Back to Portland

Well my plans to run all over Northern Arizona fell through. I was skeptical that i would have too much time to run there as I knew my time would be restricted with all the family and graduation activities. I did think I would at least get to hit the roads through town remembering my past. But alas, I brought my shoes and gear for naught. Oh well.

So back in Portland my first run in the NW was a doosy. Perhaps it was to combat another week of no running (too many of those for me in recent months). My run was not insane, only eight slow miles, but I did it at such a high heart rate that I am classifying it as a quality run and maybe it will even kick start me into getting back into a HR training mode. If so then I need to do a recovery run today (and that is the plan.)

I am not totally sure why the run was so hard, like I said it was slow. The HR hovered over 170 for long stretches and was over 180 for some more difficult parts (ha, gradual inclines…) My avg HR was 160, probably as high as I have ever seen it outside of a race (maybe even higher…) I often thought about stopping for a break but I forged ahead and continued to push it for which I am glad now (despite my still sore body, well this also had to do with the yard work I did yesterday instead of doing my recovery run.) But I am still tired…

440 intervals

Before I went to bed last night I thought about what I would be doing on my run today. I have a meeting this afternoon so I had time to run in the morning. I managed to pump myself up for a quality run at the track. Of course that was before I went to sleep. When the morning light woke me up I didn’t quite feel as enthusiastic as I had the night before. The light looked gray outside beyond my curtains, but I didn’t hear any rain drops. A cup of coffee and half a Clif bar later I was at the precipice of procrastination. But my desire to run was just enough to get me going and I took off out the door radio in ear, gel in flask. Unfortunately I forgot my water. When I realized it I was two blocks away and it was just too far to go back. So I continued on.

I was going to track but I didn’t have any concrete plan as to what I would do there. I could run my usual straights and curves, but I sort of wanted to mix it up a bit. Plus I think it is time to push myself a bit at the track and do a harder workout (not that S&Cs are easy mind you.) It was between running 440 or 220 intervals. The 440s sounded appealing from a challenge standpoint, but the 220s also sounded good as they would be a little easier. Additionally I wanted to make sure I got at least eight miles in to keep me on my road to 40 for the week, though I am skeptical about that. I missed running Mon and Tues so I would need to do eight today, then again Sat and Sun. It will make for five days of running in a row, and six if I consider next week (if I missed another Monday then I’d be facing the same situation and I’d rather have a rest day toward the end of the week like Fri or Sat. So with all that to consider I decided on the 440s with a 220 recovery. I could do six intervals in nine laps if I pushed it and then make up the rest on a longer cool down run.

The first one saw my HR get up really high as I rounded the track at the end of the lap: 180+. I backed off a little on the second and kept it under that mark. But the third and fourth were all over 180. My recoveries brought my HR back down to 145 or so, so I felt really good about that. The fifth one was rough, I was starting to feel really beat and considered heading back home. But somehow I managed to convince myself that I could go one more time and I did. Phew, great day at the track! But I still had another 3-4 miles to go to get my miles in.

Just outside the track is Powell Blvd. a pretty busy road. I have to say I wasn’t disappointed when I didn’t make the light, a little reprieve was very welcome especially considering the two block hill that was waiting beyond. Slowly I reached the top and headed towards reed. I decided to skirt the campus and backtrack my usual route, the last part of which is once again up hill for several blocks. I broke off from campus and headed towards Berkley Park to make sure I got my eight in. Before I hit the park I realized that I would be going too far, so I veered east and was faced with once again another huge hill. It is one of the killers in my hill workout (which I haven’t done for a long time, but soon…) Once look at the last steep portion made me turn around and continue toward the park which would also have a hill though not as steep. I ended up compromising and once again turning east a block before the park. The hill was still tough, but not the monster from several blocks back. Off I went.

The rest of the run was pretty flat once I managed to get above the ridge separating Woodstock from East Moreland. I slowly trudged the last mile and was very happy to see my puppy’s expecting look at the window. She helped me stretch out by licking the sweat off of me. Great run! Next up an eight mile recovery. Or maybe less and then longer Sunday. 40 is still in the cards!

Muggiest 440 ever

I got out relatively early this morning to beat the promised heat of the day. However I didn’t get up early enough to beat the humidity of the last several days. I started slowly on the way to the track but picked up my pace pretty well with the help of the King of Mambo – Perez Prado. By the time I got to the track I was feeling pretty warmed up. I trued to use my lap counter on my Garmin, which has always been sporadic in its proper functioning. I wonder if the high humidity had anything to do with it. But I did manage to capture my first lap: 1:47 at a 6.42 pace, .27 mi (outside lane though the Garmin are not supposed to be good at the track mileage wise). Halfway through my second lap I started to feel pretty pooped. About the same time, so did my watch. My third and fourth laps were progressively slower. I felt like I was swimming through the mugginess. I had originally intended to do six laps, but I settles for four. Considering I was ready to settle for 2, I did pretty good.

Leaving the track I just went the way I came in rather than through the reed campus. After a couple of blocks I walked for a bit until I hit the hill and then powered up it. I missed the light at Powell and had to happily wait for a walk signal. Through Creston Park I hit the stairs but that was it, time for another walk and some sharkies. I somehow managed to finish the run home without stopping. Phew.

I have been hydrating well today after the run. San Pelligrino really does the trick! Still I feel pretty well run out. I definitely feel like I got a good quality run in today. At the very least in terms of sweating.

Two quality runs sandwich a rest day

Today I ran my East Moreland Tempo run again, I thought I did my fastest first and second miles, but they turned out to be both sub 8 min miles which was a bit slower than the week I did 7:18 and 8:27. My third miles in both runs was really close, only a few seconds off at 9:10. I had to push that second mile for almost the entire run and I was tired. I slowed down for the entire third mile and kept it  pretty consistent at that pace.

I have been living on running candy on these quality run. This one I only had  four sport beans and no water until the third mile. No gels either, but a Lara bar beforehand. I swear those Sport Beans are addictive.

So this was the second quality run in a row with a non-running day in between. I did do lots of gardening that day, so a lot of up an down and crouching. So I was not feeling 100% for the tempo run which I think why I had to push myself harder to get the first two faster miles. I’m glad I did  though as I was close to just doing a junk run. Overall I feel good after both, I think I can see a recovery run in my near future.