RUN 5 miles in about 1 hour, track run with drills
BIKE COMMUTE 13.8 miles, track n back, lab n back
BE said something great during the run that at the time I wanted to use as my post title. But I soon enough forgot what he said! Evidence of how good the run was, and how fast the conversation moved :)
We did running drills -- gravevines, march, skip, etc -- either on the straights or the turns, and jogged in between. Last time we did this about a month ago I could feel the soft tissues in my legs and feet, I expect the same after today. But I was mindful of being gentle in the skips and I've got a lot more miles under my belt this time.
Today is the first real day of running for my training plan. What am I training for again? I'm not sure MT50 happens this year. I'd like to do 24 The Hard Way. I plan on doing SH100K. However it turns out, I'm in training. This run was a great way to start it.
We've been in a rain-rut this week. Getting a/o expecting rain Monday through Thursday. On the bike home yesterday, right as I turned on Arsenal, I had a genius thought. RUN COMMUTE tomorrow! Avoid the run, get a TAD in, and it's May and I love starting new things at the top of a month. This works with the training plan, as BE is running the short loop tomorrow in prep for his sprint tri this weekend. The plan says 4+5+7 for the week. I'll be at 5+9+___ Thursday morning, assuming I run commute tomorrow.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Monday, April 29, 2019
Training is the systematic removal of excuses
BIKE 19 miles in TGP, 3 intervals
COMMUTE 9.2 miles
Where did my extra mile go? Usually I get 20 miles from this ride?!
Whatever, a cool morning but dry and calm. Rain expected later (it never rained later). I was a few mins later than my usual 5:55 am arrival due to reading Reddit for Game of Thrones news -- the big battle episode was last night!
BE had his P2 out for a shakedown before this weekends sprint in St Petersburg. We talked about our usual random lot of topics -- today included vegan recipes and foods like tofu and tempeh; my swimming concerns and how they are likely mental, he quoted the title above and I agree with him; oooh man we talked more but I can't recall right now! He encouraged me to join the Whispering Hills swim on Sundays with the Club. Good idea. See if I can get myself to re-arrange a run or a ride for that. Hmmm......
3 loops:
1 18:17 130bpm
2 17:54 133 bpm
3 17:55 134 bpm
Higher bpm due to talking? The speed and times were similar. Yesterday's loops on same course and pace were mid-120s HR. Fatigue, dehydration, etc.
COMMUTE 9.2 miles
Where did my extra mile go? Usually I get 20 miles from this ride?!
Whatever, a cool morning but dry and calm. Rain expected later (it never rained later). I was a few mins later than my usual 5:55 am arrival due to reading Reddit for Game of Thrones news -- the big battle episode was last night!
BE had his P2 out for a shakedown before this weekends sprint in St Petersburg. We talked about our usual random lot of topics -- today included vegan recipes and foods like tofu and tempeh; my swimming concerns and how they are likely mental, he quoted the title above and I agree with him; oooh man we talked more but I can't recall right now! He encouraged me to join the Whispering Hills swim on Sundays with the Club. Good idea. See if I can get myself to re-arrange a run or a ride for that. Hmmm......
3 loops:
1 18:17 130bpm
2 17:54 133 bpm
3 17:55 134 bpm
Higher bpm due to talking? The speed and times were similar. Yesterday's loops on same course and pace were mid-120s HR. Fatigue, dehydration, etc.
Sunday, April 28, 2019
32 mile week. And "you'll be okay".
RUN 2.7 miles in 27 mins, 10:09 m/m ave HR 130, ave cad 173
BIKE 30 miles in 2 hours (below)
I slept awful overnight and needed a benedryl to sleep. My legs and body were restless and kinda achy. Duh, half mary.
The run was adjusted for overages earlier in the week, the goal was 32 miles and I certainly didn't need more. So as a reward of sorts I cut short to 2.7 for an even 32 total. Whoop! My HR still seems really high for the effort? But happily my cadence is pretty good.
After some stomach upset (both overnight, before, and after the run) I left for the ride. I really wanted to ride Babler, but see below for the full discussion on that. Instead I did 4x the TGP loops. Rode the first one backwards and soon realized why I don't ride that direction -- the turns cross traffic.
All felt great, didn't push a pace and kept it "steady": The interval is 4.6 miles, I ave'd just under 16 mph on each. Ooof that feels slow.
1 17:54 127 bpm
2 17:45 129
3 18:00 127
4 17:55 126
After the loops, rode to work, and then some extra blocks got my full 30 miles. I joked that I should have gone to the pool for 300 yards so I could have a 3 miles, 30 mile, 300 yard day. But instead I did gardening -- got all my seeds in!
So about Babler. After my run Saturday I happily texted SO my news, and he said "You're overdoing it". (ignoring the fact that he got up at 3am for a 100 mile ride...haha). I replied, I love it too much. He simply said, OK. Hmmmmm so I think for a while. Say that I take his advice seriously, acknowledged the saw one of the attacks, said I haven't found the balance yet.
He said, listen to doctor, and "I don't know much". I disagreed!! I talk to him because I trust his opinion. So this really got me thinking the rest of the day.
Later on he told me about his new wheel, looks super nice, chatted about how it's not the equipment it's the rider. That's always been my rationale, that and my budget. I said I don't need equipment - I need to learn to swim. He said, "swim more. kick more. push the water like you mean it. Not like walking sugar." LOL!! Oooh TV says the same thing to me, haha!
Then soon after, I confessed that I'm nervous to swim again. Might be the first time I've said it to him? He replied, "It's OK. Get clear from doctor. Swimming is hard on the heart".
! I told him that's the most encouraging thing I've heard since this started. And that I wanted to hug him. He replied, "You'll be okay. just talk with doctor. swimming does make the heart pump more.
This series of conversations really struck me, it was a bit of push and pull, back and forth advice, but I'm taking it seriously. Hence changing my ride from Babler to TGP.
NUMERICS 8:44 does not include bike commute
BIKE 50.1
RUN 32 miles
BIKE COMMUTE 43.4
BIKE 30 miles in 2 hours (below)
I slept awful overnight and needed a benedryl to sleep. My legs and body were restless and kinda achy. Duh, half mary.
The run was adjusted for overages earlier in the week, the goal was 32 miles and I certainly didn't need more. So as a reward of sorts I cut short to 2.7 for an even 32 total. Whoop! My HR still seems really high for the effort? But happily my cadence is pretty good.
After some stomach upset (both overnight, before, and after the run) I left for the ride. I really wanted to ride Babler, but see below for the full discussion on that. Instead I did 4x the TGP loops. Rode the first one backwards and soon realized why I don't ride that direction -- the turns cross traffic.
All felt great, didn't push a pace and kept it "steady": The interval is 4.6 miles, I ave'd just under 16 mph on each. Ooof that feels slow.
1 17:54 127 bpm
2 17:45 129
3 18:00 127
4 17:55 126
After the loops, rode to work, and then some extra blocks got my full 30 miles. I joked that I should have gone to the pool for 300 yards so I could have a 3 miles, 30 mile, 300 yard day. But instead I did gardening -- got all my seeds in!
So about Babler. After my run Saturday I happily texted SO my news, and he said "You're overdoing it". (ignoring the fact that he got up at 3am for a 100 mile ride...haha). I replied, I love it too much. He simply said, OK. Hmmmmm so I think for a while. Say that I take his advice seriously, acknowledged the saw one of the attacks, said I haven't found the balance yet.
He said, listen to doctor, and "I don't know much". I disagreed!! I talk to him because I trust his opinion. So this really got me thinking the rest of the day.
Later on he told me about his new wheel, looks super nice, chatted about how it's not the equipment it's the rider. That's always been my rationale, that and my budget. I said I don't need equipment - I need to learn to swim. He said, "swim more. kick more. push the water like you mean it. Not like walking sugar." LOL!! Oooh TV says the same thing to me, haha!
Then soon after, I confessed that I'm nervous to swim again. Might be the first time I've said it to him? He replied, "It's OK. Get clear from doctor. Swimming is hard on the heart".
! I told him that's the most encouraging thing I've heard since this started. And that I wanted to hug him. He replied, "You'll be okay. just talk with doctor. swimming does make the heart pump more.
This series of conversations really struck me, it was a bit of push and pull, back and forth advice, but I'm taking it seriously. Hence changing my ride from Babler to TGP.
NUMERICS 8:44 does not include bike commute
BIKE 50.1
RUN 32 miles
BIKE COMMUTE 43.4
Saturday, April 27, 2019
Half Mary for the WIN!
RUN 13.1 miles in 2:12, 10:04 m/m
Ave HR 142
Ave cad 172
WOW, this was a major benchmark for me. It was supposed to be a 12 mile run, that I thought might turn into a 10-12 based on my fatigue the days before. But nope nope nope. I also thought I'd run this on a trail, yearning for some Lost Valley, but decided an alternating weekend plan of trail/nottrail would be a good ramp up strategy. Besides, I'm not sure I could do 10-12 on a trail yet. Last weekend's "10 miler" on Greenrock as evidence for that.
It was also supposed to rain later in the morning, but it never really did for my run. A few sprinkles, that's about it. So optimal running weather.
I picked FoPa for it's 6-mile path (under construction so our Thursday runs have been 6.1) and because I could run it both directions, have facility support, and could drop out if I needed to. But nope nope nope. In fact, once I realized I was coming in close to 13 due to some overages I kept going. Then kept going to 13.1 just because.
