A Fantastic 9 Miles on the Trails

   I was a little worried last night when I tried going to bed at 10 PM but couldn't even fall asleep until midnight, but I was up at 3:35 AM and getting ready. I was also starving, not the normal starving but the kind where you can feel it climbing up your throat and I didn't want to go out for a run with that feeling so I ate some of Planters Energy Mix nuts (yummy) and had some coffee. It was 66 degrees so I wore shorts and a sports bra, and it felt good. We got to the parking lot and no law enforcement, so that was good. 
   The river didn't rise any higher and in fact is going down so that is good news, the trails are drying up and I am getting used to just going through the mud. It started out slowish, but the pace soon picked up. Sadly on trails you can't really have a good progression run as the environment can always affect your pace.
   Around mile 2 I am not sure if I saw 3 coyotes or 3 deer, they didn't run away but just kind of meandered off the levee trail while watching me and Rocky.
    Just after mile 6 I spooked a freaking turkey, and it scared the crap out of me too, it couldn't fly worth a crap and was crashing through trees. Angel Mounds had two port-a-johns near the building, wonder if they were having some sort of event this week........ I used one of them.... twice.
   Anyways, as I had 2 miles left I noticed two cars were parking at the levee and I knew it was time to high tail it out before we ran into people.
  Rocky and I ran 9 miles in 1:35:53 with an average pace of 10:39 min/mile, elevation gain of 98 feet and a loss of 112 feet.

Laps/splits were:
Mile 1 - 12:10
Mile 2 - 10:31
Mile 3 - 10:51
Mile 4 - 11:07
Mile 5 - 10:48
Mile 6 - 10:08
Mile 7 - 10:32
Mile 8 - 10:03
Mile 9 - 9:42

Slow and Easy, and Somewhat Sore

   This morning I woke up around 3:45 AM but didn't get up until 4:15 AM, I wasn't tired but worried that Dorian would wake up while I was gone like yesterday morning and have Cameron up early. He wasn't happy at all yesterday as it was his only day off and chance to sleep in, but Dorian had him up at like 6:30 AM. I don't exactly have sympathy though, I know he works his butt off to give us a good living and carries 3 businesses along with the home property on his shoulders but dang it, I can count the number of days I've been able to sleep in since Dorian's birth on both hands.... it is rare but I don't really care much for sleeping in anyways.
   Okay, I got up, it was 60 degrees (yes) so I wore shorts and a tank top (I am feeling kind of "blah" right now, and don't want to take my shirt off). We got to the parking lot and I immediately noticed a car off in the shadows, sure enough it was a sheriff. I pulled in and parked and hadn't even taken my seat belt off when he started up and pulled in kind of behind me, I was holding my head lamp in my hands at that point. Thankfully he was nice, and even though the trails or whatever are closed between 11 PM and dawn, he didn't see it as a bad thing that Rocky and I were going to run the trails (but didn't say anything about being careful......... hmm). He soon took off, and I got the rest of the way ready and we headed off. I am just hoping I don't run into an officer who doesn't want me out there, or wants to be a dick. I don't think I've seen a sign saying anything about the trails being closed, and I know for sure the little parking space at the levee doesn't have any signs. I'll just keep going to this parking lot until someone chases me off.
   I was a little sore from yesterday's 10 miler after like no sleep, but not bad and my ankles or whatever are still feeling good so that is a good sign. Tomorrow is a no run day and I will enjoy the rest with hopes that it is helping me. It was a slow run, and I noticed the river is rising..... if it keeps rising I won't be able to park at that lot anyways as it will be covering a lot of the trail near there :(
   We ran 5.2 miles in 1:01:02, the slowest 5 miler I've ran on flat ground in a long freaking time but again I was taking it easy and in no rush to push it.
Laps/splits were:
Mile 1 - 12:05
Mile 2 - 11:51
Mile 3 - 11:40
Mile 4 - 11:42
Mile 5 - 11:42
.2      - 9:58

