Sunday, January 28, 2007

Weekend Runs and Various Ponderings...

As Eric mentioned in his post yesterday, a few of us met and ran two loops of Pt. Defiance. I picked Jenny and Melissa up in front of Starbucks. Everything was frosty - so frosty it looked like it snowed. There was also thick fog and I was wondering if we were in for a slick run. We met Rick and the other Michelle at the park and headed out. The roads were mostly damp or dry, and the fog was lifting when we started. It was dark, so I started with my headlamp on. We went the traditional way - meaning the road through the park is one-way and we followed it. I started out feeling pretty fresh, but it wasn't long before my Achilles and calves were tightening up on the hills - reminding me that it was just five short days ago that I was intensely sore and barely moving. After finishing the first loop, we reversed course and ran it backwards - that made for a nice change. The first of the ponderings: my Garmin recorded 9.8 miles, the other Michelle's Nike-chip thingie (the one that is in the shoe and talks to you) recorded 10.2. I believe hers is calibrated by stride - is that right? Either way, we were trying to figure out which would be more accurate. We were running on Five Mile Drive, and we took the Nisqually loop, but did not run down in front of the zoo, so I think we were just shy of 10. It doesn't really matter, our goal was a two hour run and we got that. I'm just curious - it's kind of fun to compare technology.

Today, Eric, Steve, the two Georges and Julie ran from the Y to Ruston Way. I left a little later and drove their course. I found them on Levee Road and grabbed Eric's headlamp from him. They were running in dense fog again, but I don't think it was slick. I got to the park in time to meet a few other runners, plus the group who'd gone out early today to get two loops in. I ran the five mile loop again (just once), and felt great. Melissa ran the double loop again and was full of energy at the end.

I experimented with carrying two full water bottles yesterday and today (only for the first five miles yesterday). I think it might actually be better than carrying just one - I felt more balanced. The part I didn't like was that it was harder to do everything else like unzip, or grab food or even wipe my nose. I think I can get used to it though. I wanted to try because when I carry just one water bottle, my upper back gets really tense. At first I thought I'd carry two just to strengthen it, but now am thinking two might be the way to go. Of course, the big issue is the fact that yesterday I had one sip during the full two hours, and today did not drink at all. I really need to work on this - I don't get thirsty, and I'm sure I could go without, but when I do I get skipping heartbeats for hours after. Yesterday they finally let up about 3:00. I know that if I hydrate well enough I either don't get them, or only get them for a half hour or so. I've thought about a camelbak, or a belt, but I am easily irritated by things like straps and belts. I'm one of those people who wear socks inside out so the seams won't bug me, and cut the labels out of all my clothes. I tried wearing Jenny's fuel belt for a while and couldn't even make it a mile with it. Consequently, I think hand-helds are the way to go for me.

Looking back over the last month, my mileage totals look like this: 44-30-39-23. I'd like to get to something like 44-30-44-30 and keep that going. I'm a little low because I've worked the last two track nights and missed that extra run, plus last week I was so sore I didn't run Sunday and went low mileage all week. (And yes, Rob, now that I have a Garmin my weeks are going Sunday to Saturday, and yes, I do realize the miles are the same, but I'd still rather go Monday - Sunday so the weekend mileage would be in the same week.) I'm debating about the coming week. Knowing I have a hilly 19.6 miles on Saturday, and knowing I'm still a little tired from last week, I'm thinking of 5-5-5 in the mornings and 4-5 Thursday night. I guess I'll go by feel and decide when I'm out there.

I've come up with a new training plan for Eric (surprise!) - since we have four marathons scheduled during his spring training period, I think he should finish - let's say in 3:30 to 3:40 - grab some food to refuel, then turn around and run back to me. Figure he heads back out onto the course at about four hours. Knowing that I am going to put in a 5:45 to 6:00 marathon, he could add an additional two hours of training time! And the last part would be a nice easy pace - my pace - with walk breaks. Doesn't that sound like a great plan? The thing is, he needs time on his feet and that would give it to him!

Till next time, MM#402.

22 comments:

Journey to a Centum said...

Michelle,

Thanks for the new training plan. It will be like a warm down run. I hope you don't mind carrying me piggyback the last couple of miles!

Eric

Wes said...

If you have a Garmin that is a 205 or a 305, I would say they have a very sensitive GPS, and they almost always map out exactly to what G-map tells me. The Nike thing on the other hand is based on stride, so unless she strides the same length all the time, then she is going to be off just a tad bit on every stride, multiplied by 80 +/- times per minute. I know those Nike things get really accurate with proper tuning, so who knows :-) I really luv my Camelbak. I hardly knew it was there. Your hubby has one. Why not try it on a short run? On my 12 mile run next week, I think I will need a water bottle to go with the Camelbak. I have a spot for it. I noticed that after my 10.5 mile run, the first time I ever drank anything, my legs held up much better at the end, too.

Unknown said...

Just a suggestion, but if you are carrying two bottles then you need to drink out of them. Don't wait until you're thirsty because then it means you've waited too long and you're on your way to dehydration. You should pick a plan take 3 drinks every walk break and follow it. You don't notice the thirst as much now, but once it starts heating up if you already have this plan implemented it will be much easier to follow and not get dehydrated and elevate your heart rate even more.

And by the way, I only give reasonably good advice, I usually don't follow it that well:)

Darrell said...

Rob got there first but, I found it ironic that you carried more water yet drank less. I usually like carrying only one thing so I can switch off hands, but for you it sounds like two hand helds are the way to go to keep that heart rate in control.

Taunya said...

