Fatigue with a capital PH

June 4 – June 10

Total Mileage – 15.2

Weight – 211.25         

So it’s not the same as Mike Singletary’s “We are going to be physical with a capital F” but I think it gets the point across.  This week hit me like a ton of bricks.  I moved the majority of the runs to the afternoon (except for early in the week where I went on afternoon run followed by a morning run less than 12 hours later…poor choice). 

Not much to write home about this week.  It was a taper week so the long run was only 5 miles.  The issue with that though was I moved it up this week since the weekend was going to be hectic and I ended up trying it as a speed workout.  I survived, barely.  In retrospect it probably was not the smartest thing to do since my other speed workouts have only been 5k’s.  I finished with a 9:17 average for the 5 miles which is totally not sustainable right now out on the street, but hopefully I can work my way closer to that number.

Being down in the bay this weekend, gave me another chance to run Johnston Rd. before my mother in law sells her property.  It’s an old farm type road and while it is really dry, it still provides some cool views.

Things start to pick back up again next week. Week 2 and 3 is where I hit major fatigue the first time around.  I only hope that my body adjusts quickly this time compared to last.  I will likely wait a few more weeks before I make my decision on CIM.  The thought of doubling my ½ marathon is terrifying.  That and I’ll still need to drop 12 lbs prior to December.  I don’t want to take all of the extra pounding, although I wonder of you get a special prize for finishing in the Clydesdale division (+200lbs.).  I don’t think that an extra prize would be worth it.

I tried taping my ankle, which only led to a blister.  I had underwrapping, tape, and a sock on and still got a blister.  What gives?  I’m going sans tape with a light ankle brace on to see if it helps. 

On a side note, the leather KSO’s are amazing.  It is what I imagine walking in butter feels like.  On another, another side note, my brother hit another REI garage sale and he and I now have matching KSO’s.  I am used to the KSO Treks, so these are a little odd.  The toes are less stiff because there is no texturing to the soles.  I‘ll be using them in sand and water.  Pretty soon I’ll ditch all my shoes and just go VFF (probably not since my wife would probably stop going out in public with me, but cool to kick the idea around).

Speed Kills

May 28 – June 3.

Total Mileage – 17.3

Weight – 212.8

In an attempt to challenge to push myself on the short runs, I added treadmill “speed workouts” to the mix.  While it will likely be a good idea in the long term, it did not feel like it while I was running.  Essentially you are varying your pace in 30 sec to 3 minute bursts.  I generally try to start with a pace and maintain so this was a serious change for me.  At one point I was running at a 7:00 per mile pace (which I haven’t run at since high school). Thankfully I did not have to maintain that pace.  I was pretty sure that my heart was going to jump out of my chest and my right ankle was going to explode.  I finished the 5k short run well under the 30-32 minutes that I generally run it at.  By the third workout like that of the week it was a little easier.  Not a lot, but a little, but every little step forward counts. 

My long run was longer than I had planned on it being since I failed to pay attention to exactly how far I went out.  All of a sudden I was over 4 miles out, which meant that it was over 4 miles back.  My scheduled 7 mile run became 8.  It felt good though, and that is all that matters. 

I am quickly finding myself becoming addicted to wearing my Vibrams.  I almost wear them exclusively when at home, running errands, etc.  Not to make light of true addiction, as this is far from anything harmful, but every addict needs an enabler. My brother is officially my enabler.  I got a phone call from him and he was at the REI Garage Sale.  (Seriously if there is a cool event, he knows about it).  Simply asked what size I wore and told me that he’d hook me up with some 20$ Vibrams.  I now am the owner to two new pair of KSO Treks.  One pair is Kangaroo Leather (which I may try to pull off at the office one Friday).  I’ll have to become an REI member as he paid 30 bucks for a 130$ pair of shoes.

I finally got around to getting my 13.1 sticker this week.  I attempted to get one a few weeks ago, but the local running store (whose name will remain anonymous here as I generally like their store, but will be poking a little fun at them shortly) only had the pink and white stickers.  Had I run a Komen half marathon it would not have been a problem at all, but since it was not I figured I’d wait.  When I got into the store I was checking out the new Vibram SeeYa’s and the clerk came over.  Without as much as a hello the following exchange took place:

Her:  “We generally don’t recommend these for someone your size.  Is there anything I can help you with?”

Me:  “Good news is that I wasn’t looking for a recommendation and what do you mean – your size?”

Her: “Er..um…”

I know what her intent was so I let her know that I was just giving her a hard time and that I run in them all the time.  She was shocked that I ran in them because there are plenty people “my size” that return them because they don’t like them.  It appears that you just can’t get some people out of their own way.  I was able to successfully score my sticker.  Hopefully it is the first of many.