Saturday, March 15, 2008

So-So Saturday

The weather was actually beautiful this morning. Perfect running weather. However, I had personal commitments from early morning to mid afternoon and couldn't get outside to attempt my 8-9mile run until late in the afternoon.

When I started out, it was definately breezy, but the run seemed doable. It didn't take long and the wind started to pick up. At first, I just thought of it as resistance training. But the real problem here in New Mexico isn't the wind; it's the sand/dust that accompanies the wind. Soon, I was being sandblasted. It felt like someone was stabbing me with hundreds of needles, but the deal breaker was sand in the eyes. At that point, I knew I needed to throw in the towel. I ended up cutting it short by about 2.5 miles.

I'm not happy that I haven't done the full scheduled 8-9 miles. I'm cautiously optimistic that I still might be able to go the distance this weekend if I'm able get outside tomorrow early afternoon after church.

No matter what happens for the rest of the weekend, I am going to focus on a few positive things:

1 - I completed a 5.45 mile run. I didnt see a single other runner out there in the afternoon wind/sand storm. I rock.
2 - I tried a new run/walk interval. 9min run, 1 min walk. Usually I do this by distance instead of time (more like run .9miles, walk .1 miles). I liked this new interval and will try it again next time.
3 - I felt good when I got home. Really good. Except for the sand in the eyes. I had to take my contacts out immediately and clean them. But other than that, I felt good.
4 - I ran in one of my running skirts. Not only are running skirts cute, they are extremely comfortable. Running skirts make me happy.
5 - I *heart* accelerade. I've experimented with different flavors, premix vs. powder, etc in the past year. Right now I'm using on the blue powder kind. I think I've found my favorite.

25 comments:

  1. Well done you hardcore thing!
    I nearly always run 9:1, it just suits me and is easy to count too LOL

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  2. Great job on getting out there.I can't imagine.

    I love the 9:1 minute. Worked great my last half.

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  3. Aren't you a triathlete? Next time wear your goggles :-D

    Hard core indeed! I tried 9 and 1 at marathon pace and it just plain tuckered me out. I went back to 3 and 1 and that is a good interval for me. If you find 9 and 1 good for you, then stick to it!! and its great that you are practicing it now!!!

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  4. Well - no Sunday running for me. At the moment the wind is a steady 35mph with gusts around 50mph and sand is blowing everywhere.

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  5. YIKES on the crunchy eyes :-(

    You know, I'm beginning to love Accelerade myself. Peach mango YUM!

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  6. I love how my posted those positives at the end of your post! So often we find ourselves always focussed on the negatives, or worse, looking for a negative in something that others would see as good!

    I think 5.45 miles in a sandstorm is quite a challenge and you took it on and did what you could! :) Nice job!

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  7. "my" should be "you"... oops:)

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  8. Way to go on the run, running right through adversity!

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  9. Yeah, today kind of sucked big time too. I was smacked in the butt by a tumbleweed the size of a VW. It is surprisingly painful, btw. I loooovvve ORANGE accelerade, and am hoping to try the lemonade soon.

    Say, LLLiiiiisssssaaaaaaa,
    I'm going to play hookey a couple of times in late April and May and head up to Cochiti in my long-sleeve wet-suit. Are you in???

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  10. Loads of cheerfulness in your post... with sand in your eyes...
    Congratulations on your Saturday afternoon.

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  11. OH I so hear you about the damn wind. And I thought yesterday was bad on the bike! I managed to drag my butt out of bed to avoid the wind today but you are my hero to be out this afternoon! I would have stopped early too..

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  12. Strong long.. I've had sand in my lenses.. not at all pleasant and probably not half as bad the storm you had! Since then I always wear shades. Good work doing it with the tough conditions.

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  13. You might have to get some goggles for that sand blowing in your face..

    Good job out there, like you said, nobody else ws running..

    I think run/walk intervals by time is alot better formula, you never know what how long it will tke you to go the .9 mile, depending on conditions

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  14. Yes, you do rock! Just getting out there later in the day makes you exceptional. If I don't get it done early, I find too many other distractions and end up putting if off. Also, the run/walk intervals really do work. I find I can keep almost the same pace all throughout a workout when I use this method. Great job!

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  15. I'm impressed that you ran in that sand storm! Even if you had to cut it short.

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  16. There's just no way to train in the wind we had yesterday afternoon...that was crazy!

    Yes, I agree that running skirts are the best!!

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  17. I saw an orange running skirt in my Athleta catalog this weekend and thought of you!
    You are stronger than I...when anything gets in my eyes I am a big ole baby!
    Great run!
    Take Care!

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  18. I like how you concentrate on the positive aspect..

    good job.

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  19. I always liked doing intervals by time rather than distance...maybe just because it was easier for me to measure without a garmin and all...

    the only time i ever had accelerade was at the rock n roll half in Virginia Beach and i was not a fan but we had nasty yellow...maybe blue is better

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  20. You totally rock for being out there in the wind and sand! It's been windy here as well, such a bummer!

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  21. That sucks about the weather/windy sandstorm. But, you're right - that's hard core getting out there in that with no one else around.

    I like what Stacey put too! She's right. I too liked your positive points!!

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  22. Icky, on the sand-eyes! But congrats on getting out there!

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  23. That's very impressive determination on your part!

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  24. Your run reminds me of a scene in a triathlon video I saw where Peter Reed only got a 4 hour bike ride in instead of the 6 hours he wanted while the city was in the middle of a blizzard. At the end, he looked at it that he got a workout in when nobody else did, so it was an advantage for him. Sounds like you got yourself a little advantage with that run. Great job!

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  25. You are crazy-strong for being out there in those conditions and not seeing anyone else. I love that feeling!!

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