This Morning's Run on the Trails

   First thing I would like to say about this run, it sucked. Second thing, not because of any injury or pain. I had only gotten like 3-4 hours of sleep last night, and I didn't even want to get up at 4 AM but I forced myself up anyways. At around 3 miles my garmin started beeping "low battery" and I thought "LOW BATTERY!? WTF?" but I don't think I've charged it since Wednesday or Thursday so it kind of makes sense. I kept praying to make it to 5 miles, then I started up my cardio trainer on my phone, saved the 5 mile work out and started a new one with the phone trainer (I didn't know whether the garmin would save a current work out if it dies).
   The garmin made it to 3.63 miles (on the second work out) and a total of 8.63 miles before dying and magically saved the 2nd work out. It SUCKED holding my stupid phone in my hand, but what sucked more was that I was feeling really sluggish, and people (most with dogs) were already showing up on the trails which was even more annoying although the one I did run into with 2 dogs (who Rocky has already met before) were friendly and only paused us for about a minute. The rest I just tried to avoid, while tripping and stubbing my feet, my mood was diminished and I was tired. My legs were really unhappy with me, I forced them to rollerblade 2.6 miles yesterday morning and then hike another 2.1 miles later that afternoon and then only gave them 4 hours or less of sleep..... so yeah they weren't pleased at all.
  Rocky and I managed 10 miles before calling it quits and good enough.... Now for the confusing stats:
  The first 5 miler was done in 56:57 with an average pace of 11:23 min/mile
Splits:
Mile 1 - 12:13
Mile 2 - 10:17
Mile 3 - 11:05
Mile 4 - 11:55
Mile 5 - 11:20

    The 2nd work out or 3.63 died at 39:42 with an average pace of 10:56 min/mile.
Splits:
Mile 1 - 10:42
Mile 2 - 10:59
Mile 3 - 11:12
.63     - 10:51

     I probably could have made it to 9 or 10 miles on my garmin had I not stopped during the woman and her dogs, and the 5 minutes or so at the Tahoe when I was dropping off my headlamp and gloves and shirt. Not saying it is a definite chance, but just possible. My phone said 5 miles in like 56 minutes, not sure as I didn't save that and just put 10 miles in 1:52:00 so yeah.
    On the positive notes - 

1. I got out and ran.
2. I ran 10 miles with no pain, even slipping, tripping and stubbing.
3. Still not feeling sore.

There you have it, my long run for this week giving me 26.2 miles for this week. That is better than the 19 last week. 

My future Runnin' Buddy!!!

   I seriously think I am going to be one of those mothers who brag lol, I am so proud of my little toddler! First though, this morning around 10:45 AM I took Dorian with me to roller blade. Of course he was in the stroller and I was pushing it, we only did 2.7 miles as my right calf was complaining after a few hills (I seriously need to get back into shape with my roller blades). It is a great work out but right now, it is just a little too strenuous on my calves and feet which could lead to irritating whatever is wrong with those things down there. 
   After lunch, I took Dorian to Wessleman's Woods and we went for a hike. My phone was already dying but I went ahead and set up CardioTrainer to record our hike, I was so proud of my little man. All the other kids around him, some his age, were walking but no not my son! My little boy was RUNNIN' as fast as his short little legs could carry him lol, other than stopping every so often to look up, down, around and touch something, and play in mud, he probably had an average 18 min/mile pace when running (not fast for you or me but pretty darn fast for a 2 year old I think). We hiked 2.1 miles in around 45 minutes, Dorian ran/hiked 1.6 miles before wanting me to pick him up for about .1 miles and then putting him back down for the final .3 miles or so. We would have stayed out there a little longer, but my phone was pretty dead (only 6% life left) and I didn't want to push it for Dorian even though he wasn't ready to leave yet.
   This is just another reminded that I better be careful as he gets older, I don't want to push him and make running or any activity for that matter not fun for him. I want him to enjoy these things, because it's no fun when you take it seriously and can't enjoy it and I want him to be my future running partner. In a few years I'll be taking him out with me and Rocky running the trails and having a blast, oh I can't wait.

