before I left home I decided I really didn't want to risk an out-and-back run, just in case the neighborhood situation got tricky and I got lost. I convinced Josh to come pick me up at my 10-mile mark...except that I had no idea where that would actually be.
I filled my hydration pack with ice water, knowing the ice wouldn't last long, but hoping the water would still feel good even if it was warm. I figured since I had the hydration pack, I might as well take my iPhone for picture taking and emergency phone calls in case someone came out of the woods to attack me. I started off at a good slow pace (11:00/mile) and hoped to stay there for the duration of my 10 mile trek. I managed to cross the river too early and found myself at a dead-end just before mile 1 and had to turn around to find the actual greenbelt trail again. Oops.
At mile 3 I was roasting and decided it was time to just run in my sports bra (eek!). My tank slipped perfectly into the elastic band on my hydration pack and was a great sweat towel for the day. By this time the greenbelt had long since turned from pavement to a perfect gravel/dirt path, and I was surprised by how little it slowed me down. I blamed part of my slowness during my last 1/2 marathon on the gravel trail, but that trail was much more sloppy and loose gravel than this path, and for that I was very thankful. I didn't see anyone on the actual trail for about 4 miles. I did see a woman and her daughter on bikes at mile 3 when I was rearranging my tank and gear, but they weren't actually on the path when we passed each other and I confirmed for them that the trail does, in fact, end at Eagle Road if they continued the direction they were headed. Fast forward to miles 4 through 6 (approximately) where the greenbelt follows the backyards of several gigantic houses. I got to the neighborhood where I had to navigate to get to the path again and passed the backyard of a house with a full-size basketball court in the backyard, complete with lighting for night games. It was ridiculously large and amazing!
The path was very easy to spot in the neighborhood, and it would have been really easy to turn around, but I was eager to see how the rest of the path turned out, so I trudged along. I really enjoyed the scenery and lack of people on the trail and was a little disappointed when I approached the Glenwood bridge. I was also a little gun shy about having to get off the greenbelt briefly to cross the bridge and get back on the trail headed east (the trail dead-ended where I came out), as I was only wearing my sports bra, shorts, and a hydration pack by this time. I even went so far as to pull out my iPhone to check the map to determine if there was another path I missed to cross the river. There wasn't. Oh well, off I went running.
I called Josh at mile 7 and told him I'd still likely be another 45 minutes; I knew the last 3 miles were going to be rough. And they were just that. I ran through most of mile 7 but stopped to dip my hat in the river and didn't stop my Garmin time. I walked a little bit of mile 8, but still finished it in 11:14. Miles 9 and 10 were especially difficult. At this point I was running through Veteran's Park where there was no shade. My hydration pack was really starting to bother me but I had filled up with water just a mile prior to that. I dumped most of the water before I realized I didn't know when the next drinking fountain would be, so I saved a small amount of water and I finally took the pack off and carried it the last 2 miles. I walked for a minute or so every 1/4 mile and was so glad to see my Garmin finally register at the 10 mile mark. My last 2 miles logged at 12:12 and 12:45 due to the walking.
My final stopping point? The firefighter memorial where I took pictures last weekend! I stretched for a few minutes and called Josh to tell him where I ended up. My final stats were as follows:
10 miles in 1:54:26
Average pace: 11:26/mile
Mile 1 - 10:54
Mile 2 - 10:53
Mile 3 - 11:07
Mile 4 - 11:04
Mile 5 - 11:16
Mile 6 - 11:06
Mile 7 - 11:45
Mile 8 - 11:13
Mile 9 - 12:12
Mile 10 - 12:45
I filled my hydration pack with ice water, knowing the ice wouldn't last long, but hoping the water would still feel good even if it was warm. I figured since I had the hydration pack, I might as well take my iPhone for picture taking and emergency phone calls in case someone came out of the woods to attack me. I started off at a good slow pace (11:00/mile) and hoped to stay there for the duration of my 10 mile trek. I managed to cross the river too early and found myself at a dead-end just before mile 1 and had to turn around to find the actual greenbelt trail again. Oops.
Dead End...
At mile 3 I was roasting and decided it was time to just run in my sports bra (eek!). My tank slipped perfectly into the elastic band on my hydration pack and was a great sweat towel for the day. By this time the greenbelt had long since turned from pavement to a perfect gravel/dirt path, and I was surprised by how little it slowed me down. I blamed part of my slowness during my last 1/2 marathon on the gravel trail, but that trail was much more sloppy and loose gravel than this path, and for that I was very thankful. I didn't see anyone on the actual trail for about 4 miles. I did see a woman and her daughter on bikes at mile 3 when I was rearranging my tank and gear, but they weren't actually on the path when we passed each other and I confirmed for them that the trail does, in fact, end at Eagle Road if they continued the direction they were headed. Fast forward to miles 4 through 6 (approximately) where the greenbelt follows the backyards of several gigantic houses. I got to the neighborhood where I had to navigate to get to the path again and passed the backyard of a house with a full-size basketball court in the backyard, complete with lighting for night games. It was ridiculously large and amazing!