Carried the Camelbak handheld, emptied only twice. Ate maybe half a gel. Not much! Not enough?
No sharp chest pain, no other body pain except that spot in my left shoulder/back that Dr L worked on. A painful burning pinpoint of pain. Oof.
Felt great, awesome, and the rest of the day went good. Sometimes after a run I'm too mentally wiped to run errands, but today went to HD for tomato plants and garden flowers. Spent my $50 gift card from work, the bill came to $50.08 so all my plants only cost 8 cents. Three of the dianthus flowers I got were inspired by the garden in front of the FoPa VC. Bright pink on long stems. Bring in the h-birds and b-flys!
I had a great day, and around 830am SO texts that he's done with his 100 mile ride. Ugh, jealous. Not of getting up at 3am to get that done, but of being able to ride that far. Soon.
Ave HR 142
Ave cad 172
WOW, this was a major benchmark for me. It was supposed to be a 12 mile run, that I thought might turn into a 10-12 based on my fatigue the days before. But nope nope nope. I also thought I'd run this on a trail, yearning for some Lost Valley, but decided an alternating weekend plan of trail/nottrail would be a good ramp up strategy. Besides, I'm not sure I could do 10-12 on a trail yet. Last weekend's "10 miler" on Greenrock as evidence for that.
It was also supposed to rain later in the morning, but it never really did for my run. A few sprinkles, that's about it. So optimal running weather.
I picked FoPa for it's 6-mile path (under construction so our Thursday runs have been 6.1) and because I could run it both directions, have facility support, and could drop out if I needed to. But nope nope nope. In fact, once I realized I was coming in close to 13 due to some overages I kept going. Then kept going to 13.1 just because.
Carried the Camelbak handheld, emptied only twice. Ate maybe half a gel. Not much! Not enough?
No sharp chest pain, no other body pain except that spot in my left shoulder/back that Dr L worked on. A painful burning pinpoint of pain. Oof.
Felt great, awesome, and the rest of the day went good. Sometimes after a run I'm too mentally wiped to run errands, but today went to HD for tomato plants and garden flowers. Spent my $50 gift card from work, the bill came to $50.08 so all my plants only cost 8 cents. Three of the dianthus flowers I got were inspired by the garden in front of the FoPa VC. Bright pink on long stems. Bring in the h-birds and b-flys!
I had a great day, and around 830am SO texts that he's done with his 100 mile ride. Ugh, jealous. Not of getting up at 3am to get that done, but of being able to ride that far. Soon.
Friday, April 26, 2019
Friday -- REST!
COMMUTE 9.2 miles
SO suggested an extra loop in the park if I can. I'd love too! But my time runs short today.
Dedicated rest day. Went to bed fast and early last night, only to have the doggie wake me at 4am to pee. Gave her a few bits of brekkie then back to bed until 6:50 when she started whining again. She's right, I need to get up, but uuugghhh. This is my only sleep-in morning!!
Plans for the weekend: a 12+4 run on the schedule. I'll say 10-12 for Saturday, see about Sunday. I'd like to ride Sunday, maybe another try at Chesterfield and Babler.
I'm now 1 week without the D and the M. M keeps trying to sneak his way back in, and D mostly fails when he tries. I really feel better without them, and my body is reflecting the difference already.
My eye still bloody, and in the last day or two has nearly completely encircled my iris. Should it still be spreading? And my chest pain is less, but I still have the cold/pounding feeling a lot, sometimes a minor pain. Maybe I'm just paying too much attention to it. ?
SO suggested an extra loop in the park if I can. I'd love too! But my time runs short today.
Dedicated rest day. Went to bed fast and early last night, only to have the doggie wake me at 4am to pee. Gave her a few bits of brekkie then back to bed until 6:50 when she started whining again. She's right, I need to get up, but uuugghhh. This is my only sleep-in morning!!
Plans for the weekend: a 12+4 run on the schedule. I'll say 10-12 for Saturday, see about Sunday. I'd like to ride Sunday, maybe another try at Chesterfield and Babler.
I'm now 1 week without the D and the M. M keeps trying to sneak his way back in, and D mostly fails when he tries. I really feel better without them, and my body is reflecting the difference already.
My eye still bloody, and in the last day or two has nearly completely encircled my iris. Should it still be spreading? And my chest pain is less, but I still have the cold/pounding feeling a lot, sometimes a minor pain. Maybe I'm just paying too much attention to it. ?
Thursday, April 25, 2019
Keep Pushing, around Fo Pa
RUN 6.1 miles in 57 minutes, 9:24 m/m, and 147 bpm
COMMUTE 9.2 miles
Compared to yesterday's 6.21 mile run: which was 10:57 and 135.
Ran this with BE and IT. It seemed uphill the entire way! It was a cool, calm, post-rain run -- no better weather and no better company than 2 friends who willingly slowed down so I could try to drop the HR. I walked only once, the HR came right down, but I think too the mental aspect of knowing my HR is up, and the fight to keep up with the group all contribute to a few beats. ??
And as for chest pain -- better. So I think it was the Saturday Episode, maybe I pulled or irritated something? But I'm continuing to have (and kinda always have, sometimes more or less is all) a racing heart feeling, and/or a pounding feeling, like anxiety or adrenaline. Sometimes a cold pulling feeling in chest, sometimes a pain like I was just punched with a sharp object in the ribs.
Or as BE said, do I just hang what I can on those words?
COMMUTE 9.2 miles
Compared to yesterday's 6.21 mile run: which was 10:57 and 135.
Ran this with BE and IT. It seemed uphill the entire way! It was a cool, calm, post-rain run -- no better weather and no better company than 2 friends who willingly slowed down so I could try to drop the HR. I walked only once, the HR came right down, but I think too the mental aspect of knowing my HR is up, and the fight to keep up with the group all contribute to a few beats. ??
And as for chest pain -- better. So I think it was the Saturday Episode, maybe I pulled or irritated something? But I'm continuing to have (and kinda always have, sometimes more or less is all) a racing heart feeling, and/or a pounding feeling, like anxiety or adrenaline. Sometimes a cold pulling feeling in chest, sometimes a pain like I was just punched with a sharp object in the ribs.
Or as BE said, do I just hang what I can on those words?
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Waaaayyyy too tired around TGP
RUN 6.1 miles in 1:07. 10:57 pace, ave HR 135. Some walking.
COMMUTE 9.2 miles
WOW, way too tired/worn out/??? in today's run. WTF? I wanted to go, wasn't motivational. I ate too much and bogged myself down? Or I just need more rest after Saturday's 10 mile trail run?
Whatever it was, wow. I did my favorite TGP loop with the bird trail. No music because even that was too much energy. I walked occasionally, only for maybe 10-20 seconds at a time. My quads are tired, and it's probably contributing to poor form.
Get to bed! Get some good food! Get rest!
COMMUTE 9.2 miles
WOW, way too tired/worn out/??? in today's run. WTF? I wanted to go, wasn't motivational. I ate too much and bogged myself down? Or I just need more rest after Saturday's 10 mile trail run?
Whatever it was, wow. I did my favorite TGP loop with the bird trail. No music because even that was too much energy. I walked occasionally, only for maybe 10-20 seconds at a time. My quads are tired, and it's probably contributing to poor form.
Get to bed! Get some good food! Get rest!
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Broken track runs, Dr L
RUN 2.1 miles (some walking) 23 mins with BE
RUN 2.1 miles (no walking) 19:20 alone
BIKE COMMUTE to/from track 6.6 miles
I woke up with chest pain, a loaded comment --I know. But not heart attack chest pain. Just chest pain. My best guess is from Saturday's upset stomach episode. The same that left my right eye a blood-colored mess.
Incredibly gorgeous morning and bike ride to track. So calm! To my surprise I candidly told BE how I was feeling (he was already aware of the eye, from yesterday's ride), and he seemed (rightfully) worried. He asked a few questions, I answered best I could, and while he did his 1000s I did slow jogging. Walked with him when he walk.
He wanted to cut the session short, for me, but he doesn't realize that as soon as he says that I start planning how I'm going to finish my goal of 4-5 miles.
So we leave, and on my bike towards home I realize the Roosevelt track is right there. I park Puppy hidden as best I can along the benches and set out with the goal of 8 laps. 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-DONE.
HR in the first track run harder to measure with the walk breaks, ave 121 and high 141
HR in the second track run, ave 141 and high 152.
Seems way too high for the effort -- a slow 10 m/m jog!
-----
Later that morning a visit to Dr L. He noted my "party trick" eye, noted that dietary supplementation might be a good idea so I heal and etc as needed. Worked on neck and right arm (which is 90+% normal now!), and my upper back. I didn't specifically mention the pained area of the upper back that I noted first on Saturday's trail run with the Camelbak, but he found it anyway and worked it out. HOW does he do that?!
RUN 2.1 miles (no walking) 19:20 alone
BIKE COMMUTE to/from track 6.6 miles
I woke up with chest pain, a loaded comment --I know. But not heart attack chest pain. Just chest pain. My best guess is from Saturday's upset stomach episode. The same that left my right eye a blood-colored mess.
Incredibly gorgeous morning and bike ride to track. So calm! To my surprise I candidly told BE how I was feeling (he was already aware of the eye, from yesterday's ride), and he seemed (rightfully) worried. He asked a few questions, I answered best I could, and while he did his 1000s I did slow jogging. Walked with him when he walk.
