10-31-13 Trick or RUN!

I couldn't run worth anything tonight, and I forgot my MP3 player. I have been home for just over a half an hour and still haven't changed back into my regular clothes.

It was a hard run. Maybe you weren't reading when I tried trail running all of once. I started the trail made it less than a mile stopped the trail and continued somewhere else that wasn't a trail. I have not gone back to it. Tonight I tried the new form I learned. I started to pick up momentum faster, and ran out of steam fairly quick. So I ran for almost half of every mile. My calves were burning as I ran, but then I remembered to relax. It helped a lot. This form will take some getting use to, but I feel it's an improvement over how I was running. My joints didn't bother me at all, which is nice.

Right now I need food and a day off from running. Maybe I will try to resist talking about running tomorrow (yeah right). I am still finding that it's the only topic I can talk about with everyone. Even when I get the response from a friend laughing at the thought of running, I keep going. So if you want to running nerd out, feel free to. Just keep in mind people who know you will think you have gone nuts.

Until next time,
-Riley

P.S. Happy Halloween!

10-30-13 Running Form and gate analysis

Today I skipped my last class at school and went running, I had an appointment for a gate analysis to improve my mechanics when running, helping my movement to become more effortless. I'll go on about that a little later in this post.

My first run today was a total of 6.09 miles. I wish I would have brought my gloves. I made it to mile 2 and it started to to sleet outside. It started to accumulate on the bill of my hat, which was kinda fun. So I had two miles sleet to run in, it was very cold, which leads me to the desire to get a rain jacket for running. It rained off and on for the remainder of my run, nothing as bad as the sleet though. The 6 miles were all under 14 minutes, with an average of 13:47. I had more energy to push myself more throughout the entire run, or it required less energy for increased effort. So I finished and got home and was soaking wet, and still had my two miles of speed drills to do.

At the gym I did my second run, I ran faster than I could handle for my first half mile. That caused my body to drain of energy really fast. Even now I am completely spent when it comes to energy. I felt like I dragged myself to finish that run. Also keeping the good form I learned at my analysis was super hard. I gave it my all today and am looking forward to getting to bed.

Gate analysis. I went back to Lisa Messigner the coach from the Salt Lake Running Company to get a gate analysis. It turns out good form in one physical activity carries over to other activities as well. With massage to apply deeper pressure and minimize potential injuries to the body you need to learn to stack your joints. Proper form relates to that. The steps are simple, stand tall, make sure pelvis is helping to get the right muscles engaged, lean the body forward slightly, and make sure your knees point forward and legs moves under it. When I was getting the analysis I was able to get the form quickly, however when I was on my own it took more effort and was harder to maintain. Lisa said that she works with all of her runners on utilizing this technique, and is able to monitor them on a weekly basis. I will see her again in two weeks, when I head to SLC for a foam roller workshop.

Thanks for reading everyone, time for more sustenance.
-Riley

10-28-13 Running on special days

I want to say, happy 8th anniversary to my patient and loving wife.

Today my wife road beside me as it was hailing, and sleeting in Provo Canyon. She said at one point I'm with you till the end. We both got back to the car soaked and cold. We quickly drove home where she got out and went in to shower. I proceeded to the gym to do speed drills for my last miles. If I would have pushed harder I could have gotten that last quarter mile in, but I left to get ready for our anniversary date at Pizzeria 712. They make there own mozzarella every day. It was a great meal, and I even made reservations for us to eat there to make it feel more fancy. It's been a very good day.

My run was wet and cold when I showed up at the gym. I figured since I was already wet that going to the gym wouldn't be bad at all. My clothes got heavier as I heated up and began to produce liquid awesome (a.k.a. sweat).

Well that's all you're getting for tonight, thanks for reading.