Still smiling through mile 3...
Sweetly packed dirt and gravel path...
No bikes on this section of the Greenbelt...boooo.
The path was very easy to spot in the neighborhood, and it would have been really easy to turn around, but I was eager to see how the rest of the path turned out, so I trudged along. I really enjoyed the scenery and lack of people on the trail and was a little disappointed when I approached the Glenwood bridge. I was also a little gun shy about having to get off the greenbelt briefly to cross the bridge and get back on the trail headed east (the trail dead-ended where I came out), as I was only wearing my sports bra, shorts, and a hydration pack by this time. I even went so far as to pull out my iPhone to check the map to determine if there was another path I missed to cross the river. There wasn't. Oh well, off I went running.
I called Josh at mile 7 and told him I'd still likely be another 45 minutes; I knew the last 3 miles were going to be rough. And they were just that. I ran through most of mile 7 but stopped to dip my hat in the river and didn't stop my Garmin time. I walked a little bit of mile 8, but still finished it in 11:14. Miles 9 and 10 were especially difficult. At this point I was running through Veteran's Park where there was no shade. My hydration pack was really starting to bother me but I had filled up with water just a mile prior to that. I dumped most of the water before I realized I didn't know when the next drinking fountain would be, so I saved a small amount of water and I finally took the pack off and carried it the last 2 miles. I walked for a minute or so every 1/4 mile and was so glad to see my Garmin finally register at the 10 mile mark. My last 2 miles logged at 12:12 and 12:45 due to the walking.
My final stopping point? The firefighter memorial where I took pictures last weekend! I stretched for a few minutes and called Josh to tell him where I ended up. My final stats were as follows:
10 miles in 1:54:26
Average pace: 11:26/mile
Mile 1 - 10:54
Mile 2 - 10:53
Mile 3 - 11:07
Mile 4 - 11:04
Mile 5 - 11:16
Mile 6 - 11:06
Mile 7 - 11:45
Mile 8 - 11:13
Mile 9 - 12:12
Mile 10 - 12:45
Final.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
9:23
I had a pretty decent run on Tuesday. I was excited about my new route and the fact that I didn't have to be at work right away, so I set out for another 4 miler with Seymour. I started out too fast and it showed as my time increased every mile. 1) 10:07, 2) 10:15, 3) 10:46, 4) 11:28. Now, don't get too too disappointed in my 4th mile; Seymour stopped to take a leak and I forgot to stop the time on my Garmin. He also decided to sniff a whole lot while we were stopped and I didn't bother to pull him off...I mean, we were SO close to home by the time that happened and I was tired!
I took Wednesday off from working out and struggled to get out of bed this morning. I knew I'd be worthless if I didn't go for a run (work is SO stressful right now), but I slept for so long that I knew a longer run would not be possible. Off we went for a quick 2 miler this morning. I wanted to make the 2 miles count, so I decided to push myself a bit. I tried to stay around a 9:30/mile pace, but since I don't run at that pace very often, I couldn't keep my rhythm and stride consistent. I finished my first mile in 9:23! My fastest mile yet! I got a brief rest when Seymour stopped to use the lawn and got right back to the pavement after I tied up his bag of poo onto the leash. Second mile: 9:44. I ended up running another 1/4 mile at a 9:33 average pace and arrived at home. My 9:23 mile lifted my spirits and gave me a boost for the day!
I took Wednesday off from working out and struggled to get out of bed this morning. I knew I'd be worthless if I didn't go for a run (work is SO stressful right now), but I slept for so long that I knew a longer run would not be possible. Off we went for a quick 2 miler this morning. I wanted to make the 2 miles count, so I decided to push myself a bit. I tried to stay around a 9:30/mile pace, but since I don't run at that pace very often, I couldn't keep my rhythm and stride consistent. I finished my first mile in 9:23! My fastest mile yet! I got a brief rest when Seymour stopped to use the lawn and got right back to the pavement after I tied up his bag of poo onto the leash. Second mile: 9:44. I ended up running another 1/4 mile at a 9:33 average pace and arrived at home. My 9:23 mile lifted my spirits and gave me a boost for the day!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Slacker Blogger (part 2 of 2)
I've divided this into 2 posts because I wanted to include pictures in my post about today's long run, but didn't want to make it a ridiculously long post. You could also call this post something like "pictures of things I've never paid attention to in Boise."