He wanted to cut the session short, for me, but he doesn't realize that as soon as he says that I start planning how I'm going to finish my goal of 4-5 miles.
So we leave, and on my bike towards home I realize the Roosevelt track is right there. I park Puppy hidden as best I can along the benches and set out with the goal of 8 laps. 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-DONE.
HR in the first track run harder to measure with the walk breaks, ave 121 and high 141
HR in the second track run, ave 141 and high 152.
Seems way too high for the effort -- a slow 10 m/m jog!
-----
Later that morning a visit to Dr L. He noted my "party trick" eye, noted that dietary supplementation might be a good idea so I heal and etc as needed. Worked on neck and right arm (which is 90+% normal now!), and my upper back. I didn't specifically mention the pained area of the upper back that I noted first on Saturday's trail run with the Camelbak, but he found it anyway and worked it out. HOW does he do that?!
Monday, April 22, 2019
Three loops in TGP, then tired!
BIKE 20.6 miles in 1:15-1:20? Garmin died.
COMMUTE 9.2 miles
I just now realized my math was wrong. Maybe I did get a full 30 miles? Whatever. I thought my commute was 9.4...whatever.
Up early for the ride, feeling good but tired. Slept great, stomach upset improved. My eye still looks like hell and I even think it spread a little more.
BE showed a few mins after 6am and I was doing little laps around the circle to 'keep the tires warm'. By the time we started, I was at 3.6 miles. So....3.6 + 15 + 2... damn.
Great ride, sun came up fast at 6:16 am. Clear skies, some pollen, dogwoods in white and pink bloom. I like how they look when I flashed my headlamp on them. BE did most of the 3 loops, I think he did 2.66 loops kinda like how his second grandbaby is 0.66 done (due in July, lol).
I felt great but tired. I could feel it in the legs. And it felt that way on the bike in. All day at work. And now the bike home!
I had a big breakfast which included CF and QF so guess what the fuck what -- stomach upset. That's three times, so it's confirmed. I threw the rest OUT. No mas.
Boss just laughed at my eye, so I take that as a sign I'll be OK. Although it does worry me that I am so fragile right now! And chest pain most of the day, a throbbing pain. Not like a heart attack, just a pain. And my neck. Ugh. Dr L tomorrow thankfully.
You just watch, I'll do an extra 0.2 miles on the way home here shortly. haha!
COMMUTE 9.2 miles
I just now realized my math was wrong. Maybe I did get a full 30 miles? Whatever. I thought my commute was 9.4...whatever.
Up early for the ride, feeling good but tired. Slept great, stomach upset improved. My eye still looks like hell and I even think it spread a little more.
BE showed a few mins after 6am and I was doing little laps around the circle to 'keep the tires warm'. By the time we started, I was at 3.6 miles. So....3.6 + 15 + 2... damn.
Great ride, sun came up fast at 6:16 am. Clear skies, some pollen, dogwoods in white and pink bloom. I like how they look when I flashed my headlamp on them. BE did most of the 3 loops, I think he did 2.66 loops kinda like how his second grandbaby is 0.66 done (due in July, lol).
I felt great but tired. I could feel it in the legs. And it felt that way on the bike in. All day at work. And now the bike home!
I had a big breakfast which included CF and QF so guess what the fuck what -- stomach upset. That's three times, so it's confirmed. I threw the rest OUT. No mas.
Boss just laughed at my eye, so I take that as a sign I'll be OK. Although it does worry me that I am so fragile right now! And chest pain most of the day, a throbbing pain. Not like a heart attack, just a pain. And my neck. Ugh. Dr L tomorrow thankfully.
You just watch, I'll do an extra 0.2 miles on the way home here shortly. haha!
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Broken 40 miler and Scooby Snacks and a Butterfly
BIKE 18 miles in just over an hour on MCT
BIKE 22 miles in 1:20 at Laf Park
Yeah, that happened. I was still feeling 'off' from yesterday's stomach upset. Mostly mental too. And my eye looked like HELL (sis says I look like terminator!). So with all this swirling about I set out for a 40-50 miler on the MCT. I invited a bunch of friends, but only EW could join but not until afternoon. So alone. I started later in the morning after some garden work, under the excuse of "it's still chilly" and I think that set my momentum and mood lower.
Arrived to a Beauty of a day, but couldn't get into it. I did the out n back on Schoolhouse and never found a groove. Wasn't into it. So once back at the truck, I stopped! WTF?
Driving back to STL I thought about going to Fields for CF and QF. What is going on in my head?! Like I wanted to test and see if that really was my problem!? Also got a small cup of chocolate covered esspresso beans, and while doing so decided I would ride Lafayette loops until I blew up or hit 1 hour. I actually liked this plan!
So off to LP where all the Easter-goers were picnicking and enjoying the weather. I was feeling better, not sure if the wind was bothering me on the MCT, or if it was my head, or.... Anyway, loopy-loop and right when I thought I was at least 20-some loops in I look to see it's only 11 miles and 40 mins. I wasn't pushing a pace, just riding. This was a nearly non-stop ride, slowed at corners so the pace was mostly even.
Wished I had bunny ears to attach to my helmet. Next year.
At about 45 mins my stomach growled -- first time all day and I started to feel better. At 60 mins I was at almost 18 miles and decided that I would push to 40. DONE!! A broken 40-miler.
Home to CF and QF, but also the buttery spread and bananas and yogurt and no wonder I get sick. Ugh. I was nauseated afterwards but held it down this time. For the win? Or is this a loss?
Happy to report -- no sign of M all weekend. Usually when he rears his fat ugly head :)
SO saw his first Monarch!
NUMERICS 7:11 hours, not counting commute time
BIKE 40 miles
RUN 23.3 miles
COMMUTE 36.8 miles
Lot for a "rest" week!
BIKE 22 miles in 1:20 at Laf Park
Yeah, that happened. I was still feeling 'off' from yesterday's stomach upset. Mostly mental too. And my eye looked like HELL (sis says I look like terminator!). So with all this swirling about I set out for a 40-50 miler on the MCT. I invited a bunch of friends, but only EW could join but not until afternoon. So alone. I started later in the morning after some garden work, under the excuse of "it's still chilly" and I think that set my momentum and mood lower.
Arrived to a Beauty of a day, but couldn't get into it. I did the out n back on Schoolhouse and never found a groove. Wasn't into it. So once back at the truck, I stopped! WTF?
Driving back to STL I thought about going to Fields for CF and QF. What is going on in my head?! Like I wanted to test and see if that really was my problem!? Also got a small cup of chocolate covered esspresso beans, and while doing so decided I would ride Lafayette loops until I blew up or hit 1 hour. I actually liked this plan!
So off to LP where all the Easter-goers were picnicking and enjoying the weather. I was feeling better, not sure if the wind was bothering me on the MCT, or if it was my head, or.... Anyway, loopy-loop and right when I thought I was at least 20-some loops in I look to see it's only 11 miles and 40 mins. I wasn't pushing a pace, just riding. This was a nearly non-stop ride, slowed at corners so the pace was mostly even.
Wished I had bunny ears to attach to my helmet. Next year.
At about 45 mins my stomach growled -- first time all day and I started to feel better. At 60 mins I was at almost 18 miles and decided that I would push to 40. DONE!! A broken 40-miler.
Home to CF and QF, but also the buttery spread and bananas and yogurt and no wonder I get sick. Ugh. I was nauseated afterwards but held it down this time. For the win? Or is this a loss?
Happy to report -- no sign of M all weekend. Usually when he rears his fat ugly head :)
SO saw his first Monarch!
NUMERICS 7:11 hours, not counting commute time
BIKE 40 miles
RUN 23.3 miles
COMMUTE 36.8 miles
Lot for a "rest" week!
Saturday, April 20, 2019
10 miles on Greenrock: mud and blood
RUN 10 miles on Greenrock in about 2:15-2:20
I say "run" but I really walked a lot of it. Maybe 15% walked? I walked an extra half mile afterwards too to round up to 2.5 hours of activity time. That's my plan for building into Dusk2Dawn 6 Hour at the end of June.
Gorgeous day but still a bit cool and windy. I parked in my usual Muckerman lot and started of on Dogwood. I knew I'd be tired by the end and figured I could walk up the hill on Eagle or walk the rocks on Dogwood. Much easier to walk a hill.
By 0.5 miles I was warm enough to shed a layer, guess 2 shirts too much. My camelbak almost immediately started hurting my neck, and really I'm not sure if the neck already hurt and the camelbak was just an excuse? At 1.7 miles I found a horseshoe, and at 1.86 miles I found a nice spot at the base of a tree to display it. Wonder how long it will be there.
Even though lots of rain lately, the trail was mostly dry. The water pushed leaves into the center of the track, but very little splash and stick from mud. All puddles easily cleared. And the ground was nice n soft :)
No nutrition on the run except a banana, and I did OK. The fatigue was not nutrition, just lack of training. Felt good to feel that. Didn't get lost, found all my turns, no falls or big trips, very few other runners out. I think Double Chubb was going on, maybe people there?
SO called around 9 miles to report seeing a yellow butterfly, I think a tiger swallowtail!! And he was out biking my way, so I did get to see him after my run. First time in a few weeks!
