Category: Runs

So, I scored an audition for tomorrow, and that late-day news gave me a zing of confidence: I’ll run 15 miles today! NOT. I ended up doing just a loop in Central Park after tanking right at 6 miles, but it was a pretty good run considering the heat. It was 87 with about 50% humidity and a light wind. I felt I had some strength and speed but no glycogen to carry me much farther. Here are the stats:

I guess 7:33s is a pretty good pace in this weather! I ran the loop in 47:37 with one water break. My splits steadily grew but not horribly so; I didn’t run any mile slower than 8 minutes, even the mile with Great Hill! It was a run with a lot of runners in the park and I think only one person passed me, though there were many packs of speedy runners running the opposite direction of me. Of note, I passed a number of triathletes in training toward the end of my run.

No injuries to report, and it was good to know that I had some speed back after a surprisingly slow Sunday. I’m still wrestling with commitment to running as seen yesterday when I could have run but decided to rest: These risings before 5am for work really mess with me.

I felt I was moving at a rabbit’s pace but it was more like a rabbit on a turtle’s back or something: I ran 8.1 miles in Central Park this evening at a surprisingly slow 7:49 pace. No one passed me but I guess the half pizza I ate after yesterday’s 20.04 miles–with its sodium and my high liquid intake (meaning fluid retention)–made me heavier and slowed me down a lot. Post-run, I weighed close to 180 lbs., so I guess that confirms my theory. But regardless, though I started this week on Wednesday, I crammed in 50.67 miles this week. Incredible, especially considering I feel pretty damn good! Here are my deets for today’s run:

Injurywise, I suppose what’s to report is what I didn’t experience. I think yesterday’s ice bath made quite a difference on my legs … that, and maybe sleeping in compression socks … because this morning I felt NO PROBLEMS with my legs! They felt great! It really is unbelievable. The only thing physical to report for today’s run was … heartburn. The pizza was coming up a bit.

The temperature was 74 and pretty cool, though given my sweating a bit more than yesterday the humidity probably made an impact: It was about 70%. I kept pretty even splits despite being so slow. I even picked up the pace toward the end, mostly because I was trying to catch a guy just ahead of me. I could tell from the beginning I was pretty slow because I was listening to The Flaming Lips’s album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, which I’ve synched to the course, and I was far behind where the songs usually change. Without a physical explanation, I reasoned the pizza I was lugging, along with retained fluids, and maybe a little bit of muscle weariness, led to the slower speed.

I’m drinking a protein shake I made. I also took a couple laxatives to speed things up inside. Tomorrow is a rest day and I will take advantage of it. Hopefully the rest of the week will let me continue to train with considerable mileage.

EDIT: I’m taking Naproxen 500mg, but not just before my runs. I’m on Day 3 today. I just read that fluid retention may be related to taking naproxen, and I was noticing a little flab under my arms that I thought would be leaner in light of my running. I’ve also had some digestive surprises I won’t go into, and maybe shallower breathing (seen when I run). So, is naproxen interfering with my running and explaining some of these results? It’s to be seen.

YEA! I pulled off 20.04 miles today. The weather was RAD: between 78 and 82 degrees with probably about 30% humidity (basically, no noticeable humidity). I was under the afternoon’s most intense light. And I felt pretty darn good. Here are the deets:

I did 3 loops of Central Park plus the lower loop to achieve my 20.04. My time was nothing special: 2:48:22, which equated to 8:24s. My splits were slower in the first loop than in the later loop, attributable to what is becoming a serious slowness factor: listening to my beloved podcast On the Media from NPR. As soon as it finishes the the music kicks in, my speed picks up.

As for injuries, nothing to report. My left calf was feeling even better, and I had no ankle issues. I’m starting to point my foot as a possible way to build muscles that might be relatively weak, relative, that is, to the muscles engaged in my more regular calf stretches to guard against shin splits. The idea is that I impinge my capsule with calf stretches (“dangling off a curb by my toes”), so pointing my foot will “un-impinge” my capsule.

After my run, I bounded down the subway stairs with noticeable confidence, not experiencing the sensitivity I usually experience over runs much shorter than today’s. I then went to the grocery store to buy ice. Why? ICE BATH! I heard they can be very helpful, so I thought after this long distance that I’d try it. I was in for 8 minutes and, boy, was getting in intense. But once I was in, I just had to deal with shivering for a rather short amount of time. I hope it pays off.

I am on naproxen 500 for a little bit to deal with a jaw issue, but I decided not to take the NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) before today’s long run because of possible contraindications related to electrolyte imbalancing, renal issues, and heart attack. Thanks, Mom, for reminding me of the potential conflict!

I’m in pretty good spirits after today’s run. I didn’t loose that much weight, but then again I didn’t seem to sweat incredibly. I ended up with salt around my eyes. I consumed two PowerGels over the course of this run, and maybe I should have had a third. I drank what seemed like a lot of water on this run, but I still ended up thirsty. I found that strange, but maybe it was because of the intense sun? Who knows. All I know is I’m done and I’m gonna take a shower now!