Day 36. Double commute. Double stuffed.

Today it took me just over an hour to run in to work. It took Rahul 55 minutes to drive. He lives just over 2km closer to work than I do, so on the numbers it turns out that running was faster than driving today. That's one small win for the runners :) Going home would be a different story but I'm still gonna soak this one up...

It was drizzling this morning and a touch chilly compared to the last few days. Perfect running weather. I love getting out there in the rain, it feels brilliant for some reason that I can't or don't want to try to explain.

Today there was no knee pain (I think the barefooting is reducing the impact enough to keep my bad knee totally pain free), the adductors are starting to feel a bit freer, but I was still damn tired. So I took it easy to start and by about the 35 minute mark I finally felt free of the tiredness and soreness.

I have noticed that on these long "tempo" runs I tend to hover around the 140-155bpm heart rate, and there is a slight feeling of lethargy. At the 10km mark there is a fairly steep hill I need to climb, and going up this gets the heart going, and immediately afterwards it feels like I've shaken off the cobwebs. My speed seems to improve at the same heart rate, and although I do start to feel a little tired towards the end, that's hardly unexpected after being out on the road for quite a while.

I reckon I might try a strategy of kicking it up a notch at about the 2 or 3km mark into a long run to see if it achieves the same effect. It's discovering the little things like this that I love about running every day. It gives me the freedom to experiment and pay attention to the details.

The next commute run should break the 1 hour mark, although I did stop the watch at every red light, which I seemed to get every single one of this morning, and that would have added a minute or two overall.

Run Summary
Distance : 13.41km
Time : 1:00:38
Elevation : +57.4 / -85.9

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I then went and ran home after work. Jeez I was knackered at the end :) There was just nothing left in the legs. I wouldn't have blown out a candle but I also wouldn't have outrun a 3 toed sloth. Still, it was worth it to see what it feels like to run when you're operating on low muscle / liver glycogen levels and getting your energy almost exclusively from fat. Although you feel like you're running through mud, it's not as slow as it feels even though your speed does drop off.

Nice easy run tomorrow :)

Run Summary

Distance : 11.12km*

Time : 52:24

Elevation : +90.7 / -68.9

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* I had a five minute break and then ran a further 1.75km but that's not listed here.

Day 20. Commute and the Curse of the Chronic Chafing

There must be a way to run long distances without serious chafing downstairs. Since I haven't yet discovered it, I reckon I am doomed to a life of redness and pain if I choose to continue on long runs. Yeah yeah a bit of vaseline doesn't go astray, but it doesn't really offer a permanent solution. And I'm into permanent solutions (the non-Nazi kind). It was bad enough to stop me running home even though I felt up to it. Walking is painful enough.

My left knee's lack of cartilage is becoming a minor problem every now and then. Damn you old war (or basketball) injuries. It seems on the downhill sections of a run (no matter how slight) it gets a little aggravated. As soon as I hit the flats it seemed to disappear, but at the 6-7km mark I was definitely in a bit of discomfort.

By the time I'd made it into work it was no longer a problem, but it is something to keep an eye on.

So what was supposed to be a double run had to be abandoned. It happens.

Run Summary
Distance : 13.42km
Time : 105:55
Elevation : +57.8 / -91.2

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Day 13. Commute, and Hump Day Runners...no more!

Well I guess it was bound to happen eventually, although it died quicker than I thought it would. The hump day runners have disbanded, citing irreconcilable differences.

So it was just the run to work today, I was expecting a second run and left a bit in the tank, when I had no need to. Not that I left that much behind. My heart was coping fine, but my right thigh seemed to be struggling. It's possibly compensating for my slightly weaker left leg, or due to bad posture, who knows.

Either way it was no big deal and I am feeling faster with each run.

Run Summary
Distance : 13.20km
Time : 1:04:12
Elevation : +57.4 / -85.2

Publish Post

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Day 6. Commute, and Hump Day Runners

Traffic was hell this morning. Of course, I didn't give a crap, since I ran to work. Somewhere between 13 and 14kms. Had my 3 minute brekky 45 minutes before heading off. Thought this might be cutting it a bit fine but no problems.

Wasn't feeling particularly enthusiastic as I started out. I've done this run a few times and enjoyed it, but for some reason I just wasn't feeling it today. So I took it easy to start, and before I knew it I was in the groove after about 3km. Then I hit the "wall"...luckily I found a 7-11 employee kind enough to let me use the facilities!

Hydration strategy was to take a few mouthfuls of half strength gatorade every km. My watch beeps at me each time I add a click, so this part was easy. Took the camel back with 2 litres of liquid gold on board, and the strategy seems to have worked. I didn't feel thirsty at any stage and recovered fine afterwards. Thighs were a little tired in the last few km's which is interesting for the fact that the legs went before the lungs did.

I've always suspected this run was subtly but steadily downhill to work. The profile confirms it. Didn't realise that I picked up the pace once I hit St Kilda Rd till I saw the profile afterward. Guess I must have been feeling ok. I think it takes me about 20 minutes before I am properly warmed up, and then really hit my straps about 45 minutes in.

Run Summary
Distance : 13.72km
Time : 1:08:19
Elevation : +55.4m, -86.7m

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After work it was off to join the lads for the hump day run. The usual route from the city and around the tan, although I finished up close to work so I could pick up my gear. This was at a pretty chilled pace, since some of the boys are still getting their fitness levels up.

Run Summary

Distance : 6.85km

Time : 37:57

Elevation : +123.3m / -107.3m

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