-Riley

10-26-13 Running my first BIG race

 Scheduled Miles: 31.1

Actual Distance: 28.08

RPE: 4.125

Total Miles To Date: 238.15+

Miles on Black Torin: 140.22

Miles on Blue Torin: 97.93

The smile on my face started around mile 8 or 9, and hasn't gone away yet. I finished a half marathon. There are probably a lot of people out there who can say that, but how many can say they did it weighing around 300 lbs.? Well here is my medal for the race, which I am currently wearing and may just wear to church tomorrow to boast of my accomplishments (j/k). Today I really had the feeling of an endurance runner, I ran the whole race (accept my one bathroom break and to get out my gel and asprin out I had in my camel bag). So about 2-5 minutes total. I would have walked more but I had someone come up behind me in a bright green skirt and give me a high five telling me to keep going. Then when I started to want to stop running again a local high school Cross Country team ran by and I got another high five. I love the sense of belonging that happens when you see other runners running. Even people who were just doing their Saturday run said hello. It was amazing!

The Breath Taking View From Near the Start Line

The Breath Taking View of People Waiting for the Bog

So here are some pictures of the beginning and the end of the race (I didn't want to stop running to take a picture so that's all you get is the beginning and the end, with a bunch of words about the 13.1 miles in between. So the race started up at Deer Creek, and went down the Provo Canyon. It was cold this morning. So I am including the two most dominate views of the entire morning prerace as well as some great photos my wife got of me. She said they are funny because it shows how little of a morning person I am. So instead of doing the race in three waves like they initially intended on doing they moved the start location and took out a few out and back miles, making the race a continuous line. I appreciated it.

During the beginning of the race it seemed like everyone and their dog was passing me, I saw Waldo, and apparently he was gettin' busy, and that's why it was so hard to find him in all those books from when I was a kid. It seemed like Waldo was a popular costume (I bet the long sleeves and beanie helped with that). The other popular costumes were Batman (everyone heard I was doing it and copied, I am a trend setter after all), Superman, and Thing 1 & Thing 2 from Cat in the Hat.

To give you an idea of what I am like in the morning I will include this picture. Silvia saw fit to document me during my waking up process. I was was this out of focus in real life, just a little blurry.

So I started the race, and everyone was passing me at the start line, which means I was pacing myself correctly. Since I finished with a finish line sprint it shows I did it right (in my eyes). I remember the first few miles I had this younger woman and her friend who passed me and were in front of me (the Lady Bug and Twister Mat). They at one point picked up momentum and were long out of site. I also remember this guy who was decked out in Under Armor beanie, Under Armor long sleeve tech shirt, and Under Armor tights. He looked like he had been plucked right off an Under Armor ad, and had the biceps to match. The last person is a woman who was in green, she was old enough to be my mom, and was doing a walk run method with a lot of speed walking. Along with a bunch of other people who passed me that I don't remember. It was between mile 6 and 7 that I met up with the woman in green again. She had fallen at this point and gashed open her head, the bleeding had stopped by the time I got up to her and slowed down and talked to her some. She was really nice and we chatted about how we kept passing each other. We wished one another good luck, and I was of to conquer the rest of the race that I was familiar with. I kept going and Wonder Woman kept stopping to walk until I got into her peripheral, then ran again for a little while (enough to get a good distance ahead of me but still visible). This game of cat and mouse continued for miles 7 and 8, then just after mile 8 I broke by her in a flash, which was my regular speed since I never stopped running. Miles 8-10 I had two smurfs do the same thing as wonder woman. On mile 8 I caught up to Mr. Under Armor, then I promptly passed him. He looked gassed at that point, and like he was on the long recovery walk. Mile 11 is when I ran into the Lady Bug and Twister Mat again. They had stopped to walk. When I passed them I was pretty excited. I understand I wasn't competing against any of these people but remembering them helps to keep different points in the race in perspective.

As I got closer to the end of the race a lot of people were walking, some like they were defeated. I kept saying to myself, "don't they know it's only a mile away, you can see the end if you look down the street we're crossing." I was flabbergasted by how many people were walking those last 2 miles. So I just kept going, and said to one person who picked up running again for a few seconds, "It's just around the corner." I then passed her and went on to the end.

I hit that last strait away and picked up speed. I got high fives (the most under rated sign of supporting someone), people encouraging me, saw my Father-in-law, and then I made it to only 20 feet left, my IT band tries to tell me to stop but I don't care at this point what it has to say and I cross the finish line with my wife taking photos of my as I do it. I get my medal and just want to walk now that I've come this far, I downed a bottle of water, squeezed a banana out of its peal into my mouth and grabbed an orange. My run was over. I walked for a little bit after the run, got some amazing protein recovery drink that tasted like strawberry milk and another like a good banana milk (not artificial). After that my wife and I walked to the car. I showered and we went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant. My race was finally over. Right before my shower I stood up to get out of my car and realized I didn't stretch, which I corrected.

