Category: Runs

It was still a bit humid but much cooler for this morning’s loop around Central Park. Although it was about 60% humidity, 71 degrees with the wind felt fantastic for a change. However, my body was not performing at the levels I thought it would and was doing. I did 6.26 miles in 46:41 (with a couple traffic delays stopping my run). That meant I was doing 7:27s, but I thought I was doing better than that pace.

I think my lower performance was because of the demands I put on my body over the last couple days. Recount that yesterday I banged out my second 8+-miler in less than 12 hours, and also hit the gym just before it. I had had 6 hours of sleep, and last night I think I had around 6.5 or 7 hours. As a result, I don’t think I had enough rest to recover from those demands, so while my performance today wasn’t horrible, it wasn’t fantastic either.

Yet, there is still something to be said about so-far-this-week. I ran three days in a row (8-8-6) in spite of a tough schedule that seriously drained my energy early in the week, and the summer humidity and temperatures. I got a bit more serious about my goals, and I’m trying to get even more serious.

Of note in this run, I realized the decision situation when, say, I’m climbing a hill. You are faced with a choice between roughly two options as you mount the hill: endure, or relent. Usually, I get to a point at which I am challenged to the point that I relent. Conditioning, though, entails enduring in these times, and to choose “endure” rather than “relent.” If I continually do it, in theory it will become automatic for me to endure, not relent.

It takes strength to endure. So what I’m doing when I endure over relent is that I give myself strength to endure. When I choose relent, I give up strength and relax.

So there you have it for today! On the plate for tomorrow is a 20-miler. I’m not sure yet whether I’m doing it tomorrow or Sunday–it depends if I’m on a night shoot tonight, which seems possible. If I am, I need to shift around my schedule.

Cheers!

I got in this morning’s 8.15 miles less than 12 hours after my earlier 8.12 miles yesterday. It was a challenge to push myself a bit and get back on track with my training. I awoke around 4:30am, was at my gym by about 5:15am, and in Central Park for my run near 6:30am. Boy, was it effin’ humid … 96% humidity and 78 degrees made it feel much, much worse than last night’s run in 86-degree weather. Rain did follow my last couple miles, which was kinda nice but didn’t help much. I kept it slow again, running 8:21s (Egad!) for 1:08:10. This is because I just want to build up miles and endurance, but it is also probably somewhat attributable to the ghastly humidity, 6 hours of sleep, run less than 12 hours before, not to mention hitting the gym before my run (which probably tired my muscles more). No loss, though: I did 16+ miles in less than 12 hours and that’s kinda cool.

No leg pain to report. Nothing much to report at all, actually. Just a slow run in gross conditions but didn’t cancel the run. That’s something worth noting, I guess. 🙂

I got back to running today. Although I did the Queens Half-Marathon on Saturday, that was the last time I ran, and this 3-day hiatus from running felt so long that I felt I was starting over. Why such a hiatus? Yet another brutal acting schedule. Sunday I rested, Monday wasn’t so bad but I couldn’t get in a run, then Tuesday I worked 15 hours, on few calories because I skipped lunch to go to an audition plus I have inflammation in my jaw that limiting my ability to open my mouth (so I was zonked!), then I could only get 4 hours of sleep before today’s call. Fortunately, though, I was wrapped early, made up my lack of sleep in the afternoon, then got out for a “take it easy” 8.12 miles.

My left calf felt a bit better today. It hasn’t hurt much today, though after my run, when I stretched it, I felt it was still a bit sore. My ankles were (probably) a bit still/sensitive toward the beginning of this run but they never made me buckle.

The heat was moderate. The temperature was 86 with about 50% humidity, which equated to being and feeling warm but not excrutiatingly so. In fact, it felt a little cooler than other days. Despite the relative coolness, I didn’t push myself. I realized during my run that I’ve basically been burned out because my life has been very demanding–much more demanding than last year. I’ve deprogrammed running on days I should be running, and I’ve also been left without time, quick turnarounds, lack of ability to rest, and brutal heat. It’s a tough year!

I also thought that maybe I’ve been playing it a bit too easy. I’ve been guarding against any kind of injury this year, though I thought maybe I could “risk injury” a bit more. It’s a change of thinking that may push me a bit more. I think I’m getting behind in my training, or really can if I don’t start stepping up as I move into August. Remember: I want to break 5 minutes in the 5th Avenue Mile in September, so I had best step something up!