When I make dinner, I alternate on a weekly basis between making a salad and heating some frozen vegetables. This coming week was suppose to be frozen veggies, so when I went to the farmers market I was only planning on purchasing some peaches and some squash for lunch. However, there were too many good pickings to pass up, so it looks like it'll be another week of salads. Giving into temptations can't always be good. But hey, if that temptations is VEGETABLES, I suppose there are worst things.
Last week was brutal on my legs. I'm pretty sure after my 20 miles and subsequent miles that weekend, I edged into overtraining. And it hasn't helped that my right knee has been aching. My treatment isn't that great: ignoring it. However, I've slowly felt better later in the week and I think two days without running (these are cycling days) will show some improvement. The mileage is going to be backing down. For one, it's part of the normal build, build, recover cycle, and secondly, I'm beginning to taper for the Nation's Triathlon, which takes place September 12th in DC.
Some random comments, mostly about running:
Marathon elite, Deena Kastor just became pregnant with her first child. A congratulations. So much attention has been given towards Kate Goucher, a much longer runner, and I don't think anyone has really wondered about Kastor's family life. However, news reports that she is happy and excited.
Molly Huddle broke the US 5000m record on Thursday! I love seeing records broken.
Runner's World weekly dedicates a blog to brief news stories that hint at running. It also includes a countdown for various races, from 5ks to ultramarathons. I'd like to think it was my own request that got the City of Oaks Marathon added to this weeks countdown. Let's hope it stays! I slowly see my influence at Runner's World increasing, where previously I had posed a question to the Race Director of the utmost importance.
Today was my second bike ride where I saw a turtle in the street. Today it was way out in Chatham county. The encounter earlier this week was within a half mile of home, tempting me to pick up a new pet.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Brief peak
This weekend I have to go to Annapolis to drill. If I was still in Baltimore, I would've just woken up at the crack of dawn, pounded out the miles, and made the short drive. However, being back in Raleigh, a morning of departure would already require a 1:00am leaving, meaning a run would be started around 10:00 the night before! Some may say I'm hardcore... but not that much... not YET.
So I put in the 20 miles this morning, and will hopefully get the 8 miles in Sunday in Annapolis. It was overall a fun run. It was only about 2 years ago that I did my first run from my apartment in Raleigh to my parents house in Cary - at the time a brutal 10 miles. And now? You guessed it - now it was a round trip! Mercifully I didn't have to do it out and back, my least favorite type of route. I made my way along Tryon to Avent Ferry Rd, followed Varsity to Western, which as it mutated into Hillsborough and Chatham, took Maynard [with a short extension loop] to Kildaire and back home. Those unfamiliar with the particular roads, I essentially ran the periphery of Crossroads, the southern edge of NC State and southeast circumference of Cary.
I definitely got a confidence boost running along Avent Ferry. This road present some nasty hills (for their length). Maybe because I was at my long run pace, but I felt I took them well in stride and with ease. In the coming weeks I will definitely make my long runs mixtures of the shorter runs I use to do at State.
Saw two girls I used to row with. Shout out to Ida and Kellee!
I'm still frustrated with my hydration belt. Bottles popped out no less than 4 times in the first 2 miles!
So I put in the 20 miles this morning, and will hopefully get the 8 miles in Sunday in Annapolis. It was overall a fun run. It was only about 2 years ago that I did my first run from my apartment in Raleigh to my parents house in Cary - at the time a brutal 10 miles. And now? You guessed it - now it was a round trip! Mercifully I didn't have to do it out and back, my least favorite type of route. I made my way along Tryon to Avent Ferry Rd, followed Varsity to Western, which as it mutated into Hillsborough and Chatham, took Maynard [with a short extension loop] to Kildaire and back home. Those unfamiliar with the particular roads, I essentially ran the periphery of Crossroads, the southern edge of NC State and southeast circumference of Cary.
I definitely got a confidence boost running along Avent Ferry. This road present some nasty hills (for their length). Maybe because I was at my long run pace, but I felt I took them well in stride and with ease. In the coming weeks I will definitely make my long runs mixtures of the shorter runs I use to do at State.
