I didn't know what to expect today. I set the goal to run a 20 miler. I haven't done that in awhile. I thought about running on trails, but then I saw that it was the first day of hunting season. I figured it was best to avoid those areas. I'm kind of getting tired of the Nor-Bath Trail and it was so sloppy a couple days ago. I figured it wouldn't get any better.
It has been some time since I ran the D&L section between Cementon and Slatington. One of the last times I ran there, it was a struggle. I think it was right after either the VIA Marathon or the Blues Cruise 50k. My calf started to hurt me then and I struggled immensely to finish 15 miles. I figured my legs probably don't like this surface, but I had to give it a try since I do like running here.
The weather was perfect. There was a slight breeze off the Lehigh River, but that was all. It was 42 degrees and occasionally the sun came out. I wore a lightweight orange long sleeve shirt and shorts. That was all I needed. I stuck with the orange just to be safe, since I think people might be able to hunt near the trail. I did see one hunter, but surprisingly I never heard a single gunshot.
I actually started off at Cove Road. I headed north. The trail was certainly sloppy. It is amazing how long it stays wet this time of year. With the stone surface, it wasn't quite as bad as Nor-Bath, but some sections were close.
The first mile felt good. In a lot of the early miles, I wasn't going hard, but I kept reminding myself to slow down anyway. I figured I could never go too slow. I ran on the opposite side of the trail because conditions seemed better over there.
It's amazing how much I've become like clockwork. My first mile of easy, longer runs is almost always an 8:52. After the warmup, the miles usually drop to just over an 8 minute pace. I'm consistent, that is for sure.
I cruised along and enjoyed the scenery. There are rock cliffs along the trail and they are cool in the winter. Ice crystals form on them and make a neat sight. A few of them fell down as I ran by. Luckily, they aren't too close to the trail.
I passed a lady walking her dog and saw a few other dog walkers as well as some bike riders today. A Monday afternoon in December doesn't draw much of a crowd though. I had most of the trail to myself to just think. I did that a lot in the beginning, until I got bored with the subjects that were concerning me.
I was happy to be feeling good as I hit miles 2, 3 and 4. I figured that the trail was softer that normal and that was a big help. I also flew at times, so those must've been some slight downhill sections.
I neared the Slatington Trailhead at around mile 5. I wanted to get some more distance, since I was feeling good. Therefore, I headed out on the Slate Heritage Trail. I didn't want to get too far on this trail though, because it is paved. I need to be cautious with my legs.
That trail begins with some slight uphill running. I went out about a mile and headed back, just after mile 6. I cruised back down along this trail and came to mile 7 just after getting off this trail and back onto the D&L.
My legs had been getting kind of sore on the Slate Heritage Trail, but they felt great almost instantaneously when I stepped back onto the D&L. It was hard to believe I was only at mile 7 of 20 at this point. I just had to focus on the small segments of the run and not the big picture.
From about miles 8-10, my legs were bothering me. It was starting to become a struggle. I guess that is because I was running uphill at this point. Running seemed so much harder and I was so frustrated. Every time that I felt like I was working too hard to go uphill, I told myself to back off. I had a long way to go. I began wondering how I'd run 15 miles, let alone 20 of them.
I had to just keep going and hope that I could regroup back at the car. When I would arrive there, it would be mile 12. I continued on and although my times didn't drop too much, I didn't feel good.
Right before getting back to my car, I went to the bathroom. Stopping briefly was a shock. I felt quite warm and was a little lightheaded. I got back to the car at just past mile 12. I stopped my watch while I rested.
I toweled off and stretch briefly. I was sore, but could've been in worse shape. I badly needed calories, so I ate an old GU. The only thing I had eaten for lunch were a couple pretzels. The rest was probably about 5 minutes.
I headed back out in the other direction this time, toward the Cementon Trailhead. I was hoping to run all the way to there and back, but I wasn't so sure since I didn't feel all that great. I was thinking maybe it would just be a couple shorter out and back runs to finish this thing up.
I must've been going uphill early on, because I felt awful. I got only a mile out in that direction and was strongly considering turning around. I sputtered on though. I figured that I could do another half mile.
Before I hit mile 14, something amazing happened. Suddenly, the legs felt great and I felt strong. I could tell that the GU was working its magic. The trail felt so much nicer too though. It must've been a downhill.
I cruised along comfortably. I was only at mile 14, but I felt so great now that I knew I'd finish the run. I felt so amazing that I even starting singing out loud. It's a good thing no one was on the trail.
I thought about turning around at mile 15, but I was still feeling awesome and wanted that to last longer. If I had to struggle on the way back, so be it. I had to take advantage of the great feeling now.
I continued on, not quite sure how far until the Cementon Trailhead. As I approached the trailhead, I realized that I would be right around 16 miles. I was actually dead on that mileage when I got to the gate at the end of the road and had to turn around.
That was perfect. I now had 4 miles to get back to my car. No matter what, I had to keep going. Otherwise, I'd have to walk far anyway.
It was certainly more difficult coming back. However, it must've been only a slight uphill, as I still felt quite strong. I focused on each upcoming mile and didn't want to look too far ahead.
I had been running around an 8:15 pace now. I was slipping only slightly. I still felt pretty strong. With 3 miles to go, I felt so good that I decided to run just a little bit harder.
Even at the end of the run and going uphill, I ran faster during miles 18, 19 and 20, than my average pace. I had pushed harder, but it wasn't too much more. I was just running solid and consistent.
