Now that my first milestone race is out of the way, I've started training for my next milestone trail race. My training plan for today called for a six miles run. But to be honest, once I started running, I didn't want to stop.
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| Somewhere along the Northshore Trail. |
I started my run today from the MADD shelter shortly after sunrise. When I arrived I only saw one other car in the parking lot. My current training plan called for a six mile run. I decided I would head toward Rockledge Park for about three miles and then cut over to the return loop at the first opportunity. However, my run didn't quite go as planned.
When I reached the three mile mark I felt like I was just starting to get warmed up. The last thing I wanted to do was to turn around. So I decided to tag on another mile. And another. And another. Soon I realized that I was only about a mile away from Rockledge Park, the end of the trail in that direction. So I decided I would run to Rockledge and then head back from there.
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| A view of the Northshore Trail from the Rockledge Park trail head. |
Limbs: Excellent!
My legs were still a little stiff this morning from the strength training I had done on Friday. But as soon as I started running I realized that the stiffness was in a different part of my legs. This is good for a couple of reasons. First, my strength training didn't bother my running. Second, it proved to me that my strength training is working muscles that I don't normally use when running (which is what I am trying to accomplish). So that's a good thing.
I continued to work on my mid-foot strike, alternating back to my traditional heel-strike whenever I felt like my calf muscles were tired. I also slowed my pace when going up hills because I now realize that most of my calf injuries have come from going too fast, especially on inclines.
As a result, I ran injury free. My legs felt strong the entire time. I will say I was a little sore when I completed, but I felt like I could have continued running. I still had some gas in the tank.
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| The bamboo forest, near the end of my run today. |
I am still impressed with the way my lungs have healed from quitting smoking. I am no longer coughing during my runs, at least not to a degree where I notice it. I still think the cooler weather is helping with my breathing. But I also realize losing the excess weight and just a general improvement in my fitness also helps. Although I did this run at a slightly faster pace than previous, I didn't feel like I was out of breath at any point during the run. It's all good.
Laughs: Excellent
As for the mental side, I am sooooo glad to be past my first milestone race--not because I wasn't looking forward to it or because it stressed my out or anything like that--but because I HATED THE TAPER! I felt so restricted during the couple of weeks leading up to the race. But today I didn't have any restrictions. I could run as long and as far as I wanted to. Well, almost no restrictions... I still needed to be home in time to watch the Cowboys game!
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| A small rocky incline along the Northshore Trail. |
I would say the most important thing that I've learned is to take my time on the trail. I mentioned in another post that I've adopted the motto: Slow running is better than no running! By this I mean that my brain and my heart are in better shape than my body. And based on my history, I get hurt when I push my pace too fast. And I hate sitting on the sideline waiting for injuries to heal. I would rather be out running. I need to keep my pace in check so that I don't get hurt. Hence, slow running is better than no running!
Next Week:
The following outlines my training plan for next week:
- Monday: Strength
- Tuesday: 3 miles
- Wednesday: 3 miles
- Thursday: 3 miles
- Friday: Strength
- Saturday: Hill work
- Sunday: 6 miles
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