Run Buffs Run!

Today was my first real work of the season! I was assigned a tempo run consisting of 2x2miles with a minute of rest between intervals. I did the usual warm-up, then got moving. First mile in 5:06 - too fast. Not knowing what particular pace feels like (since I seem to have lost my "feel of pace" since my injury), I just gave it a moderate effort and churned up this time. Obviously, I was pushing a bit too hard for the first mile. Two miles in 10:30, then a minute of rest. This minute of rest seemed to do nothing but take me out of my groove. Very little recovery actually happened in this minute, but it did make the start of the next interval feel harder than if I wouldn't have taken a break. Next two miles in 10:43 (5:23, 5:20). These miles felt fine, and I was in control the whole time. When I did this workout last year, I remember that I ran the first mile way too fast (some things don't change haha :)), but the last three miles were miserable (5:35-5:40's at that). Today was very manageable, which is re-assuring for this seasons first workout. Last year, there was significant difference between my first & last AT runs (over the summer), so I figure this is a good starting point to improve upon (I am sure that within the first few workouts, my times will also be changing quite a bit due since my body is re-acclimation to running). Overall, this workout was a good re-introduction into medium paced running.  

Eight easy miles & 30 mins of aquajogging. Hot outside!

Today was the "long" run for my week. When I began running it was 92 degrees, and when I finished, it was 102!!! If nothing more, fall's cool weather will make me feel like superman! Besides that, todays run was fine.

A.M. Six easy miles before work

P.M. Four easy miles with 4x150 meter strides

Today was a fartlek workout. I ran out to Daniels Park, did the workout, then ran back. The workout consisted of 3 x (two mins on & one minute off, one minute on then 30 secs off, 30secs on then 30secs off). It was very hilly and windy for the workout, but since XC is coming I figure I might as well start facing some dirt hills and adverse conditions. 

Today was an easy seven miles to rest from yesterday and prepare for tommorrow (an AT). I feel sort of un-motivated for running right now. I had some realizations when I was injured. It put the whole sport into perspective, and I can honestly say I am glad that it happened. It made me realize how engrossed I was in the sport, and how I had become a "slave" to its extensive day to day routine. I feel like I am very young and still have tons of opportunities. I want to explore. There is no way I should let only one (such as running) dominate the rest. Not that I don't enjoy the sport, but I think that it can be easily blown waaaay out of proportion. For example: I see teammates with newborn babies just hammering out the miles day after day (1 1/2 hours a day minimum), going on extensive trips (weeks, months etc...)and treating their life no different than before he/she came along. Personally, I think that their priorities are a bit off. The sport has a very invasive tendency, and it is easy to see how many runners let it become "all consuming", but the "if I just run a few more miles..." mentality causes many runners to miss out on other aspects of life, simply because they are a slave to the running routine. By no means am I saying that it is not ok to enjoy running, because I definitely do. I am saying however, that for me personally, I am unwilling to let it take over my life. I enjoy running, but it is not who I am. I am not going to just quit or anything, but I am no longer going to miss out on other aspects of life since "I gotta run tommorrow..."

Today was a four mile threshold workout. I warmed up three miles, then ran the four miles at pace. My total time was 21:16 - not too hard. I can feel noticeable fitness differences on a weekly basis regarding AT runs (right now). I feel like I am actually building a base again!

Rest! I went flyfishing up in Winter Park along the Colorado River!

Nine easy miles today in Winter Park at 10,000 ft! I believe this is an all time highest altitude record for me! It was cool and misty, so the altitude didn't seem too ridiculous.

Today was my long run for the week. I managed to pass a few mile markers near the end of my run. I was in the neighborhood of 6:10's. This is fairly fast for a long run (for me), so tommorrow will be really easy.

Easy miles today with 4x150 meter strides in the middle. I felt really good. Tommorrow I have an AT. I am really starting to hit the ground running now. My mileage is still faily low, but I am beginning to get some quality work in. AT's seem to be the key to getting fit for me, so as long as I maintain a steady regimen of them, I should be ok.

Today was an AT run at the Highline Canal. I warmed up three miles, then got to work. I began fast (2:32 through half), but settled into pace nicely. I finished in 26:34, just under 5:20 pace. I definitely felt the heat today, but I don't know how much of a difference it made on my splits. The workout was nothing too heroic, but overall it felt like a solid, "money in the bank" run! I am pleased with the effort! Oh yeah...and Phelps is the man!

Really easy miles today in south Boulder. Cruisin'!

