Where is Summer?

June is getting away from me! Geezeee.....and it doesn't even feel like summer. The weather has been something out of March, with the rain, and the wind, and the did I mention rain? and then the needing long sleeve weather...and then the rain. OK.. enough on that. Time to relate how the running is going.

Not going to call it official training yet, as that will kick up soon enough. This is still supposed to be run for fun before the training begins. The fun type of runs have been putting some serious miles on my shoes. My feet, once groomed and beautiful and all that stuff, have long ago turned into the feet of a long distance runner. So I do have to be careful with the necessary bandages, Vaseline slathered over the dry bits, the right socks with the right shoes.

Looks like this entry is another summation of my last 2 plus weeks of runs. I've managed to get some longer distances in and my endurance is still there. The week of 10 June I totalled 26.45 miles with a nice long run of 8.35 miles on that Saturday. It was one of the hot days we were teased with. I upped my mile the following week so that by the 17 June I had clocked a disappointing 24.62 miles. Mainly due to the horrific winds and rain of Thursday and Friday. During the Saturday long run of 10.02 miles I tried a new route and that change of scenery really helped to keep me focused and enjoy the run even more.

With the lower totals of the past two weeks I was determined to make the next week a more concerted effort to run no matter. Pleased to have run 33 miles o weeks end of 24 June. Just a mere 4 miles short of my projected total. I topped the week with a very nice 11.01 long run on Saturday. My stamina is good but I had times during that where my legs were so tired and my breathing was laboured. The tempo run on Thursday was a real boost. I choose a route that allowed me a 2 mile flat and then later on another mile flat where I could test myself with speed and endurance. I was able to keep the pace at a nice high rate for that distance.

Where I run is hard to accurately measure my capabilities because of all the hills I run. No option for me as once I have run down from the village at some point I will have to go up to return. To have these intervals/pace runs where I can see my speed really boosts my confidence. It helps me to see improvements I have made and realize that I have gotten quicker.

So that brings me to today, 25 June and a rainy, windy, overcast morning run. It was a short recovery run of 3.55 miles that I totally enjoyed with a neighbour. We got soaking wet from the conditions but it was good of her to agree to go out with me. Since most of my runs are by myself it was great to share this with another person, and be able to offer some encouragement. It was a good start to the week. I am aiming for a 36 mpw total.

What Goes Up...

Definitely a spring wanting to be summer day. Warm for a run and humid as well, but when running a slower pace it makes it all do-able. Ran on of my favourite routes, 10K distance, with a nice coasting down hill after the mile uphill. I'll have two more uphills before the nice .2 miles to home.

Can't get around the hills here, I just know that any of my runs will be finishing on the uphill. I think one of the rewards of running to me are the views I get to admire when cresting the first incline. The buttercups golden in the high grass being nibbled on by the horses. Cows/Bulls ripping like lawn mowers the shorter grass in the next field. The sheep in the next field have had their wool shaved off and with their big eyes stare at me as I run past. I'm laughing as I make eye contact with one and it's as if it is saying, "I know, I know, just don't stare!!"

The legs are feeling stronger and after listening to a podcast(more about that on another post) I switch to music to finish the run at a little quicker pace. Knowing that I have a longer run in the morning I planned this as a bit slower.

Trying too hard

It's another slip sliding away kind of days for me. The best of good intentions thinking. Of wanting to do things a certain way and finding out that it's just not getting done. So here I am again playing catch up. So many miles I have covered since I last wrote.

No excuses, naddy gonna go there. Just putting the words down and making this simple. Sure I want the nice pics and the great layout, but I'm new to all of this and I'm needing to do it simple. Trying too hard keeps me from writing anything.

Now, back to the running and how it's been going. I'm looking at week totals of over 30 miles now and at times the IT Band on my right leg aches and the piriformis muscle again on my right side kills. Seems to kick in at about 6+ miles so lots of stretches is necessary. Week ending May 27 took me up to 36.57 miles and that is the highest to date. Plans were to get up to that level and be ready for the Garburn trail race on June 3. Plans have a way of changing.

My husband hurt his back and the trip was off. My miles that week were low anyway due to a trip down London way to visit one of my children on a layover. Lots of walking but no running. Miles for week ending June 3 were a miserable 9.7!

So now the miles are getting there. Went out for an evening run on Monday 4 June and enjoyed the 10K distance and had so missed the running I needed a fix. Tuesday night was the Women's Running Network night and the off road run was great. The evening was mild and we mixed the surfaces up to include grass, dirt paths, road, and a bit of trail. Although the distance was only 3.25 miles it seemed longer due to the change of terrain.

That brings me to mid week and The Race For Life./a>
I had a great time, ran my feet off, and finished hand in hand with a neighbor who I had encouraged to participate. This was our third year running together and my fourth year participating. This is where I caught the run bug and just went on from that distance to now be a Marathoner!

The distance was not the advertised 5K but was short; 2.42 miles. Even with the race being spread over 2 nights we still had 1,5000 women participating last night. There were bottle necks and slower women to get passed, but the evening was perfect. It feels good to do something like that for a worthy cause. This is the only 5K I run and the only other charity I run for.


Today Thursday 7 June was to be a run day, but due to sleep deprived me, I've switched it with Friday, tomorrow. I chose to take the dogs out for a nice evening walk. It was good for the three of us.