Sunday, May 30, 2010

Sunday Sun Trot

After the eight miler Saturday, I wanted to see how I would react the following day. So, I got up at dawn and set out for a trot around south Santa Monica and Clover Park.

I did have a bit of soreness in the knee again; but, it was not anything unusual. My calves and thighs felt a bit stiff as well. The one thing I noticed was just a lack of energy, perhaps due to run plus a long day at church Saturday and not getting home until late. I was running, just quite slowly.

I made it to the park and I was stunned to see it empty on a stunning morning; I stopped just to take it in and enjoy the silence.

I got some water and went back at it and headed for home and a shower.

32:24 of running
2.57 miles
12:37 pace

Back In Service

Well, after two weeks of trying to figure out what was wrong with y running and basically everything else along with a side trip to San Jose, I decided to give running another go.

So, I went to the Totem Pole for the weekly LA Running Club.

I am not training for any proper races right now; so, the suggested course was eight miles.

I set out on a solo mission at first briefly heading north to tap the actual totem pole before heading south. I got the knees on the lowest figure tapped for luck and off I went. The weather was amazing with bright sunshine and great views of the Pacific Ocean and the beach. It was perfect for the tourists visiting Santa Monica.

I was initially doing about 10:25 pace; but, I slowed down fearing a post-layoff meltdown. Still, it felt good to be cruising again and soon enough I was on the Santa Monica Pier. I made the descent down to beach level and continued to the hotels, where I simulated the water station for the LA Roadrunners.



I kept going on the usual path and was soon crossing into Venice and the line of marijuana stores, I mean clinics. Soon enough I glimpsed the flag poles at Windward and the familiar starting point. I went down Speedway and turned back to the beachside after a few blocks. I was back at Windward and stopped for water.



I started up again and soon met up with a fellow runner from my original group, Run 8. So, we ended up trotting and chatting up the coast. He was going to stop; but, kept going. I think it also helped me a great deal just being in group running-mode.

I reached the LA Running Club tent and stopped to stretch and then get some Gatorade and pretzels.

I surprised myself by running the eight miles; so, not a bad restart.

1:33.37 of running
8.01 miles
11:41 pace

Monday, May 10, 2010

Run to Live?

Sunday was originally going to be an 8-miler with LA Running Club since I did not have CCD class.

After Saturday's debacle and frustration, I thought it best not to try it as it was to be a group run and not a solo mission.

So, I set off on a little tour of the Pico neighborhood and Santa Monica Airport area.

My calves and thighs felt sore pretty early on; but, at least it was daylight.

I went around and got back on a modest run. After Saturday, it was an improvement; but, it was not anything to be proud of finishing.

32:18 of running
2.68 miles
12:03 pace

Sunday, May 9, 2010

A Bad Run

I have seen the term "junk miles" in some running publications, the miles runners do these as kind of filling in time.

Well, Saturday, I had "crap miles."

Again, without a scheduled run, I was on "fun run" status and not really knowing too many people like me at LA Running Club, I set off solo on the scheduled eight miles.

It was very beautiful with the waves and sunshine and palm trees.

My first mile went well.

After that, it got bad, very fast. I felt sore and just sluggish. I was struggling by the time I even made the Santa Monica Pier. It was embarrassing.

I kept going and headed into Venice and Windward and a block beyond. I then looped and headed back to the starting point.

I was more chugging along than anything. No real flow. No real energy. I just was not in a good place (may be it is like the rest of my life?).

I made it back and stretched. Then, it was time for Gatorade. Plus, there were samples of a new nutrient, Agel.

I then headed back to St. Anne's and my car. Later that day I felt sore and just depressed about the run and a lot of things.

Oh well, I hope it is just a one-off as It was a bad, bad run. Eight miles should be easy ... and they were not.

8 miles
1:41.33 running
12:43 pace (horrible)

Friday, May 7, 2010

Hazardous Duty

I had my first run this morning since last Saturday's 7.72.

I wanted to run this week; but, first it was a little collection of blood under the skin of my foot bothering me. Then, I somehow picked up a cold. So, no running ... alas.

I was asked to run Friday at a Catholic schools' jog-a-thon. So, I got out my trusty Garmin (duh), my original old Brooks, normal shorts, and then the supplied t-shirt (heavier than normal ...).

It also became warm in Baldwin Park. The whole school above first grade first walked a lap of the course. (The kindergartners had a separate bike lap area).

Then, we started. They had an interesting course running through gaps in buildings and some chokepoints. They also wanted the walkers to stay to the right and the runners to the left.

On the first lap some kids immediately went walking ... others set out on full sprints.

It was hard to run, especially with the really little kids., since I knew colliding with a kid was not going to turn out well ... for them. So, I tried to be really careful. Also, the chokepoints took away momentum. The kids were nice and friendly; but, after lap 1 many walked and they were all over (not just on the right side).

Around lap 4 I was in cruise control and had a kid just stop right in front of me. I slammed on the brakes and something happened in my lower back as it got tight.

I kept going but slowed a bit.

It was still fun and a decent workout.

35:31 of running
10:28 pace
3.39 miles

Monday, May 3, 2010

Hmmm ... There is Another Way to Run?

After a long period of rest and hoped for injury recovery, I set out to return to at least medium-distance run with the LA Running Club.

I went to the rally point near the Totem Pole on a very bright, warm Saturday morning with wonderful views of the ocean and beach.

After some welcoming remarks and plans, they asked who was planning for what race, etc. As I am not doing any near-time long races, I was designated "fun run"category. This also led to a solo run.

So, unlike LA Roadrunners where we head north along Ocean Avenue; I headed ... south! It was the tried and true route in reverse.

I got out pretty fast and felt good, going under 10:00 pace for the first two miles, which surprised me for having not run much lately. Soon, it was onto the Santa Monica Pier. When I reached the Casa Del Mar Hotel, I simulated a water stop (I had my own bottle) and slowed down the pace.

I continued on south along the old route, including the tradition of the black cap backwards between Santa Monica Blvd. and ocean park, and crossed into Venice.

I reached Windward and the flag poles and made a second simulated water stop and headed back up to Santa Monica. Because of the recent storms, there was sand deposits on some of the trail.

I climbed up the incline and then the Pier and made it back relatively comfortably.

I stopped, stretched, had some Gatorade, and then thought about some things while overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

I was satisfied with the run. I know I can and should go further and faster; but, for a first time back, it was decent.

1:25.35 of running
7.72 miles
11:05 pace