Right before the final mile, a guy was walking his dog and it wanted to run and play with me. It didn't hold me up too much though. I ran the last mile very hard, or maybe more accurately, the last half mile. I pushed and pushed and pushed and got that mile from a 7:30 pace down to a 7:09 pace.
Usually when I've gone out for long runs, I've only been able to do 15-17 miles. Running so well today was a huge surprise to me. I was kind of mad that I didn't tack on a few more miles too. I had a bit more in the tank. I guess I can save that for later in the week.
This might've been my most amazing training run ever. It's definitely the winner in that category if you exclude my 25 miles on trails at Jacobsburg in the fall. I felt so strong afterward today and I wasn't even all that sore. I wish I could feel this way during marathons. That could go a long way toward me meeting my goals. Thinking about all the people in the Holiday Miles group that I'm in helped me get through this run as well.
It was a great run for sure, but now it is done and I have to move on. Tomorrow, I'm hoping for an easy double session. I'd like the AM one to be 5 miles and the PM one to be 10 miles. That would continue a strong week for me. I look forward to see how I handle the remainder of the week, since I'm shooting for 70 miles.
20 miles - 2:43:35 (8:11 pace)
Monday, December 2, 2013
Sunday, December 1, 2013
NFL Miles
The plan for today was an easy 5 miles. I wanted to run in the morning, but it was tough to get up. I have joined this group on facebook of people that are trying to run 100 miles between Thanksgiving and Christmas. While I'm obviously planning a lot more than that, the group still helps me get out there and it holds me accountable.
Before I went to the Eagles game this morning, I saw some of the group's posts. I suggested that we run a mile or two for each touchdown our favorite NFL team scores today. The Eagles won 24-21 (with 3 touchdowns), so I had to be good to my word.
I was sleeping on the car ride home and very tired. Maybe eating a chicken cheesesteak for dinner did that. I don't know, but I needed a coffee before the run. I finally got out there for my 6 mile run around 8:30 at night.
Since it was a pretty short run, I just headed to the neighborhoods near my house. I didn't want to waste time traveling. I saw the temperature at the bank was 39 degrees and with no wind, I figured it was shorts weather. I had on that and a ColdGear top. That was great. It was slightly chilly, but overall not bad.
I started off with the mile loop in my neighborhood. That is a good way to get going. There usually isn't too much traffic. As usual, my eyes watered until I adjusted to the cold.
Rather than run the loop around the other neighborhood across the street from the school, I decided to run the one next to the school. I figured I could get a couple solid miles in there. I ran up the street and did an out and back on one of the dead end streets. I'm not sure why, but it seems to be easier to run in this neighborhood than the other one. It seems to go quicker.
I then ran to the road that cuts through to the industrial park. I did a bit of an out and back there too. I was now over 3 miles into the run. I like running this area in the dark because it is lightly traveled. I don't have to worry about cars.
This run went by so smoothly. It was an easy pace and I was pretty deep in thought. When I can get myself in a zone like that, the miles just click off.
Before I knew it, I was back at the elementary school and nearly at 4 miles. Just 2 more miles to go. I decided that I would do about 3 loops around the school parking lot to get to mile 5.
Most of my miles were quite consistent. They were around an 8 minute pace. I felt pretty good, although I am running more on roads these days and have some minor soreness developing. I badly need new shoes and think that I'll purchase some this week.
After looping around the school, I ran my neighborhood loop once more. That went by pretty quickly. It was such a pleasant night to run. I needed a little more distance, but I finished up with a solid 6 miles. It was a good way to start the week.
Tomorrow, I need a long run. I want to hit 20 miles. I haven't done a run that long in quite some time. I'd like to run at Jacobsburg, but I'm not sure there will be enough daylight after work to be able to do that. I might need to go to the Nor-Bath Trail. I may actually go there first and see if the trail is still sloppy. I don't want to try to run on a messy trail for 20 miles.
6 miles - 49:17 (8:13 pace)
Before I went to the Eagles game this morning, I saw some of the group's posts. I suggested that we run a mile or two for each touchdown our favorite NFL team scores today. The Eagles won 24-21 (with 3 touchdowns), so I had to be good to my word.
I was sleeping on the car ride home and very tired. Maybe eating a chicken cheesesteak for dinner did that. I don't know, but I needed a coffee before the run. I finally got out there for my 6 mile run around 8:30 at night.
Since it was a pretty short run, I just headed to the neighborhoods near my house. I didn't want to waste time traveling. I saw the temperature at the bank was 39 degrees and with no wind, I figured it was shorts weather. I had on that and a ColdGear top. That was great. It was slightly chilly, but overall not bad.
I started off with the mile loop in my neighborhood. That is a good way to get going. There usually isn't too much traffic. As usual, my eyes watered until I adjusted to the cold.
Rather than run the loop around the other neighborhood across the street from the school, I decided to run the one next to the school. I figured I could get a couple solid miles in there. I ran up the street and did an out and back on one of the dead end streets. I'm not sure why, but it seems to be easier to run in this neighborhood than the other one. It seems to go quicker.
I then ran to the road that cuts through to the industrial park. I did a bit of an out and back there too. I was now over 3 miles into the run. I like running this area in the dark because it is lightly traveled. I don't have to worry about cars.
This run went by so smoothly. It was an easy pace and I was pretty deep in thought. When I can get myself in a zone like that, the miles just click off.
