Windy hill run

Ah I love running to Mt Tabor. Not only is it totally beautiful up there, but it is a fantastic workout as well. In an effort to get more accurate with my runs I have been mapping them on a site called mapmyruns.com. You can check out today's run here http://tinyurl.com/b4wx7c The satellite view gives you a good shot of the volcano (well its not as if you'll see anyone getting sacrificed into a smoldering cauldron, but it is pretty there.)

I am noticing that I am straining something in my upper left leg, on the inside close to the groin, but it is not a groin injury (I think). I have been noticing it since my first couple of runs getting back from my cold. I think I am feeling the effects of overdoing it. Tonight I plan to lie down with an ice pack in my lap for as long as I can stand it anyway. I don't think it is anything serious, just something to mention and watch.

So the more I run with the Mizuno Wave Rider 11s the less I like them. They 10s were supposed to be designed for cushion and the 11s seem really stiff and hard. Hopefully they will break in more as I keep running. I think I will have to find another model for my next pair. Must fight the urge to save money and go into a running store! They also seem more narrow than the 10s.

My food intake today consisted of three doughnuts, so I decided I needed a gel before my run to give me something to burn other than sugar and fat. It seemed to do the trick, Cliff Mango Shot energy gel. Don't know that I will buy anymore of this flavor, but it wasn't too bad.

Fast tempo run

Today I decided to pick up the pace. I think I should do these types of runs more often and mix up my base runs which while enjoyable don't help me to improve. I am thinking I have gotten myself into a sort of rut with my running, getting comfortable with the same old run and the same old pace. Actually I think my pace has slowed down quite a bit. It has seemed like it hasn't slowed as much as it has because of my exaggeration watch tells me I am still running an 8:30 pace when in reality it is probably closer to 9:30. So in lieu of readjusting my watch (which I plan to do as soon as I get around to digging out the booklet) I am going to use the GPS mileage count from mapymyruns.com. So my 6.5 run (from the watch) will get counted as a 5.5 run (from mapmyrun.com's route mapping system).

So my run this morning I really picked it up and was able to keep the fast pace for about half of the run when I decided it was going to be ok to back off on the pace a bit. Didn't want to sound like a freight train coming through! Plus I had to go to the bathroom and I had a mile to go still. The fast pace felt really good while I was doing it. My goal is to be able to run the entire run that fast. My overall pace was just over nine minute miles with the adjusted miles.

The new shoes feel pretty good. They are a little tight in the forefoot, it feels as if they have added a bit more padding. This is good for me cause I could use it. I think next time (at least at this point) I am going to consider getting a wider pair and see how that feels. They also feel pretty stiff compared to the Wave Rider 10s. Could just be the 11s are new. Time will tell.

New Shoes

Ok, I finally did it and broke out the new shoes yesterday: Mizuno Wave Rider 11. I have been running withe the WR10s for three rotations, this is my first try with the new replacement model. From this first run they seem fine. They do look huge on my feet, not that I have dainty feet mind you. My size 13 sleds are pretty big as is, but these shoes seem to accentuate that fact. They seemed a bit stiffer than the 10s, but that could just be that I have gotten so used to running on the broken in ones though if I remember right, the 10s were pretty flexible right from the start. I'll have to keep an eye on that and see if I notice anything more as I run with them.

On Saturday I ran with a friend who is training for teh Run for the Roses half-marathon. She is following a training regimen that is pretty quick, I think it is 8 weeks. I have been going on hewr long runs with her. I may end up running the RTFR instead of the Eugene marathon as it is right here in Portland and I wouldn't have to travel, stay over and figure out that post race shower before the bus ride back. We'll see, they are both about the same time.

We are supposed to have a week of rain, so I will need to get back into some soggy running. I didn't go today, but I plan on getting up early and going for an early run tomorrow.

