Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Training Log - Day 81

Time of Day - 6pm
Weather - sunny, cool, steady wind out of west
Route - St Vrain Greenway to Quicksilver road
Distance - no idea
Pace - slow
duration - 59:54
Average HR - 154
Cross training - none
iPod - 105.1
Comments - tough to get started...just not motivated.

Run, Willie, Run!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Training Log - Day 80

Pushed the pace a little today. The hour runs now seem like a walk in the park after the long weekend runs.

Time of Day - 5:30pm
Weather - partly cloudy; mid 50's, slight breeze
Route - St Vrain Greenway across Rt 1
Distance - no idea
Pace - tempo
Duration - 1:15
Average HR - 163
Cross training - none
iPod - Sugarland
Comments - quads tight throughout most of run; very good rhythm and pace

Run, Willie, Run!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Training Log - Day 79

Time of Day - 12PM
Weather - cloudy, slight wind, upper 40's
Route - Tiller Farm Trailhead N to E Boulder Trail
Distance - no idea
Pace - slow
Duration - 2 hours
Cross training - none
iPod - Chris Tomlin and Hillsong (very appropriate for resurrection Sunday)
Comments - legs a little stiff at start but loosened up. Quads tightened up again around the 1:40 mark.

Run, Willie, Run!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Training Log - Day 78

I awoke to cloudy skies, 33 degress, and a dusting of snow on the ground. The good news was only a slight wind present.

Time of Day - 10:30am
Weather - not great
Route - St Vrain Greenway to Sandstone Park
Distance - don't know
Pace - slow
Duration - 2 hours
Average HR - 154
Cross training - none
iPod - Michael Jackson "Bad" album and 105.1
Comments - The longer I go the more difficult it is menatally...to focus or occupy my mind. Quads really tightened up around the 1:40 mark. Overall a pretty good run.

Run, Willie, Run!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Training Log - Day 77

So I'm running at a strong tempo pace with great rhythm when I look down and see this slithery creature. My brain immediately screams SNAKE and I break my stride with some Jim Belushi looking ballerina leap over the snake. As I land I'm immediately back in stride and the thought immediately comes to mind to go back and "kill that damn thing"...then I begin to laugh as it was probably no more than 24inches long. Oh, I hate snakes!

Time of Day - 5:30pm
Weather - cloudy and comfortable; low 60's
Route - St Vrain Greenway to Quicksilver Road
Distance - no idea
Pace - Tempo
Duration - 59:52
Averagfe HR - 157
Cross training - core 10 minutes
iPod - Sugarland; John Denver
Comments - No stiffness in legs or calves; legs felt strong. One of those days where it seemed I could run forever.

Run, Willie, Run!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Training Log - Day 76

Time of Day - 5:30pm
Weather - Partly cloudy, upper 50's, strong wind out of west
Route - St Vrain Greenway
Distance - no idea
Pace - tempo
Duration - 46:18
Average HR - 158
Cross training - core 10 minutes
iPod - Best of the Outfield
Comments - left calf a little tight (wore both compression sleeves); breathing good. Average run.

Run, Willie, Run!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Training Log - Day 75

It has been a week since my last training run. I came down with head/sinus congestion and headache; a tough cold that lasted through the weekend. I'm not 100% but feel like its alright to run.

This week it hit me - only 18 weeks left before the TransRockies. Holy Cow...the window is closing fast! I really have to focus and remain consistent in training. I'm also worried about Brian as he continues to be sidelined with his hip flexor.

Time of Day - 5:30pm
Weather - overcast, cool; low 50's
Route - St Vrain Greenway
Distance - don't know
Pace - tempo
Duration - 44:26
Average HR - 158
Cross training - Core 10 minutes
iPod - Sugarland
Comments - good to be out again. Both calves a little tight; breathing good; decent rhythm.

Run, Willie, Run!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Training Log - Day 74

A nice day so I decided to push my rest day to later in the week. Ran a very up tempo pace - approximately 5.5 miles in 44:44 (8:08 pace)

Time of Day - 5:30pm
Weather - mid 60's, slight breeze, sunny
Route - St Vrain Greenway to 119 Street overpass
Distance - approx 5.5 miles
Pace - Fast
Duration - 44:44
Cross training - none
iPod - 80's
Comments - really pushed...able to maintain strong pace and good rhythm throughout run.