Saw two girls I used to row with. Shout out to Ida and Kellee!
I'm still frustrated with my hydration belt. Bottles popped out no less than 4 times in the first 2 miles!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
17 miles
Ran 17(.41) miles this morning. Went from the house to Cary Parkway. Took Cary Pkwy to the end at Harrison, and meandered back home via Reedy Creek, Maynard, Chatham. Essentially a big loop about halfway around Cary and cutting across through downtown.
Nothing too eventful. I'm a little frustrated with my hydration belt (Nathan Sports Trail[something]). Bottles aren't really staying in place; they've been falling out, noticeable on down hills, usually at the beginning of the run when they're full, it's a bouncing issue. Just annoying to be running along and have to do some sidestepping to turn around and pick up the bottle. Once happened while crossing an intersection! (Luckily at 6:00am on Saturday there isn't any traffic). Right now I've just been taking water, but with 20 miles next week, I need to start thinking about fuel rather than just hydration.
Hills are different here than in Baltimore. I wouldn't say they're any harder or easier. However, it seemed like in Baltimore I'd get them either at the beginning or at the end of the run. Here they're pretty distributed along my routes.
Wednesday I rode-along as an observer with the Cary Area EMS. I've begun looking into health service professions, and EMT being one of them. It was an enlightening experience. I'm pretty sure I don't want to do it as a career, but perhaps some short-term work for the experience (life experience as well as professional). During the shift our truck only had two calls, both at nursing centers and ended up in transport to EMS for not-really-critical patients. The most interesting thing was discovering Gatorade in a can. I'd like to go again.
I love going to the farmers market; it always fascinates me. I love knowing something is in season when you see TONS of it EVERYWHERE. And then I love seeing a pretty common/standard produce and then a plethora of varieties. Case in point for this week: tomatoes, summer squash, and peaches are all in season and are all over the place. There are of course other produce, but those are probably my favorites because I'm familiar with them. Still seeing blueberries, but not as much as tomatoes and peaches. I'd always shy away okra when I was younger and more picky, any suggestions? Eggplants are what I've seen such a variety of. Not sure what the mainstream variety is called. However, I've seen ones that look like brussel sprouts (in color and shape); smaller, white ones, and smaller, elongated varieties.
Nothing too eventful. I'm a little frustrated with my hydration belt (Nathan Sports Trail[something]). Bottles aren't really staying in place; they've been falling out, noticeable on down hills, usually at the beginning of the run when they're full, it's a bouncing issue. Just annoying to be running along and have to do some sidestepping to turn around and pick up the bottle. Once happened while crossing an intersection! (Luckily at 6:00am on Saturday there isn't any traffic). Right now I've just been taking water, but with 20 miles next week, I need to start thinking about fuel rather than just hydration.
Hills are different here than in Baltimore. I wouldn't say they're any harder or easier. However, it seemed like in Baltimore I'd get them either at the beginning or at the end of the run. Here they're pretty distributed along my routes.
Wednesday I rode-along as an observer with the Cary Area EMS. I've begun looking into health service professions, and EMT being one of them. It was an enlightening experience. I'm pretty sure I don't want to do it as a career, but perhaps some short-term work for the experience (life experience as well as professional). During the shift our truck only had two calls, both at nursing centers and ended up in transport to EMS for not-really-critical patients. The most interesting thing was discovering Gatorade in a can. I'd like to go again.
I love going to the farmers market; it always fascinates me. I love knowing something is in season when you see TONS of it EVERYWHERE. And then I love seeing a pretty common/standard produce and then a plethora of varieties. Case in point for this week: tomatoes, summer squash, and peaches are all in season and are all over the place. There are of course other produce, but those are probably my favorites because I'm familiar with them. Still seeing blueberries, but not as much as tomatoes and peaches. I'd always shy away okra when I was younger and more picky, any suggestions? Eggplants are what I've seen such a variety of. Not sure what the mainstream variety is called. However, I've seen ones that look like brussel sprouts (in color and shape); smaller, white ones, and smaller, elongated varieties.
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