So that was my first experience with a half marathon. After that I understand why a marathon is as frightening as it is, being twice that length and all.

Well Until Next Time,
-Riley

10-25-13 Five things to do before a run that I learned today

1. Eat protien and whole grain an hour or so before hand, your body will like it
2. Get a good night sleep
3. Make sure your MP3 player & GPS Watch are charged and ready to go
4. Go the restroom
5. Have all your running snacks (me and my Sports Beans) and water prepped for your run

Only doing 3 out of 5 makes it a little harder to run. It was going to be a nice easy run this morning up to Bridal Vale Falls, but I missed a step and ended up being passed by this lovely couple running this morning. On there way back I had made it to a mile and was on my way back at a slow walk, and they passed me in the exact same spot. I bet that confused them greatly.

I'm a little anxious about my half marathon tomorrow, and am going to go pick up my bib in a few minutes as well as run my errands for the morning. Then I will be back with digital stylus in hand to work on my digital painting for class next week. My painting of the runner will be up once I get it back and finish it (I still have another 5 hours or so to paint on it.

Until tomorrow,
-Riley

10-23-13 Speed Drills, and another PR?

Right now my car is in the shop, so I am limited to the bus for my mode of transportation when my wife isn't around to be amazing and pick me up from school so I can make it up the canyon to run. So I took the bus to the hub where all the buses have transfers and what not, which happens to be by the runners corner (who sells those yummy sports beans I am always out of... maybe that;s why my run sucked Saturday, I didn't have the beans). So I got some sports beans and a light to attach to myself for running in the dark to chase away the boogieman who haunts the dark when I am surrounded in it. It's ridiculous to have a fear of the dark in my thirties... BAH! The light will help. So from there I decided (as I carried my overloaded backpack and gym bag) that I would walk the three miles to get home from where I was, and since I was carrying so much stuff I would be ok in counting it as a work out. It was a fairly hard workout. I walked at a brisker pace than usual, not to mention in was 60 degrees out and I was sporting a hoodie, and had 20+ extra pounds on me (which only 5 months ago was in the form of fat). So I got home covered in sweat, and really tired. So I rested and munched on a cucumber with Silvia who got home only seconds before I did.

Here is where the interesting part comes. It was super hard to get out today like it was on Monday, and I had a great finish to my workout like Monday. So I decided after my three miles I would do speed drills. Which is something I can do on a treadmill, so it was dark out which means no going to the canyon and I went to the gym instead. Keep in mind this is my first real attempt at speed drills. I did it in .25 mile intervals, starting at a 13:19 mile, and easy pace I can go at and catch my breath while still running. I started my first quarter mile at my slower pace to warm up a little, then transitioned to a 9:00 mile pace, at a half a mile I slowed down to my breath catching pace, then the last quarter mile I did a 9:30ish pace. I finished at 10:50. That smashed my previous PR time, but I want to recreate this time outside without the treadmill telling me what to do. I was able to pull off the 9:30ish pace on the first sprint for my second mile, but by the time I got to my second sprint in the second mile my legs were jelly. So I walked a half mile to finish off a half an hour work out.

I enjoyed my speed drills that I did, and am thinking I will do it again. I will do a nice and easy paced 2 to 3 miles then do the sprints. I wish I would have actually did my wonderful ideas for speed training earlier on.

I will be doing my 8 miles in the morning up the canyon. Until tomorrow some time.

-Riley

10-21-13 Relax and Run

Tonight I learned a valuable lesson, when you relax your body as you run, you end up running more fluid and effortlessly. I just finished 5 miles and my knee doesn't hurt at all. Every time I started to felt my joints, I said to myself, "Relax and run." I promptly relaxed and ran more smoothly.

Well, I am going to share something about me that sounds a bit crazy, but I am afraid of the dark. I tell you this because as I was finishing the last 30 min. of my run in the dark. I am lucky I had Silvia (my wonderful wife who puts up with my neurosis) with me. She was on her bike. If she weren't with me I probably would have set PR (personal record) by more than 3 seconds. I did an 11:52 sec mile, which is my new PR for a mile. But I know I can do better. Also this was mile 5 that was my PR. What a good night.

