Date: 3/21/2008 6:00 PM
Type: Long
Course: 6 mile creek (5.8 mi)
Distance: 6.03 miles
Duration: 1:13:00
Pace: 12:07 / mile
Shoe: Brooks Adrenaline
Misc: Quality: 5/10, Effort: 5/10
Weather: 32° F, Overcast
Notes: my longest run ever! Six miles!!!

Some calculator on the internet says my target pace for long runs should be 12-15 minutes per mile. I can do that, I thought, cause heck I can WALK an 18-minute pace.

So I jogged to the starting point a few blocks from my house (I've noticed the hardest part of the run is the beginning, so why not get that out of the way before I start timing myself) and I was off!

Despite frequent walking breaks (my longest run was maybe 9 minutes) and even a stop on a bench to dig some rocks out of my shoe, I made it with a 12 minute pace. Holy crap. That's not so bad!

Rather than music, I listened to the audiobook version of John Hodgman's "Areas of my expertise". Most of it was absurd background noise. Parts were laugh-out-loud hilarious, as is the image of a passing runner busting a gut listening to her ipod.

Best of all: I ran six miles!!!

wore: running tights, cotton shirt, light jacket, gloves. Temp 32 and overcast. Very little snow on the trail, which is nice (the snow sorta-melts and becomes uncomfortable to run on). Bonus: feet didn't hurt!
Statistics: VO2 Max: 24.5

Wore the same stuff as for 30-degree days. It wasn't pouring, just a light misting sort of rain.

Maybe it's because I started out tired, or maybe because I'm timing myself and seeing how slow I am, but I felt really awful today. I took 2 walking breaks - maybe more - in this short route. I checked my pace on a 1/4-mile stretch and it was 2:45 (for an 11-minute mile). And I felt like I couldn't keep that up.

But! For the last 10 minutes or so, I ran along with the beat of my music (I brought music today - I don't usually) and it was a gut-busting pace. Felt like I was gonna die, but hey, I'm close to home. Overall time not too bad, considering.

WHY DID MY WATCH PICK TODAY TO CRAP OUT ON ME? I was going to time myself for a 5K baseline, but no luck. So the pace listed is a guess.

I took 3 walking breaks in the first half (at each half-mile, I guess) but on the way back I realized I could jog a little easier and not need a break. I still felt like I made pretty good time. (Wish I knew what that time was!)

My feet didn't hurt until I passed the finish line. Then my right arch started aching. Still, I was feeling so great otherwise I decided to keep running all the way home (another half-mile). Then I picked up a dog at home and walked around the block for a proper cool-down.

Clothes: running tights, long sleeved cotton shirt, warmup jacket. Wondering if running with music might be a good idea.

was going to run the Belle Sherman 5K route today, but decided a walk would be better. I did walk the whole 5K route, but turned it into a loop instead of an out-and-back. The off-road portion turned out to be a very straight, flat asphalt trail that on its own is 0.89 miles long.

What I wore: jeans, hiking boots, tank top, Alfred sweatshirt.

How I felt: left arch hurting for last 1/2 mile

weather: 30 and sunny, but lots of half-melted snow on the trail

clothes: running tights, long-sleeved cotton shirt. Light warmup jacket for the first 10 min, then tied around waist.

felt: good! What a great workout! Not thirsty, didn't feel like I was going to die, just a nice good satisfying run. Worked hard and came back exhilarated. (even my feet felt ok!)

what I did: 5 minute blocks containing 3-4 minutes of running and the rest as a walking break. (Started with 3+2 but after the first few it was mostly 4+1) Warmup was 10 minutes, included a little jogging and some uphill trail walking. Cooldown was 10 min of uphill road walking.