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Chronicles of a fish: the days of surf and turf

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Outdoor Trainer

    The original plan today was to get The Mad One out and go for a spin with hubby, but because I over-indulged myself in the wanton wiles of the forest yesterday, my legs requested something a little less spiffy. So, after a healthy dose of housework and cooking, I dragged the trainer outside onto the deck and pedaled my little heart out in the sunshine while I just happened to be the Foo Fighter's special guest for their afternoon concert in my backyard. Lucky for them I canceled my original plans. 16 easy, low resistance miles in slightly under an hour, leaving all the fans with lighters lit screaming for more. ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,852 ✭✭✭pgmcpq


    Cracking photos. I had to laugh. I read this having spent the morning running beside the rush hour traffic crawling slowly, noisily and odeously towards the trunnels into Manhattan. Quite a contrast !


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    The 17 Bales of Hay Field Run

    "Green acres is the place for me, farm livin' is the life for me, land spreadin' out so far and wide, keep Manhattan just give me that countryside!"

    The remaining lower section of our field was baled over the weekend, but the bales of hay still remain strewn about....so....on this absolutely breathtaking evening I decided to do a little hay bale obstacle course running. Yeehaw!! I did an easy two mile warmup around my usual perimeter course, said hello to Mr. Smith's black cat (who was tickled to death to see me), then headed into the center of the field do some "do si do-ing" with those freshly fragrant round bales. A bit of fancy footwork was required, but the first time around the 17 bales was a simple weave at a 90 degree or more turn into the next closest bale. The second time around was a crazy zig-zag pinball action around random bales, again employing the minimum 90 degree turn movement around each bale. And the third and final time around was a strategy of targeting the furthest bale out coupled with using the 90 plus degree turn movement. Anything to keep it interesting....and this was quite fun.

    As I was running around these hay orbs in this field, I couldn't help but think how fun this would be as an organized event. There are lots of possibilities about how to structure a hay bale event....how to number and place the bales....how to require the runner to run around them....sort of a corn-fed runner's slalom. If the bales are still out tomorrow evening, I will do this again....but I'm also thinking I may try to incorporate a little bale hurdling too! ;):D

    I kept this low key due to my recovery requirements, so no fast stuff for me. I wouldn't have even worn my Garmin but for my desire to track the mileage.

    Per Garmin:
    5.07 miles in 47:48.98 for an average pace of 9:25 min/mile.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,361 ✭✭✭Kurt Godel


    If those bales are hurdleable, get thee hurdleabling!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Kurt Godel wrote: »
    If those bales are hurdleable, get thee hurdleabling!


    They're big round bales with baling twine on them, so if they are still there tonight then I'll wear a pair of gloves and hurdle myself over them!!!

    FYI - our very own rock star swimmer Interested is holding a 10 week swim session at Belvedere College in Dublin starting this Friday. I thought of you when he told me...don't know if you or anyone else on these logs has any interest...but in case you do, then my understanding is that they are each Friday evening....and there is a facebook page containing more info - http://www.facebook.com/#!/Sub60Swim - or, obviously, you can send him a PM. :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,852 ✭✭✭pgmcpq


    Dory Dory wrote: »
    "Green acres is the place for me, farm livin' is the life for me, land spreadin' out so far and wide, keep Manhattan just give me that countryside!"

    I'll never read this log quite the same way again :D !

    I always love the post target race runs - no pressure, no "plan". Enjoy.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    pgmcpq wrote: »
    I'll never read this log quite the same way again :D !

    I think it was the smell of the feshly cut hay that was getting to me. ;) Honestly, I swear I'm a city gal at heart!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    And here are 15 of my 17 bales of hay....and what a gorgeous day we are having here!! Woo hoo!! The moutains you see in the background are the Blue Ridge Mountains, home of Skyline Drive/Shenandoah National Park - where I do a lot of my running and cycling. :D

    15 of 17 bales of hay!.jpg

    And yes, pgmcpq, life is grand post-race!!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,957 ✭✭✭interested


    Dory Dory wrote: »
    And here are 15 of my 17 bales of hay....and what a gorgeous day we are having here!! Woo hoo!! The moutains you see in the background are the Blue Ridge Mountains, home of Skyline Drive/Shenandoah National Park - where I do a lot of my running and cycling. :D

    15 of 17 bales of hay!.jpg

    And yes, pgmcpq, life is grand post-race!!!

