Running in the Wind

Today I did my run in the afternoon-early evening. First of all, I was supposed to do the run this morning: I had my stuff ready and all, but changed my mind and did the video workout instead.

So, due to the “long” run (couldn’t do it in the gym), I chose to go for a run at 5 pm after work-before dinner. Not a problem since we are having some record spring weather in Albuquerque – hit 71-73 degrees today.

Unfortunately, I feel like crap a lot in the afternoon-evening runs. No matter what I eat, how well I eat, or what time I eat, I have a side cramp, and just don’t feel well.

Also, anyone who has been in Albuquerque for any amount of time knows that the wind is as much as Albuquerque in the late winter-early spring as sunshine. You can’t avoid it.

Today wasn’t pleasant. I had a headwind for more than half my run, and to make matters worse, it was the uphill half. I’m not talking a trade wind that you want in Hawaii. These are awful winds and they were here today. There were wind gusts up to 31 mph today, and that isn’t bad.

AS a result I realize I need to start getting up to do my runs in the morning, before the afternoon winds come.

Today’s accomplishments: Firm Upper Body Sculpt – 8 lbs. and 5 lbs. – am I ready to increase the weights for March… Outdoor PM Run (wind) Run: 5.43 miles; 50:05 minutes; 9:14 min/mi (Garmin).

When Things Get Off Track BIG TIME

While I have not blogged about my exercise in over 10 days, this does not mean I have not exercised in 10 days. I have gone off track a bit, and this is due to having to balance biking and running together, along with the strength training videos, sometimes all in the same day.

This past week I have discovered some serious obstacles, as follows:

1. There are days where I do am scheduled strength train, run and bike in the same day.
   
2. The bikes at work (Johnson Gym) are limited to 30 minutes and I have yet to get more than 6 miles in that 30 minutes.
   
3. As my running times increase (now 50 minutes during the week), I can’t do that at work/lunch breaks due to time limits, I do that in the mornings, therefore needing to find alternate times to do my strength videos.
   
4. I worry that as I’m still trying to adjust to these schedules I could suffer from over training as I struggle to find rest days.
   
   This past week – I had no days to do the strength videos (that I recall) and did do three runs and two gym time bike rides – still five cardio workouts. I was seriously off track last week.
   
   I continue to work on a reasonable schedule and not let this get to me.
   
   Today is a new day – today I did a 21 mile easy bike ride. And will continue to strive to my goals of the half marathon April 18th (eight-weeks away) and the Santa Fe Century May 17th (12-weeks away).

Today’s accomplishments: Bike easy: 21.15 miles, 1 hour, 33:28 minutes, 4.25min/mile.

Long Runs and Treadmills

Today was to be a 50-minute tempo run. Today I ran on my lunch break in the gym that has a 30-minute limit on the cardio machines – which I push on a regular basis to 40-45 minutes (40-minute run and up to 5-minute cool down).

I think that is really the most I can push it. Now it is coming to the time in my training where my runs are coming up to the 40-50 minute mark and the shorter runs are becoming a thing of the distance past (until taper weeks).

Today rather than the 50-minute tempo, I pushed a 45-minute tempo. I felt good doing 6.5 mph for four minutes and 7.5 mph for six minutes and rotating to the end. I need to step it up to seven minutes at 7.5 mph for the next tempo run.

Today’s Accomplishments: Treadmill tempo run: 5.04 miles, 45 minutes, 8.55min/mile, Crunch Ab Attack

• 4.2 mph warm-up walk for .25 mile
• 6.5 mph run to 10 minute point
• 7.5 mph run to 16 minute point (6 minutes)
• 6.5 mph run to 20 minute point (4 minutes)
• 7.5 mph run to 26 minute point (6 minutes)
• 6.5 mph run to 30 minute point (4 minutes)
• 7.5 mph run to 36 minute point (6 minutes)
• 6.5 mph run to 40 minute point (4 minutes)
• 6.0–6.5 mph run to 45 minute point (5 minutes)

Yesterday’s Accomplishment (Feb 10th): Cardio Sculpt using 5-8 lb. weights; cardio rest day