Saturday night, while frequenting my favorite little beer store, I figured out that I have 3 weekends (this one included) before the 1/2 in Pocatello. I have not even come close to following my training plan and I have skipped my last two long runs. In short, I have been a slacker. I turned to Josh and our friend, Ryan, and said, "if I'm going to run the 1/2 in Pocatello, I need to 1) register for it and 2) run 7 miles tomorrow, 9 miles next weekend, and run 11 miles the weekend after that." It was at that moment that I realized I had said it out loud and was now more committed to it because of my loud mouth.
I took Seymour to a potential new home (more later....maybe) this morning and decided to take a run on the Boise Greenbelt instead of running close to home yet again. I don't know why I don't just make a trek from home to the Greenbelt more often. Seriously, there are so many things and people to see, and most of the path I ran today had shade for most of the afternoon. The first 3 miles felt pretty great, but it got hot quickly and I was thankful there were several drinking fountains along the path. Throughout the first half of the run today I kept thinking about how I should have been taking pictures, but I had my phone jockeyed into my shorts and I wasn't sure if I would be able to get it back in there without a whole lot of maneuvering, so I didn't. I got to Quinn's Pond and saw a whole bunch of people on stand up paddle boards, and it looked SO refreshing. I nearly jumped ship on my run and went into Idaho River Sports to rent an SUP and had Josh come pick me up to take me back to my car. I didn't. I kept on running, but I also vowed to stop and take pictures on my way back to Park Center Bridge.
And then it got hot. This is probably one of the most unflattering pictures of me, but maybe it shows how hot and kind of miserable I was (note that I wasn't even attempting to smile):
I passed the main Boise Firestation (I think?) and a monument and some art nearby and then ran through the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial for a brief second and snapped these photos:
Anyway, I did 7 miles today with a few stops here and there. My best decision of the day was when I took off my hat and soaked it in one of the drinking fountains and threw the sucker right back in my head. The second best decision was upon getting back to the truck, I took one of the ice cubes in my water bottle and threw one down the front of my sports bra and one down the back. Relief never felt so good!
7.0 miles at 11:09 average pace (1:18:01)
Saturday night, while frequenting my favorite little beer store, I figured out that I have 3 weekends (this one included) before the 1/2 in Pocatello. I have not even come close to following my training plan and I have skipped my last two long runs. In short, I have been a slacker. I turned to Josh and our friend, Ryan, and said, "if I'm going to run the 1/2 in Pocatello, I need to 1) register for it and 2) run 7 miles tomorrow, 9 miles next weekend, and run 11 miles the weekend after that." It was at that moment that I realized I had said it out loud and was now more committed to it because of my loud mouth.
I took Seymour to a potential new home (more later....maybe) this morning and decided to take a run on the Boise Greenbelt instead of running close to home yet again. I don't know why I don't just make a trek from home to the Greenbelt more often. Seriously, there are so many things and people to see, and most of the path I ran today had shade for most of the afternoon. The first 3 miles felt pretty great, but it got hot quickly and I was thankful there were several drinking fountains along the path. Throughout the first half of the run today I kept thinking about how I should have been taking pictures, but I had my phone jockeyed into my shorts and I wasn't sure if I would be able to get it back in there without a whole lot of maneuvering, so I didn't. I got to Quinn's Pond and saw a whole bunch of people on stand up paddle boards, and it looked SO refreshing. I nearly jumped ship on my run and went into Idaho River Sports to rent an SUP and had Josh come pick me up to take me back to my car. I didn't. I kept on running, but I also vowed to stop and take pictures on my way back to Park Center Bridge.
Stand Up Paddle (SUP)
And then it got hot. This is probably one of the most unflattering pictures of me, but maybe it shows how hot and kind of miserable I was (note that I wasn't even attempting to smile):
I passed the main Boise Firestation (I think?) and a monument and some art nearby and then ran through the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial for a brief second and snapped these photos:
Anyway, I did 7 miles today with a few stops here and there. My best decision of the day was when I took off my hat and soaked it in one of the drinking fountains and threw the sucker right back in my head. The second best decision was upon getting back to the truck, I took one of the ice cubes in my water bottle and threw one down the front of my sports bra and one down the back. Relief never felt so good!
7.0 miles at 11:09 average pace (1:18:01)
Slacker Blogger (part 1 of 2)
I don't even remember what my run was like last Thursday (8/4/11), but I know I ran because my Garmin tells me so. I'm quite certain the dog came too. These past few weeks have been quite the blur in terms of being really busy at work and trying to find out dog a new home and, well, that's really about it. That being said, I ran 3.73 miles on 8/4 at a 10:30 average pace (39:12).