Before I knew it, I was back at the elementary school and nearly at 4 miles. Just 2 more miles to go. I decided that I would do about 3 loops around the school parking lot to get to mile 5.
Most of my miles were quite consistent. They were around an 8 minute pace. I felt pretty good, although I am running more on roads these days and have some minor soreness developing. I badly need new shoes and think that I'll purchase some this week.
After looping around the school, I ran my neighborhood loop once more. That went by pretty quickly. It was such a pleasant night to run. I needed a little more distance, but I finished up with a solid 6 miles. It was a good way to start the week.
Tomorrow, I need a long run. I want to hit 20 miles. I haven't done a run that long in quite some time. I'd like to run at Jacobsburg, but I'm not sure there will be enough daylight after work to be able to do that. I might need to go to the Nor-Bath Trail. I may actually go there first and see if the trail is still sloppy. I don't want to try to run on a messy trail for 20 miles.
6 miles - 49:17 (8:13 pace)
Saturday, November 30, 2013
A Much Needed 12
I wanted to run the Turkey Trot today, but I didn't sleep well last night. It was also quite cold this morning and I didn't think I could run a fast time. Therefore, I passed on that.
I needed to get out and get a double digit run in. I was feeling kind of crappy mentally, so I needed a good run. In the afternoon, I headed out to the Nor-Bath Trail.
The weather was nicer by the afternoon. It was at least above freezing when I started. The wind was minimal. I was planning to run an easy 10 miles, so I wore ColdGear with a fleece vest. I had on tights, gloves and a headband. I didn't quite need that much in the beginning and ended up taking it off. As the sun was setting, I put it back on.
I started off from Bicentennial Park. I ran west toward Northampton to start. I just figured that I would run the whole length of the trail. I felt great early on. The legs were excellent and it felt easy. It hasn't rained it a couple days, but the dirt trail was sloppy. I guess I'm going to have to deal with those conditions all winter on this trail.
Some sections were so bad that I had to run in the grass along the trail. I was concerned that the trail might be too soft and it might bother my legs. I guess it didn't though.
Running out to Northampton had some downhill, so that was nice. When I got to Northampton, I wanted to keep going since I was doing well. I decided to run on the streets. I ran past the high school and onto Route 329. I then looped around as I ran down Main Street.
By now, I had planned on 12 miles, instead of 10. I hit mile 5 in downtown Northampton. I did a short out and back by the Community Center to get some more distance. I got back onto the trail with over 6 miles complete.
I ran back uphill on the trail and back through the slop. It was good to get to miles 7, 8, 9 and so on. When I got to the trail onto a park, I took that paved path to add more mileage. I saw a couple runners during these miles. First, was a young lady. Then a young guy that was running quite fast. Finally, there was another young guy with his face covered, but also wearing shorts. That was quite odd.
I decided to run somewhat hard for the last 3 miles. I didn't run these as well as I thought I could. The legs felt kind of dead. It was still solids times though. The 10th mile was 7:12. I followed that up with a 7:01 11th. Mile 10 had been right back where I started, so I went out and back. I had turned around at 10.8 miles because someone was walking their dogs and I didn't want to have to pass them twice.
I finished up with a 6:40 last mile. I could've pushed it even more too. The overall pace dropped below 8 minutes per mile. It was a great run and much needed. It was so refreshing. I finished off the week with 40 miles.
Tomorrow, I'm busy with the Eagles game. I'm hoping to get up early and run though. If I feel good, I might even run another short, easy run in the evening. I'd like to do a 20 mile long run on Monday. I'm looking for a big upcoming week. I'm hoping for 70 miles total.
12 miles - 1:34:34 (7:53 pace)
I needed to get out and get a double digit run in. I was feeling kind of crappy mentally, so I needed a good run. In the afternoon, I headed out to the Nor-Bath Trail.
The weather was nicer by the afternoon. It was at least above freezing when I started. The wind was minimal. I was planning to run an easy 10 miles, so I wore ColdGear with a fleece vest. I had on tights, gloves and a headband. I didn't quite need that much in the beginning and ended up taking it off. As the sun was setting, I put it back on.
I started off from Bicentennial Park. I ran west toward Northampton to start. I just figured that I would run the whole length of the trail. I felt great early on. The legs were excellent and it felt easy. It hasn't rained it a couple days, but the dirt trail was sloppy. I guess I'm going to have to deal with those conditions all winter on this trail.
Some sections were so bad that I had to run in the grass along the trail. I was concerned that the trail might be too soft and it might bother my legs. I guess it didn't though.
Running out to Northampton had some downhill, so that was nice. When I got to Northampton, I wanted to keep going since I was doing well. I decided to run on the streets. I ran past the high school and onto Route 329. I then looped around as I ran down Main Street.
By now, I had planned on 12 miles, instead of 10. I hit mile 5 in downtown Northampton. I did a short out and back by the Community Center to get some more distance. I got back onto the trail with over 6 miles complete.
I ran back uphill on the trail and back through the slop. It was good to get to miles 7, 8, 9 and so on. When I got to the trail onto a park, I took that paved path to add more mileage. I saw a couple runners during these miles. First, was a young lady. Then a young guy that was running quite fast. Finally, there was another young guy with his face covered, but also wearing shorts. That was quite odd.