Run, Willie, Run!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Training Log - Day 73

Wind steady and strong out of the west making for a tough run!

Time of Day - 12:30pm
Weather - low 50's, cloudy, wind steady (15+ mph)
Route - Tiller Farm Trailhead N to E boulder Trail
Distance - no idea
Pace - slow
Duration - 1hr 45min
Cross training - none
iPod - mix
Comments - Legs felt strong...a little tightening of righ hamstring towards the end.

Run, Willie, Run!

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Training Log - Day 72

Calf feeling good today enabling me to complete a long weekend run.

Time of Day - 12:30pm
Weather - Partly cloudy, low 60's, slight breeze
Route - Tiller Farm Trailhead N to E Boulder Trail
Distance - no idea
Pace - Slow
Duration - 1hr 45min
Average HR - 155
Cross training - none (really have to get back on track with this)
iPod - Sugarland, Carrie Underwood
Comments - ran with compression sleeve and calf much better...no pain. Felt good most of run. Right hamstring really tightened up around 1:30. Feeling pretty stiff this evening. Will go long again tomorrow.

Run, Willie, Run!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Training Log - Day 71

After resting my calf for 5 days, I attempted a run...19 minutes at HR of 155. Right calf started to tighten up so I stopped and walked home. I will stretch and ice tonight and hit trail tomorrow. It does feels much better than last week...I am just being very cautious!

Brian, I wish I had the words to encourage you. I know how frustrating a layoff can be and hoping for your recovery...soon.

Update

After just a short run following significant rest, my hip flexor is still feeling the effects 3 days later. I'm honestly getting very frustrated and concerned that I won't have time to get into the shape required for such a challenging undertaking. Unless I get the hip all the way back to health, I think I'm only pushing myself further away from being ready. That means more rest, anti-inflammatories and ice. I'm confident in running the race distance, but combined with the altitude and climbs, we've really got to be ready. The lack of oxygen is the biggest obstacle and I'm not sure how to prepare for it, living near sea-level. Sitting out quality training time certainly doesn't help.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

T Minus 135 Days

Unfortunately the "rest" will continue.

I woke this morning to a stiff and sore left hip flexor, a result of ill effects from running again yesterday. After taking several weeks off with only a few small runs mixed in, I'm sad to say that I'm still not ready to train as I need to. It seems that rather than growing in my conditioning, the only thing growing is my hair.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

T Minus 136 Days

I've been forced to rest my hip for almost a month now and I'm getting really concerned about the situation. I  need to focus on conditioning, not rest. I feel pretty good and think it's about time to get into the groove once more. I forgot to weigh myself and such this morning, but I'll catch up on that tonight.

Time of Day - 11:55 AM
Weather - 60°, winds gusting to 17 MPH

Route - Bogata loop
Distance - Unknown
Pace - Slow
Duration - About 17 minutes running; 4 walking after
Average HR - Unknown
Cross training - Later
iPod - Kings of Leon



It's been a while and it felt like it. I was generally stiff as I started, but I became more loose as I went. This included my hip flexor. It felt like strength had been restored so running wasn't an issue but there was a certain amount of soreness. This faded and then returned near the end, so I cooled my engines and walked it off. I'm trying to ease back without hurting myself. Tomorrow will be the test, but my hip is already tightening. I want to be encouraged but I'm not yet sure I have reason to be.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Training Log - Day 70

Beautiful day! Could have run forever but for my right calf.

Time of Day - 11:00am
Weather - low 70's, sunny, slight breeze
Route - Tiller Farms Trailhead N to the N
Distance - no idea
Pace - slow
Duration - 1 hour
Average HR - 158
Cross training - none
iPod - 105.1
Comments - upper right calf sore throughout the run. I may not run for several days to ensure this heals quickly. Will switch my training weekends and run long next weekend. Hope this feels better soon. Bummer because weather was perfect today!

Run, Willie, Run!