Met two other trail runner/ironman women at the end of my run near the visitor's center, we talked races and trail heads.
I felt great the rest of the day after this, excepting the drama below. I was able to stop by Walmart and Fields for errands, walked the dog, housework, gardening more. Great run!
I mentioned blood too, here's that story. There's two. I had what might have been a minor headcold for a few days. Some congestion is all, with the usual drainage. Not bad, but for days when I'd blow my nose it was blood tinged. Today the same, all from the right side. When I blew a 'snot rocket' [so unladylike!] [but I'm no lady!] it was bloody. Nice. I thought if I were in a chase scene in a movie I'd be tracked by my bloody mess.
Then later on I stopped at Fields for foods, for some stupid reason decided on coconut and quinoa flours to test. I knew they upset my stomach, and sure enough after eating what was probably too much it all came back. Ugh. Violently. So bad in fact that I ended up with petechia-type bruising across my face, neck, and upper chest. Along with a subconjuctival hemorrage in my right eye. I immediately felt something in my eye, and over time into Sunday it spread to 90% of the schlera.
Why did I eat that?!?!?
I say "run" but I really walked a lot of it. Maybe 15% walked? I walked an extra half mile afterwards too to round up to 2.5 hours of activity time. That's my plan for building into Dusk2Dawn 6 Hour at the end of June.
Gorgeous day but still a bit cool and windy. I parked in my usual Muckerman lot and started of on Dogwood. I knew I'd be tired by the end and figured I could walk up the hill on Eagle or walk the rocks on Dogwood. Much easier to walk a hill.
By 0.5 miles I was warm enough to shed a layer, guess 2 shirts too much. My camelbak almost immediately started hurting my neck, and really I'm not sure if the neck already hurt and the camelbak was just an excuse? At 1.7 miles I found a horseshoe, and at 1.86 miles I found a nice spot at the base of a tree to display it. Wonder how long it will be there.
Even though lots of rain lately, the trail was mostly dry. The water pushed leaves into the center of the track, but very little splash and stick from mud. All puddles easily cleared. And the ground was nice n soft :)
No nutrition on the run except a banana, and I did OK. The fatigue was not nutrition, just lack of training. Felt good to feel that. Didn't get lost, found all my turns, no falls or big trips, very few other runners out. I think Double Chubb was going on, maybe people there?
SO called around 9 miles to report seeing a yellow butterfly, I think a tiger swallowtail!! And he was out biking my way, so I did get to see him after my run. First time in a few weeks!
Met two other trail runner/ironman women at the end of my run near the visitor's center, we talked races and trail heads.
I felt great the rest of the day after this, excepting the drama below. I was able to stop by Walmart and Fields for errands, walked the dog, housework, gardening more. Great run!
I mentioned blood too, here's that story. There's two. I had what might have been a minor headcold for a few days. Some congestion is all, with the usual drainage. Not bad, but for days when I'd blow my nose it was blood tinged. Today the same, all from the right side. When I blew a 'snot rocket' [so unladylike!] [but I'm no lady!] it was bloody. Nice. I thought if I were in a chase scene in a movie I'd be tracked by my bloody mess.
Then later on I stopped at Fields for foods, for some stupid reason decided on coconut and quinoa flours to test. I knew they upset my stomach, and sure enough after eating what was probably too much it all came back. Ugh. Violently. So bad in fact that I ended up with petechia-type bruising across my face, neck, and upper chest. Along with a subconjuctival hemorrage in my right eye. I immediately felt something in my eye, and over time into Sunday it spread to 90% of the schlera.
Why did I eat that?!?!?
Friday, April 19, 2019
Full Moon Good Friday
COMMUTE 9.2 miles
Full moon today at 6:12am but it was cloudy so no moon sighting. What I saw yesterday on the way to the run more than made up for it.
WasGonna ride LP loops this morning but wasn't feeling it. Between being a bit tired and it being only 40-some degrees outside. And also a very light rain, on top of a post-rain pavement. It's my rest day, I should rest. Right?
Yesterday was first day NSNG and No Monster. Which I should just call NSNGNM or No-SGM or something like that. Funny thing, the urge is still lingering (will always be I guess) but it's so easy to override right now. What dictates that? Last night had a few strong tempts in the Last Time category, but no problem.
Went shopping last night, I'm off shopping schedule this past 2-3 weeks going random in small buys, and I'm back to my old ways for the most part. Chicken breast instead of thighs this time, and I'll limit to only 1 egg yolk a day for now. Otherwise, pork rinds and parm cheese last night for dinner!
I'm also happy to say that since my last bowl of oatmeal on Wednesay, my gut has been great. Weds was a long pained morning. No mas.
Today I didn't bring lunch (had BIG brekkie) and was tempted to go to the salad bar. But what could I get there? No cottage cheese, no black beans, and I'm not going to pay $8/lb for veg and raisins. Well all things considered, I've been paying that all along....
This weekend -- can't work Saturday because they are cleaning the floors, so my weekend just opened up a bit. Long run tomorrow, maybe a 10-13 mile hike in Lost Valley. Then ride Sunday with or without a run depending on what I do Saturday. Lots of yard and community garden goals. And the Blues play Saturday, I'd like to ask about watching or listening together but I don't have the guts to do so.
Listening to Ten Junk Miles again, think it's safe to do since I'm running. And now I'm all jazzed up for races. I want to run ALL the races. But I'm hoping for Dusk2Dawn 6 hour, Shawnee Hills 50K, Mark Twain 50M, and 24 The Hard Way. I would have bet $$ that I saw MT50 on the webpage, but now I'm only seeing info about a trail summit that same day. Did I mess up. Thought for sure I saw notes about the park permit being approved!?
I'm now 19 days in to a no-news clean up. No news podcasts or web sites. Only some reddit. And what a slice of life that provides! I don't care so much about the Mueller Report released yesterday, so if that's what's going on, I'm not missing much.
Full moon today at 6:12am but it was cloudy so no moon sighting. What I saw yesterday on the way to the run more than made up for it.
WasGonna ride LP loops this morning but wasn't feeling it. Between being a bit tired and it being only 40-some degrees outside. And also a very light rain, on top of a post-rain pavement. It's my rest day, I should rest. Right?
Yesterday was first day NSNG and No Monster. Which I should just call NSNGNM or No-SGM or something like that. Funny thing, the urge is still lingering (will always be I guess) but it's so easy to override right now. What dictates that? Last night had a few strong tempts in the Last Time category, but no problem.
Went shopping last night, I'm off shopping schedule this past 2-3 weeks going random in small buys, and I'm back to my old ways for the most part. Chicken breast instead of thighs this time, and I'll limit to only 1 egg yolk a day for now. Otherwise, pork rinds and parm cheese last night for dinner!
I'm also happy to say that since my last bowl of oatmeal on Wednesay, my gut has been great. Weds was a long pained morning. No mas.
Today I didn't bring lunch (had BIG brekkie) and was tempted to go to the salad bar. But what could I get there? No cottage cheese, no black beans, and I'm not going to pay $8/lb for veg and raisins. Well all things considered, I've been paying that all along....
This weekend -- can't work Saturday because they are cleaning the floors, so my weekend just opened up a bit. Long run tomorrow, maybe a 10-13 mile hike in Lost Valley. Then ride Sunday with or without a run depending on what I do Saturday. Lots of yard and community garden goals. And the Blues play Saturday, I'd like to ask about watching or listening together but I don't have the guts to do so.
Listening to Ten Junk Miles again, think it's safe to do since I'm running. And now I'm all jazzed up for races. I want to run ALL the races. But I'm hoping for Dusk2Dawn 6 hour, Shawnee Hills 50K, Mark Twain 50M, and 24 The Hard Way. I would have bet $$ that I saw MT50 on the webpage, but now I'm only seeing info about a trail summit that same day. Did I mess up. Thought for sure I saw notes about the park permit being approved!?
I'm now 19 days in to a no-news clean up. No news podcasts or web sites. Only some reddit. And what a slice of life that provides! I don't care so much about the Mueller Report released yesterday, so if that's what's going on, I'm not missing much.
Thursday, April 18, 2019
T-storms overnight, full moon appears on drive to run
RUN 6.1 miles in 1:06, no HRM
COMMUTE 9.2 miles
Overnight we had some awesome thunderstorms and they were expected to continue all morning. When I woke up at 4:45 there was no rain, but by 5am it was storming again. I was dressed to run and decided I was going to run one way or another, alone or group, rain or no rain. A check of the weather app showed rain ending maybe around 6:15, promising! And I didn't get email or text from anyone in the group. One thing I like about this group -- you can 99% of the time count on people showing up regardless of conditions.
By the time I walked to truck, only a light mist. And as I was driving to Fo Pa, the near-full moon started to appear under the storm clouds! Low on the western horizon, it peaked out bottom-first in a silvery gray haze, and slowly appeared as the clouds blew over. It was soon gone again behind other clouds, but as always, I know it's there.
I was the first to arrive and got to wondering if in the end I would be running along, but sure enough IT EW and BE showed up. No rain as we started, and didn't even need the head lights. I switched from long sleeve to short sleeve and added my pink commuter vest for visibility and some wind shell. Love that vest.