So this week is my half marathon, I am a little worried about the number of people that will be there and waking up on time. I am confident I will be able to finish and be able to sprint through the finish line! I paced myself at the beginning of my run tonight to warm up for the first mile. When I do my 8 miles this week I will pace myself for my first 2 miles and see if I can avoid any IT Band/Knee issues.

Last thing, when I was running I hit the "zone" and was in my own world, when a bike approached me and caused me to jump. It was funny.

Thanks For Reading,
-Riley

10-19-13 Roadkill vs. 16 mile run

Weekly Stats

Scheduled Distance: 31

Actual Distance: 23.44

RPE: 3.75

First I would like to say that by mile breakdown I won the fight with the 16 mile run, but it doesn't feel like it. I finished just over 11 miles of it before I started calling my wife in pain because I was barely walking at that point. I had to stop for about 5 minutes so I could make it to the Chevron station less than 1/10th a mile away. I think it has to do with my body mechanics (it's the some pain I have been going through), I am going to get a gate analysis done and see if I can address it through body mechanics.

Today was a rough day, I have been fighting a wicked bout of depression, and it seems like my meds haven't been able to hit it. I woke up too late to make it up the canyon with my wife, and my car is in the shop so I had to figure out an alternated plan for running besides the canyon today. I really missed how quiet, safe, and running friendly it is. So before I took my first step out the door I believe I had already defeated myself when it came to running today. Depression wise I am doing better than I was this morning, but am still running on the down side.

So after the traumatic finish to my run my mother in law came and picked me up, and drove me home. I really need to get this higher distance completed. Today was the first day I didn't think I would be able to finish even my marathon when it comes up. I believe it was a form of the wall. It was a sense of complete hopelessness. The pain mixed with that SUCKED!!!

Alright about the roadkill, there was at least one piece of roadkill per mile that I ran. The skunk was the worst one, I'm just happy it wasn't a fresh skunk, it would have been even worse then.

Well, thank you for reading, and look forward to next Saturday's post which will be done after I finish my first half marathon.

Until Then,
Riley

10-17-13 Last Post of the Day

I didn't make it out for my last run. So I will be heading out for my 16 miler on Saturday morning, since no runs the day before or after my big run.
Until Then,
-Riley

10-17-13 My legs are healthy, my mind is strong, my lungs are clear, and I'm going to finish my marathon.

First short post. Did 4.9 miles before school today. It was cold and breezy outside, my times weren't up to snuff for were they should have been. I am finding it hard to push myself harder than I am currently doing speed wise. Every time I have an idea on how to increase speed I stumble on the follow through. I need to change that bad habit. I still have another 3.1 miles to run today, and will include a full day recap with my third post for the day.

10-17-13 Not being able to sleep

It's just before 6 am. I am tired and cold and am trying to decide if I am going to go out and run now or wait until 8:30 or 9:00. It's my late day at school so I am leaning toward the sun being out as I run. Last night I didn't make it out for my short run. I dragged my wife with me to a meet and greet with a potential coach. I struggled being there ti begin with because it was such an alien environment to me. The coach;s name is Lisa Menninger. After sitting through her presentation, having a chance to meet her and knowing what my running goals are next year, I think she will be a good fit come January. She's up in SLC and it's looking like my wonderful wife and I will be moving back up north at the end of the year.

Well I have decided that going back to bed for a couple of hours is going to be my course of action. Oh  yeah to make up for no short run yesterday, I will be doing 2 today, one this morning and one tonight. Since that would be my space if I would have ran last night to this morning I am saying it's ok to do that.

Until tonight.
-Riley

10-14-13 Flexibility in training

Looking at my run distance it's up all the sudden to 7 miles on a typical short run day, but I decided to up my distance to my medium distance run after I finished 5 miles. My lovely wife road along with me (kinda) when I did the first 5 miles. Then we got in the car and I realized I was only 2 miles away from my medium run distance, so we pulled into one of the other parks in Provo Canyon and Silvia ran with me for 2 miles. She was such a trooper, and pushed it over a mile without stopping, then did another half a mile after a short walk. It was a good time.