    Wow, you really need a cross bike ;) the blue sky is just rubbing it in at this stage of the year.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,361 ✭✭✭Kurt Godel


    Dory Dory wrote: »
    They're big round bales with baling twine on them, so if they are still there tonight then I'll wear a pair of gloves and hurdle myself over them!!!

    FYI - our very own rock star swimmer Interested is holding a 10 week swim session at Belvedere College in Dublin starting this Friday. I thought of you when he told me...don't know if you or anyone else on these logs has any interest...but in case you do, then my understanding is that they are each Friday evening....and there is a facebook page containing more info - http://www.facebook.com/#!/Sub60Swim - or, obviously, you can send him a PM. :)

    That looks brilliant- I live 70 miles away, only for that I'd be all over it. Best of luck with it interested, I'll pass on the details to one or two Dubs who might be into this.
    Dory Dory wrote: »
    And here are 15 of my 17 bales of hay....and what a gorgeous day we are having here!! Woo hoo!! The moutains you see in the background are the Blue Ridge Mountains, home of Skyline Drive/Shenandoah National Park - where I do a lot of my running and cycling. :D

    15 of 17 bales of hay!.jpg

    And yes, pgmcpq, life is grand post-race!!!

    I can't be the only dreamer here who has looked up real estate prices in Luray? Dory, you live in a great part of the world!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,533 ✭✭✭✭Krusty_Clown


    Dory Dory wrote: »
    And here are 15 of my 17 bales of hay....
    Could you get someone to push them together to make a couple of forts?
    Wouldn't be useful for your running, but what fun you could have. :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Hay Bale Hurdling Run :D

    It just keeps getting better and better. :)

    Gorgeous evening...deer were frolicking in the upper field so I headed down to the lower field to do an easy warmup and plot my hay bale strategy. Little did I know until I was about a half a mile into the run that there was a lone deer watching me. I altered my path so I would not disturb this lovely creature, but she seemed not to be bothered by me at all. She watched my entire 2 mile warmup, and then about 5 minutes into my hay bale antics she either got bored with my running or unimpressed with my hurdling and left. :( I was sorry to see her go - I was enjoying the company.

    But speaking of my antics, what a blast I am having with these 17 bales of hay! Holy crap, hurdling these round bales is a gas! I started with a few graceful twists and turns around the bales, then tried my first hurdle. It wasn't very graceful but I got the job done. A few more zigs and zags, and then my second hurdle was a bust - I got to the top but didn't have enough momentum to get all the way over. Next two hurdles were good, but they didn't have a whole lot of style. I took a break with the hurdles and just rounded the bales and then ran the perimeter for about a mile, then headed back into the heart of the field and embraced the art of the hurdle and owned those bales. Seriously. I found my mojo in the dusk out in that field, and I cracked the code to proper hurdling technique. Pick the proper line of approach...speed up......bounce off the ground.....fly through the air like a super hero....and let the momentum propel you to the other side. 8 out of 9 bales hurdled. That was the bomb. :D

    Again, I'm not running by pace but rather by enjoyable feel. Loving this style and phase of training. I really, really needed a break.

    Per Garmin:
    5.05 miles and 8 bales hurdled in 49:15.34 for an average pace of 9:45 min/mile.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    The Gotta Hurdle Hay Bales While the Sun Shines Run

    After a nice and easy warmup around the field, into the maze of hay bales I went. First time around was a simple weave employing right turns and left turns, 180s and 360s, all the while analyzing the bales and computing in my head the distance, speed, velocity and trajectory I needed to leap frog these round bales without incident. ;) Second time around it was time to put into play my fancy calculations and hurdle all 17 bales one right after the other. Job done. :cool: Loved it!! But I learned that hurdling 17 consecutive bales boom-boom-boom tires you out, and I learned that as I tired I had to rely on my upper body more to help me fly through the air like a super hero to get me over those bales, and I learned what it feels like to run with hay stuck up in my shorts, and I learned that I might want to wear long pants next time to avoid all the scrapes and scratches I endured for the cause. Third time around it was another simple and slow weave. :) These hay bales are a blast. I may have to do a fartlek tomorrow if the bales are still in the field, unless someone has a better idea of an interesting hay bale session.