EW and I ran the loop together, her first time running it this year! We took our time, she's recovering from a stomach bug from her trip last week to Chile. We talked about my family visit, wool, wool dyeing, why not just dip the sheep then shear it (lol), then her upcoming 3 day spiritual retreat, then my reading of the HeLa cell book. We could have run another loop just for conversation :)
Her spiritual retreat discussion was interesting. 3 days of seclusion with journaling, praying, talking to God about her path and goals and meaning. As a non-religious person some of this doesn't exactly connect with me, the I get and like the idea.
I had a long write-up below about how M came back in mid-March and how I'm tired of the fucker and I'm tired of how I feel. But I'm moving it to another post that will probably never see the light of day.
COMMUTE 9.2 miles
Overnight we had some awesome thunderstorms and they were expected to continue all morning. When I woke up at 4:45 there was no rain, but by 5am it was storming again. I was dressed to run and decided I was going to run one way or another, alone or group, rain or no rain. A check of the weather app showed rain ending maybe around 6:15, promising! And I didn't get email or text from anyone in the group. One thing I like about this group -- you can 99% of the time count on people showing up regardless of conditions.
By the time I walked to truck, only a light mist. And as I was driving to Fo Pa, the near-full moon started to appear under the storm clouds! Low on the western horizon, it peaked out bottom-first in a silvery gray haze, and slowly appeared as the clouds blew over. It was soon gone again behind other clouds, but as always, I know it's there.
I was the first to arrive and got to wondering if in the end I would be running along, but sure enough IT EW and BE showed up. No rain as we started, and didn't even need the head lights. I switched from long sleeve to short sleeve and added my pink commuter vest for visibility and some wind shell. Love that vest.
EW and I ran the loop together, her first time running it this year! We took our time, she's recovering from a stomach bug from her trip last week to Chile. We talked about my family visit, wool, wool dyeing, why not just dip the sheep then shear it (lol), then her upcoming 3 day spiritual retreat, then my reading of the HeLa cell book. We could have run another loop just for conversation :)
Her spiritual retreat discussion was interesting. 3 days of seclusion with journaling, praying, talking to God about her path and goals and meaning. As a non-religious person some of this doesn't exactly connect with me, the I get and like the idea.
I had a long write-up below about how M came back in mid-March and how I'm tired of the fucker and I'm tired of how I feel. But I'm moving it to another post that will probably never see the light of day.
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
M dies here. And a Weds 7 miler.
RUN 7.2 miles in 75 mins, no external HRM
My plan this week (still in "pre" phase of the training plan) was 4-5-7--10-3 for a sum of 29 miles. After last week and after some review, I think this should be a rest week. Can keep same mileage of 25-26 but no build. So the plan was 0-7-6--10-4 for a total of 27. Wait...is that what I came up with last night...?
Whatever. 7 miles today, looped BP to Lemp then spun out to TGP to the bird trail picking up extra tenths wherever I could so I'd have at least 7 miles. I was kinda disappointed to see my pace in the 10+m/m but at the same time, this nice easy pace is good for me as I'm building mileage. But it hit the cadence -- aved a low 168 spm average.
No external HRM, so no data there. Just cadence lock after a mile or so in.
Run felt great, but my mind is crazy. Music was too much so switched to podcasts. Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 1 just played Sunday (and I waited until Tuesday to catch up on it!) so with that on the brain I picked the GoT podcast that is rereading the books chapter by chapter. Today Eddard 15 (I think...) in which Ned is in prison, his last chapter. I heard most of it, but lost segments with a wandering mind.
Just spinning so fast, whirling, yet dead and not keeping track. I can jump mental topics within a few seconds. A transcript of my mental meanderings during any run would show this, but today a real storm of crazy. Normal, I guess.
Otherwise the run felt good, I feel strong, and I want to get moving forward. I find lately that I keep looking back to how I felt in 2014 or 2016, wishing I could get back to that intensity and schedule. I felt I had momentum and drive at those years. I did! But I need to focus on 2019. Think about 2020 and 2024 -- where I'm going and where I'll be in 5 years. Not where I was 5 years ago.
Full moon this Friday, you know what that means. And Easter on Sunday, so guess what I'll be thinking about. .
Ate some oatmeal before run, and a little more after. Paying for it now a few hours later. WHY?
My plan this week (still in "pre" phase of the training plan) was 4-5-7--10-3 for a sum of 29 miles. After last week and after some review, I think this should be a rest week. Can keep same mileage of 25-26 but no build. So the plan was 0-7-6--10-4 for a total of 27. Wait...is that what I came up with last night...?
Whatever. 7 miles today, looped BP to Lemp then spun out to TGP to the bird trail picking up extra tenths wherever I could so I'd have at least 7 miles. I was kinda disappointed to see my pace in the 10+m/m but at the same time, this nice easy pace is good for me as I'm building mileage. But it hit the cadence -- aved a low 168 spm average.
No external HRM, so no data there. Just cadence lock after a mile or so in.
Run felt great, but my mind is crazy. Music was too much so switched to podcasts. Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 1 just played Sunday (and I waited until Tuesday to catch up on it!) so with that on the brain I picked the GoT podcast that is rereading the books chapter by chapter. Today Eddard 15 (I think...) in which Ned is in prison, his last chapter. I heard most of it, but lost segments with a wandering mind.
Just spinning so fast, whirling, yet dead and not keeping track. I can jump mental topics within a few seconds. A transcript of my mental meanderings during any run would show this, but today a real storm of crazy. Normal, I guess.
Otherwise the run felt good, I feel strong, and I want to get moving forward. I find lately that I keep looking back to how I felt in 2014 or 2016, wishing I could get back to that intensity and schedule. I felt I had momentum and drive at those years. I did! But I need to focus on 2019. Think about 2020 and 2024 -- where I'm going and where I'll be in 5 years. Not where I was 5 years ago.
Full moon this Friday, you know what that means
Ate some oatmeal before run, and a little more after. Paying for it now a few hours later. WHY?
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Oooooh my legs still recovering. YAY!
COMMUTE 9.2 miles
"Missed" the track run with BE (he did 400s at mile pace and I'm oddly jealous) to spend morning with family. We went to Globe Drug for the morning and I found some caramel for M. And before even leaving the store I M'd an item that tempted me. Seriously. I hate this. And I just can't believe it.
They leave and I'm packing up Puppy and M the rest. Unbelievable.
Ride to work was weeeeeaaaaaak, maybe this should be a rest week.
Home to chores, got them done and even though I didn't want to go I went to SAL for M stuff. Seriously. I didn't even want to go. I didn't want to stand in line. I didn't want to .... but I did and in the parking lot M hit me up again. He gotta die. This mental demon gotta go.
Spend rest of evening with him, until almost 1130. The Balrog got some time too. It felt awful. Balrog on Saturday too. Have I mentioned M came to work too? He gotta die.
I didn't even want it. It wasn't even fun. And it's impacting me all day too, I can feel the out comes, the distraction, and it's like I'm two people in one body.
"Missed" the track run with BE (he did 400s at mile pace and I'm oddly jealous) to spend morning with family. We went to Globe Drug for the morning and I found some caramel for M. And before even leaving the store I M'd an item that tempted me. Seriously. I hate this. And I just can't believe it.
They leave and I'm packing up Puppy and M the rest. Unbelievable.
Ride to work was weeeeeaaaaaak, maybe this should be a rest week.
Home to chores, got them done and even though I didn't want to go I went to SAL for M stuff. Seriously. I didn't even want to go. I didn't want to stand in line. I didn't want to .... but I did and in the parking lot M hit me up again. He gotta die. This mental demon gotta go.
Spend rest of evening with him, until almost 1130. The Balrog got some time too. It felt awful. Balrog on Saturday too. Have I mentioned M came to work too? He gotta die.
I didn't even want it. It wasn't even fun. And it's impacting me all day too, I can feel the out comes, the distraction, and it's like I'm two people in one body.
Monday, April 15, 2019
Rest day. Other topics
REST!
Parents and K&J arrived Sunday, spent Sunday afternoon at City Museum. Monday was a train ride to Kirkwood (and missed the Monday TGP ride, I actually thought about going but duh that's selfish yo) so no activities today. I need the rest, I can feel it. And I love it.
What I don't love is the return of the M. He (he? Really?) came crashing back in .... March....can't recall the date but it was right after the 200 day mark. Since then it's been a slow slide back to it. And I hate it. It's now become a part of my day, like it's somehow normal? And I can rationalize it to myself finding loop holes and more as I go. I keep sending end points to restart the clock, keeping missing them.
M came up even during the visit and do I really think it was invisible? Am I that deluded? I'm willing to bet it wasn't, even when D was in DR and I'm in Moria at the sink. Really?!
It's not the clock, the moon, a tattoo, a holiday. It's ME.
Parents and K&J arrived Sunday, spent Sunday afternoon at City Museum. Monday was a train ride to Kirkwood (and missed the Monday TGP ride, I actually thought about going but duh that's selfish yo) so no activities today. I need the rest, I can feel it. And I love it.
What I don't love is the return of the M. He (he? Really?) came crashing back in .... March....can't recall the date but it was right after the 200 day mark. Since then it's been a slow slide back to it. And I hate it. It's now become a part of my day, like it's somehow normal? And I can rationalize it to myself finding loop holes and more as I go. I keep sending end points to restart the clock, keeping missing them.
M came up even during the visit and do I really think it was invisible? Am I that deluded? I'm willing to bet it wasn't, even when D was in DR and I'm in Moria at the sink. Really?!
