The end... of Insanity

So, I am done, finished, the Insanity program. I've "enjoyed" it, which means I think it has helped me especially in core strength. I didn't take pictures, weigh myself, nor measure anything prior to starting the program so I don't have measurables to say it has worked this well or whatever. But it was never about that for me, it was about trying something outside of my comfort zone. I wanted to get away from just running and this was a good stepping stone to do some more weight training.

I haven't done the last fit test yet but may try to do so this week, we shall see. Again not a goal but would be interesting to see if there was improvement over the last one I did.

The take aways for me are:

• To keep doing some of the workouts from the program a few times a week.
• See if I can turn the improved core strength into better running and soccer.

And on that note, I did a 45 minute run today and aside from a little soreness or stiffness in my knee and IT band my lungs felt great, not taxed and my pace was the same as 2 months ago, so it seems I didn't lose ground. Not sure I gained ground either but that's okay.

Blogging Interruptis

It is a good thing my only follower gets all the necessary information by living with me and does not depend on this blog for useful information because I am a blog-slacker or slack-blogger.

On the good side of things my Over 35 Masters soccer team won the Nova Scotia Provincial finals on Sunday in a hard fought victory over Athens (they beat us the previous two seasons in the final). Eastern Nationals are on Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in Halifax, while I'll be in the UK so Great Luck for the guys!

On the bad side my string of injuries continue to mount with a bout of ITBS last week, coupled with a sore left hamstring from my soccer games on Saturday, and topped with a pop in my right hamstring during the Finals. So, it all adds up to a terribly inconsistent marathon training program for the Loch Ness Marathon in 13 days. Not to mention the attempt to try to let my hamstrings heal enough to muddle through 26.2 miles. But, I want the damn finisher's medal so I will give it a go; as well, I'll be in Scotland anyway might as well push my limits one more time before a nice 6 or so week break.

Physio, Ice, Rest, Physio; repeat...

Mitts Longest Run

So, yesterday, with lower humidity for the first time in a few weeks I took Mitts with me on a recovery ish run. She has done 6 or so recovery runs with me all either 4 or 5 miles long and on each of these runs about halfway through she is usually in step with me and with a mile left she is about done. However, yesterday we did 6.5 miles and she was still charging up hills and pulling a little.

Mitts

The pulling is of course not ideal; but, I'm happy that the run was easier for her. Although, she did enjoy laying down in the brook when the run was over.

On another note, my injured Quad is tight but I don't think I stressed it on the run. Being a recovery run I tried to keep a slowish even pace. I think it ended up being a little quicker than what the range says it should be, but pacing is still a huge weakness. It seems I run a fair number of runs a little faster than I need to in order to hit the marathon pace I want. This is tempered by the reality that with the string of injuries I have not been able to do much tempo running (2 miles total!). I do play soccer 1 or 2 times per week though, so hopefully that is helping on that end. The soccer is certainly hurting my long runs though as I have had to not do a few because of game nights the night before a long run.

Going to try for 12 miles tonight.

Getting On-track

I really do have huge gaps in my postings. I am going to try and improve that, obviously, with 0 followers it is more about self motivation than providing something for others to read or follow.

I completed my first marathon on May 9th in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada at the wait Fredericton Marathon. This is a very flat course that runs mainly of trails in the city that were built where the old train tracks were. Quite a comfortable run. My twin sister and I ran the first 16 miles together and while I felt surprisingly fresh she did not. She finished with a Boston Qualifying time and will likely run her 3rd Boston Marathon in 2011. I finished below my expected time but above my best case time; however, I was really pleased and as it was my first I, of course, achieved a Personal Best!

My two biggest obstacles were 1) not going too fast too soon and staying with my sister for 16 miles helped with that 2) my hamstring started to cramp with about 2 or 3 miles left (I didn't fuel properly after I left my sister) fortunately, I was able to stretch it out quickly, increase my liquid intact, and finish.

I felt great after the run and the next fews days were also excellent -- no pains, etc. However, I then decided to go for a run on the Thursday following the Sunday race and ran about 5 miles and probably a little too quick a pace. The result being a soreness in my left calf, which I ran through in the following days (although not much as I tried to take it easy). It didn't get better and eventually went to physio and they confirmed or at least agreed with what I suspected which was an injury to my soleus muscle. Regardless, I seem to have been fighting injuries ever since -- right Achilles, left knee, right quad, blah blah blah.

The biggest drag is that I am in the midst of training for marathon #2 in October and to date have done one poor attempt at a tempo run, no hills (although, there are tons of hills where I am so I hit hills every run), and aborted a number of long runs. Soccer games haven't helped the situation. Hopefully, I'm on the other side of the injuries and I will be able to manage the running and the soccer for 2 more months.

Time will tell!

Long time...

I've been pretty slack at blogging my running escapades; but, as I'm likely mostly writing to myself that is just fine. Fortunately, my running is more frequent than my posting, and as we have hit a run of weather that has been amazing for about 5 weeks, the running has been very enjoyable.

For the past 3 weeks I've been doing all of my running outside on the trails of Shubie. All of the runs have been great, save for a minor soreness or tightness. These are likely more from new sneakers and soccer games than from running. Luckily, the farther the better as the uncomfortableness seems to fade about half way through.

We've had a good stretch of soccer results of late, although, some of the games have been less than attractive soccer for the full 90 minutes; but at least we are pulling them out.

I'm going to run for the first time on pavement since the Blue Nose 10k in May, which was the beginning of a lot of back troubles. So, hopefully the Cole Harbour Harvest Run 6 miler is kinder to me.