So tomorrow morning my goal to get out to do my 4 miles before school and head in early to study after that, as well as work on my illustration for my narrative illustration class. I am so obsessed with running that I talk about it all the time, and it's even mixing into my school work. I am painting a current event and I chose is about a runner in Ontario who accidentally won the women's division in the 'Run for Hero's' marathon. I will post the painting on here when I have it done.

On a running note I have found that 2 sweat wicking shirts is a lot more comfortable in the cold weather that just one. I discovered this last Saturday, and forgot to share my discovery. It helps a lot with the amount of liquid awesome I produce, so I think I will be running with two layers on top from now on (I like being warm). I am also thinking of taking two hats with me when I run, so I can change into a dry one half way through. I saw an older runner with two hats (one pinned to his jacket and the other on his head) it was genius I tell you, pure genius! Right now I am leaning toward wearing my camel bag as I keep running longer distances, I am able to carry over a liter of water as well as everything I will need for the race (maybe even a ham sandwich for when I reach mile 20). So far I have been using it on my longs runs and I haven't had problems with chaffing.

Current struggles when it comes to running is my diet. I need to really get on board with one. I am still eating the same things I did before I started running, and it's not helping me at all. After I do a long run I consume more food, mainly good foods then. The worst part about all of this is that I have a ridiculous amount of knowledge on the subject. But I am struggling to apply all the crap in my head to real life. My doctor told me I had to lose more weight (I agree with him) and has given me the same suggestion as he always has, increase proteins, and this time he changed it to carbs before a couple of hours before your longs run and after your long runs. Also no gels or other nutrition that has fructose, only things with glucose since it burns slower in the body (with this one I am already using products with glucose so that was an easy transition. Now to meal plans. I need something simple (like my training program) that builds up and gets more involved over time. That's apparently what works for me. So if you have any suggestions that would fall into line with that thought process please comment and give suggestions (also no Paleo, a little too intense for me).

Well I believe I have rambled on long enough, thanks for reading today.

-Riley

10-12-13 Running with a friend

Weekly Stats

Scheduled Distance: 28 miles

Actual Distance: 28.51 miles

RPE: 3.75

So here I am, my knee is a bit sore, my belly has a Reuben and pumpkin spice cheesecake to digest (and some chocolate milk). I am about to make my Saturday shopping list, where I am going to change out some of what we normally eat with healthier things. I am pleasantly tired and could nap all day (secretly I wish I had a Mountain Dew, but it's been quite some time since I have had soda). Today is the first day where my feet have really hurt after a run. The KTTape worked really well. The draw back is part of my leg is shaved, since I am only using it on my knee.

My run today was a really nice run. It's different having someone with you. Even though it had been 20 years since we have seen each other, conversation was really encouraging. When we reached the turn around point, after going up hill for 7 miles, I was stretching and a little girl asked why I was wearing tights. It was a funny moment. I forgot to start my map my run app at the beginning of the run, so I only have the split times for my last half as well as an estimated distance on my first half of the run. I am thinking it was a little more than what I have posted. Enough about me, my friend Kate road along with me today as I ran and was really encouraging, even when the bitter cold wind started to blow on us going up hill. I wasn't prepared hydration wise for the run, I forgot to double check the amount of water in my Camel Bag, and ran out around half way. Kate had brought an extra liter of water which was a life saver. I experienced running with someone by me earlier this week when my wife met me part way up the canyon on Wednesday night, and have to say that running with someone is really fantastic. Today was the first day I didn't use music, but it was comfortable without it. I look forward to running with more people. Oh yeah, after the run we went to Kneaders.

Running nutrition, I wanted to just eat sports beans the whole way. But I downed 2 hammer gels and a stinger gel. The stinger gel uses honey and tasted more like honey than strawberry, it also had the much needed caffeine. I know I wasn't hydrated enough due to me still having cotton mouth.

Among all this I forgot to mention, I JUST FINISHED 14 MILES! How cool is that?

Something you may find interesting, the miles on my shoes is...