It's not the clock, the moon, a tattoo, a holiday. It's ME.
Sunday, April 14, 2019
End of a 26.5 mile week!
RUN 3 miles in a squeak under 30 mins, ave HR 150
HR still high!? But a look at the Garmin data shows 130s HR until 0.85 miles at which it jumped up to 150s, then into 160s at mile 2.1. No obvious correlation to pace, elevation, and not a cadence lock issue. Can't remember if I wore the external HRM...
Great run, after a change of plans [coming, not coming, then coming] my parents were coming down with K&J today, so I had that to look forward to.
WasGonna run only 2.8 miles at that would have given me a 26.2 mile week but when the tenths and hundreds add up I got 26.5-26.6. Bonus.
No pains, no problems, some minor discomfort under balls of feet that I'm chalking up to re-adapting to running. And my insistence on wearing old running shoes when I'm walking dog, etc. They are really wore out.
NUMERICS, 7:21 hours not including bike commute
BIKE 43.6 miles
RUN 26.5 miles
COMMUTE 42.2
HR still high!? But a look at the Garmin data shows 130s HR until 0.85 miles at which it jumped up to 150s, then into 160s at mile 2.1. No obvious correlation to pace, elevation, and not a cadence lock issue. Can't remember if I wore the external HRM...
Great run, after a change of plans [coming, not coming, then coming] my parents were coming down with K&J today, so I had that to look forward to.
WasGonna run only 2.8 miles at that would have given me a 26.2 mile week but when the tenths and hundreds add up I got 26.5-26.6. Bonus.
No pains, no problems, some minor discomfort under balls of feet that I'm chalking up to re-adapting to running. And my insistence on wearing old running shoes when I'm walking dog, etc. They are really wore out.
NUMERICS, 7:21 hours not including bike commute
BIKE 43.6 miles
RUN 26.5 miles
COMMUTE 42.2
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Drove to Chesterfield for run and Babler. Almost didn't ride!
RUN 7.2 miles in 70 mins, ave HR high at 154! 35 feet elevation gain
BIKE 9.32 miles in 35 mins on levee path, ave HR 123 at 16 mph
BIKE 14.3 miles in 1 hour in Babler, ave HR 126 at 14.4 mph
I expected the HR in Babler to be higher. Eh.
Up kinda early but not really that early to drive out to Cfield for something different. This is my first 7 miler since the snowy Fo Pa loop I did in February, before foot pains and dog fall injuries cut me off running for the rest of the month. So it's kind of a "first". Parked near this ridiculous-to-me golf facility, the parking lot was pretty full so I can only guess that hitting little white balls is somehow appealing.
Felt great, but why was my HR so high? This was with the external HRM. Is my run HR always this high, and I've been misled by the wrist read outs to think it's lower? My cadence good, average 174 spm. Out n back on trail, this is what I considered my main workout of the day. Had to go the extra few 10ths of a mile because that's where the trail ended. And because it gave me an even number of minutes. And I found a golf ball!
Then to Frea for a ride from the levee trail, planned to go out to Wild Horse to Babler but there was flooding under the I-64 overpass. So back to the truck, planning what to do next.
I decided to drive across I-64 to pick up the levee trail on the other side of the flooding instead of biking on the over passes. But once there I really lost momentum. Really lost it. As in, I sat there eating a nearly disgusting banana I picked up on discount this morning instead of riding. I actually decided not to ride! Got back in truck and thought I'd drive the unfamiliar roads so I could remember where they go (haven't ridden them since... 2012?). Turns out I don't remember most of it.
Drove into Babler, not sure why, turned around and started to leave and I just asked WTF?! to myself. Turned around again and went back. I did want to ride, I was just having a lot of doubts, low energy, and more. [At this point, I was thinking my parents were coming to town with K&J that night so I kept watching for the text and the clock so I could be home on time].
Got out, readied to ride, and remembered back to riding Babler in prep for Savageman 2011 with JM, TH, and IT. My plan was to ride every hill in each direction at least once, I think we used to call these Babler Butterflies for the shape of the route?
Ooooooh Frea is not the best bike for Babler! And I'M SO OUT OF SHAPE lol. Took my time and didn't press the effort too much. But on the climb up the middle segment I really suffered to the point I was worried about my HR in the 160s. People were skating down this hill on luge-like sleds and that was a good distraction, but oooooof. Gotta get better.
Down and around and up the east climb, another sufferfest of fun. But I did my usual 'fragmenting' of the hill -- pick a point a few feet up ride to it, pick a point and ride to it, repeat repeat repeat and don't look up to see the top. Stay in the moment. Good life advice if I could only take it.
Oooh and one more hill -- the out n back to the exit gate and road.
This felt great, wasn't the 40 miler I had planned but I'm happy I stuck it out and did the ride. I almost didn't!
BIKE 9.32 miles in 35 mins on levee path, ave HR 123 at 16 mph
BIKE 14.3 miles in 1 hour in Babler, ave HR 126 at 14.4 mph
I expected the HR in Babler to be higher. Eh.
Up kinda early but not really that early to drive out to Cfield for something different. This is my first 7 miler since the snowy Fo Pa loop I did in February, before foot pains and dog fall injuries cut me off running for the rest of the month. So it's kind of a "first". Parked near this ridiculous-to-me golf facility, the parking lot was pretty full so I can only guess that hitting little white balls is somehow appealing.
Felt great, but why was my HR so high? This was with the external HRM. Is my run HR always this high, and I've been misled by the wrist read outs to think it's lower? My cadence good, average 174 spm. Out n back on trail, this is what I considered my main workout of the day. Had to go the extra few 10ths of a mile because that's where the trail ended. And because it gave me an even number of minutes. And I found a golf ball!
Then to Frea for a ride from the levee trail, planned to go out to Wild Horse to Babler but there was flooding under the I-64 overpass. So back to the truck, planning what to do next.
I decided to drive across I-64 to pick up the levee trail on the other side of the flooding instead of biking on the over passes. But once there I really lost momentum. Really lost it. As in, I sat there eating a nearly disgusting banana I picked up on discount this morning instead of riding. I actually decided not to ride! Got back in truck and thought I'd drive the unfamiliar roads so I could remember where they go (haven't ridden them since... 2012?). Turns out I don't remember most of it.
Drove into Babler, not sure why, turned around and started to leave and I just asked WTF?! to myself. Turned around again and went back. I did want to ride, I was just having a lot of doubts, low energy, and more. [At this point, I was thinking my parents were coming to town with K&J that night so I kept watching for the text and the clock so I could be home on time].
Got out, readied to ride, and remembered back to riding Babler in prep for Savageman 2011 with JM, TH, and IT. My plan was to ride every hill in each direction at least once, I think we used to call these Babler Butterflies for the shape of the route?
Ooooooh Frea is not the best bike for Babler! And I'M SO OUT OF SHAPE lol. Took my time and didn't press the effort too much. But on the climb up the middle segment I really suffered to the point I was worried about my HR in the 160s. People were skating down this hill on luge-like sleds and that was a good distraction, but oooooof. Gotta get better.
Down and around and up the east climb, another sufferfest of fun. But I did my usual 'fragmenting' of the hill -- pick a point a few feet up ride to it, pick a point and ride to it, repeat repeat repeat and don't look up to see the top. Stay in the moment. Good life advice if I could only take it.
Oooh and one more hill -- the out n back to the exit gate and road.
This felt great, wasn't the 40 miler I had planned but I'm happy I stuck it out and did the ride. I almost didn't!
Friday, April 12, 2019
16.2 back-to-back-to-back
Tuesday RUN 4.98 miles on track
So my options are ride tomorrow morning, probably after a run so my legs are fresh for that. Then get up early 6am Sunday while every one still in bed to finish a run. 3+7? 7+3? 2+8? 8+2? Not sure. Heck even a 6/4 combo give me 10. 8 might be a bit long right now.
Wednesday RUN 5.16 miles around neighborhood
Thursday RUN 6.16 miles around Fo Pa
BIKE COMMUTE all three days, total about 33 miles
Whoop! This is getting back to normal around here.
BE brought his workout -- on the straights we did high knees, butt kicks, grapevines, etc. This felt good and kept the HR under control.
Wednesday I just loopy-looped the 'hood, TGP and back I think.
Thursday I was all jazzed about being able to run the "entire loop", but the loop is under construction so we did the "new" 6.1 miles. So I still have that to build up to.
Not sure of weekend plans yet. The parents are coming down Saturday night with K and J. I'd like to get 8-10 miles more running in and a bike ride. I'd thought about trying to get out early today (Friday) to get a ride in but I'm still at work and won't get home until well after 6pm. That and it's dang windy out there. Yuck.
So my options are ride tomorrow morning, probably after a run so my legs are fresh for that. Then get up early 6am Sunday while every one still in bed to finish a run. 3+7? 7+3? 2+8? 8+2? Not sure. Heck even a 6/4 combo give me 10. 8 might be a bit long right now.
My legs feel good, I can feel some quad fatigue though. Maybe skip the bike? Reduce the bike? I have a 40-miler in Chesterfield on the brain.
I'm a few days in the SCD reset and feeling so much better already. No gut symptoms for a few days now!
