Weekend running log
By syndibee
@syndibee (799)
United States
August 10, 2009 6:49am CST
Well I'm going to start keeping a running log here. It would be great if those who run would post with me!! I love the motivation it provides to read others experiences.
I ran Saturday morning. It was my very first scheduled "long run" where I was hoping to reach four miles. My intent was to see what I'm made of and run as long as I could.
I set my phone timer to go off in one hour from the time I started running (not counting my warm up walk). I started on my normal route but decided to turn up one street which I thought was a cul-de-sac. It turned out to be an actual street so I turned the corner at the end and kept running on unfamiliar territory. It was a real pretty neighborhood. I was really enjoying this run and kept going. I did find a familiar street which I did plan to incorporate on my route so I took it. I ended up running a total of 5.63 miles (mapped after the run at mapmyrun.com) and averaged 10:50 minute miles for that run. I took off my shoes for my cool down walk and I tell you there is nothing as rewarding as a barefoot walk in the dew covered grass after a long run. I know experienced runners would smile to think that 5.63 miles was a long run but it was great!! I wanted to keep going but I was afraid of overtraining and thus injury so I made myself stop after the hour timer went off.
I now know that I can run a 10K in September. I'm just training to be able to run it better.
2 responses
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
11 Aug 09
That is awesome!
I need to start working on distance a bit more. But the good thing I realized this Saturday was that I can finally run and look around at the scenery and not have to keep thinking "you can keep going". Instead, I just kept running without really thinking about when I could allow myself to stop. So I was happy about that.
Once my ankles are healed, I'll try a bit more of a distance run. Around here it is difficult to run the streets because anything flat is a major road where it is dangerous to even ride a bicycle. I'm not good enough at hill runs to do a distance run in the hills. And now I'm afraid of soft dirt, lol. I might just go to the track and see if I can go for more than 5 miles.
If I can get myself to run tomorrow, I will probably not run for the rest of the week just so my ankles can get a good rest. But I want to run tomorrow if possible since the group runs seem to be my best training. And the group run will be on a track this time, so if I have to stop that won't be a huge problem.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
12 Aug 09
The track didn't hurt my ankles at all. But since that is the only soft track around here, I won't be running again until next Tuesday.
I might try to go out cycling though since I'll be doing a marathon cycling tour in October. If I'm not up for that, I'll be lazy in the pool and call it swimming.
Glad to hear barefoot running is working for you! My running group thinks I'm insane whenever I try it. They advised me to wait until I could go to the beach to try again, since that is not as hard on your ankles. But I am kind of afraid now. I probably won't be trying again for quite awhile. At least not until after I've run any important races. So now I've got to rehab my ankles as much as possible before that September race. I could tell I wasn't 100% today, but since it was a soft track my ankles didn't hurt. My calves did hurt a bit though, from me trying so hard to make absolutely certain I wasn't using my ankles at all as far as bending them. I did stretch them before and after, but during the running I made sure to lay off.
1 person likes this
@syndibee (799)
• United States
13 Aug 09
Barefoot on the beach, though it sounds appealing, it can be tricky. The soft surface will fool you and it's unsteady. I would actually be worried about twisted ankles on sand at this time. I think the track is probably your best bet. A firm and forgiving surface. I'd take the advice of a running group with a grain of salt unless they too run barefoot. Most people feel that a specialty shoe is needed for proper running form. I'm finding that 99% of the runners out there preach that you first get fitted with the right shoe for you, then you work on your running.
@syndibee (799)
• United States
11 Aug 09
Please be sure to let your ankles heal. If you feel ANY discomfort running tomorrow then stop. I'm afraid that if you try to push through it you will really get yourself laid up.
I think the track is an excellent idea. I'll be running at least part of my run on a track on Saturdays I think. I started my barefoot running today, which I'm about to post a new thread about :) It was very exciting and liberating!!!
@macdingolinger (10385)
• United States
10 Aug 09
Way to go!!!! I run my long runs on Saturdays. I have a 5 mile loop that I use. I haven't been runnig long either and don't want injuries, so I have only run that loop two times so far. I will do it again Saturday.I also run and work on speed three days a week. I run 3.4 miles so it's a little more than a 5K. I am totaling about 15 miles a week right now. I probably won't try to increas it much until September. It would be cool to keep up with each other here. I use the log on runnersworld.com for mapping and logging.
@syndibee (799)
• United States
10 Aug 09
That is so awesome.
I use mapmyrun.com to map my miles. I just signed up for runnersworld.com because they have a barefoot running forum which I find extremely helpful.
Do you have the same user name on runnersworld?
I love having a partner at the same level as myself and who shares the same passion for running as I do. My normal run is right at 5K and includes some hills but nothing major. They still kick my butt but I know they aren't that big.
@macdingolinger (10385)
• United States
10 Aug 09
Yeah, I do use the same name on RW. I use their log to keep track of all my training and maps as well. Sometimes I run all I want and then when I come back I check to see how far I ran, like you did. It's freeing to do that. I have just started doing the 5 miles on Saturdays. Only two SAturdays so far. I also have been cross tranign with riding my bike. I jsut don't want to injure myself and I am really liking the running. Do you use the same nick there too?
@syndibee (799)
• United States
10 Aug 09
Yes I do.
I find if I use too many nicknames I don't even know who I am. I am rather attached to this name lol. I just went there and mapped last saturdays run. It will take me a bit to get used to their site. I like the mapmyrun.com logging option better, though I like the runnersworld forums better.