I tried the imapmyruns iphone ap again and I am thinking the problem with it is getting a strong enough GPS signal to be able to make it work properly. Oh well, just another thing I would need to lug around with me anyway. I'll take my exaggeration watch! I think I really need to re-calculate it or just readjust it so it gives me less miles which would be more accurate. I really shouldn't be lying to myself about how fast and far I am going. Then again, who cares? If the distance and speed I am recording is exaggerated then so what? Oh I should be accurate though if I am going to go through the trouble of doing it. It's not like I am fooling myself into thinking I am approaching any sort of record!

3rd base run in a row

Today I did a third base run on 6.5 miles (though I am thinking my watch is exaggerating, actually I know it is, but now I think it is exaggerating even more.) Getting out of bed this morn was tough, but I did it, got dressed and poured a cup of coffee. As I hit the roads I felt like I was dragging a bit. As the run went on the dragging continued. I think I was just a bit tired from all the running this week. I actually hit the hills on my run pretty hard which felt good. I just concentrated on my legs and ignored my exhaustion (as best I could anyway.)

I found a running ap for my iphone that will track you via GPS and I was excited to try it out - imapymyrun. I was greatly disappointed when I looked at the phone at the end of my run only to see it didn't track anything. I think the problem was either that I had it under my jacket or upside down strapped to my arm. I'm gonna try it again and see if I can get it to work. It is pretty slick, saves your routes to a website that allows you to show your runs and send them to a friend. Hopefully I won't have to complain about it anymore.

Base run, second day in a row

I am definitely getting my base shape back after my 2 week layoff, feels good. I don't know if it was that my lungs weren't congested this morning (surprising considering the neighbors late night bonfire that filled out house with smoke) and I felt pretty awake after the alarm went off (again surprising considering the late night bonfire topped off with blaring heavy metal, ahh yes SE Portland. It amazes me sometimes how progressive this town is considered and considers itself when we essentially have the Ozarks in spirit right here in the inner city. I saw a "Nobama" sticker on a huge pick-up down the street from me...)

But back to running. After my two long runs I noticed that mu feet really hurt. Ok, ok yeah, two really long runs after a 2-week layoff from running, of course my feet hurt. Throw in that I have been feeling the numb foot thing again more than normal this last month and we all say "NO DUH!" I have also had a little knee pain (very minor) that could also be attributed to overdoing it. So I bring this up not only to record it, but to consider finally switching over to my new shoes that are sitting on the shelf unworn. I want to use the ones I am currently wearing as to get the most miles out of them possible, but I am nearing the end of their life expectancy. Its really a funny thing switching over to new running shoes. On the one hand I really really want to, but on the other hand I want to squeeze the most miles I possibly can out of the old ones. Oh, what to do? I suppose I should just make the leap and be done with it. But it would be nice to save them for closer to the Eugene marathon (ideally a couple of weeks of full running for a break-in before the event.) I'll let you know.

Nice calm base run

I had a nice run this morning, that is about all I can say about it. It was nice, nothing spectacular happened at all. I ran through the canyon at the end because I figured it would be dry, it was nicely dry. My pace was nice. I listened to nice music. Nice.

Now that I think back I wanted to write that when I started out my breathing seemed congested, but that cleared up nicely as I went along.

Two fowl events happened in the canyon. The first occurred on the north trail. I was running along and there were about ten Canada (yes Canada, not Canadian) Geese in the lake. When they saw me coming they all slowly paddled around to face me and as a group they all started honking until I was out of sight. I of course honked back being that I speak goose. Later as I was leaving the canyon and heading up the trail by the head of the spring, I heard quacking. I thought it was Ruthann as that is what I have my ringtone set for her and I was running with my iphone. As I went to answer it I realized it was real ducks quacking in the spring. Bird stories, yay.

Overall, nice run. I will probably head back out tomorrow for the same.

Snowy run

More advice on returning to running after and unexpected hiatus: don't make your first run a long one, and especially don't follow that one up with an even longer one. It just doesn't work well.

Today I took the bus downtown to meet a friend for a run around the esplanade. The loop is 3 miles and we did it twice. Its a flat run, but an interesting one as you cross two bridges over the Willamette and several raised piers on the east side. Being a Saturday it was really crowded down there, this despite it starting to snow right as I got off the bus. The snow spit a bit for the run, but it wasn't bad at all. Just enough so you can say I went running in the snow! Amy brought her dog who will be a really good running dog someday, she's really close. I only had to dodge her a few times.