I decided to run somewhat hard for the last 3 miles. I didn't run these as well as I thought I could. The legs felt kind of dead. It was still solids times though. The 10th mile was 7:12. I followed that up with a 7:01 11th. Mile 10 had been right back where I started, so I went out and back. I had turned around at 10.8 miles because someone was walking their dogs and I didn't want to have to pass them twice.
I finished up with a 6:40 last mile. I could've pushed it even more too. The overall pace dropped below 8 minutes per mile. It was a great run and much needed. It was so refreshing. I finished off the week with 40 miles.
Tomorrow, I'm busy with the Eagles game. I'm hoping to get up early and run though. If I feel good, I might even run another short, easy run in the evening. I'd like to do a 20 mile long run on Monday. I'm looking for a big upcoming week. I'm hoping for 70 miles total.
12 miles - 1:34:34 (7:53 pace)
Friday, November 29, 2013
Finally Some Time to Run
My life has been crazy lately. The last two days, I was working almost nonstop. Any free time I had was devoted to sleeping. I didn't get a run in. That made this a cutback week by default.
I didn't have time to run this afternoon, but luckily I was able to get out there at night. I wasn't crazy about that because it is below freezing out. Winter has sure arrived early over the past week. The good thing is that it wasn't windy.
I'm hoping to run the Turkey Trot 5k in Bethlehem tomorrow, so I needed an easy 5 miler tonight. I just wanted to be able to run again and enjoy it. I was going to drive to the Nor-Bath Trail, but then I figured that I might as well run the neighborhoods around my house.
Since I wasn't running hard, I wore quite a bit. I had on tights and a ColdGear top. I wore my fleece vest over it. I also had on a headband and gloves. I do plan on wearing significantly less for tomorrow's race.
I started off at the end of the driveway. I ran over to the elementary school and then into the other neighborhood. I haven't run the long loop in awhile, so I planned on that. It is about 4 miles. I could add on after that.
The only thing I don't like about the cold is that my eyes water at first. I felt great early on though. The legs were sure grateful for the two days of rest. They felt sharp.
I didn't pay much attention to my watch at all. I didn't care about the pace. Quite a few times, I was running slowly and I still told myself to slow down. It was a nice and peaceful and relaxing run.
At one point, I ran past two cars with lights on. I then ended up running past two teenage girls going toward the cars. I caught them off guard. A short while later, a guy was walking and I barely saw him. I can't believe how little people wear in the dark.
This was a good run to just enjoy it and think. I don't do that often enough anyway. There were some Christmas lights around, but not much else was going on. It was good to get to mile 3.
When I got near the end of the neighborhood, I decided to head to a long loop. I was near mile 4 and that loop would get me close to mile 5. I opted instead for a shorter loop and that actually worked out perfect.
I crossed the road and ran right past the Blue Eagle 5k finish line. I finished the run at the bottom of the black path. It was exactly what I was looking for in this run. Just some solid and enjoyable mileage.
As I said, I'm probably racing tomorrow. I might run in the afternoon/night too. I need to get some more mileage in. Next week should be a big week.
5 miles - 42:08 (8:26 pace)
I didn't have time to run this afternoon, but luckily I was able to get out there at night. I wasn't crazy about that because it is below freezing out. Winter has sure arrived early over the past week. The good thing is that it wasn't windy.
I'm hoping to run the Turkey Trot 5k in Bethlehem tomorrow, so I needed an easy 5 miler tonight. I just wanted to be able to run again and enjoy it. I was going to drive to the Nor-Bath Trail, but then I figured that I might as well run the neighborhoods around my house.
Since I wasn't running hard, I wore quite a bit. I had on tights and a ColdGear top. I wore my fleece vest over it. I also had on a headband and gloves. I do plan on wearing significantly less for tomorrow's race.
I started off at the end of the driveway. I ran over to the elementary school and then into the other neighborhood. I haven't run the long loop in awhile, so I planned on that. It is about 4 miles. I could add on after that.
The only thing I don't like about the cold is that my eyes water at first. I felt great early on though. The legs were sure grateful for the two days of rest. They felt sharp.
I didn't pay much attention to my watch at all. I didn't care about the pace. Quite a few times, I was running slowly and I still told myself to slow down. It was a nice and peaceful and relaxing run.
At one point, I ran past two cars with lights on. I then ended up running past two teenage girls going toward the cars. I caught them off guard. A short while later, a guy was walking and I barely saw him. I can't believe how little people wear in the dark.
This was a good run to just enjoy it and think. I don't do that often enough anyway. There were some Christmas lights around, but not much else was going on. It was good to get to mile 3.
When I got near the end of the neighborhood, I decided to head to a long loop. I was near mile 4 and that loop would get me close to mile 5. I opted instead for a shorter loop and that actually worked out perfect.
I crossed the road and ran right past the Blue Eagle 5k finish line. I finished the run at the bottom of the black path. It was exactly what I was looking for in this run. Just some solid and enjoyable mileage.
As I said, I'm probably racing tomorrow. I might run in the afternoon/night too. I need to get some more mileage in. Next week should be a big week.
5 miles - 42:08 (8:26 pace)
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Dark, Cold, Rainy and Icy
The conditions were miserable this evening. Other than wind, you name it, the weather had it. It rained most of the day and was getting heavy as I began the 8 PM run. It was also cold again, only in the mid to upper 30s, although the temperature was supposed to be rising throughout the night.
I would've liked to have got some miles in during daylight, but again I was busy at work. Night running was the only option. I headed out to the Nor-Bath Trail. I was planning on 10 miles. I started from the neighborhood section near Northampton.