Monday, April 8, 2019
Back to TGP ride! And back on statins
BIKE probably a squeak under 20 miles in 1:20
COMMUTE 9.4 miles
I started the chatter about the Monday and Tuesday events, but didn't seem to be getting any traction from the group to start so early. Happily BE sent an email last week to get the ball rolling, I jumped on for sure.
So up today at 4:30am for a 6am ride. Sun-up at 6:38. It rained all night so it was wet and foggy but wonderful and warm. I had all my lights ready to go, didn't have to fumble around and no running late. Arrived on time in the dark. With a somewhat upset tummy. Again.
BE and I rode conservatively the first loop, and sometime in the 2nd loop it was just all the sudden light out, BE said it was "like someone just hit the switch", haha! Still foggy with the mist under the flowery trees. So when BE cut out at 2.5 loops I just had to continue to finish the third.
This was my first Monday ride since last August, the day after Sunset Hills Tri and before the heart attack took me out for the season. So this was like my Return To Biking. Aside from the half century I did two days ago! I'm still so happy with that ride, some nice speed put on at the end. I've been craving that. I think I'm fast, but then I think about SO who probably coasts at 22 mph. And can do a decade (haha, if it isn't I think that should be a cycling term, you know, like a century?!) anway.... he could ride miles and miles + at that pace. I did 3-4. Patience. Baby steps, like he says to me.
Back at the house, still stomach upset and still ate a meal. I felt better energy but Oooooof the tummy upset still going and it's 8 hours later.
I'm slipping a bit on the SCD reset, not 100% committed yet. But after days like today, I could get closer to 100%. I ate oats and some rice, of course, because I just can't learn.
I got a reply back from the lipidologist -- pretty much said that my cholesterol being that high on a plant-based diet suggests "genetic predisposition" and yes I should start a statin regimen. Ordered a creatinine kinase blood test to look for muscle damage, awaiting results. Do I start the statin tonight? On the 8th of 8pril?
COMMUTE 9.4 miles
I started the chatter about the Monday and Tuesday events, but didn't seem to be getting any traction from the group to start so early. Happily BE sent an email last week to get the ball rolling, I jumped on for sure.
So up today at 4:30am for a 6am ride. Sun-up at 6:38. It rained all night so it was wet and foggy but wonderful and warm. I had all my lights ready to go, didn't have to fumble around and no running late. Arrived on time in the dark. With a somewhat upset tummy. Again.
BE and I rode conservatively the first loop, and sometime in the 2nd loop it was just all the sudden light out, BE said it was "like someone just hit the switch", haha! Still foggy with the mist under the flowery trees. So when BE cut out at 2.5 loops I just had to continue to finish the third.
This was my first Monday ride since last August, the day after Sunset Hills Tri and before the heart attack took me out for the season. So this was like my Return To Biking. Aside from the half century I did two days ago! I'm still so happy with that ride, some nice speed put on at the end. I've been craving that. I think I'm fast, but then I think about SO who probably coasts at 22 mph. And can do a decade (haha, if it isn't I think that should be a cycling term, you know, like a century?!) anway.... he could ride miles and miles + at that pace. I did 3-4. Patience. Baby steps, like he says to me.
Back at the house, still stomach upset and still ate a meal. I felt better energy but Oooooof the tummy upset still going and it's 8 hours later.
I'm slipping a bit on the SCD reset, not 100% committed yet. But after days like today, I could get closer to 100%. I ate oats and some rice, of course, because I just can't learn.
I got a reply back from the lipidologist -- pretty much said that my cholesterol being that high on a plant-based diet suggests "genetic predisposition" and yes I should start a statin regimen. Ordered a creatinine kinase blood test to look for muscle damage, awaiting results. Do I start the statin tonight? On the 8th of 8pril?
Sunday, April 7, 2019
22.2 run miles this week, I made it and so did the Garmin
RUN 6 miles in just under 58 mins, ave 44 bpm and 9:38m/m
Was Gonna bike, but thought yesterday had enough extra on it to make up for it. Geez, it's April I don't need to be breaking all my benchmark goals so fast, haha!
Yesterday the Garmin started a Low Battery cry near the end of the bike. Today the same but it held out for the run and didn't die until later in the afternoon.
Another late start, same as yesterday just wasting time around the house and eating things to upset my stomach on the run. Today was Go! St Louis Marathon and this year they looped through TGP in miles 14-18. I ran counter to the course on the roads or trails along the course. They looked so tired it seemed, this would have been 9-10am so yeah 2+ hours into a run. Slouched posture, low turnover, walking. And it was relatively warm, the heat had to be dragging them down too.
But back to my run, awesome! Especially after yesterday's run and ride. Starting to feel like normal again, busy hours and good fatigue.
Met TG, EC, and TH for lunch in Chesterfield. Again it way BYO with my tuppie of chicken and carrot. Wasn't hungry, still stomach upset, but ate anyway. Why?!
NUMERICS 8 hours and 27 mins, doesn't include commute time
BIKE 83.3 miles
RUN 22.2 miles
COMMUTE 39.6 miles
Still not swimming, since early February. No urge yet.
But having thoughts about doing IMWI 2020 -- ten years after IMWI 2010 where this whole thing started!
Was Gonna bike, but thought yesterday had enough extra on it to make up for it. Geez, it's April I don't need to be breaking all my benchmark goals so fast, haha!
Yesterday the Garmin started a Low Battery cry near the end of the bike. Today the same but it held out for the run and didn't die until later in the afternoon.
Another late start, same as yesterday just wasting time around the house and eating things to upset my stomach on the run. Today was Go! St Louis Marathon and this year they looped through TGP in miles 14-18. I ran counter to the course on the roads or trails along the course. They looked so tired it seemed, this would have been 9-10am so yeah 2+ hours into a run. Slouched posture, low turnover, walking. And it was relatively warm, the heat had to be dragging them down too.
But back to my run, awesome! Especially after yesterday's run and ride. Starting to feel like normal again, busy hours and good fatigue.
Met TG, EC, and TH for lunch in Chesterfield. Again it way BYO with my tuppie of chicken and carrot. Wasn't hungry, still stomach upset, but ate anyway. Why?!
NUMERICS 8 hours and 27 mins, doesn't include commute time
BIKE 83.3 miles
RUN 22.2 miles
COMMUTE 39.6 miles
Still not swimming, since early February. No urge yet.
But having thoughts about doing IMWI 2020 -- ten years after IMWI 2010 where this whole thing started!
Saturday, April 6, 2019
50 miler!! on the MCTs
RUN 3 miles in 29 mins, ave 153 bpm!
BIKE 50 miles in 2 hours 52 mins, ave 125 bpm
And in that order, run in the morning then to work then to the bike. So I didn't start biking until 1pm or so. One of those mornings.
Up early but diverted to prepping meals, I bought chicken thighs and eggs last night after the fish fry. Time for my new Instant Pot to prove its worth! It did, wonderfully, but it kept me from running until kinda later. I ran to Grand to Cherokee then home. Did I know this was a straight up 3 miler? I forgot? Anyway, my HR was way too high for the effort. So home to drink more.
Then to work, and oh it's GORGEOUS outside and SO is sending picts from his ride and oh I'm HURRYING. Once done I was torn between the MCT and Chesterfield area. Something familiar? Or something new, with hills? Chose the former, off to Culvers.
I didn't have a specific plan in mind other than ride. My stomach was still upset and on the way to the Shoehouse trailhead I was burping up that damned rice I also bought last night. Yuck. But that settled and eventually I settled in. My new pink jersey and gloves and arm sleeves, felt so new and neat! And fast!
Out n back then passed the truck to see how much further I'd go. I thought maybe 40 total, but I kept redoing my math until I'd hit 50. I was feeling a bit fatigued but great overall. I wasn't eating much (urp, had rice so I was OK). I had a tailwind going north so I had good speed and low HR. On the way back south I slowed with higher HR. This fun data to have, but it doesn't tell me much this early. Need another week or so.
Then on the final leg, around 44 miles I went full press with Frea. How fast could I go? And good did it feel?! AWESOME 22-24.7 mph up to 48.5 miles, excepting road crossings. HOOOOOOO but oh my HR was getting up into the 150s. But I didn't care.
Some quad fatigue after this, might be riding to quad dependent. Yah think?! No other aches or pains or sore spots. Nutrition was OK with just a string cheese and a clemmie. Oh and that stupid rice.
I looked up last year's data -- I did my first 50 miler on the same course in late May in 3 hours. I'm ahead of schedule.
BIKE 50 miles in 2 hours 52 mins, ave 125 bpm
And in that order, run in the morning then to work then to the bike. So I didn't start biking until 1pm or so. One of those mornings.
Up early but diverted to prepping meals, I bought chicken thighs and eggs last night after the fish fry. Time for my new Instant Pot to prove its worth! It did, wonderfully, but it kept me from running until kinda later. I ran to Grand to Cherokee then home. Did I know this was a straight up 3 miler? I forgot? Anyway, my HR was way too high for the effort. So home to drink more.
Then to work, and oh it's GORGEOUS outside and SO is sending picts from his ride and oh I'm HURRYING. Once done I was torn between the MCT and Chesterfield area. Something familiar? Or something new, with hills? Chose the former, off to Culvers.
I didn't have a specific plan in mind other than ride. My stomach was still upset and on the way to the Shoehouse trailhead I was burping up that damned rice I also bought last night. Yuck. But that settled and eventually I settled in. My new pink jersey and gloves and arm sleeves, felt so new and neat! And fast!