    I forgot to recharge my Garmin last night, but I probably put down ~5 miles in ~50 minutes.

    Have not updated SBR challenge data since before the marathon...must catch that up. :o


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,235 ✭✭✭Solobally8


    Ha ha you're so much fun! I wish I could run round fields jumping hay bales. My neighbours think I'm mental already running up and down the road to add a few metres to my runs. Yours must think you're mad altogether. Or are you that lucky that you live in a place where your nearest neighbour is a mile away?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,533 ✭✭✭✭Krusty_Clown


    Dory Dory wrote: »
    Have not updated SBR challenge data since before the marathon...must catch that up. :o
    See if you can get an extra 'hay-hurdling' column added to the SBR challenge spreadsheet. You'll have a massive lead (cos it's as mad as a bag of cats).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    I think this should be in your itinery for next year. That John Wayne Steeplechase will be right up your alley


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Solobally8 wrote: »
    Ha ha you're so much fun! I wish I could run round fields jumping hay bales. My neighbours think I'm mental already running up and down the road to add a few metres to my runs. Yours must think you're mad altogether. Or are you that lucky that you live in a place where your nearest neighbour is a mile away?

    Yes, you definitely have the right "personality" to embrace the true spirit of hay bale jumping! :D Can the neighbors see me?? That's hilarious you ask that because that is the first question everyone asks when I tell them about my newest craze!! (so funny!) And the answer is...quite possibly so. :o But they already know I'm nuts - running round and around in the field for hours was a pretty good tip off for them. ;)
    See if you can get an extra 'hay-hurdling' column added to the SBR challenge spreadsheet. You'll have a massive lead (cos it's as mad as a bag of cats).

    "Hay-hurdling" column!!!??? BRILLIANT!!!!! :D
    catweazle wrote: »
    I think this should be in your itinery for next year. That John Wayne Steeplechase will be right up your alley

    Holy crap!!! Sign me up!!! But, hmmmm, they've got a more streamlined hurdle technique than I do. Sigh. I guess my upper body uplift/lower body bounce that makes me feel super hero worthy isn't as technically efficient as I thought it was. :( Back to the drawing board, or, back to the hay bales for me!! ;):)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Trainer

    Very threatening sky + tired legs = climate controlled basement bike spin.

    I couldn't convince hubby to let me drag a few bales of hay in the house to practice the advanced Irish hurdle technique per Catweazle's video, so instead I clipped myself into my bike and churned and burned for 20 miles. I'll be taking The Mad One out on Saturday for a 50 mile organized bike ride in the Shenandoah Valley. Should be fun!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,208 ✭✭✭shotgunmcos


    Dory Dory wrote: »
    "Hay-hurdling" column!!!??? BRILLIANT!!!!! :D

    This log is awesome :D


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Shenandoah Fall Foliage Bike Festival, Saturday October 20, 2012

    In spite of the fact that my hubby's very worn single speed bike got more respect and admiring glances than The Mad One did (however, there was one very nice gentleman who did offer a few nice comments about my bike.....AFTER he was all over hubby's :() this was an awesome event and awesome ride!