Dressing was a tricky proposition on this evening. It was cold, but not that cold. With all the rain, I knew I would be soaked a feel much worse at the beginning when compared to the end of the run. I wore my jacket with a short sleeve tech shirt under it. I had on tights and wore a regular hat on my head to go along with my headlamp. It was warm enough to not wear gloves initially, but my wet hands got cold quite quickly, so I threw them on as well.
Instead of heading the usual direction. I decided to go toward Northampton. This is a very short out and back from this starting point. It is a downhill start which is nice. Of course, that means it is uphill coming back. The rain was very visible in my headlamp. It seemed better when I turned it off later on.
I cruised along. There was no going fast on this day. The stone part of the trail was very sloppy. Occasionally, I got water in my shoes. It was cold water, which was quite uncomfortable.
Some kids were out playing basketball when I started. That reminded me of how I used to play basketball in all conditions. It brought a smile to my face. Of course they were done 12 minutes later when I arrived back at my car.
I was almost 1.5 miles into the run when I got there. I was already figuring this likely wouldn't be a double digit mileage run. I headed out the other direction. This has some uphill too, until the other side of Savage Road. I crossed the road without too much difficulty.
The section past Savage Road was complete slop. It was also kind of hard to see in the darkness. I actually ran on the grass for a good portion of the beginning of this section. When I got to about 2.1 miles, I decided that it was too crazy to run on this surface.
The stone was icy. Almost every time I took a step, my foot slide slightly. For someone who has trouble with their legs being sore, I figured this could really throw everything off for me. I decided to head back and run through the neighborhoods. At least the pavement and sidewalks were better. I guess I should've taken the icicles on the stop signs as a signal that I shouldn't have been out there running on this evening.
I got to the neighborhood at 2.8 miles. By now, I just planned on a 5 mile run. Not great, but at least I got out the door and accomplished something. The thing I wasn't crazy about with the neighborhood section is that it is hilly.
I ran a short loop in the neighborhood and then headed south for a longer out and back type segment. I didn't know where I was actually going, but I found a lot of different roads. When I was around mile 4, I took a turn and decided to go out farther. I figured that I'd probably end up with 6 miles. There are already some Christmas light up, so that was nice to see.
Around 4.5 miles, my nipple started to bother me. It was chafing thanks to my wet clothes. I opened my jacket up and that really helped. When I got into the car later, I realized that it had bled down my shirt. I thought if that ever happened that it would hurt much worse than it actually did.
On my way back, I was disappointed when I came out from one road. I was much closer to my car than I expected. I wasn't even at mile 5 yet. I ran the other way. As I was going down one hill, a small dog in a yard started barking and scared the crap out of me. I crossed the road and ran on the other side.
I turned around shortly after that. I then headed back toward my car. This had some uphill, but wasn't too bad. I slipped on a couple icy sections of sidewalk. The sidewalk and pavement were generally okay. There was just a lot of water.
I got back to my car with about a third of a mile to go. I ran a short out and back and finished up. I was very wet and cold by the end. I didn't get as much done as I would've liked, but I was glad I got out there and accomplished something.
Tomorrow looks to be another crappy day. I'm also busy at work again. I'm hoping to run, but not sure where and when. This just might have to be a lighter mileage week than I anticipated. Only time will tell. Thanksgiving will be super busy, but I'll have some down time and might be able to run.
6 miles -53:00 (8:50 pace)
I would've liked to have got some miles in during daylight, but again I was busy at work. Night running was the only option. I headed out to the Nor-Bath Trail. I was planning on 10 miles. I started from the neighborhood section near Northampton.
Dressing was a tricky proposition on this evening. It was cold, but not that cold. With all the rain, I knew I would be soaked a feel much worse at the beginning when compared to the end of the run. I wore my jacket with a short sleeve tech shirt under it. I had on tights and wore a regular hat on my head to go along with my headlamp. It was warm enough to not wear gloves initially, but my wet hands got cold quite quickly, so I threw them on as well.
Instead of heading the usual direction. I decided to go toward Northampton. This is a very short out and back from this starting point. It is a downhill start which is nice. Of course, that means it is uphill coming back. The rain was very visible in my headlamp. It seemed better when I turned it off later on.
I cruised along. There was no going fast on this day. The stone part of the trail was very sloppy. Occasionally, I got water in my shoes. It was cold water, which was quite uncomfortable.
Some kids were out playing basketball when I started. That reminded me of how I used to play basketball in all conditions. It brought a smile to my face. Of course they were done 12 minutes later when I arrived back at my car.
I was almost 1.5 miles into the run when I got there. I was already figuring this likely wouldn't be a double digit mileage run. I headed out the other direction. This has some uphill too, until the other side of Savage Road. I crossed the road without too much difficulty.
The section past Savage Road was complete slop. It was also kind of hard to see in the darkness. I actually ran on the grass for a good portion of the beginning of this section. When I got to about 2.1 miles, I decided that it was too crazy to run on this surface.
The stone was icy. Almost every time I took a step, my foot slide slightly. For someone who has trouble with their legs being sore, I figured this could really throw everything off for me. I decided to head back and run through the neighborhoods. At least the pavement and sidewalks were better. I guess I should've taken the icicles on the stop signs as a signal that I shouldn't have been out there running on this evening.
I got to the neighborhood at 2.8 miles. By now, I just planned on a 5 mile run. Not great, but at least I got out the door and accomplished something. The thing I wasn't crazy about with the neighborhood section is that it is hilly.
