Running on flat terrain is not so easy
While I was generally pleased with how well I ran in last weekend's 10k, I was a bit surprised and dismayed with how tired my legs felt. I've been running slightly longer distances at slightly faster paces, and my legs usually still feel fresh afterwards. So I expected my legs to feel fine after the race, especially the following couple of days. It soon hit me. I have been running long runs and some of my tempos in Forest Park, but my legs usually still feel fresh afterwards. This was slightly baffling to me. I have been running long runs and some tempos in Forest Park, so the hills have trained my legs to power up and coast down. I confirmed my theory with a long run on mostly flat terrain yesterday, and sure enough, my legs started to drag along. 2 of my Hood to Coast segs have hills, but I recall one being mostly flag, so I guess I'll need to find more flat routes to mix in with the hills!
Racing again
I ran my first race in nearly two years today. The last time I participated in a race was Hood to Coast 2007, and then I was pregnant shortly afterwards. It has been somewhat of a struggle to get back into a training routine, so I was a bit hesitant to sign up for the 10k. Mike convinced me to do it and reminded me that I've been running strong the last couple of months, and I'm glad I did! It was a great day for racing, and the course was quite nice, taking me to parts of the metro area that I have never been before. It also wasn't a very big race so there was some elbow room. Despite the flat route (I've been running on hills), I had a fairly good time and I'm starting to feel like a runner again. Added bonus: we saw a couple from our childbirth class there and met their adorable baby.
Baby steps…but I’m getting there
Last week marked a milestone in my return to running. I ran for 2 miles non-stop. Ok, I still ran slowly, but the fact that I didn't need walking breaks thrilled me! I've been fairly consistent with running regularly, but it is a mental challenge knowing I'm not yet at my pre-pregnancy fitness level. This is just the motivation I needed to keep running. Zoe's pediatrician says I can put her in a jogging stroller when she's about 4 months old, so I look forward to bringing her along!
As always, I love watching the Olympics (I'm really excited for the track and field events), so while I have a bunch of posts queued up (in my head), I probably won't be posting here until the Games are over.
Running Again
I was about 5 months pregnant when we rang in the new year. That was also about the time I stopped running. I wanted to be like Paula Radcliffe and continue running, but pregnancy tends to slow you down. Since I wasn't a fast runner to begin with, I was progressively slowing to a walk. In the last four months of my pregnancy I was keeping fit on the elliptical trainer (with some weight training), in the pool, and in yoga class, so you can imagine how eager I was to get back into my running shoes.
I started walking a couple of weeks after Zoe was born. I started off slow and kept my distances short since I was still in recovery, but I know walk a couple of miles and a fairly brisk pace (but I still wouldn't make the speed-walking Olympic team). Sometimes I push the munchkin in her stroller and sometimes I wear her in the Beco carrier, which adds about 10 pounds. My 6-week postpartum checkup was all good, so I decided to try running again. Today was the day.
Mike took the afternoon off from work, so I headed to the gym (it is much too hot out right now to be running, especially after a 7-month hiatus). I didn't have high expectations - I just wanted to at least run a few steps. I started with a 5-minute walk warmup, proceeded with 20 minutes of combined running/walking, and finished with a 5-minute cool-down. I'd be lying if I said everything went smoothly. I ran SLOW, and I walked more than I had hoped. But I ran more than I had expected. I felt great! The run/walk approach seems to be working for me, so I think I'll continue doing so on my slow, but steady, climb to my former running level. We'll see what tomorrow brings! Hopefully, not just a bunch of sore muscles...
HTC is tomorrow!
After months of mentally and physically preparing myself for Hood to Coast, Mike and I will be putting our training to the test tomorrow! Our entire team is a bunch of first-timers for this race, but we have a nice mix of seasoned racers (even an ultramarathoner!) and some relative newbies to the sport. We're really excited! We managed to stay injury-free (Iyengar yoga definitely helps), and I've been trying to eat and hydrate well this week! Tonight, I look forward to putting my pack together and sleeping well. Due to traffic concerns, the race officials are only allowing Van 1 up at the start at Timberline Lodge (no haunting images of The Shining this time), so I'll be sleeping in and lying low for the greater part of the day until we pick up the race in Sandy! Go Team Sylvia's Legacy!
Surprisingly, my legs don’t feel like jello…yet
I had a good week of training this past week, which is good for my morale, considering Hood to Coast is just 12 days away! I had my usual interval and tempo training on Tuesday and Thursday, I added an extra yoga class on Wednesday, and on Friday Mike and I struggled a bit through an evening 4-mile run after work. Saturday was our normal long run through Forest Park. I ran just 6 miles, but I had a good pace and finished really strong.
Today, of course, Mike and I had to ride in the Bridge Pedal, the one day out of the year you get to, not only ride your bike on the I-5 Marquam Bridge and I-405 Fremont Bridge, but also stop and hang out. Since this definitely isn't a racing event (don't even try with the amount of cyclists this event attracts), we took our time and soaked in the amazing city views the 10-bridge route had to offer. I share some of our photos (out of the 150 camera-happy Mike took in just 4 hours' time) here.
HTC Countdown: 20 days
In 3 weeks I'll be running in the Hood to Coast relay race. Am I ready? I'm not sure yet. I'm pretty confident I'll run all my legs, but I'm just not sure at what speed. My training hasn't been as consistent as I'd like it to be. Mike and I have been consistent with our long runs through Forest Park, but my I've only been running about 3 days a week, with some cross-training. Today I was reminded of how important sleep is for training. I haven't slept well the last couple of nights, and while I set out to run 9 miles today, I could only manage 6. I did, go out for a bike ride (Bike Gallery is having their annual summer sale!), and I hope to go for another 5-6-mile run tomorrow. Minor setbacks like these happen, and they are disappointing, but I'm determined to train as best I can for the next couple of weeks without overdoing it. At this point, I want to just stay healthy and have a good time out there...even if it means I can't run it as fast as I hope to!
Cascade Runoff
I ran in the Cascade Runoff 15k this past Sunday. This course is not, in my opinion, a racer-friendly one, but it is, however, excellent at challenging you physically. The first 5 miles can be grueling for someone who hasn't done any hill-training, but what I found to be the toughest part of the race is that the following 3 miles is on a long stretch (no turns or much scenery to look at) that isn't as much of a downhill as you'd like. The final mile and change finishes out flat, but after spending so much energy running up hills, it would have been nice to have gravity work in your favor as you muster up the oomph to finish.
Of course, my time was nowhere near record-breaking (and I'm still trying to come to terms with an 82-year old man kicking my butt), but I am at least happy to have improved from my time last year. Just disregard the fact that it was about 25 degrees hotter last year!
OHSU Tram Run
The first year of this event, especially since the Portland Aerial Tram isn't even one year old! It wasn't a big race, but it was a fun one and fairly well-organized despite its newness. You start at the bottom of the hill, ride the tram up, and then race/walk down. The ride was beautiful, and Mike and I hung out on the backside terraces on OHSU campus enjoying the view (I think I might just take out-of-town visitors here). We eventually headed toward the race start and sped our way downhill to the base of the finish. If you're looking for a fast 5k time, I'd recommend this race.
Helvetia 10K
Every year in the springtime, I set out to train for the Helvetia half marathon, but every year, for one reason or another, I end up NOT running in it. This year, once again, I didn't run in the race, but I did, however, run in the 10k. Unlike the half course, the 10k is flat and fast. It was still beautiful, nonetheless, running in Hillsboro countryside, and as always, Mike kicked my ass. Still, I'm very happy with my time, which I hope to improve upon for Hood to Coast.