Out n back then passed the truck to see how much further I'd go. I thought maybe 40 total, but I kept redoing my math until I'd hit 50. I was feeling a bit fatigued but great overall. I wasn't eating much (urp, had rice so I was OK). I had a tailwind going north so I had good speed and low HR. On the way back south I slowed with higher HR. This fun data to have, but it doesn't tell me much this early. Need another week or so.
Then on the final leg, around 44 miles I went full press with Frea. How fast could I go? And good did it feel?! AWESOME 22-24.7 mph up to 48.5 miles, excepting road crossings. HOOOOOOO but oh my HR was getting up into the 150s. But I didn't care.
Some quad fatigue after this, might be riding to quad dependent. Yah think?! No other aches or pains or sore spots. Nutrition was OK with just a string cheese and a clemmie. Oh and that stupid rice.
I looked up last year's data -- I did my first 50 miler on the same course in late May in 3 hours. I'm ahead of schedule.
Friday, April 5, 2019
Oh wow how did I not update all week?! And SCD Reset. Again. New Moon.
Wednesday BIKE 1 hour and about 17 miles, indoors
RUN 3 miles in 28 mins
COMMUTE 9.4 miles
Thursday RUN 5 miles in 49 mins. ave 137 bpm
COMMUTE 9.4 miles
Friday COMMUTE only 2 miles from Fo Pa
I'll leave the weekend for its own post.
Not sure how the week got away from me? Busy at work, but geez, so much to say. Now I don't remember as much.
Wednesday indoors ride due to weather. Then a quick run afterwards. This was a back-to-back run, felt great!
Thursday a back-to-back-to-back run sequence, kinda wondering how it would turn out, but it's OK and no issues. EW and I did what we thought might be a longer run by the Jewel Box but it turned out to be all the same in the end. I had the HRM on, so I have data from that. Higher than expected? My stomach was upset in this run, pained and bloated by the end.
Friday...what did I do Friday....oh yeah. I think it was raining, or post-rain muddy? And my hip muscles hurt. And I needed to be home in time to join TV and MP for the mexican fish fry. So I drove in and biked up to campus.
In regards to the fish fry, there was nothing I could eat :( Happily I brought in my own foods. :)
My gut and diet are all out of whack. Ever since the health screening cholesterol result showing my serum cholesterol going on a vegan-esque diet I've been discouraged. Suddenly the gut issues from the veg and new foods didn't seem so tolerable. Friday I fired off an email to the lipidologist. It took me awhile to write this message, because I have so many questions but that's not the forum for questions. And I needed to accept having to go back to taking the statins before I could ask anything. Because I could expect that would be the answer, and why ask the question if you aren't going to accept the answer?
So I'm starting an SCD Reset to get back in to that diet again. I like to start things on moon days, so here we go.
RUN 3 miles in 28 mins
COMMUTE 9.4 miles
Thursday RUN 5 miles in 49 mins. ave 137 bpm
COMMUTE 9.4 miles
Friday COMMUTE only 2 miles from Fo Pa
I'll leave the weekend for its own post.
Not sure how the week got away from me? Busy at work, but geez, so much to say. Now I don't remember as much.
Wednesday indoors ride due to weather. Then a quick run afterwards. This was a back-to-back run, felt great!
Thursday a back-to-back-to-back run sequence, kinda wondering how it would turn out, but it's OK and no issues. EW and I did what we thought might be a longer run by the Jewel Box but it turned out to be all the same in the end. I had the HRM on, so I have data from that. Higher than expected? My stomach was upset in this run, pained and bloated by the end.
Friday...what did I do Friday....oh yeah. I think it was raining, or post-rain muddy? And my hip muscles hurt. And I needed to be home in time to join TV and MP for the mexican fish fry. So I drove in and biked up to campus.
In regards to the fish fry, there was nothing I could eat :( Happily I brought in my own foods. :)
My gut and diet are all out of whack. Ever since the health screening cholesterol result showing my serum cholesterol going on a vegan-esque diet I've been discouraged. Suddenly the gut issues from the veg and new foods didn't seem so tolerable. Friday I fired off an email to the lipidologist. It took me awhile to write this message, because I have so many questions but that's not the forum for questions. And I needed to accept having to go back to taking the statins before I could ask anything. Because I could expect that would be the answer, and why ask the question if you aren't going to accept the answer?
So I'm starting an SCD Reset to get back in to that diet again. I like to start things on moon days, so here we go.
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Run 3 miles, nah why not 4, oops that's 5, oopsie again that's 5.2!
BIKE about 16 or 17 miles in 1 hour
RUN 5.2 miles in 49 mins
COMMUTE 9.4 miles
My Tuesday morning bricks continue for now, and maybe continue for awhile. Later in the season they sometimes get replaced with a track workout. But since it's "early" for track workouts, I'll be doing bricks for at least a few more weeks.
The bike was WU then 2x through of 8-on, 2-rest, 2-on, 8-rest. This went fast! Nice breakdown of times and enough distraction.
The run was 'supposed' to be 3 miles according to both of my plans. But I headed out the Lemp to enjoy the sun coming up over the river and instead of turning back early I continued on to Lafayette. Hence the extra mileage. And I didn't have my HRM on (still on my to-do list!) so I can only report that it felt right in the middle of moderate effort. Eh...maybe a little on the easy-moderate. All felt great in the end, and later in the day I'm feeling it a little in my feet. Yes!!
Tomorrow was 'supposed' to be 4 and Thursday 7. Gonna modify. If original mileage was 3+4+7, then... maths... could do 4+5 over next two days?
RUN 5.2 miles in 49 mins
COMMUTE 9.4 miles
My Tuesday morning bricks continue for now, and maybe continue for awhile. Later in the season they sometimes get replaced with a track workout. But since it's "early" for track workouts, I'll be doing bricks for at least a few more weeks.
The bike was WU then 2x through of 8-on, 2-rest, 2-on, 8-rest. This went fast! Nice breakdown of times and enough distraction.
The run was 'supposed' to be 3 miles according to both of my plans. But I headed out the Lemp to enjoy the sun coming up over the river and instead of turning back early I continued on to Lafayette. Hence the extra mileage. And I didn't have my HRM on (still on my to-do list!) so I can only report that it felt right in the middle of moderate effort. Eh...maybe a little on the easy-moderate. All felt great in the end, and later in the day I'm feeling it a little in my feet. Yes!!
Tomorrow was 'supposed' to be 4 and Thursday 7. Gonna modify. If original mileage was 3+4+7, then... maths... could do 4+5 over next two days?
Monday, April 1, 2019
8pril 2019
COMMUTE 9.4 miles
In 2016 I did an 8pril challenge, I knew I did a challenge, but only just now looked back and saw that it had a name. So now I'm doing a 2019 8pril challenge too.
8 goals for 8pril:
1. Get back on track for cholesterol. End of March showed my total up to 185 (from 111 in Feb) and my HDL up to >100 (from 77 in Feb). I've been letting go on this and eating more saturated fat. I'm doing egg whites but not yolks. This also gets addressed below, but I want to be more mindful of the choices.
2. Start tracking more accurate. For goal #1, keep track of SF and cholesterol intake so as to be sure of what I'm eating. Not guessing.
3. Stop the processed. I relaxed my settings on this and it's getting away from me. I'm using pre-prepped foods a little more than I like to for meals. So instead of a real meal I'm just noming instant potatoes, for example.
4. Introduce new foods. In place of the lazy foods, find new good ones. Like the recent addition of canned salmon. More like that.
5. Reduce reliance on D for protein. My protein sources this past few weeks has been cottage cheese, yogurt, milk, and pudding. Huh? Vary it, yo.
6. Less Blerch time - no news or Reddit. Blerch has been taking too much time, some days 3hours! WTF. Get it under two, and use the limits.
7. Fend of the pairing of M and the B. They been winning. They been winning lots this past 2 weeks. Once it started I couldn't stop. It stops now.
8. Get to RW. That's really what it's all about.
In 2016 I did an 8pril challenge, I knew I did a challenge, but only just now looked back and saw that it had a name. So now I'm doing a 2019 8pril challenge too.
8 goals for 8pril:
1. Get back on track for cholesterol. End of March showed my total up to 185 (from 111 in Feb) and my HDL up to >100 (from 77 in Feb). I've been letting go on this and eating more saturated fat. I'm doing egg whites but not yolks. This also gets addressed below, but I want to be more mindful of the choices.
2. Start tracking more accurate. For goal #1, keep track of SF and cholesterol intake so as to be sure of what I'm eating. Not guessing.
3. Stop the processed. I relaxed my settings on this and it's getting away from me. I'm using pre-prepped foods a little more than I like to for meals. So instead of a real meal I'm just noming instant potatoes, for example.
4. Introduce new foods. In place of the lazy foods, find new good ones. Like the recent addition of canned salmon. More like that.
5. Reduce reliance on D for protein. My protein sources this past few weeks has been cottage cheese, yogurt, milk, and pudding. Huh? Vary it, yo.
6. Less Blerch time - no news or Reddit. Blerch has been taking too much time, some days 3hours! WTF. Get it under two, and use the limits.
7. Fend of the pairing of M and the B. They been winning. They been winning lots this past 2 weeks. Once it started I couldn't stop. It stops now.
8. Get to RW. That's really what it's all about.
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