I ran a short loop in the neighborhood and then headed south for a longer out and back type segment. I didn't know where I was actually going, but I found a lot of different roads. When I was around mile 4, I took a turn and decided to go out farther. I figured that I'd probably end up with 6 miles. There are already some Christmas light up, so that was nice to see.
Around 4.5 miles, my nipple started to bother me. It was chafing thanks to my wet clothes. I opened my jacket up and that really helped. When I got into the car later, I realized that it had bled down my shirt. I thought if that ever happened that it would hurt much worse than it actually did.
On my way back, I was disappointed when I came out from one road. I was much closer to my car than I expected. I wasn't even at mile 5 yet. I ran the other way. As I was going down one hill, a small dog in a yard started barking and scared the crap out of me. I crossed the road and ran on the other side.
I turned around shortly after that. I then headed back toward my car. This had some uphill, but wasn't too bad. I slipped on a couple icy sections of sidewalk. The sidewalk and pavement were generally okay. There was just a lot of water.
I got back to my car with about a third of a mile to go. I ran a short out and back and finished up. I was very wet and cold by the end. I didn't get as much done as I would've liked, but I was glad I got out there and accomplished something.
Tomorrow looks to be another crappy day. I'm also busy at work again. I'm hoping to run, but not sure where and when. This just might have to be a lighter mileage week than I anticipated. Only time will tell. Thanksgiving will be super busy, but I'll have some down time and might be able to run.
6 miles -53:00 (8:50 pace)
Monday, November 25, 2013
Palmer Bike Path Night Run
I was planning on the usual long run on Monday. However, we are going to be super busy at work on Thanksgiving, so I stayed later than usual to get things together. I could've rushed in a run before dinner, but instead, I just headed out at night.
I figured that I wouldn't run long after dark, but I at least wanted to run 10-12 miles. I'm getting kind of sick of the Nor-Bath Trail, so I decided to run the Palmer Bike Path, starting at Mill Race Park.
The wind is much less than yesterday, but it was still pretty cold, especially after dark. It was in the mid 20s. With no wind, I just went with a ColdGear top, tights, gloves and a hat. I wanted to wear my headband, but apparently I dropped it on the walkway in front of my house.
The plan was to run out about 6 miles and then run back. I wasn't sure if I would quite make it there because I'd have to run some hills. Early on, I sort of thought about running the full loop around Easton, but that didn't last. I don't run on pavement much, so I didn't know what to expect and I was sore fairly early.
There was a slight headwind early on, but it wasn't much. I tried to take it nice and easy. I still got quite hot and sweaty. The flat section until I got to Hackett's Park was nice and relaxing. It was over 2.5 miles until the point. After a slow first mile, I ran the next couple near an 8 minute pace.
I went up the Hackett's Park hill slowly. It is quite steep though, so I was breathing fairly heavy by the top. This section had a lot of elevation change. Pounding the pavement and climbing was hard on my legs. I was hoping that maybe they could handle pavement better than they do stone trails. I guess they did, but it wasn't great. This was nowhere near as good as the Nor-Bath Trail is for them. I definitely need some new shoes. Maybe that will help the legs out.
I ran downhill after Hackett's Park. This was cool because there is a bridge over Route 22. It was fun running over that in the dark with all of the cars' headlights. After that section, there was more downhill and a road crossing. Then I was running behind the bakery.
I decided that if I could cross Northampton Street without any issues, I'd do just that. That is exactly what happened. I ran through the next section by the old Dixie Cup factory. A saw a cat run down the trail at this point.
The section around Easton High School can get quite busy. I figured that it wasn't worth trying to cross all those roads at night. I turned around before I got to 25th Street. I was at 4.6 miles. I'd have to add a few miles when I got back.
I tried to focus on just making it up the steep hill to Hackett's Park. After that, everything would be flat. There is a park right before the pedestrian bridge over Route 22. I saw what I thought was a dog in the park. I then realized that it was a deer. I looked over and there must've been 8-10 deer in one of the fields. That was neat.
After the bridge, the climb was difficult. It is a switchback section with the middle third being very long and gradual. It seemed to go on forever and ever. I was breathing so hard by the top. I hit mile 6 at that point. I kind of couldn't believe I was only halfway done with my planned miles.
I ran on the road through Hackett's the first time, but this time I was wiser. I ran through the park itself and avoided the cars. Going downhill was nice. Before long, I was back onto the flat part. I saw another deer by the Crayola Factory.
I just cruised along. The remainder of the run was mostly uneventful. I just focused on the next mile and tried to be consistent. At one point, I ran an 8:08 mile, then another 8:08 one and finally an 8:09. That was exactly what I wanted to do.
I got back to Mill Race Park at mile 9.2. I figured that I would run to the end of the trail at Tatamy and back. I'd still need some distance. I saw another deer along the creek just past Mill Race Park. When I got to Tatamy, part of the trail is stone and my legs liked the change.
I turned around at 10.2 miles and headed back. I now knew I'd need .8 miles to finish up from the end of Mill Race Park. I was back at the park soon and then I ran a short out and back on the other side of the road. I wasn't crazy about doing this because it would be an uphill finish, but it was a short distance.
I turned around at 11.5 miles. I would run to the the far end of Mill Race Park to finish up. I didn't run hard, but I pushed the pace slightly. I ran the final mile, with some uphill, in 7:27. It was good to be done with a solid workout.