    Weather could not have been more perfect, oh, except there was a lot of wind the last half of the ride that tried to toss me about or push me back, but the sun was shining and everyone had a smile on their face. This was my very first proper ride on my new steed, and I was impressed from the very first hill how The Mad One handled - beautifully. I can't believe how much easier churning up a hill is on a well crafted 17 pound bike - I never dropped down into my small ring for any hills - and I only popped off my seat when I wanted to give hubby a run for his money. ;)

    I still have a bit of confidence I need to gain on the bike, and that should come with time. I find that I tense up on the downhills and ride the break. I embrace the uphills and find myself really loving them. I think with the downhills it's a little of not feeling in control that bothers me. Oh, and the crazy free falling speed is a little bothersome too....and my eyes watering from the wind, blinding me....and the vibration of the uneven road bouncing me and my glasses and my vision all around adding to the difficulty of seeing what's ahead of me. But I think it may have to do with the fact that I'm not pedaling, and therefore feel like I'm at the mercy of other elements and not fully in control of the situation. I assume more practice/experience will help me with this. It's in my head, and I need to work on that. I didn't fall off the bike at all this time, and I'm getting more comfortable clipping in and out. I'm also getting really good at pedaling with one leg while I'm trying to get the other leg clipped in.

    Here's a link to the bike's website in case anyone finds themselves in my neck of the woods next October - it really is a very well done two day event with loads rest stops with food (most of it homemade by local folks) and water available. The big hits at the first rest stop were the hard boiled eggs and bananas - especially the hard boiled eggs. Pimento cheese sandwiches, not so much. Lunch was the second rest stop and that was a buffet of freshly carved sandwich meats, salads, soups, chips, fruits, cookies, etc. Third rest stop was cookies, cakes, fruits, hot and cold drinks, etc. Hubby said he's never eaten so much on a 50 mile bike ride before!! :D I'll be back next year for sure!!

    http://shenandoahbike.org/

    And here's my Garmin - 50 miles of fun riding. We didn't stress or push, except when me and The Mad One were trying to teach that stinkin' single speed a few things.

    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/235562211


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Trail Running - Embracing the Hills

    While the weather is so gorgeous and while I have the freedom to run however I want in this post and pre marathon training period, I will make good use of the trails that are on my doorstep. Today I decided to do significantly less mileage than I did last weekend (legs were well wrecked after 13 plus miles one week after marathon), but I wanted to up the volume of climbing so I chose to run up Neighbor Mountain today - hard as sh*t run. Ack!!! Good god, I found myself asking why I was running up this mountain at this incline when I will never run this grade in a race....but one foot in front of the other I went....huffing and puffing and reminding myself to relax the body and enjoy the f-ing run. I stopped a few times with the excuse to take pictures of this spectacular forest I was running in (will post photos later) and to enjoy the moment while giving the body/respiratory system a break. And running downhill is no bed of roses either - in fact, I found myself relieved to go uphill for a while after a significant downhill section. And speaking of uphill....it's amazing how any reduction in grade is quite significant to effort and energy - how much easier it feels, even when still going uphill.

    Not too many other folks out today - I only saw 6 hikers, 5 dogs (one absolutely adorable Swiss Mountain Dog), and my Shenandoah National Park law enforcement officer friend. Love the secluded nature of these trail runs. In case any of you peeps are planning on visiting me and joining me on any of these runs, October and early November are perfect times to come - cooler temps with gorgeous colors.

    I did lose satellite briefly on this run, so when the Garmin said "5.86 miles" at the end of the run, but in reality I had actually done a little over 6 miles, I couldn't stand it and ran back and forth to get in the extra mileage logged on the Garmin...which begs the question: why are we so manic?? Actual mileage is approximately 6.25 miles. Slow going - trails are rocky and dangerous with streams and logs and ups and downs....blah, blah, blah. You know the story. ;) But, loved the run....loved the run. :D

    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/235676881

    Trail photos posted in a bit.....

    And here they are...by popular demand...cough, cough....TRAIL PICS!!

    Neighbor Mt. Trail #1.jpg

    Neighbor Mt. Trail #2.jpg

    Neighbor Mt. Trail #3.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,208 ✭✭✭shotgunmcos


    Fun weekend sessions there. October eh.. **pencils in need to check probability of future autumn hay hurdling trip with hoochiedoubledee...**


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Fun weekend sessions there. October eh.. **pencils in need to check probability of future autumn hay hurdling trip with hoochiedoubledee...**

    My hay bale is your hay bale. ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    (Trail pic alert ^^^^ ;))


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Hay Bale Hurdle Field Run :D