And then I rested. I was busy and lazy and lethargic and not wanting to run, so I just plain didn't. And then I realized this: if I don't run regularly, getting started back up again is going to suck. And I like running, I really do. So this last Friday (as in just a few days ago), knowing that I didn't have to be to work until around 9:00 am, Seymour and I went for another run. I really wanted to see if Chinden Blvd westbound and Eagle Road southbound had sidewalks, so Seymour and I took off for what I planned to be a four mile run. Turns out, there ARE sidewalks through that stretch and I have yet another route to run! Unfortunately, Chinden and Eagle are pretty busy streets so I have to put up with literally thousands of cars driving past me in my running skirts, but I'll take it. With this stretch having sidewalks, this also means I can attempt an after work run in the heat if I want to, knowing there is a gas station, a few fast food joints, and a Target where I can get water so I don't have to take my hydration pack.
Friday:
4 miles at 10:21 average pace (41:30)
I wanted to run Saturday, but Friday night turned into a rather amazing evening at home, just Seymour and me. Josh went up rafting Friday afternoon with a friend from E. Idaho and they camped up near Garden Valley. My plan was to get some sleep on Friday night and wake up early to run again, then take Seymour to Escape the Crate for daycare and boarding, then meet up with some other folks to go rafting. Well, Jamie e-mailed me Friday to inform me Ann Brashares has written the final book in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, and I had to have it. Immediately. So Friday after work, I went down to my local Barnes and Noble store and bought it. Friday night consisted of a dinner of brie and freshly baked whole wheat bread from the grocery store, a bottle of wine, and Sisterhood Everlasting. Needless to say, there was no running on Saturday morning. I did, however, paddle my little buns off and climbed rocks like I had never climbed rocks before on the portage. I certainly got in a workout, which came nowhere close to cover the amount of beer and food I consumed throughout the day....
And then I rested. I was busy and lazy and lethargic and not wanting to run, so I just plain didn't. And then I realized this: if I don't run regularly, getting started back up again is going to suck. And I like running, I really do. So this last Friday (as in just a few days ago), knowing that I didn't have to be to work until around 9:00 am, Seymour and I went for another run. I really wanted to see if Chinden Blvd westbound and Eagle Road southbound had sidewalks, so Seymour and I took off for what I planned to be a four mile run. Turns out, there ARE sidewalks through that stretch and I have yet another route to run! Unfortunately, Chinden and Eagle are pretty busy streets so I have to put up with literally thousands of cars driving past me in my running skirts, but I'll take it. With this stretch having sidewalks, this also means I can attempt an after work run in the heat if I want to, knowing there is a gas station, a few fast food joints, and a Target where I can get water so I don't have to take my hydration pack.
Friday:
4 miles at 10:21 average pace (41:30)
I wanted to run Saturday, but Friday night turned into a rather amazing evening at home, just Seymour and me. Josh went up rafting Friday afternoon with a friend from E. Idaho and they camped up near Garden Valley. My plan was to get some sleep on Friday night and wake up early to run again, then take Seymour to Escape the Crate for daycare and boarding, then meet up with some other folks to go rafting. Well, Jamie e-mailed me Friday to inform me Ann Brashares has written the final book in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, and I had to have it. Immediately. So Friday after work, I went down to my local Barnes and Noble store and bought it. Friday night consisted of a dinner of brie and freshly baked whole wheat bread from the grocery store, a bottle of wine, and Sisterhood Everlasting. Needless to say, there was no running on Saturday morning. I did, however, paddle my little buns off and climbed rocks like I had never climbed rocks before on the portage. I certainly got in a workout, which came nowhere close to cover the amount of beer and food I consumed throughout the day....
Monday, August 1, 2011
2.15 miles in humidity
No offense to my friends in the midwest, but I am SO glad I don't live there anymore! It stormed pretty hard in Boise last night and I thought maybe the sky would be clear and I'd enjoy a nice morning run today. Oh boy, was I wrong. I stepped outside and I think I immediately started sweating. It wasn't particularly hot outside (about 72 degrees F), but it was much more humid that we really ever get here. This site says it was 64% relative humidity at 6:53 this morning, which was right about the time I got done running. It definitely fatigued me faster than I wanted. I don't know how midwesterners do it. For real. By the time I got home I was dripping in sweat (even more than usual, which is hard to believe is possible) and I only ran a little over 2 miles. What? For real? How is that possible? Oh, maybe it had something to do with my massive hangover on Sunday...maybe my body was still recuperating...
Overall, I did 2.15 miles in 22:37 at an average pace of 10:30/mile.
I'll take it and pray tomorrow is easier.
Overall, I did 2.15 miles in 22:37 at an average pace of 10:30/mile.
I'll take it and pray tomorrow is easier.
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