Tomorrow, I'd like to do a long run. Maybe something in the range of 17-20 miles. It'll probably be on the Nor-Bath Trail, so that my legs can handle it. I get kind of bored with really long solo runs, so I'm thinking I might focus on running the final 5 miles or so with a moderate effort. At some point, I'll need to start incorporating some sort of speed element into my running anyway.
12 miles - 1:37:31 (8:08 pace)
I figured that I wouldn't run long after dark, but I at least wanted to run 10-12 miles. I'm getting kind of sick of the Nor-Bath Trail, so I decided to run the Palmer Bike Path, starting at Mill Race Park.
The wind is much less than yesterday, but it was still pretty cold, especially after dark. It was in the mid 20s. With no wind, I just went with a ColdGear top, tights, gloves and a hat. I wanted to wear my headband, but apparently I dropped it on the walkway in front of my house.
The plan was to run out about 6 miles and then run back. I wasn't sure if I would quite make it there because I'd have to run some hills. Early on, I sort of thought about running the full loop around Easton, but that didn't last. I don't run on pavement much, so I didn't know what to expect and I was sore fairly early.
There was a slight headwind early on, but it wasn't much. I tried to take it nice and easy. I still got quite hot and sweaty. The flat section until I got to Hackett's Park was nice and relaxing. It was over 2.5 miles until the point. After a slow first mile, I ran the next couple near an 8 minute pace.
I went up the Hackett's Park hill slowly. It is quite steep though, so I was breathing fairly heavy by the top. This section had a lot of elevation change. Pounding the pavement and climbing was hard on my legs. I was hoping that maybe they could handle pavement better than they do stone trails. I guess they did, but it wasn't great. This was nowhere near as good as the Nor-Bath Trail is for them. I definitely need some new shoes. Maybe that will help the legs out.
I ran downhill after Hackett's Park. This was cool because there is a bridge over Route 22. It was fun running over that in the dark with all of the cars' headlights. After that section, there was more downhill and a road crossing. Then I was running behind the bakery.
I decided that if I could cross Northampton Street without any issues, I'd do just that. That is exactly what happened. I ran through the next section by the old Dixie Cup factory. A saw a cat run down the trail at this point.
The section around Easton High School can get quite busy. I figured that it wasn't worth trying to cross all those roads at night. I turned around before I got to 25th Street. I was at 4.6 miles. I'd have to add a few miles when I got back.
I tried to focus on just making it up the steep hill to Hackett's Park. After that, everything would be flat. There is a park right before the pedestrian bridge over Route 22. I saw what I thought was a dog in the park. I then realized that it was a deer. I looked over and there must've been 8-10 deer in one of the fields. That was neat.
After the bridge, the climb was difficult. It is a switchback section with the middle third being very long and gradual. It seemed to go on forever and ever. I was breathing so hard by the top. I hit mile 6 at that point. I kind of couldn't believe I was only halfway done with my planned miles.
I ran on the road through Hackett's the first time, but this time I was wiser. I ran through the park itself and avoided the cars. Going downhill was nice. Before long, I was back onto the flat part. I saw another deer by the Crayola Factory.
I just cruised along. The remainder of the run was mostly uneventful. I just focused on the next mile and tried to be consistent. At one point, I ran an 8:08 mile, then another 8:08 one and finally an 8:09. That was exactly what I wanted to do.
I got back to Mill Race Park at mile 9.2. I figured that I would run to the end of the trail at Tatamy and back. I'd still need some distance. I saw another deer along the creek just past Mill Race Park. When I got to Tatamy, part of the trail is stone and my legs liked the change.
I turned around at 10.2 miles and headed back. I now knew I'd need .8 miles to finish up from the end of Mill Race Park. I was back at the park soon and then I ran a short out and back on the other side of the road. I wasn't crazy about doing this because it would be an uphill finish, but it was a short distance.
I turned around at 11.5 miles. I would run to the the far end of Mill Race Park to finish up. I didn't run hard, but I pushed the pace slightly. I ran the final mile, with some uphill, in 7:27. It was good to be done with a solid workout.
Tomorrow, I'd like to do a long run. Maybe something in the range of 17-20 miles. It'll probably be on the Nor-Bath Trail, so that my legs can handle it. I get kind of bored with really long solo runs, so I'm thinking I might focus on running the final 5 miles or so with a moderate effort. At some point, I'll need to start incorporating some sort of speed element into my running anyway.
12 miles - 1:37:31 (8:08 pace)
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Windy and Cold Sunday Run
I'm usually busy with Eagles games on Sundays, so my week often gets off to a slow start. I frequently rest on Sunday. Today, they had a bye and I was free to get a run in.
Of course it would be super windy and cold. I waited until the afternoon (since the early football games were terrible anyway). It warmed up to a windchill of 13 degrees. I was only planning on 5 miles, just to jump start the week.
The plan was to run on the Nor-Bath Trail. Rather than fight the wind, I wanted to use it to my advantage today. I left my car at the east end of the trail and convinced my parents to drop me off at the west end in Northampton. That way I could run with the wind at my back most of the run.
I told them to wait a couple minutes in case I turned around and gave up early. I figured that that likely wouldn't happen though. I had on tights and shorts, a winter top and fleece vest and gloves and a headband. My mom was worried that I'd be too cold. I was actually more concerned of the opposite. I thought it might be too hot and I'd have to peel off layers.