    I stepped out of the house this evening into the glorious sunshine to be greeted by two deer who were foraging along the tree line that separates the upper field from the lower field. After a few minutes of them watching me and me watching them, I eased my way down to the lower field to get my hay bale session started....but....:eek:....to my shock and horror, two of my bales were missing!!! :( A reasonable person might surmise that the farmer gathered these two missing bales up and took them to their proper place, but I'm more inclined to think along the lines of scandalous hay bale kidnapping under the dark of night and that I should be receiving a ransom note in my mail box in the next day or two. ;)

    After a good two mile warmup, it was time to enter the land of the bales. I structured the hay bale section as follows:

    First Bale Circuit - each bale circled clockwise 360 degrees.
    Second Bale Circuit - each bale circled counterclockwise 360 degrees.
    Third and Fourth Bale Circuit - a simple alternating right and left weave of the bales - took two circuits to pass all bales on both sides.
    Fifth and Sixth Bale Circuit - alternating hurdling and weaving, hurdling and weaving - took two circuits to hurdle all 15 bales. (I so rock on these bales!! Superstar!! ;):D)

    Cooled it down with an easy trot under the half moon. What fun this is!!

    Per Garmin (pace is still not the point....just having fun and hopefully working a little of my core with this):

    5.12 miles and 15 hay bales hurdled in 48:04 for an average pace of 9:23 min/mile.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Bales of Hay

    In ticker tape format....

    Gorgeous evening....off to lower field...2 mile warmup....some love to Mr. Smith's very sweet black cat....hello to the deer....into the land of bales...same circuits as last night, pretty much....nearly knocked my noggin getting my leg tangled in the baling twine :eek:.....avoided all piles of deer poop....zigged and weaved and flew and sprinted....plucked straw out of my shorts......and still loved every minute of it. :D

    I've found muscles that I had forgotten I had. I imagine it's primarily the result of the uphill trail running, but I'd like to think this format of field running and jumping is contributing to waking up these muscles too. Oh, and speaking of the missing hay bales, they are still missing and no ransom note yet. :rolleyes:;):)

    Per Garmin:
    5.23 miles and 15 bales hurdled in 48:06 for an average pace of 9:12 min/mile.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Trainer

    Legs a bit tired, so I elected to drag the trainer out to the patio and spin under the setting sun. The highlight of this session, besides the evening sky and the funky music, was periodic pedaling with one leg. 21.5 miles in approximately 80 minutes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Into the Land of the Bales

    I left the Garmin home and made a bee line immediately to the land of the bales. After a nice warmup around and diagonally into the land, it was my 6 circuit series utilizing the bales - 360 degree circling, simple weaving, and kick-@ss hurdling. I did finish up with two new additions - sideways running (not sure what it's called :confused:) and a little backwards running. I think these two final gems were the hardest on me, especially considering how dark it was by then on this beautiful evening.

    ~5 miles in ~50 minutes. Loved the freedom of no Garmin. :)


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  • Subscribers Posts: 19,425 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    I thought you might like this.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z94NVESBto0


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    When are WE doing it?? ;)

    Seriously, looks like a blast....I'd just have to keep reminding myself to not look behind me. YIKES!!!! :eek:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,852 ✭✭✭pgmcpq


    Dory Dory wrote: »
    Into the Land of the Bales

    I left the Garmin home and made a bee line immediately to the land of the bales. After a nice warmup around and diagonally into the land, it was my 6 circuit series utilizing the bales - 360 degree circling, simple weaving, and kick-@ss hurdling. I did finish up with two new additions - sideways running (not sure what it's called :confused:) and a little backwards running. I think these two final gems were the hardest on me, especially considering how dark it was by then on this beautiful evening.

    ~5 miles in ~50 minutes. Loved the freedom of no Garmin. :)

    :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    pgmcpq wrote: »

    Oh god.....Hay Wrap!!!! Brilliant!! ;):)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Trail Run

    I had originally planned on doing a fairly big trail run today, but a friend of mine wanted to tag along with his dog so things were slightly altered to accommodate his work schedule and his dog's needs. :confused: Instead of running Knob Mountain to the top, we ran Jeremy's Run out 4+ miles and then back 4+ miles. This run today was actually what I did two weeks ago (but I thought 2 weeks ago I was on Knob Mountain :confused:), excluding the additional 2+ miles to get to the top of the mountain.