Black Altra Torin: 116.78

Blue Altra Torin: 69.85

Well, until next time,

-Riley

10-10-13 I remembered what I was going to write for my last paragraph yesterday

KTTape, I have to shave the area I am going to use it (of course it's silky smooth) and then apply with the right tension to each piece. I believe I messed up my first application of it, so I will try again on Saturday. My short run was the best pace I have done all week, but I was also in some of the most discomfort with this IT band issue. I will be going back to stripping it here in a few minutes. Have I mentioned I'm not a fan of Treadmills anymore? I should have headed out in the rain today and tried out my gloves ($12 on clearance at Sports Authority, last season $30. I also picked up my costume for the Provo Halloween Half Marathon, my Batman Technical Shirt, I won't be sporting a cape and cowl. I also decided I am going to save some money and buy the larger container of Hammer Gel.

Right now my long distance run is over 16 min. I am sticking with that it's due to my IT band not listening to me, and being super tight. I need to get it down to under 15 minutes, I would like to get it down in the 13 minute area where my mid range and short runs have been. But enough of those ramblings and time for the ramblings from yesterday.

--------------------------------------------

So I have been thinking of what I will do after I run my marathon. I plan to keep this up to date and keep running, but The title will change again. Maybe to something like "Fartlek's: My Journey" or "Gel's They're What's for Dinner" it's a work in progress.

Of course I want to get fast now but will settle for faster. So my goal after I run my marathon is to work on increasing my speed and losing weight specifically. I will have to change up training methods to accomplish that. So here are a list of runs I would like to do in 2014 that will help with this. I would also like to try trail running at least one race. This will change depending on how much I like my marathon.

2014 Schedule
December - March
Start new training schedule with Fartlek's and other speed related things
April 
Salt Lake City Marathon
May
Train for Ragnar (if doing it) otherwise gear up for another marathon
June
Ragnar (Maybe)
Utah Valley Marathon or Bear Lake Marathon
July
Canyon to Canyon 13.1 Trail Run
August
Wasatch Wellness Run 5k or 10k
September
St. George Marathon
October
Provo Halloween Half
November
Tankful 13 5k
December
Tri-State Marathon

Well, until Saturday.
-Riley

10-9-13 Bugs, the new protein snack when running

I stopped to walk and my mouth was open, and a bug saw fit to become an early run snack. I was hacking and coughing almost the following 4 miles.

Tonight I almost didn't make it out. I have been in a moderate depression, and was sitting in my chair figuring out if I could manage doing a 4 mile run then a the next day do a 14 mile run. Before I knew it 5:00 pm came around and I was up stairs changing clothes, getting my running gear on. It was a habitual move that happened. My training took over and I was about to leave, my wife called as I opened the door, it was cold so I grabbed my long sleeve base layer, put it on and went back out. Tonight I ran from Vivian Park to the mouth of the Provo canyon.

Running tonight I did discover that downhill really does a number on my left knee. Tomorrow I am picking up some KTTape to see if that can alleviate some stress to the joint. My right leg is doing just fine. The interesting thing is that it was always my right knee that gave me issues and that I have worn a knee brace on before. But it seems to be doing fine. I am also using my new toy to strip my IT band and all the muscles under that, as well as my front quads.

At school I found out on of the other guys in the illustration program runs marathons. He just ran the St. George at 2:43:+ and has been great to talk to. It's nice to have someone to talk to that has done what I am aiming to do. I have been able to pass on some of the information I have learned on to him especially in regards to nutrition, use of gels and carb binge and loading.

In closing... I really had something to say, but I have forgotten it at this point in time, so until next time.

-Riley

10-7-13 A blister under a callous... I'm a real runner now

Last night my callous on my left big toe was hurting beyond what I have experienced before with a deep callous. I was looking at it and it looked like I had something more going on. It turns out I had a blister under my callous. I was finally able to take care of the blister then use an emery board to attack the callous. It all feels much better now.

I have a 4 mile run tonight and I am going to attempt it at a faster speed than I normally run on a treadmill (which I am convinced is a lesser devil of monotony). I am going on the treadmill because of the time I get done with school (if I am off earlier I will do 4 miles in the canyon while I can.

Me and treadmills are like me and running outside about 3 or 4 months ago. I really am not liking it. Outside I get the chance to see change as I run. I get to experience progression in my mental map. I am going to do what I can to make it out tomorrow to the canyon. I should have went to the canyon tonight, I had time and it would have been nice.

