Friday, September 5, 2014

Weekly Log: 9.1.14 - 9.7.14

Another month is upon us!  Summer unofficially comes to an end but it sure doesn't feel like it.  I'm aiming for 50 miles this week but my legs are feeling the last few weeks of miles.  We'll see how this week goes.

Monday - Charlestown, RI - 3.5 miles

Happy Labor Day!  Soooo humid out and my legs are toast from yesterday's 15 miles.  With the day off I felt like I should run but I was content to take a zero.  But in the afternoon Oliver needed a walk so we set out at a very easy pace.  The sun was behind the trees for most of the run which helped but I still returned a sweaty mess.

Tuesday - East Providence, RI - 5 miles

Today it wasn't the humidity so much as the brutal heat.  It was pushing 90 degrees up at work and my desire to run was at an all time low.  Calves and hamstrings were feeling tight and I was feeling uninspired.  I dragged myself out there at lunch time and ran nearby roads without any plan, taking breaks in the shade when I felt like it.

Wednesday - East Providence, RI - 5.9 miles

26 pull-ups w/ assists (standard/chin-up/close grip) 3/4, 4/4, 4/3, 3/3, 5/3, 4/3, 3/3
Ab Ripper X (15 minutes)

Temperature and humidity both dropped some today to make running not so much of a chore but I still had little oomph to get out there.  I went to the Ten Mile River bikepath, thinking I'd do a tempo run but as soon as I left my car my sluggish legs told me that wasn't going to happen.  Instead I ducked into the woods and hit the trails that run along the bikepath.  I stopped at various smalls ponds to look at fish.  Maybe I'll just stare at these fish and then go back to the car, I thought.  Eventually I kept running and once I got to Slater Park I explored some new trails and perked up a bit.  My lunch run was now in danger of going over so I hoofed it back to the car and was pleased that my legs responded somewhat to the increased pace.

Thursday - Exeter, RI - 7.5 miles

225 push-ups (standard/military/wide/decline) 40/25/35/30/30/25/40

After work I went to run in Arcadia, a place I always want to visit but it's just enough of the way to be a hassle to get to.  As usual I parked at the J B Hudson trailhead and was pleased to see that with the recent road work on Route 165 they also took time to improve the entrance to this parking lot which had a pretty gnarly drop-off.    It had been 90 at lunchtime up in Providence but down here in the woods the temp and humidity was reasonable.  I was only running for an hour so after a few miles of true trails up and around Breakheart Pond, I stuck to the dirt roads for the rest of the run.  Lots of new trail signs throughout Arcadia which was good to see.  They'll definitely make my next long run here a little less confusing - which will happen soon I hope!

Friday - Charlestown/East Providence - 6.8 miles

In the early morning I jogged the dog for 3 miles.  It's been a while since I assumed the pre-work dog jog duties and I had the don the old headlamp for the first time in months.  The weather might be warm but the darkness will not be denied!

At work I put off my lunch run, partly because I wasn't that jazzed about it and partly because I was trying to get some stuff done.  Dreams of track were vanished long before I finally set out the door and when I stepped out of the office at 2:30 I was feeling pretty lifeless.  After about a mile and a half my achilles began to ache and I opted to just head back to the office.

It was a pretty depressing run and I'm wondering if I'm suffering from the effects of overtraining.  I feel like a lot of my blog posts comment on tired legs and during my runs I'm often finding myself stopping and resting momentarily before continuing on.  I had planned a long trail run on Sunday in an attempt to bag 50 miles for the week but now I'm considering easing off the running altogether, training be damned.  While I haven't followed a lot of Daniel's training, one thing that stuck out to be was his caution to avoid setbacks and one possible setback he mentions is a lack of interest in running.  I feel like I'm the verge of that.

Saturday - 0 miles


Sunday - Burlingame, Charlestown, RI - 17 miles

My negative attitude from Friday passed quickly once the weekend set in and by Sunday morning I was looking forward to my long run.  Parked at Watchaug Pond with the intent of running for two and a half hours.  My goal of 50 miles this week wasn't going to happen.  So what?  Time on Feet is more important right now than arbitrary mile goals (and I'm sure Jonny Miles would say I was probably much closer to 50 than my Garmin let on.)

I got the road section out of the way and took Sammy C's up and around before heading down to the North Camp.  Pace was easy and while I got wet from the aftereffects of last night's rain, the air was cool and not that humid.  From North Camp I went up to North Burlingame, home of the chewed up dirt roads.  I snacked on a bag of nuts and raisins I brought and then took the White trail down to the Pawcatuck River.  But there were tons of tents down by the river and as I approached I heard lots of voices enjoying their breakfast.  I didn't want to spook them (or be spooked) so I turned around, though I did check out part of the White trail from the other end - it looked like it has been maintained a bit.

After that it was back down to the Vin Gormley trail and following it counter-clockwise.  Some work has been done near that little covered bridge - new layers of gravel are covering up some rooty sections and a bunch of new footbridge sections were added, making for one super long footbridge that spans both sides of the covered bridge.  Get ready for a super fast stretch at Lil Rhody!  I still had another 25 minutes to hit 2:30 so I did a stretch of Brrr-lingame in reverse (tiring.)  Then through the campground and back to Watchaug, where a dip in the cool pond was welcome.  A really good run that made me feel better about the state of things!

Weekly Mileage: 45.8 miles

Year to Date: 1,342.6 miles

4 comments:

  1. The heat and humidity have definitely made things a lot less enjoyable for sure. Combine that with possibly overtraining and it'll feel like a chore, and that'll definitely put you off it. More time in the woods, I say! That's my suggestion, anyway...

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    1. You're right about the woods. Today's long run was much better.

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  2. It's been a super mild summer. I'm convinced the heat and humidity have a lot to do with how you're feeling. You often run at lunch time on the roads in a city! I wouldn't want to run either. Maybe it's time for fresh kicks, more trails and running early or late. A day off sounds smart also. Good luck!

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    1. Thanks. I think you're right that the city heat has a lot to do with it. Plus I think some of my shoes are at the end of their shelf life. Today's long run was much more promising so I'm not all Doom & Gloom now!

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