Four Miles on the Audubon Trails

   I would first like to mention that after yesterday morning's 7 miler I was a little concerned with my legs and whether I should have waited a few more days. But this afternoon/evening's run went a lot better, though tougher and with way more hills. I decided to go clockwise on the Audubon loop, and I must say I hate going that direction damn it but I wanted to avoid the .5 mile road to the trailhead because I wasn't sure how my legs would act.
   My garmin says that the elevation gain was only 577 feet..... and a loss of 577 feet, but I am not going to think too hard on it and I'll just keep it logged each time I run this loop. It was a tough one, I wish I had taken some water but I made sure to take it easy on the run and hike the climbs rather than push myself hard. I kept my pace over 12 min/mile, and 2 of those miles at 13 minutes. I ran 4 miles in 51:51 with an average pace of 12:57, temperature of 57 degrees.
Laps/splits were:
Mile 1 - 13:11
Mile 2 - 12:47
Mile 3 - 12:42
Mile 4 - 13:09

     I am contemplating attempting a two loop on Sunday, but I know Rocky would much rather enjoy the trails at Angel Mounds though I am not sure how the trails are. I'll keep thinking about it.

  If there is one thing I am beginning to learn, it is this: after a year of training and working hard on getting faster and finally getting a sub 2 hour PR at the Indy Half this past November, jumping onto trails with the intent of one day running ultras has taught me something about pride and letting go of it and one's ego. When I first started hitting the trails, and seeing my pace slow down, I was a little down about it. Especially knowing others would see my runs and pace, but I am learning that it isn't about pace or being fast, it's about effort and getting it done. Above all, it's about enjoying the freedom of being on my feet and letting them take me anywhere.

The Owensboro Half Marathon

  In light of all that is going on with my legs, I went and registered for the Owensboro Memorial Day Half Marathon that is on May 24................ what the heck was I thinking? I am not sure, to be honest. The new plan now is to take it easy, really easy - I don't care if my long runs don't get above 10-11 miles between now and the race, I don't care if my weekly mileage doesn't go above 25 just as long as I heal and can enjoy the race. But I would really like to get my mileage back up to at least 30 mpw.
   Anyways, yeah.. .. so things aren't feeling awful right now compared to this morning after the run which wasn't awful either but had me nervous. It was the feeling I normally except after a tough long run (like in the 15+ mile range). If things are feeling 100% by tomorrow afternoon, I'll most likely hike more of Audubon than run them.
  

Afraid I might have Already Pushed it

   I was feeling pretty good this morning, though a little stiff and sore but I am wondering if there is any connection to the fact that I didn't foam roll my calves yesterday. I've been foam rolling them since last Thursday, but for some reason I didn't yesterday. The run went pretty good, but I think I should have stopped at 6 miles rather than 7, things didn't start to ache just a little after mile 6 and now my right ankle is definitely feeling sore so I am wearing the brace on it. I took my Tissue Rejuvenator capsules, a serving of my BCAA tablets and 3 Ibuprofens - hoping it will  help and things will be feeling better by this afternoon or evening. I also iced my ankle laying in bed afterwards, also it really started to ache after I had to stop in some woods and use the bathroom (squatting).
   Ugh, this is so freaking frustrating! I have goals dang it, I have dreams and I can't even play with them in my head with this looming over me!

   Anyways, to cut it short Rocky and I ran 7 miles in 1:15:01 with an average pace of 10:43 min/mile, elevation gain of 163 feet and a loss of 163 feet.
Laps/splits are:
Mile 1 - 11:10
Mile 2 - 10:57
Mile 3 - 10:51
Mile 4 - 10:47
Mile 5 - 10:51
Mile 6 - 10:16
Mile 7 - 10:08

    I was planning to run/hike the Audubon trails tomorrow afternoon but I guess it will all depend on how I am feeling tomorrow morning and by the afternoon. :(