Another 26.2

Today could really be summed up in just one word: HOT.

I was supposed to go 18 miles, but about one third of the way in I was so parched and ravaged by the sun beating on me that I nearly quit...not only this run but my complete training regimen, and my hope of doing Grandma's again this year. So I let myself walk for a few minutes, and realized I better try to go farther.

At that point I decided to pay less attention to distance and more to total time, and that I would run three hours. That's it—not a step more. So I turned around at 1.5 hours, and took a slightly shorter way back for a change of scenery.

It wasn't a spectacular time today, but it's certainly one of those brutal runs where you realize that the marathon itself can't possibly be any worse. It's these runs that are the true competition.

(I also realized that I will never again run a long distance in the afternoon when it's forecast to be hot!)

Run stats:

• 16.45 mi.
• 3:00:12
• 10:57 min./mi.
• 2392 calories
• 153 avg. heart rate
• Miles to date: 179.76

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 09:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A slightly cooler day. In fact, rather odd—the weather was "flipped" in MN today, with highs of 80 in the NW and highs only in the 40s in the SE. In Minneapolis it was somewhere in the middle...I think around 60 but more overcast than not. This was my standard Rec. Center > Hennepin Avenue > return route, run a little more casually than on Tuesdays when the focus is more on speed.

Run stats:

• 4.44 mi.
• 39:28
• 8:53 min./mi.
• 544 calories
• 157 avg. heart rate
• Miles to date: 163.31

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 09:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Another perfect day to run. Partly sunny, breezy, and dry. I ran my standard Rec. Center > Hennepin Avenue > return route, trying to beat last week's time. I did by 1:20.

Run stats:

• 4.41 mi.
• 37:07
• 8:25 min./mi.
• 535 calories
• 160 avg. heart rate
• Miles to date: 158.87

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 09:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Today was about as close to perfect running weather as one could ask for. Comfortably warm, mostly overcast, mild breezes, and dry. The run itself also went well. But it was another run where, because I had left my Polar footpod in my locker at the Rec Center, I had to run without data except for the time. Fortunately mapmyrun.com is a trusty back-up, and so my average heart rate is the only data that end up being missing from the record.

Today's run was also a respite in the distance build-up, so I only had to run 13 miles. Nice! The route was from home to Minnehaha Falls and back, along the creek. Sarah rode along and also had a pleasant (if slow) bike ride. We shared a mint chocolate Cliff bar at the falls.

Run stats:

• 13 mi.
• 2:05:00
• 9:44min./mi.
• 1674 calories
• Miles to date: 154.46

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 04:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I missed my Thursday run this week due to being stuck in the U's web usability lab. And Grace's science fair was in the evening, so no luck running in the evening either.

But it's sort of a "bye week" in that there is no mileage increase (and actually a decrease) for Sat., so it ended up being a fine week to have an extra day off. So says my inner coach, at any rate.

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 10:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Feeling a little nervous about my sore back last week, I decided to not do speed work today as scheduled and just run. It was a perfect running day: sunny but with cool breezes. If I could have this weather for the marathon, it would be ideal!

Run stats:

• 4.44 mi.
• 38:26
• 8:39 min./mi.
• 534 calories
• 158 avg. heart rate
• Miles to date: 141.46

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 03:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Today went fairly well considering that I missed Thursday and had really bad lower back pain for the previous three days.

17 miles was the goal, so I was a bit short but wanted to be done in 2:50 or just under. Had I run a more typical pace, 17 could have been within reach for that amount of time.

This run had three basic phases, which seem typical for me during runs of over 10 miles. After the first third (which feels slow), I usually think, "Do I really have that much more to run???" But then spirits pick up and the second third is smooth. Then the last third arrives, and it feels uphill most of the way, plus it's difficult to run even 10 min. without a walking break.

And the last third or more of a run like this for me is rather painful (knees, mostly). Oh well, maybe next week will see more of an improvement! And hopefully no more back pain.

Tonight was my favorite post-long-run meal: steak and sushi. Pile on the protein. =)

Run stats:

• 15.3 mi.
• 2:45:00
• 10:47 min./mi.
• 1977 calories
• Miles to date: 137.02

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 10:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This is the second day in a row that I've had extreme lower back pain. Too many sit-ups on Monday, or was it running on the indoor track Tuesday with all of the tight turns? I'm not sure--- but there's no way I could run today, and I hope to resume on Saturday.

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 11:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Another tedious work out in the fieldhouse!

Run stats:

• 2.02 mi.
• 15:00
• 7:26 min./mi.
• 250 calories
• Miles to date: 121.72

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 03:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Between the cold and the wind, I've certainly had more pleasant runs. And this distance is well beyond leisure running already!

But it did go fairly well on the way out. On the way back I was heading more into the wind, so I was cold for much of the way (with 3 layers).

My turn-around point was the Lunds grocery store in Highland Village (St. Paul), where Katie and I used to shop when we lived just a few blocks away. *sigh* Nostalgia!

Run stats:

• 14.61 mi.
• 2:27:00
• 10:04 min./mi.
• 1761 calories
• Miles to date: 119.70

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 10:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A short but intense treadmill run. My goal was to run 3 miles using intervals of 8 and 9 min. miles; 8 even would mean finishing in 24 minutes, 9 in 27. I was aiming for around 25 minutes, and finished 3 seconds early.

A small victory along the way toward finishing another marathon!

Run stats:

• 3.0 mi.
• 24:57
• 8:19 min./mi.
• 400 calories
• Miles to date: 105.09

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Today was the first day of speed work for this marathon season. Because it was so cold outdoors, I used the opportunity to try out the U's fieldhouse for the first time.

After a warm-up, I did several sprints ranging from about 100 to 200 yards, with walking or leisurely running in between them. I did this for 30 min., and estimate that I ran about 3 miles.

The result: some sore fast-twitch muscle fibers tonight!

Run stats:

• ~3 mi.
• 30 min.
• Miles to date: 102.09

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 09:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Today was the balance of yesterday's long run. In fact, I ran a bonus .06 mile!...

The route was an expanded version of my typical short run from campus to Hennepin Ave. and back, except this time I kept going down to Franklin Ave., where I crossed the river and returned to the East Bank.

Run stats:

• 6.80 mi.
• 1:01:51
• 9:05 min./mi.
• 836 calories
• 155 avg. heart rate
• iPod: Severe Tire Damage, They Might Be Giants
• Miles to date: 99.09

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 07:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Practicality dictated this silly get-up yesterday. But I have to admit, the Gore-Tex hat was a nice touch. I typically only use this hat during canoeing and sailing trips, but it will now feature prominently in my rainy-day running. The girls thought it was funny, so I had Emma take a picture when I got back.

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Weekend birthday festivities (Emma turning 4, Anne turning 1) got in the way of my long run. But I found enough time to run half of the 14 miles this evening, and will run the other 7 tomorrow after work.

Run stats:

• 7.26 mi.
• 1:05:23
• 9:00 min./mi.
• 900 calories
• 156 avg. heart rate
• Miles to date: 92.29

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 09:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)