I don’t know why I decided to take it so easy these past two weeks. In July I ran a simulated half marathon and then jumped into a more rigorous training program two days later and I was fine. I guess I’m just griping because I didn’t think about how I should approach running the LA Cancer Challenge. But I guess when I think about it, two weeks isn’t really much time to make that much of a difference, is it? And I guess rest is not such a bad thing =)
Week 1 of active recovery featured a 30 minute bike ride and lots and lots of walking at Knott’s Scary Farm (pictures to come soon!) as well as lots of meandering walks with the boys. Week 2 (this week!) will have lots of short, hilly runs as I’m trying to best my time at the LA Cancer Challenge. I really should have planned better (i.e. started running last week), but oh well. What can you do now, right? =) I’m pretty sure my time will be a lot better than the pathetic 45:17 I got last year. My general goal is to get in under 35 mins. If I can do 33, I will be very happy =) Anything lower than that is just gravy… and probably unlikely haha =) If it were a flatter route, I’d feel confident about pulling something closer to 30. But since there are some hills in there, I gotta factor in a slower pace.
Today’s run was a 3.1 run with a mean ass half mile hill (at a 3.5% elevation gain) thrown in for good measure. The hill correlates to one of the hills I’ll be encountering at the LA Cancer Challenge. I’m aiming to run this path at least two more times before Sunday rolls around.
And finally… cause I know you all have missed seeing these… my splits!
Split 1: 10:35
Split 2: 12:45
Split 3: 11:18
Split 4: 1:04 (.1 mile)
Total: 35:44
Average Pace: 11:32
Calories Burned: 371
Shoes: Asics Nimbus
This 5k run was far from easy, not just because of the hills but because of other things that seemed to be plaguing my body. For one, the stomach cramps reared their ugly head again. I really don’t know what’s going on with my tummy. My eating habits haven’t changed. So why the cramps? Why, internet, why? I also was suffering from slight calf tightness, but unlike the stomach cramps, those went away after the first mile. I can say quite honestly that I struggled through most of this run, but when I finished it, I felt completely amazing. It felt so good to be running again =) I <3 the endorphins!
I’m aiming to hit another 5k run tomorrow. Hopefully, this run will be better, and faster =)
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