So those of you doing the math are saying, what are you talking about this being a long run? Its only six miles? That's less than your base runs! Well, six miles isn't bad, nothing to sneeze at though. Where it got longer was when I decided not to bus home and instead run home which added another five miles to my day, and five miles uphill as well. I felt fine at first and I really didn't feel like waiting for that bus (another 45 mins to get the one that goes close to my house and 15 to get the one that gets me about a mile away). The hill running really started to tax my hips, an area I have never had trouble with. I am sure it is the time away from running and the pushing it that are causing me grief. I went slow which was about the only good thing I did for myself on the run. I feel ok now, but I know it is gonna hurt tomorrow. No long run tomorrow, I swear.

One thing I did when I noticed the pain in my hips is I didn't give in to a slouch (which is where I wanted to be) and instead focused on my posture and keeping my body aligned. This helped quite a bit. I also focused on my gait and foot strike, which also helped. Chi running to the rescue!

Just claimed run with ms on techorati

Not sure what that will do for traffic, I am expecting thousands to start reading now! We'll see!

23 degree return

It was so great to get back to running today, even with the 23 degree weather. I have to say, whenever you start up running being it from illness or injury, DO NOT decide to go for a longer run 1/3 into your run because you feel great. You will pay at 2/3s, I guarantee it. Still it was a fantastic run this morn, it was a bit hard on my lungs but I managed to make it through it just fine. It is actually the stopping that really kicks the lungs but (is there such a thing?) My breathing throughout was fine except for a little burning but not that bad.

The worst thing that happened on my run was my radio finally gave up the ghost. I have got to find a new one. My problem is I want AM and FM, of which there are less to choose from now days. Ultimately I want to find one that is weather resistant (don't need it to be waterproof, though that would be nice) I want it to have preset stations so I can easily switch during all the commercials. The search is on.

It is so great to be back running, I'm not sure I will go tomorrow as I am running Saturday and snow shoeing for the first time on Sunday. Plenty of exercise to come!

On the ms front I have decided my reduction of dialantin (which I take for the seizures) has been a failure as they have sort of come back a bit. Not bad at all, but I can feel them happening. I was down to 3 a day when that happened, so I am going to try 3 and 4 and see if I level out. Unrelated I am sure, but my foot numbness has come back stronger. Feels like I am wearing shoes that are too small. Sort of a pedal (word?) version of the ms hug. One thing I have noticed is that marijuana seems to make the feeling subside a bit. Not sure if this is just that I didn't notice it when I smoked or what. I don't plan to do an everyday study, but I will see if the results are similar next time.

I'm sick, can't run

And no it is not a hangover from the Super Bowl. Even though I did watch my favorite team win, I did it from bed. No beer, but I did manage to eat some junk food and a pizza!

Oddly all of a sudden on Saturday I was just hit out of the blue with nasty flu like symptoms. I think I may have graduated from just symptoms to a full on case of the flu. Good news is I feel better today, but it is certainly still hanging all over me. I have noticed that this year (my first rebif year) that I have gotten sick more times than not. My neurologist insisted that it affects/suppresses a different part of the immune system, but as my GP says it doesn't truly matter how you are supposed to react to a drug and instead it is the clinical reality that shows the real truth. In other words medicines perform differently on different people. Of course affecting immune systems seems like a pretty major thing to be willy-nilly affecting, so maybe she is right. But I have been exposed to less people (which could also be the problem) this year, I've gotten better sleep and had less stress in my life. I still think it is the rebif. Plus why was it recommended by a blogger (ok yeah, what do we know, seriously?) that as a ms person needs to get a flu shot. I have never gotten one in the past, then again I am getting older...

Well, I hope to be back running soon, but maybe not this week. Course I will get itching to go and I will end up running before I am healthy enough. I know I will. We'll see.