Week Recap (9 August 2008 - 16 August 2008) - 80 Miles

Really solid week, only my 5th week back and I'm already at 80 so I couldn't expect more. I even managed to finish the week with only a 4 mile run so I was actually on pace for something closer to 90. The most encouraging part is how good I have been feeling all week. It seems like the mileage has yet to take its toll, which I'll enjoy while it lasts.

Saturday, August 16, 2008 [4M]

Drove to Yosemite this morning and spent the day at the park. We went on a 7 mile hike to Nevada Falls, starting at 4000ft of altitude and climbing a to almost 6000ft at the top. We were back after about 4 - 4.5 hours and while everyone else took the shuttle back to the parking lot I decided to run back. It was only a couple of miles to get back and I added on a couple more on the bike paths in Yosemite valley. I wasn't running very fast although I did beat the shuttle back.

Friday, August 15, 2008 [12M]

Rancho San Antonio. I got a call from Jake yesterday, letting me know that he's in the area for a few days and we agreed to meet at 8AM for a run at Rancho San Antonio. We got started with my usual warm-up loop on the wildcat loop trail then climbed up Upper Wildcat Canyon trail. We paused briefly at the vista point before coming down wildcat loop trail and tagging on a few more miles on the PG&E trail. We were chatting the entire time but still moving along at a good pace. Carrying on the conversation was a bit challening on some of the hills but we made it through putting in some good climbs. It turned out to be a pretty good run overall, I was feeling good, especially for a morning run, and enjoyed having to someone to run with for a change. Time just flew by as we were catching up on each other's summer adventures. It was a good thing I got the run out of the way early as I was planning to head to Yosemite in the afternoon and I would have probably only put in a short run if I hadn't run in the morning.

Thursday, August 14, 2008 [10M]

Hallmark park. Headed out up Ralston, planning to put in an easy 10. I made it up to Hallmark without pushing the pace but still putting in a decent climb. I was moving well on the rolling hills at Hallmark and was crusing at a fast pace on the downhill part on the way back. I averaged under 6:50 for the run, which is fairly fast considering that with all the hills it's usually a good day if I average around 7 minute pace.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 [12M]

Foster City. A rather low key run, taking things easy and running around 6:50 pace for most of the run. I was a bit faster for the last 2 or 3 miles, nothing faster than 6:35 though.

Tuesday PM, August 12, 2008 [13M]

San Carlos. I was originally only planning on going for the usual 8 mile Tuesday run with the Road Runners sports club. I came back and worked from home for a couple of hours and while I was getting ready to drive over to San Carlos, I thought that I could add some more mileage to the day and I figured it would be a good idea to run over, go for the 8 mile run and head back. It's 2.5 miles each way, which added up to make this a 13 miler. I was a bit on the quick side on the way over as I was trying to make it on time. I ended up having about 5 minutes to kill before we headed out with Doug. I ran with Doug for the first 5 miles or so, running just over 7 minute pace. I picked it up for the last 3 miles, getting down in the 6:20s. I chilled for a while and stretched as everyone was finishing their run before heading back home. I was a bit slower on the way back as my legs started realizing how many miles I had put in for the day. It ended up being a pretty long day, shooting the rolling week up to 83.

Tuesday AM, August 12, 2008 [5M]

Foster City. I figured I should add some doubles this week and since I was only planning on doing 8 in the afternoon I thought this would be a good day to start. I didn't try to get up in the morning of course but headed out to Club O before lunch for my usual lunch time loop in Foster city.

Monday, August 11, 2008 [8M]

Redwood Shores. I wanted to leave work early so that I could put in a 12 miler and make it to BJs by 7:30 for dinner but that's easier said than done. I didn't get started until 6 and I figured I didn't have much time to do anything over 8. I kept the pace fairly brisk, averaging around 6:35. I slacked off on strides and stretching and headed out. I barely made it to BJs on time so there wasn't much more I could have added today.

Sunday, August 10, 2008 [16M]

Rancho San Antonio. I wanted to get out earlier than my typical Sunday but didn't help my cause by going to bed late last night and naturally sleeping in this morning. It was already 1:30PM by the time I made it to Rancho San Antonio, which wasn't the best time to start my long run with the temperature approaching the 90s. I didn't do a great job hydrating well before the run and I was starting to feel it after a few miles. I ran a couple of loops on the lower trails to start with, first taking the Wildcat loop trail to PG&E trail then going back to Wildcat loop and continuing to the Coyote trail. On each of those loops I stopped at the Deer Hollow farm and drank some water, risking getting stung by the bees that were crowding over the water fountain. From then on there weren't any water stops as I climbed up the Upper Wildcat Canyon trail, came down the Upper Rogue Valley trail and took Moira trail back to Deer Hollow farm. I added on another loop on the Coyote trail and made it back to the car in 1:56:30. I was pretty spent by the end and the last couple of miles were a bit tough. Most of the run was pretty good, though, I was putting in some good climbs and moving fast enough to safely call this 16. I suppose it wasn't too surprising that I was feeling spent by the end, after all this was a long run which included a couple thousand feet of climbing in fairly hot weather. I think the heat was probably a bigger factor, I weighted myself when I came back home and was about 5 pounds lighter than usual (and this was after having already drunk a 16 oz gatorade and about a quart of water) . I should make sure I hydrate more before another run like this one.