That's amazing, PerfesserR, that you can just go out and run over 10 miles one day! (I seem build so incrementally with no big jumps.) No wonder you got such a buzz - thrilling - plus the new scenery is sure to be an added bonus. Thanks for bearing with my meltdown. Yoga was very enjoyable tonight. I'm planning on a slow 4 miles tomorrow night to see how things are feeling.  

Sorry Happy, couldn't help myself....

 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/blogs/opinion/cartoons/

 

Take it easy

Yeah, I saw one headline "Did Happy Feet become a Happy Meal?" ugh!  I read a bit somewhere that said "maybe he was just underwater when he went by the satellite."  Well, he swims in the frickin ocean, doesn't he? Of course he's in the water! Maybe their tracking device failed....I'm going with that...or he was eaten...either is possible.

Just home from a hairdo appointment; planning on hitting the treadmill for a few miles and see how it feels.

Good one!

 

No running today but it was a momentous day because it seems that my iPod Shuffle is dead. I can't believe it. It's faked death many times and always bounced back. I once dropped it in a Jacuzzi and it recovered nicely. Now, it's just dead. Nothing. 

I'm not emotionally attached to it or anything but I was thinking, I have logged over 7000 miles since joining RA, and that Shuffle probably has 3-4000. I didn't always use it, but had it with me most of the time, just in case. I'm remembering those long runs and races when I was at my limits and the only thing that pulled me out of the depths was the music, comedy or podcasts that took my mind off the monotony and discomfort. 

At my first 50k I was about done and put on a comedy podcast, the runners around me thought I was crazy when I was laughing out loud at mile 27. At Crater Lake Marathon I needed a boost around mile 19 and what came on was Jimmy Buffett singing "I wish I were somewhere other than here". Perfect! Mile 45 at Miwok, The up-tempo tunes kept me going, including "YMCA" (the finish line was at a YMCA so that was my mantra). A long run in Central Park that seemed a lot shorter because I was listening to "Born to Run" (Chris McDougall's audiobook, not the Bruce Springsteen song, although it is on my playlist). 

Dang, maybe I am emotionally attached to it! 

Maybe you need to talk to a therapist about this iPod emotional attachment.   Let it go.....

Yeah, I don't usually race with my iPod, usually like to bug other racers by constantly talking....but in my ultra on the weekend I knew there would be nobody around me most of the time, so grabbed it at 18km.  Remember heading up a nasty hill singing away at the top of my voice  to Nick Cave and the Bad seeds - Murder Ballards  (dark music....very very dark music).  Suddenly realised I was about to be passed by somebody else, and I don't know how long he had been listening to me.  Funny looks gauranteed with those lyrics...

Happy....obviously that penguin did have a Garmin...probably a 405.  The water is probably playing havoc with the controls...

Yoga night again...Friday usually is anyway...10 miles planned for tomorrow. Will still give it a go. Last night's 5 miles were okay, not great; but I think tomorrow will be better.

10-miler on rolling hills route today went okay. I had to walk (fast) up the hills due to left inner ankle pain with pushing off uphill. No pain walking up though. This HM has hills and a bit of hilly rocky trail at the end, so I'm working out my game plan for how to handle it if not 100%. Still have some recovery to do before I'll feel like pursuing any pace goal next weekend; but today was a confidence builder. No running tomorrow - yoga instead.

That's super about your 15 miler today, Jeff!!

For the coming week, I'm thinking of running only on Monday and Wednesday - somewhere between 4 and 6 miles each, depending on how the recovery is going.  That will give me 5 rest days, 3 right before the race. That seems reasonable to me, how about you all? 

I know I have a pattern of trying new things in the few weeks right before a race, overdoing it, and getting into trouble like this every time.  I hope I've learned my lesson once and for all.

For the coming week, I'm thinking of running only on Monday and Wednesday - somewhere between 4 and 6 miles each, depending on how the recovery is going.  That will give me 5 rest days, 3 right before the race. That seems reasonable to me, how about you all? 

 

Sounds like a good plan to me.  I think you are going to be ready to go.

I'm still struggling with some mileage ramp aches and pains.  My right foot PF comes and goes.  The long runs don't seem to bother it at all.  It usually feels better for a couple of days after the long stuff.  It's the fast running that seems to set it off.  Guess I will be cutting out the fast stuff while I continue to ramp up the miles.  28 miles for the last 2 weeks with a goal of 30 for this week.

6 successful miles on the TM tonight, 11:05 avg pace - a confidence builder, this one!  I've been icing, using Voltaren gel, and stretching lots....getting excited about Sunday. Since I only do one or two races a year, it's a Big Event for me. Rest day tomorrow, yoga workout planned.

Yippee for a high mileage week, PerfesserR!

Ayola - super LR last Saturday! Any idea of the cause of your tummy troubles?

Jeff - for the PF, have you tried rolling your foot on a tennis ball? Before, after, whenever. Ice is also good, especially after. I occasionally have this come up and those work for me.