From a temperature and feeling standpoint, the run started off great. The only downside to starting this way is that it is an uphill beginning. The hills aren't that steep, but it can be a slight challenge when your legs aren't warmed up.
I just focused on getting to each road crossing. First, it was the neighborhood section and then Savage Road. Those come up pretty quickly, within the first mile. That mile was run at a comfortable 8:09.
I cruised along. I can't say I was running slow, but I didn't feel like I was working too much either. The legs felt great. In this section between Savage Road and Weaversville Road, I saw some people walking. One was a woman who was 70 or 80 years old. If she can be out there in that weather at her age and walking around, then what I was doing was easy. I saw another older guy later on with an Eagles sweatshirt. Us Eagles fans had nothing to do today I guess. I sure do hate bye weeks.
There were a bunch of crows making noise in this area, so I had some fun mocking them. I crossed Weaversville Road with ease. Amazingly, I didn't have to stop at a single road crossing. After a second mile of 7:15, I was feeling good in the stretch around Bicentennial Park.
As I sort of figured, this area would be a little more interesting. It was surrounded by open fields and there was no way to block the wind. There was almost no wind in the first 2.5 miles, but now it was definitely present.
The wind wasn't too bad because at least it was coming from the side. It did blow me off the path from time to time and I definitely had to fight it some. Even with the wind, mile 3 was a 6:59.
I didn't plan on running sub 7 minute miles, but that was exactly what happened. Maybe I was working a little harder than I should've. Still, I was far from my limit. Mile 4 was a 6:53 through the wind.
Before long, I was over Airport Road and onto the last major section. I got to Jacksonville Road with about a third of a mile left. I ran a brief out and back on that side of the road. My breathing had become a little labored. I guess today was good practice for working on my breathing without overtaxing my legs. I finished up at my car with a 6:46 final mile.
Much as I suspected, I just needed to get out there and run. It wasn't the most pleasant run, but it wasn't that bad either. It was short enough that it was no problem. I'll take cold running over summer running any time. At least you can layer up in the cold. In the summer, I can't run naked. It would be frowned upon anyway.
Tomorrow, I'm hoping for a quality day. I'd like an easy AM run and possibly a PM long run. The end of my week will be busy, so I want to get a lot done in the beginning of it. I haven't checked the weather yet to see what kind of a factor that will play.
5 miles - 36:01 (7:13 pace)
Of course it would be super windy and cold. I waited until the afternoon (since the early football games were terrible anyway). It warmed up to a windchill of 13 degrees. I was only planning on 5 miles, just to jump start the week.
The plan was to run on the Nor-Bath Trail. Rather than fight the wind, I wanted to use it to my advantage today. I left my car at the east end of the trail and convinced my parents to drop me off at the west end in Northampton. That way I could run with the wind at my back most of the run.
I told them to wait a couple minutes in case I turned around and gave up early. I figured that that likely wouldn't happen though. I had on tights and shorts, a winter top and fleece vest and gloves and a headband. My mom was worried that I'd be too cold. I was actually more concerned of the opposite. I thought it might be too hot and I'd have to peel off layers.
From a temperature and feeling standpoint, the run started off great. The only downside to starting this way is that it is an uphill beginning. The hills aren't that steep, but it can be a slight challenge when your legs aren't warmed up.
I just focused on getting to each road crossing. First, it was the neighborhood section and then Savage Road. Those come up pretty quickly, within the first mile. That mile was run at a comfortable 8:09.
I cruised along. I can't say I was running slow, but I didn't feel like I was working too much either. The legs felt great. In this section between Savage Road and Weaversville Road, I saw some people walking. One was a woman who was 70 or 80 years old. If she can be out there in that weather at her age and walking around, then what I was doing was easy. I saw another older guy later on with an Eagles sweatshirt. Us Eagles fans had nothing to do today I guess. I sure do hate bye weeks.
There were a bunch of crows making noise in this area, so I had some fun mocking them. I crossed Weaversville Road with ease. Amazingly, I didn't have to stop at a single road crossing. After a second mile of 7:15, I was feeling good in the stretch around Bicentennial Park.
As I sort of figured, this area would be a little more interesting. It was surrounded by open fields and there was no way to block the wind. There was almost no wind in the first 2.5 miles, but now it was definitely present.
The wind wasn't too bad because at least it was coming from the side. It did blow me off the path from time to time and I definitely had to fight it some. Even with the wind, mile 3 was a 6:59.
I didn't plan on running sub 7 minute miles, but that was exactly what happened. Maybe I was working a little harder than I should've. Still, I was far from my limit. Mile 4 was a 6:53 through the wind.
Before long, I was over Airport Road and onto the last major section. I got to Jacksonville Road with about a third of a mile left. I ran a brief out and back on that side of the road. My breathing had become a little labored. I guess today was good practice for working on my breathing without overtaxing my legs. I finished up at my car with a 6:46 final mile.
Much as I suspected, I just needed to get out there and run. It wasn't the most pleasant run, but it wasn't that bad either. It was short enough that it was no problem. I'll take cold running over summer running any time. At least you can layer up in the cold. In the summer, I can't run naked. It would be frowned upon anyway.
Tomorrow, I'm hoping for a quality day. I'd like an easy AM run and possibly a PM long run. The end of my week will be busy, so I want to get a lot done in the beginning of it. I haven't checked the weather yet to see what kind of a factor that will play.
5 miles - 36:01 (7:13 pace)
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