Archive for March, 2009
March 18, 2009
Run: Bike Path
Distance: 6.6 Miles
Time: 55 min
Avg HR: 154
Shoes: Brooks GTS 9
Feeling Before: Good
Rating: 8
Good Run. Ran the first 3 miles at a 7 min pace. Gonna see how my foot holds up tomorrow.
Should (Distance) Runners Stretch?
It’s a question I never really thought to ask. Of course you should stretch before running! Right? I know that I should stretch because it’s one of the things I don’t do well.
Seems like there is a lot more debate on this than I would have guessed. Some people seem to think stretching helps prevent injuries (Debbie Pitchford, physical therapist) while on the opposite spectrum, some coaches thinks it’s benefit is more psychological than physical. I’ve also heard it said that stretching removes lactic acid from the muscles (http://www.halhigdon.com/15Ktraining/Stretch.htm) – or was it hydrogen ions? But for distance runners running below this threshold, that doesn’t seem like it would be a problem.
Stretching does seems to make someone more flexible, but I guess the real question is whether or not added flexibility is good for the long distance runner. It’s an interesting thought that I’m going to have to research a little bit more. Until then, I’ll stick with feeling guilty for not doing it.
March 17, 2009
Posted by Benjamin in Running Entries on March 17th, 2009
Run: Sierra Madre
Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 25 min
Avg HR: 157
Shoes: Brooks GTS 9
Feeling Before: Stressed
Rating: 3
Woke up this morning at 5:30. Plenty of time to get a run in, but for some reason the motivation wasn’t there to get out of bed. Even though I took yesterday off, I am still feeling a bit tired. I will try again this evening.
Traffic was horrible getting home from work so I had to cut my run short. Only went for 30 minutes and I ran it faster than I really wanted to. Tomorrow I should have more time to get some distance in.
My foot is still feeling a little weird, but it’s no longer painful. I found some good shin stretches that seem to be helping.
March 15, 2009
Posted by Benjamin in Running Entries on March 17th, 2009
Run: Bike Path
Distance: 7.2 Miles
Time: 57 min
Avg HR: 149
Shoes: Brooks GTS 9
Feeling Before: Little Tired
Rating: 6
March 14, 2009
Posted by Benjamin in Running Entries on March 14th, 2009
Run: Bike Path
Distance: 7.2 Miles
Time: 61 min
Avg HR: 156
Shoes: Brooks GTS 9
Feeling Before: Little Tired
Rating: 6
March 13, 2009
Posted by Benjamin in Running Entries on March 13th, 2009
Run: Bike Path
Distance: 3.70 Miles
Time: 29min
Avg HR: 158
Shoes: Brooks GTS 9
Feeling Before: Good
Rating: 8
I got a new pair of shoes today. I went at lunch to the local running store to see if I could find a pair that works better than my last couple. When I mentioned to the guy at the store that I really loved the old Asics 2120, but not the 2130’s, he thought that was interesting. I guess Asics made the 2120 a little firmer than usual and a lot of people complained about it so they went with a softer more flexible sole in the 30’s. I’m not sure if that’s the problem I had with them specifically, but it was interesting that I was one of the few who actually liked the 2120s.
Anyway, I ended up with a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 9s (Seriously, “Adrenalines”? I get the purpose of marketing, but sometimes I wonder, especially when usually I end up going with 1 of 3 pairs that the LRS hands me and don’t really pay attention to what the name of the shoe is until I get it home.) They didn’t have the Brooks in wide, but they felt wide enough in the store that I went with them anyway. I’m wondering now if that was a mistake. They feel a little tight around the mid sole. I’m hoping it’s just because I’m used to wearing a pretty beat up pair of kicks and that I just need to get used to a snugger fit shoe.
I’m hoping to take them out for a test drive this evening when I get home.
Mileage so far: 20 feet down the sidewalk.
Update:
I love these shoes!! My foot wasn’t slipping around as much as in my Asics. I’ll see tomorrow if my foot is feeling any worse, but I doubt it will be.
Mileage so far: 3.7 miles + 20 feet.
March 11, 2009
Posted by Benjamin in Running Entries on March 12th, 2009
Run: Bike Path
Distance: 5.70 Miles
Time:
Shoes: Asics Kayanos
Feeling Before: Little Tired
Rating: 5
Not really feeling it at the begining of the run. Debated on whether or not to cut it short at 3 miles. After going 2.5, I felt a little better and finished the planned distance.
Since I’ve been trying to work on my running form, oddly enough, I have a difficult time keeping my pace over an 8:00/mile. I think it’s a testimony (for me at least) of how important form is to running economy.
Woke up this morning with a slight pain in the top of my right foot. Hope my injury isn’t coming back. I think it’s time to get a good pair of running shoes – ones that actually fit. Until then, I’m going to cut back slightly on the distance.