I didn't think I would be able to do 4 miles tonight, but I did it. I did two slow miles and two decent miles at about 12:30+ each. My first and third mile were the best.

On more fun news I got the IT band stripper roller thingy, which I am going to use here in about 5 minutes. I also got my gels and sports beans for this weeks runs and got the awesome little pep talk from the employees at the Runner's Corner. They are always so encouraging.

Well Until Tomorrow,
-Riley

10-5-13 Wearing the correct clothes for the season of running

Schedule Miles: 26

Actual Distance: 27.04

Week Average RPE: 4.25

I passed my 6 mile continuous run and now have it set at 6.7 miles. Today I went up to the top of the Provo Canyon trail. I made it down to where I started my run Wednesday and was so freaking cold. I am happy I picked up some winter gear over the past week, legs were still cold, but I warmed up after about a mile. I was sporting a wool base layer from Costco as my top (the sleeves were long enough to protect my hands a little) under my regular running shirt. I also got some Wright's Socks, which are amazingly comfortable. But I neglected to get gloves. A must for winter and fall running apparently.

It was different than usual today, I really had fun running my first three miles. I must be going crazy having fun with the first three miles. Did I mention it was cold? I paced myself better on my first 6 miles and was doing a good pace of around 14 min miles. I got close to mile 7 and my left knee started to hurt, on the left side. So I started to walk at that point, trying to find out where the pain was coming from. I cam to the conclusion it wasn't actually the knee itself, but the tendons and ligaments in the area, not the LCL, but the IT band. It's still in pain and I have had some ibuprofen to help it. It's not really swollen (which leads me away from thinking that it's a really severe injury). My left IT band feels like re-bar, so I believe it's increasing the tension in the area, making it extremely uncomfortable. So I ran really slow for about 2 miles, it really messed up my goal time for finishing, but guess what, that doesn't matter I still finished 12.71 miles.

I am liking my app MapMyRun for my phone. I can turn it on and it just tracks everything (including split times). I am able to toss my phone in my backpack and use my watch to focus on pacing my speed. I am also able to add in my treadmill workouts as well. It's kinda cool. If you wanna be friends on there look me up, it's Riley Horn in Orem, Utah.

Well it's time to consume those delicious carbs that I am craving so greatly right now. So until next time.

-Riley

P.S. Today my self talk went from "I like running..." to "I love running!" It was a great feeling when I realized it.

10-3-13 Running is starting to warm up to me now

My one sided love affair with running has become better. Running is warming up to me now. My feet hurt which is a little odd. I blame it on the sidewalk from yesterday. Sidewalk is really evil. I made my four miles and really didn't like that it was on the treadmill. I see the time I am running at and the distance. It's a bit BLAH! So I will be trying to run outside more. I didn't like it initially but I like it more now. I have been able to run my first mile for my past few runs at around 12 minutes. I would like to get down to a 12 minute mile for multiple miles. I am right around 13 minutes for 4 miles then I trend slower . I think that a 12 is doable, and I am putting that goal by the end of the year, or sooner. Running 10 miles nonstop I will give it a shot when I run my half marathon in 23 days.

Until Next Time,
-Riley

10-2-13 I'm a marathoner because I like running, it's fun, and it's therapeutic

I'm a marathoner because I like running, it's fun, and it's therapeutic. This was my mantra tonight as I ran. I said it to myself a lot. It was a really fun run. I did six miles, starting up at Nunn's Park in Provo canyon. The reason why I ran outside was because I didn't want to be on the treadmill for an hour and a half. I like the treadmill and all but I just didn't want to stay in one place.

Again it was a little hard to get out, so much so that I was almost too late to run in the canyon. But I went up. It started sprinkling throughout the run as well as some great wind. I welcomed it as I ran saying, come on wind and rain, run with me.

It's a short post today but I have two great things to tack on at the end.

1 - I am wearing an XL shirt right now which is comfortable and not tight in any areas.
2 - I ran the whole 6 miles today, even the wicked up hill at mile 4. Did you see that, I ran the whole 6 miles! It was 1:23:01, and it was fantastic! I also stretched.

Until Next Time,

-Riley