Ok here we are, one week and a day until my first race. Well, let's call it a running event instead. I'm probably not going to be too racey.
One more mellow run on Sunday which is totally flat, then some walking, and probably a bike ride to keep the cardio fresh. This should be interesting since I have been pretty religious about my routine for the last few months so waking up and NOT running will be different.
Exciting stuff! I've never competed in a running event before and I'm really looking forward to it. The course is 5 miles and I've been running it on Saturdays for the past two months or so. The first time I did it in 1:17:30, fast forward to last Saturday and I completed it in 1:11:12. Not a massive improvement but I hope to get closer to 1:00:00 or maybe 1:05:00.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Today I felt like an actual runner.
Having slept through my alarm, which was reminding me to wake up for my morning run, I decided to get a quick run at lunch time today. Really, I wanted to just get out and move around but I ended up having one of my best runs yet. Granted the trail that I ran isn't anything epic but it does have a couple sections that I struggled with the first time I ran it. I've really been focusing on running uphill. Not for speed but just a nice even pace that would get me up to the top and hopefully not leave me winded. I do the same thing on my mountain bike too, a nice "endurance pace" is what I aim for.
After stretching and walking for a bit I decided to start at a really slow pace.
First hill - no problems.
Second hill - no problem so I sped up a little bit.
Third hill - no problem at the same pace as hill number two.
Then some flats, a little switchback downhill, over a bridge, and another hill. Keeping with my "endurance pace" I walked up a little switchback section then ran, and ran, and ran... You get the idea. Up and down switchbacks, over cattle grates, over bridges, through loose technical sections, and back down to where I started. I was at that point where you feel like you can run forever. Endorphins flowing, a little rain, and even a tarantula in the middle of the trail. I really felt like a runner today. Good thing too, my first trail race is coming up on November 16th. Can't wait.
After stretching and walking for a bit I decided to start at a really slow pace.
First hill - no problems.
Second hill - no problem so I sped up a little bit.
Third hill - no problem at the same pace as hill number two.
Then some flats, a little switchback downhill, over a bridge, and another hill. Keeping with my "endurance pace" I walked up a little switchback section then ran, and ran, and ran... You get the idea. Up and down switchbacks, over cattle grates, over bridges, through loose technical sections, and back down to where I started. I was at that point where you feel like you can run forever. Endorphins flowing, a little rain, and even a tarantula in the middle of the trail. I really felt like a runner today. Good thing too, my first trail race is coming up on November 16th. Can't wait.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Under a month to go.....
November 16th. It's my first official trail running event. Training is going well, i'm feeling faster and stronger now - also dropping the pounds too, I'm down to 231.
I did a run last Saturday in a new area and I actually ran faster and longer than I was expecting to. Running uphill isn't as much work now and I'm remembering to "use my gears" as Danny Dreyer describes in his book Chi Running. Getting excited, good things to come.
I did a run last Saturday in a new area and I actually ran faster and longer than I was expecting to. Running uphill isn't as much work now and I'm remembering to "use my gears" as Danny Dreyer describes in his book Chi Running. Getting excited, good things to come.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Upcoming events
A couple events I'm getting ready for.
SLO MUD MASH This should be kind of insane....
Spooner's Cove Trail Run I'm doing the 5 mile loop.
Spooner's Cove Trail Run I'm doing the 5 mile loop.
No more Mud Mash for me
The team I was on kinda disbanded do to injuries and some work related commitments.
That's actually fine though.. I was excited to try this kind of event but I'm way more focused on my 5 mile trail run coming up in November. Which, by the way, is being put on by Coastal Trail Runs. Check them out if you're into doing a fun event on the coast of CA. So no mud just more trails, works for me.
That's actually fine though.. I was excited to try this kind of event but I'm way more focused on my 5 mile trail run coming up in November. Which, by the way, is being put on by Coastal Trail Runs. Check them out if you're into doing a fun event on the coast of CA. So no mud just more trails, works for me.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Hello world....
Yeah, so at 45 years old I decided to start running. Apparently years of skateboarding and cycling didn't mess up my knees enough. Being a pretty avid mountain biker, I couldn't bring myself to run on the road so I decided to go hit the trails.
After about a week of running I could see how people become hooked on this. Not only for the endorphin rush you get but the feeling of freedom you get from propelling yourself along a trail and into nature with nothing more than your own two legs, not having 30 pounds of bike to haul around is nice too.
So I'm going to be posting random stuff about my running, probably some mountain biking related things, and maybe some photography too. I've tried in the past to start a photography blog but I didn't really stick with it. Hopefully combining everything into one blog will work better.
So I'm going to be posting random stuff about my running, probably some mountain biking related things, and maybe some photography too. I've tried in the past to start a photography blog but I didn't really stick with it. Hopefully combining everything into one blog will work better.
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