Sounds like handhelds are the best idea for you. I love my Camelbak, but then I'm not sensitive to belts at all.

Looking at your miles (those are weekly miles, right), I think a recovery week maybe every 4 weeks like you did, may not be a bad idea. I know it's not intended that way...but maybe a good way to give your body a little rest.

Janice said...

Sounds like a great training plan. My husband & I have been chatting about mine. He wants me doing more speed work and racing some 5Ks so I'm used to going faster. Then onto the 10K & half marathon, along with some triathlons. He sure is ambitious! But I think I need to listen to him. You are doing some great distances. Keep it up!

Anonymous said...

Nice weekend run! It's kind of fun to read about the same run from several different people. You all have such unique perspectives!

Good luck getting your mileage up to where you would like it to be. Further, good luck getting your hubby to buy your new training plan!

Meghan
www.running-blogs.com/meghan/

Chad said...

Sounds like a great weekend on the road - I'm glad you made it out in the frost. I was in Seattle last week for a day and a half, but wasn't really tempted to run in the cold rain. Of course, I own nothing that would be considered cold weather running gear.

I like the training plan, it will force a "proper cooldown".

Thomas said...

Polar, who make foot pod thingies, claim that their technology is more accurate than GPS. Garmin, on the other hand, claim that GPS is more accurate than anything else. In the end it doesn't even matter. It's your run, not your training log that counts.

That training plan for Eric sounds like a great idea. Does he know about it yet?

JustRun said...

I have a Camelbak waist thingy and I thought I'd hate it. At first, even, it did irritate me but I stuck with it for a few runs, found the right placing on my hips and the right adjustment of all the straps and now I love it for long runs. For me, drinking out of the hose/straw thing is a lot easier than trying to drink out of anything else. Anyway, I know people that carry bottles, too and I think that works for them. It would drive me crazy as I have to be careful not to let my arms get too tense during a run (sort of like your upper back, it sounds like).

I recently got a Garmin and though I've yet to use it, I'm pretty confident that it's more accurate than the Nike thing. Obviously I don't know for sure but that's what I hear from friends.

Ryan said...

I enjoyed the weekend stories of fun on the run! Great training idea, I'm sure Eric will get some interesting looks as he crosses the finish line and then heads back out along the course, but you're right training for a 100 comes down to time on your feet, I find it helpful to keep everything in hours as opposed to miles.

Jessica DeLine said...

I like your new training plan for Eric! And I am also a fan of Mon-Sun weeks. Sun-Sat would mess me up :)

psbowe said...

I like running on a frosty morning, agreed on the slippery run, so I try to avoid hills or steep sections or just simply taking it to the trails.

I'm jealous of Eric's training plan.

Olga said...

I can't believe you guys calculating your runs to a small decimals! How about it's around 10 miles? Or 2 hrs with about 12 min/mile effort gives 10 miles? I'd say throw out those tech toys:)
And yes, good plan for Eric. The problem is we are talking marathons on roads, and he should be taking hills for his prep. Honestly, I'd prefer he did a couple of hours of trail hills after 3 hrs on roads, or he gets injured with so much pounding, no matter what the pace is. We don't want him to get injured, not before WS, it really sucks!

Run Momma Run said...

Your blogs always make me so homesick. I used to walk along so many of the same places you go now....I always wonder, "Which Starbucks did she go to?" because I've probably been to them all!

Your consistency in training and running and getting out there, even on cold, damp, grey days is such an inspiration!

IronWaddler said...

I am using a polar noww but my friend is buying a garmin and I am so jealous. I also like to do my weeks mon--sun. You're right about having sat and sun in the same weekend

Joe said...

Michelle, you are awesome!!

I like the idea of the balance with two water bottles...that is real.

Many more thoughts, but I have to get to work...thanks for the long post!!

runliarun said...

Nothing like the ingenuity of women to provide a plan for men... who need time on their feet. You're absolutely right, that's what he gets.

seagull junker said...

Michelle,
I agree with Olga. But Eric needs to train for what he feels best. We are all different.

Just like the hydration thing. We all do it different. On a side note, without hard evidence that I can't reproduce, it is somewhat known that one drinks more and more often with handelds than with hydration packs. Just a thought. Plus, handhelds do GREAT breaking the falls. That is unless you fall on your back like a turtle???

Dusty Olsen, (Paces SJ) Has tick marks on his handhelds and drinks down to the next tick mark every 10 minutes. Yup, drinks six times a hour. That's just what he does. Interesting. Yea, a zillion tick marks on them.
tom

Anonymous said...

How refreshing to actually read some differing opinions here on this site I come to, and not just the hydration issue. we often tend to just keep in line with previous commenters, patting the writer on the head, heaping praises on them and agreeing with all they write, as if afraid to step out of the box and speak our own opinions. Olga, I agree tracking miles to the tenth on slow training runs is rather anal. those types of people I've always felt should work for toilet paper companies. Also agree with Olga and Mtnrunr that no one else can really say what's the right training plan for someone else. MOre pounding of the pavement at someone elses much slower pace when already tired may not be a solid training plan. A slower pace can be harder on the body and mental strength than your own range of natural stride and speed adn rhythm. Hard to say though. Then again it's tough to make others wait around 2 plus hours after their race is done.

Sarah said...

Here's another vote for Mon-Sun weeks!

I'm still trying to get used to a handheld. Maybe I'll try your technique and see if two works better.

Anonymous said...

love the new training plan :)

I do Mon to Sun weeks. And I do two hand-held water bottles. Now if only I could do 20+ mile weeks...

For each trail run I do with the group, there are at least three Garmins, if not five. And they all always return different results.