I ran up the Boulder Creek Path just over five miles, then ran back.

Today was 12x200 meters with 200 meters of rest between intervals. I wore my trainers on the track since I don't want to risk anything right now. I started a bit quick (28secs), but slowed to find a groove at 30ish seconds per repeat. This was not too bad. It felt like glorified strides, but for the first time since my injury I got some leg turnover.

Easy miles this morning. I swam later in the day, too.

Today was the weekly long run, and it turned out to be pretty good. I was expecting to feel bad since this was the longest run I have completed since my injury, but everything felt good!

I ran an easy seven this morning with my old coach. It felt fine.

Today I ran 10x300 meter repeats with the team on Kitt Field. The pacing was not too fast, but enough to get your legs moving a bit.

Middle distance run today on the Boulder Creek Path. I ran 6:00ish per mile, starting a bit slower and easing into pace. Tommorrow will be very easy.

Today was a really easy run at camp in Grand Lake. Our whole team came up here for the weekend to get ready for the season!

Today was a fartlek run on a dirt road surrounding a small pond in Grand Lake. My assignment was 8 x (2mins on (at AT pace), 3mins off (6:00ish pace)). The workout felt fairly easy, even though the elevation was 9,000 ft, and the course was rolling. It was a definite confidence boosting workout. I am definitely way ahead of my ability a year ago, so we'll see where the season goes!

Today was a really easy eight miles to recover from yesterday and prepare for tommorrow. I had no watch, but pacing was slow.

Today was a long run in Grand Lake (still at camp). The first mile or so was slow, so around mile three some teammates decided to get things moving. I just relaxed and let them go on their way. I hit the first half in 45:30 - whew, we were moving (and I was a ways off the leaders!), especially since the elevation was 9,000 ft. On the second half I felt really good, and I just chugged through to finish in just over 1:29. This was pretty fast, so tommorrow will need to be very pedestrian to help my body recover. In all, this run felt really good!

Eight easy miles in South Boulder. It felt fine.

Today was 12 x (300 on, 200 rest), with the 300's in 53ish on grass. This workout felt pretty easy. This Saturday is the time trial! A year ago I was real nervous right now. It feels sooo good not to have that amount of pressure lingering on my shoulders. I will still definitely have some pressureful moments this season (late October/November timeframe), but it shouldn't be too bad. Tommorrow is a middle distance run. I need to run alone in the morning due to a conflict regarding class. This can work well, though. No one will be pushing me to do anything ridiculous!

Today was a middle distance run, and I ended up going a bit far. The original path I planned on turned out to be a bit far, but all is well. Pacing was fair to easy, and I just cruised. I haven't taken a day off in a while, so tommorrow I will take a rest. On Saturday we have the time trial (which will be a decent effort), then a long run on Sunday. With two back to back hard efforts, I think that I need to play it careful today. Tommorrow will be a shakeout, and I will probably do about 8-9 with some strides.

Nada. I did swim a bit, but nothing extensive. I feel fine. Tommorrow will be a shakeout, and I will probably do about 8-9 with some strides.

Today was a shakeout for the time trial tommorrow. I ran 8ish miles with 4x150 meter strides on the course. This is sooooo much less pressureful than last year!!! Coach Wetmore told us to treat it like a workout, so I will do just that. It should be a good time!

Today was the time trial at the Buff Ranch. The weather was hot, but definitely could have been worse. When the gun went off, our team just bunched up and rolled together. We hit the first mile in 5:53 - reaaaallly slow! The next mile was five flat, though, so we did recoup a bit. After that, we maintained 5:20ish pace for a mile, ran 5:40 for the fourth mile, then 5:10 for the final mile. It felt good, and I never felt like I over-exerted myself. Our team finished as a pack with two other runners out front (who decided they wanted to win it (we contemplated chasing them down, but opted against it)). We let a freshman finish in the front of the pack, too! Overall, this was a good workout; nothing too strenuous. Oh...I was interviewed by the Daily Camera! This was my first real interview!

Results: http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3954&SPID=260&DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=1572154

Article: http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3955&SPID=260&DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=1572205

Good day!

Today was a long run at Draconia - the "fun" four mile square (each leg is one mile). Coach Wetmore's deocument had me down for 16 miles, so thats exactly what I did. I didn't wear a watch, and went completely off of feel. Since yesterday was a decent workout, I didn't want to over do it. I think my total time was 1:40ish (judging by others around me), which is fine for today. I aquajogged afterwards to stretch out, too.