After giving myself a week to recover after running Ragnar DC, I eased back into running last week as I faced my last three weeks of training for the Hokie Half Marathon.
Monday
I took Monday off from all workouts.
Tuesday
I ran my first set of twelve hill repeats (excluding my Ragnar DC legs) in several weeks on Tuesday. I met two of my MRTT friends for a total of 6.5 miles (9:52 pace). We ran a two mile warm-up and then tackled most of those hills in the dark.
I rushed home from my workout to meet one of my clients for a 3.15 run/walk. We maintained a 14:20 pace with what seemed like a pretty decent running pace. I’m starting to question the accuracy of my RunKeeper app on our twisty trail, because we seemed to be running faster and longer than usual, yet our pace was slower. Perhaps I’m questioning the accuracy as I convince myself that I finally need to break down and buy a Garmin!
Wednesday
I gave myself Wednesday off from working out or running as well!
Thursday
I woke up to rain on Thursday morning at 4:30 AM, and after a quick text back and forth with my running friends, I went back to bed and slept for three more hours! Since neither of them were planning to be out, I decided I didn’t want to run at 5:30 in the rain alone. Later in the afternoon I ran six miles at a 9:51 pace. My right hip felt tight the last half of the run, so I came home and rolled it. In the process, I aggravated the left side of my lower back with the odd way I had to twist my torso to hold my body up as I targeted my tight hip with the roller. Oy!
Friday
After planning to go on a long run on Friday morning, I skipped it after waking up repeatedly overnight with that darn sciatic nerve pain. The morning was gorgeous as the sun tried to burn through the fog, and I longingly wished I had been able to bring up the sun while on a run. Once up, and moving around the back pain subsided and lessened as the day went on.
Saturday
Bill and I debated on running Saturday morning, but since it was Virginia Tech’s homecoming, and we wanted to get our tailgate set up early for our 12:30 PM game, we decided to move our run to Sunday. My back was feeling better, but I’m sure the extra day of letting it rest was a good thing. So instead of running, I ate mass quantities of crappy, delicious food.
Sunday
Bill and I headed out for a six-mile run on the Huckleberry Trail on Sunday morning, and ended up running ten miles very strong! We ran negative splits, and maintained an 8:52 average pace. We came back to our hotel from that run so pumped, that we declared it the best part of our weekend!
- Mile 1 – 9:35
- Mile 2 – 9:26
- Mile 3 – 8:42
- Mile 4 – 9:00
- Mile 5 – 9:10
- Mile 6 – 8:54
- Mile 7 – 8:38
- Mile 8 – 8:21
- Mile 9 – 8:33
- Mile 10 – 8:28
Huckleberry Trail – Blacksburg, VA
We started in Christiansburg and ran toward Blacksburg for five miles, and turned around for an out-and-back loop. Five miles of our Hokie Half Marathon will be along that section of the trail, and it was great to run along it as a refresher leading up to the race.
It felt good to get three solid runs in this week, but I wish I could have gotten at least one more. The problem with heading to Blacksburg so often is that it interferes with Bill’s and my running… Choosing between Virginia Tech football and running is a mighty hard choice!
Total weekly workouts:
Running – 22.5 miles
Run/walk – 3.15 miles
Walking – 2 miles
Lifting – 0 hours
- Questions:
- How many days do you take off from working out each week?
- Where’s your favorite running trail?
- Who raced this weekend?
The Garmin 220 is pretty sweet, but like you, I resisted getting a Garmin for a while. I was actually going to link to this in a post, but it may be a few days/weeks until I get around to it.
http://www.snewsnet.com/news/gps-watches-and-fitness-trackers-feeding-data-hungry-athletes/
Amy recently posted…Volunteering at the Bear Chase Trail Race
Thanks for the link; I’ll check it out.
I was so tired the whole week after Ragnar. Not sore just tired. I think I must be too old to stay up all night 🙂 but would do it again in a heartbeat
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…10 reasons to love a 10k
Me, too (to both your points)!
I didn’t think I needed a Garmin until I got one – now it’s just love 🙂
Have a great time at the Hokie Half! Can’t wait to see how you do!!!
Becky recently posted…Training for Tuesday Link Up!
I’m sure I’ll wonder how I ever lived without a Garmin after I get it!
You’ll have to run the Hokie Half some day!
Sorry to hear about your back! I’m glad it’s feeling better now, though. What an awesome run y’all had on the Huckleberry on Sunday! Bill must be feeling better, too. I think it’s a sign of great things to come on October 12 🙂
I hope you’re right! 🙂
My Garmin often is not as generous as the Map My Run app in terms of miles — not sure why that would happen. But I do appreciate having both. I skipped my run this morning and am feeling mighty guilty about it, but I’ve got a half on Sunday and hope to go into it a little bit rested. Looking forward to hearing about the Hokie Half!
Anne recently posted…Lucky Me! Stuff I Get to Do
My hypothesis is that run off cell towers, and Garmins run off satellites. Cell tower signals are not as consistent as satellite’s, so they probably aren’t as accurate. I have no idea if there’s any truth to my hypothesis…
Good luck on your half this Sunday!
I did 12 hill repeats this Tuesday too! It always amazes me how I feel like I can’t do any more repeats, but after a jog down you do manage that last one. Doing it with friends is a great idea!
Sherry recently posted…Running in the Footsteps of Lydiard
Good job on your hill repeats! They go so much faster with friends.
that trail looks gorgeous. i think your hypothesis about garmin v phone apps is right. i thought the same thing and once i got my garmin it really confirmed that for me.
Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC recently posted…Wedding Wednesday: The Reception pt i
I’ll let you know how long the twisty, curvy trail behind my house really is once I get my Garmin! It takes me about 1:30 longer to run what RunKeeper says is a mile on it, than a straight mile on the W&OD Trail.
I’m just seeing that you’re running the Hokie Half…cool! I am running now too. Wasn’t planning on it originally, but coach added it to my schedule as a “tune up” (or something?). I recognize that hill on the Huckleberry… which is my favorite trail 😛
Hope to see you, and meet you in person at the Hokie Half!
Most certainly!
I work out Monday through Friday, and I feel crappy if I can’t get to it each day. I’m usually active on the weekends anyway…but I eat more too!
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