    Any way....dreary day with some patches of rain. Lots of stops and gos with the pup wanting to lay in the stream every time we crossed it.....and I'm now so used to running by myself that it was a little different having to think of someone else's needs and their pace. The run overall was okay - legs were heavy and I never got into a good grove or place, but the most troubling reminder of how much work I have yet to do on hills came at the end of this run when my running companion totally smoked me on the last climb. :( And I honestly thought I was making progress with these blasted hills! (He did have his dog pulling him though....) Garmin read 8.18 miles, but satellite went out for part of the run so I'm estimating it was closer to 8.5 miles we did today.

    Nutrition has gone totally to pot over the last 3 weeks. Way too much crap has crept back into my diet and not enough smart foods, and I do think this is having an effect on my energy level, and it may have contributed to my mediocre run today. Garbage in, garbage out. Some changes to the diet are a-gonna happen!! :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,235 ✭✭✭Solobally8


    Dory Dory wrote: »
    Nutrition has gone totally to pot over the last 3 weeks. Way too much crap has crept back into my diet and not enough smart foods, and I do think this is having an effect on my energy level, and it may have contributed to my mediocre run today. Garbage in, garbage out. Some changes to the diet are a-gonna happen!! :)

    My own diet had gone the same way Dory but I'm now a week into healthier eating and already I can see an improvement in my energy levels and general feeling better. Although I LOVE my chocolate and crisp treats, feeling the results so quickly makes cutting them out for now that bit easier.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Trainer

    Still feeling a bit low on energy, and my legs are borderline tired and sore - it's interesting how all this technical trail running works muscles that aren't normally worked - in particular my feet, calves, and derriere. My feet being sore is the biggest novelty to me - all those tiny muscles being strengthened by the rocks, tree roots, and ever changing pitch of the trail.

    So, because of the low energy and borderline tired and sore legs, it was an easy decision to hop on the trainer and gear the bike down to a low resistance and spin away for 15 miles. The first few miles were a hating-life slog-fest at 11 mph, but after the bod warmed up, the speed emerged and life was grand once more. Happy days! Did this session while watching the Redskins get clobbered by the Steelers. Good god, what cruel person picked out the Steelers' uniforms?? All I could think of when looking at them was bumble bees and tactical seizure inducing jerseys and socks.

    It occurred to me today that it's been three weeks since my marathon and I have yet to run on the road since that day. All of my runs have been in my field with the bales of hay or on trails in the woods. Well, today the farmer took all but five of the bales from the field, and he moved those five bales that remain so they are now all in a line. Not sure what is up with that, but I did notice that those bales are a bit shabby which makes me wonder if my hurdling has something to do with the state they're in.....and if so, is this line of shabby bales to shame me for my actions?? ;)

    But back to my point, which is....three weeks and no road running coupled with bales being moved is probably a sign that it's time to move to the next phase of training, whatever that is. It's 24 weeks until Boston, so I've a few more weeks to go before I get stuck in a plan, and my thoughts at this moment are to add some core work and do some road running with hills during the week while continuing my trail running with hills at the weekend. I will also work on my diet. :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,852 ✭✭✭pgmcpq


    For what it is worth several loggers on here (notably Mr Clown) follow marathin training cycles with 10k training cycles. E.g. 10 weeks 10k + 12 weeks marathon training. The change is refreshing, physically and mentally and feeds neatly into the next marathon cycle.
    Of course I don't know how this works for you with the tri training.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    As Hurricane Sandy crashes onto land with its force and focus, so Boston begins. I have wondered if this log would be more suited to the running forum because, unlike my prep for the last marathon, I will be dedicating almost all of my training for the next 24 months to running, but I've already been uprooted once and hated all the packing and unpacking that took, plus there's the little matter of having to notify all of my friends of my new address (and hear them grumbling about the extra strikes of the keyboard), so I will stay put unless my neighbors protest and tell me I play my music too loud. Oh, and I plan on targeting a HIM at the end of next summer. ;)

    Diet was good today...and I got up a little extra early to do some core/abs/quickie yoga before I hopped in the shower and skipped off to work. I plan on trying to make both of these additions staples in my weekly routine.

