The Comeback Starts?

This is a reduced training week for the LA Roadrunners as everyone tapers the training in time for the big day, the Los Angeles Marathon.

I decided to run this morning rather than in Thursday, again for work reasons.

I had a short night of sleep due to a late meeting and so decided to take a bit extra sleep rather than a pre-run tostada, Tostadas though seem to be a potential secret weapon.

I set out dark and early and felt pretty good. There was a little coughing at the start; but, it was reduced from before and much better than few weeks ago. May be it is just my motor sputtering at the start? The weather was a bit cloudy but warmer than recent days.

Anyways, I was running a modified M1 route since it was scheduled for 40 minutes. I went west slightly and then headed east to Los Angeles and back into Santa Monica to begin the loop near Santa Monica Airport.

I felt relaxed which was a nice feeling and also a surprise. My knee felt pretty good as well; in fact, lately, it seems to be a bit sorer while NOT running. It is definitely better than the crisis times.

The only real drawbacks were traffic lights, a few of which are long and just kill momentum, and also a diversion when I heard the rather angry barks of likely a large dog. After previous dog encounter, I was not taking a chance and changed course though it turned out the dog was behind a fence (just hard to tell in the dark and I was not keen to verify its status).

I made it home and felt pretty good indeed.

I had hoped for a bit faster pace; but, it was much improved over recent efforts and allowing for traffic light pace destroyers I am a lot more satisfied. The confidence is slowly coming back, thankfully.

40:32 of running
3.67 miles
11:08 pace

Afterwards

Sunday was the day after ... the day after 20 miles.

For some crazy reason, I was unable to sleep very well Saturday night, which very much surprised me. So, when Sunday morning came, I was a bit wary of trying to go out very early and opted for a little extra sleep before class and everything else.

I did manage some more crosstraining ... moving and lifting tables and chairs, etc. It all counts, eh?

Eventually, I did get home and changed into the gear. I did down a tostada (beef, lettuce, tomato, hot sauce, cheese, and pepper). For whatever reason tostadas seem to help.

I then set out on a night run. The LA Roadrunners guide called for 30 minutes. The senior pace leader had said just make sure you get loose, be it by running or other movement.

I got going and did decently. I headed down to Clover Park and environs and felt surprisingly good. I was amazed considering Saturday's run and particularly Saturday's struggle at the last two miles.

I made it home fairly happily and was relieved to have done much better than last Sunday's run as well as being in much better physical and mental attitude than expected. I did cut it a little short due to it getting late and needing supper and sleep as well as just wanting to keep the postivie feeling.

It has also been interesting reading emails among Group 7 and 8 paceleaders and runners.

We're getting ready for the Los Angeles Marathon!

2.06 miles

25:21 of running

12:17 pace ( a big improvement)

Happy Trails

It is Monday ... and I set out in the pre-dawn for some more LA Roadrunners training.

Again, I tried running without the brace and my knee felt pretty good. It is not perfect by far; but, it is better. I did still have some off and on coughing; but, overall, things just seemed better somehow.

I did run slower than target; I think partly just wanting to enjoy things going relatively well and now having something go wrong from trying to push it and partly just being a bit low on energy and wanting to keep energy reserves up for Saturday.

Today was only 40 minutes (even less than the Sunday light run!). I took M1 route basically and cruised around a dark Santa Monica and briefly entered Los Angeles. The threatened rain did not come; so, it was pretty easy. I was going along pretty well with only traffic lights causing breaks in momentum and time lost.

I got back after an uneventful, but still pretty fulfilling run, and enjoyed two tostadas. I think this may become a pre-run and post-run tool for mid-week training!

41:08 of running
3.48 miles
11:49 pace