Weekly Log: 5.27.13 - 6.2.13

Monday - 0 miles

Memorial Day.  Rest Day.  My right calf is a bit sore - it began to tighten up at the end of last week's Big River run and it happened again pretty early into the Grills 14 miler yesterday so it was an easy decision to take the day off.  Additonally we had a full day of activities planned.  In the morning we braved the Zoo with Ezri (not as crowded as we had feared) and in the evening it was dinner and Star Trek with Em (the movie kicked ass.)  We ate at On the Border.  Tasty food but crazy calories/sodium.  It's amazing what these restaurant dishes pack once you start looking up their stats.  I still ate a ton of their tacos and chips but at least I knew how bad they were me.

Tuesday - 0 miles

P90X Chest & Back (60 minutes)

Last day of a six day respite from work.  We had six yards of mulch delivered in the morning and Amanda & I spent the day outside, weeding and shoveling mulch.  Yard looks much better.  We'll see how my arms feel tomorrow after C&B + Mucho Mulchin'.

Mutant Foxglove.  Looking forward to its flowers.

Wednesday - 9.3 miles

Ab Ripper X (15 minutes)

Another late dance practice for Em and another chance for me to get lost...er, explore Big River.  You fall off the horse, you get right back on.  I started again from the Exit 6 parking lot and took the same trail as last time just after Capwell Millpond (Logs Trail?)  I figured I'd take it to the New London Turnpike and then check out some other trails on the same side of the road.   Eventually I found myself on another trail but figured it would bring me to the turnpike eventually.

I came upon a wooden bridge and there was an big snapping turtle sitting on it.  Just an awesome looking creature.  It took one look at me and tucked its head and began walking away.  We said our goodbyes and a few moments later I arrived at a road.  The New London Turnpike?  Nope, it was Burnt Sawmill Road, very close to where I started.  Crazy how I got so turned around and didn't even realize it.

I followed BS Road south for a little bit and then jumped back into the woods on the same side.  I passed through a forest of skinny pine trees - looked like maybe there had been a fire here some time back.  Cool spot, I'm thinking this is the Things Go Bump in the Night trail.  Right after the pine forest was an old cemetery I stopped at briefly - hard to read most of the graves but I saw 1842 on a couple stones.  Not long after I came upon Sweet Pond.  Sweet indeed, I now knew where I was.

I jumped on the Steeple Chase trail and headed north back towards the car.  It's well named.  Eventually I began to recognize fallen trees/landmarks and realized I was back on Logs Trail retracing my initial route (in reverse.)  I took this and an adjacent trail back to Burnt Sawmill Road and since I had time leftover I checked out Pine trail on the other side of BS.  Fun twisty singletrack that runs next to Big River (the actual waterway - not as big as you'd think but big for Rhode Island I guess.)  Scared up a huge blue heron.

Finished the run by going back to check out that snapping turtle but it was gone.  My right calf started to twinge as I got there but I stopped and stretched and it gave me no more issues.  It was good to familiarize myself with these trails some more.  I feel much more comfortable in this area now.  Knowledge = Confidence.  And my calf didn't make itself an issue.  All in all a great redemption run in BR!

Thursday - 8.4 miles

HUMID.  I was going to do a track workout this morning but I just didn't have it in me.  The thought of running in circles in the heat/humidity was more than I could bear.  Instead, I decided to do a tempo run up in Smithfield.  I parked at work and ran a couple easy miles through the woods.  Did I mention it was HUMID.  I felt like I was in a goddamn rain forest. 

Once I reached the end of the trail things were a little better.  I ran the length of the Rocky Hill Road over to the Providence Pike.  I picked up the pace as I went and I was working hard by the end of Rocky Hill.  I didn't feel like I was going that fast but I think I was putting in a solid effort due to the humidity.  I kept the pace up on Grange St.  Once I hit the Pike I meant to drop down a gear but it felt like my body decided to drop three gears instead.  Turned out I was still moving at a pretty good clip.

Back at the car I was drenched.  Threw on the NB 730s and did 1.5 as a nice 'n easy cooldown.  Satisfying workout overall.

 

Friday - 6.1 miles

P90X Shoulders & Arms (60 minutes)

After work I did a nice easy run at Rome Point in North Kingstown.  I ran most of the trails there and also took the beach down to nearly the bridge as it was low tide.  I was sweating bussure from certain directions.t it was definitely cooler and more comfotable than it was up in Smithfield!  The hardest part about this run was just getting there - no matter which route I took, traffic was backed up and crazy.  Summer is here!

Saturday - 0 miles

Some yard work in the morning following by spectating at my first polo match in the afternoon in Portsmouth.  Good fun.  My left elbow doesn't feel great.  I think it's from yesterday's Shoulders & Arms routine.  There's pain when I apply pressure from certain angles.  May have to lay off the strength training for a bit.

Sunday -19 miles

Amanda had the opportunity to participate in some excellent triathalon training at Goddard Park at 9 so I knew that my plan to do a long road run would have to start early.  Woke up at 4:45 AM and dragged myself downstairs.  One coffee and beefy rice cake later and I was out the door.  I left Old Coach and took the dirt roads around School Pond over to King's Factory.  I kept the pace nice and easy.  I took the hilly Shumankanuc Road and was disappointed that Jonny wasn't waiting outside with flapjacks.

No time to dwell on my flapjack-less run, I had luckily brought several of my latest culinary creation - cherry chocolate sticky bites.  Tasty little things that hit the spot, I noshed on them every 45 minutes or so.  I took the power lines past Carter Preserve.  I considered hitting the trails but decided to stick to the roads as I had 18 miles in my mind and the trails would have slowed me down and eaten my time.

I took Route 112 up through Carolina village and actually picked up the pace to sub-8 minute miles as I was feeling sporty.  Jumped onto Shannock Hill Road and tried not to slow down too much as I climbed the big hill.  There's a Strava segment I wanted to compete for - turns out the only other guy actually biked it so I'll get that rectified.  My legs were beginning to feel it as I passed the Kenyon factory and I was glad there were only a few miles left.  I was supposed to be home by 8 AM and got there with 10 minutes to spare.  Great long run.

Amanda had a great practice at Goddard so it looks like she'll be signing up for the Oh My Goddard! tri at the end of the month.  Looking forward to seeing her in action!

Weekly Mileage: 42.8 miles

Year to Date: 738.5 miles

May comes to an end with my second highest mileage month ever of 156.6 miles.  No racing whatsoever but I didn't feel any particular urge to race so no loss there.  Instead I got in plenty of great trail runs and some excellent cross training.  Looking forward to seeing what my speed situation looks like as I enter some shorter June races.