    Trainer

    20 very solid miles while listening to very loud music that was rife with tension and edge.

    First 10 miles were at a low resistance and peppy cadence.
    Next 5 miles were spent going up and down the gears (all in the big ring) every tenth of a mile. This was tough. Sweat city!
    Next 3 miles were at a medium hard resistance and high effort.
    Next mile was at a low resistance, all one-legged pedaling, alternating right leg/left leg every quarter of a mile.
    Last mile was at a low resistance and easy cadence to cool down.

    20 miles in ~1 hour 15ish minutes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Up early for 20ish minutes of yoga and abs. Diet was so-so today - better than it has been but not as disciplined as yesterday. My primary downfall was the cup of hot chocolate with gourmet peppermint marshmallows I downed midmorning.

    Urban Evening Run

    Plan: 3 miles easy

    Very chilly out there this evening - a damp chilly that you feel in your bones. I had to dig out the winter gear for this one, plus my very fuchsia rain jacket due to the misty rain. This was my first road run since the marathon, and I could feel the pavement beneath me, perhaps more so because I chose an older pair of runners due to the rain.

    This run was supposed to be at an easy effort, and to be honest with you I wish I had gone slower. I stayed within acceptable pace range per McMillan, but I did feel the effort was higher than it should have been, which is a little disconcerting to me. It's Halloween tomorrow and many of the houses in town were decorated for the big event, so that pleasant distraction made up for all the trash bins that were out by the curb for trash day tomorrow I had to weave through. The miles were pretty steady in pace, which, no doubt, was in large part due to the two lines of a Tracy Bonham song I had stuck in my head that I kept singing over and over again.

    Actual: 3.75 miles in 31:49.7 for an average pace of 8:29

    Because this run was a short one, I got out the yoga mat and did about 40 minutes of yoga and stretching. Felt good! :)

    Edit: after looking at my notes and numbers, tonight's pace should have been closer to 8:40 - 8:50 min/mile. I knew I heard RaccoonQueen's voice in my head yelling at me for a reason.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    Dory Dory wrote: »
    This run was supposed to be at an easy effort, and to be honest with you I wish I had gone slower. I stayed within acceptable pace range per McMillan, but I did feel the effort was higher than it should have been, which is a little disconcerting to me.

    Is it time to perhaps considering running with a heart rate monitor?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    catweazle wrote: »
    Is it time to perhaps considering running with a heart rate monitor?

    Gosh, then I'll have to figure out what all the numbers mean, not that I can even see those teeny-tiny little numbers on the watch dial as I'm running - unless there is an option to make those teeny-tiny little numbers bigger on the dial? And the strap tends to constrict my breathing - or am I putting it on too tight? :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Lunchtime Halloween Road Run

    Plan: 3 miles steady

    I had to do this run as a sneaky lunchtime run due to all the ghosts and gobblins who will be littering the streets begging for chocolate treats tonight. BOO! So.....quick dash out of work, even quicker change into my running duds, and off I went for a brief warmup down the driveway, then with a tap of the button on my Garmin I was off!!!

    First mile was way too fast - early on into the first mile I knew I was putting out too much effort. 7:07 read the pace at about the quarter mile so I pulled it back a bit. 7:18 min/mile

    Second mile felt much better, but I was still way too fast for the plan. My target pace was around 8 min/mile. 7:38 min/mile

    The first 80% of the third mile felt the absolute best, even considering I was running into the wind for most of this mile. Just before the final 20% of this mile (and that last 20% just happens to be a pretty healthy hill) my pace was 7:40...and then the pace started to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n. Still a wee bit faster than my target. 7:52 min/mile

    I really, really need to work on my pace discipline. I always have great intentions to keep things where they need to be, but this seems to be an area of weakness for me. When I see I'm going too fast, I intend on slowing way down...but then I realize that to slow down the overall pace I have to slow my current pace even more than the pace I'm supposed to be running...which then means I'll have to speed up again on the next mile. Then after putting in a few miles too fast, I worry about making my later miles slower, thus giving the impression that I'm dying because I went too fast early on. UGH!! I think too much. Bottom line, this was too fast - more like a tempo run, but it had some good quality to it. :)

    Actual: 3.07 miles in 23:23 for an average pace of 7:36 min/mile.

