Saturday I ran the Nucor/Holt 5K road race. It's a benefit to help the Holt High athletic department, since there is a shortage of funds. Temperatures were in the mid-70s for a 7:00 am start. A decent crowd-- 75 or so runners. This area was touched by Mother Nature on April 27, so it's definitely a community in need. Snazzy purple race shirts, as well.
The first half was a downhill and I went out at about an 8:30-8:45 pace, since I'd heard about the famous hill on the back end. It was actually a series of three inclines with a slight leveling off in between, and my pace slowed to about 9:30 or so. My time was 27:45, or about 9:00 per mile, putting me #29 overall. I was pleased, since it was the most challenging 5K I've ever run.
Two highlights here-- one, I tweaked my right calf muscle again. And again, I've no idea how this happened. I ran nearly 20 miles on four earlier runs during the week, including Wednesday's tempo run, and this happened at about the halfway mark, at the end of the downhill section. So I don't know what's causing the issue. I did scratch the other four miles I'd planned for after the race. The calf felt bad for much of the day, but then pain started to diminish as the evening wore on. So we'll idle back the training this week and reevaluate in a few days.
Secondly, I got passed in the last 0.1 of the race by a guy who got my Shiny Metal Object. I'd finished the hills and actually passed the guy as he walked, but he must not have appreciated my passing him, so he started his engine as I kept my pace. Then I saw him go up to get the SMO for 3rd in our age group, so I was pissed. I know he wasn't in as good condition as me, since he was walking, and I didn't even go after him.
I guess I was concerned my calf would pop, but I had enough juice left to where I could have competed, but I didn't. I just watched him go by.
Oh well-- lesson learned. I'm still an amateur racer, so I'll pick these things up on the way. It was a good run and a good vibe at this race.
Next up: Mayor's Cup 5K this coming Saturday. This was pushed back from the Spring because of the tornado. I plan to at least run the race-- my calf will determine how fast.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
No Worries
It's been another solid week of running, mainly on the treadmill. My calf issues appear to be behind me, following a full week of rest.
This week, a Monday five, Tuesday four and a six-miler at midweek. One mile warmup/cooldown on either side, with four miles at 8:34 pace in the middle. Solid work. There's something about upping the pace that helps make the time go by and make me feel like I'm getting somewhere.
Since Wednesday's run was nearly an hour, I listened to a Pheidippidations podcast that talked about what makes people happy. I sometimes think about this question, and I may get into it at some point.
So I have seven scheduled for Saturday, which includes a 5K (3.1 mi) road race that helps a local high school. I've been told this course has a devil of a hill. Guess I'll find out.
I'll bang out the rest of the miles afterward. 25 miles projected for the week, likely 27 the next.
This week, a Monday five, Tuesday four and a six-miler at midweek. One mile warmup/cooldown on either side, with four miles at 8:34 pace in the middle. Solid work. There's something about upping the pace that helps make the time go by and make me feel like I'm getting somewhere.
Since Wednesday's run was nearly an hour, I listened to a Pheidippidations podcast that talked about what makes people happy. I sometimes think about this question, and I may get into it at some point.
So I have seven scheduled for Saturday, which includes a 5K (3.1 mi) road race that helps a local high school. I've been told this course has a devil of a hill. Guess I'll find out.
I'll bang out the rest of the miles afterward. 25 miles projected for the week, likely 27 the next.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Resting
About three years ago, I pulled my right calf muscle about 15 minutes into a scheduled ten-mile long run. The mistake I made was trying to 'catch up' to my training schedule as I prepped for a half marathon.
Last week, my training was continuing as planned, with my weekly total sitting at 17 at midweek. I tried doing 800 repeats at 7 am in August heat in Alabama. I got through the first three and part of a fourth, but had to cut the intervals off and concentrate on finishing the run, which I did.
Friday I had a three-miler scheduled, and the calf pain came back, unannounced and in the same location. This was completely unexpected. I felt as though I was ramping up my mileage safely, and at less that 10% per week.
As a result, my Saturday long run got shoved back a day, to Sunday before church. The calf pain was not completely gone, but if I'm getting up at an unholy hour, having coffee, fueling up, getting dressed and what not, I'm going for a run.
Unfortunately, the calf pain didn't go away, and I had to cut it short after 14 minutes. So I went home and watched the rest of White Men Can't Jump.
I've not run since that Sunday, and the pain is virtually gone. I'm glad for this, as my thought is that the pain is not too severe. But to be on the safe side, I'm giving it the rest of the week off, and will get back after it Monday. It's helpful to know I'm not training for anything specific, although there are a few races in the near future, on August 20 and 27.
Last week, my training was continuing as planned, with my weekly total sitting at 17 at midweek. I tried doing 800 repeats at 7 am in August heat in Alabama. I got through the first three and part of a fourth, but had to cut the intervals off and concentrate on finishing the run, which I did.
Friday I had a three-miler scheduled, and the calf pain came back, unannounced and in the same location. This was completely unexpected. I felt as though I was ramping up my mileage safely, and at less that 10% per week.
As a result, my Saturday long run got shoved back a day, to Sunday before church. The calf pain was not completely gone, but if I'm getting up at an unholy hour, having coffee, fueling up, getting dressed and what not, I'm going for a run.
Unfortunately, the calf pain didn't go away, and I had to cut it short after 14 minutes. So I went home and watched the rest of White Men Can't Jump.
I've not run since that Sunday, and the pain is virtually gone. I'm glad for this, as my thought is that the pain is not too severe. But to be on the safe side, I'm giving it the rest of the week off, and will get back after it Monday. It's helpful to know I'm not training for anything specific, although there are a few races in the near future, on August 20 and 27.
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