    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/238904909


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,361 ✭✭✭Kurt Godel


    What are you dressing as tonight?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Kurt Godel wrote: »
    What are you dressing as tonight?


    Cindy Lou Who. ;):D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,361 ✭✭✭Kurt Godel


    Dory Dory wrote: »
    Cindy Lou Who. ;):D

    Had to google, but priceless answer:D

    I burned a cork, rubbed an ashen moustache- voila, I'm a Frenchman. Maintenant m'excuser, je dois finir ce vin.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,208 ✭✭✭shotgunmcos


    @hocchiedoubledee - what Yoga are you doing on your mat?
    @Kurt - Just doing the same with a nice Rioja myself... :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    @hocchiedoubledee - what Yoga are you doing on your mat?
    @Kurt - Just doing the same with a nice Rioja myself... :D

    Well, I guess I've mainly been doing a pretty tame power yoga (but it feels good), however tonight I started a Vinyasa yoga that was way above my ability, so I bagged that and ended up doing 36 minutes of Yoga for Runners - loved it!! In the past I've attended yoga classes, but those classes are now near impossible for me to attend so I've turned to the free videos available on my cable provider (tv). You can't replace the benefits of having an instructor and a row of mirrors in front of you, but these videos allow me 24 hour 7 day a week flexibility and an abundant selection. I definitely feel better after yoga.

    Burning corks?? Ashen moustaches?? I love you guys!! :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,704 ✭✭✭✭RayCun


    Try treating your first mile as a warmup. When you go out the door you're not going for a run, just for a jog - you'll only start running when the jog is finished.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,883 ✭✭✭Younganne


    Dory Dory wrote: »

    I really, really need to work on my pace discipline. I always have great intentions to keep things where they need to be, but this seems to be an area of weakness for me. When I see I'm going too fast, I intend on slowing way down...but then I realize that to slow down the overall pace I have to slow my current pace even more than the pace I'm supposed to be running...which then means I'll have to speed up again on the next mile. Then after putting in a few miles too fast, I worry about making my later miles slower, thus giving the impression that I'm dying because I went too fast early on. UGH!! I think too much. Bottom line, this was too fast - more like a tempo run, but it had some good quality to it. :)

    DD, those very thoughts usually run through my head too, but my problem is that when i slow down, then i'm too slow so then have to speed back up to get to correct pace. so then the yo-yo of too fast too slow starts happening and the enjoyment is gone from the run.

    I think im going to stick with current pace on display and forget overall pace when i have to run at speific pace and im just going to run by feel for a bit and see where it ties in with new paces.
    We have to enjoy some of the runs and not be looking at the watch and missing the scenery!!:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    RayCun wrote: »
    Try treating your first mile as a warmup. When you go out the door you're not going for a run, just for a jog - you'll only start running when the jog is finished.

    My driveway is a quarter of a mile long, so that's what I was sort of trying to do yesterday....but you are right, a proper warmup should be closer to a mile. :)
    Younganne wrote: »
    DD, those very thoughts usually run through my head too, but my problem is that when i slow down, then i'm too slow so then have to speed back up to get to correct pace. so then the yo-yo of too fast too slow starts happening and the enjoyment is gone from the run.

    I think im going to stick with current pace on display and forget overall pace when i have to run at speific pace and im just going to run by feel for a bit and see where it ties in with new paces.
    We have to enjoy some of the runs and not be looking at the watch and missing the scenery!!:D

    +1! Post-your-awesome-marathon, pamper yourself by indulging in running for no other purpose than to make yourself happy. Run like nothing is weighing you down....and as you say, notice and appreciate the scenery!! (Have you come down from your cloud yet?? You owned that marathon course!! Woo hoo!!) :D


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