Still rolling...

Monday was a day off but I did a set of 100s and 2xMyrtle Routine.

Yesterday morning I ran an ez 6 miler and did one set of short steep hills (following Brad Hudson's recommendations). Today I woke up bit later than planned and thus I was out running only at 6:30. Plan was to run a steady state run of 7.5 miles. And the plan was nicely executed. For the first time since the treadmill test running felt easy and enjoyable. Further, the pace was faster than a week ago even if HR was now lower. This is mostly explained by the change in the weather (last week 77F, now 50F and raining). Anyway, I don't feel miserable.

Tomorrow I will wake up in Stockholm (SWE) and most likely don't have any time slot for running. Core time?

Weird week

This week I've reached the most productive state at work. I'm delivering research papers and results like a badass. That's weird. Maybe it's because of the running conditions are the worst ever (no, the real reason is that I just had 3 weeks of vacation). After two days of rain roads turned into a icy layer a.k.a achilles killer.

Still, on Tuesday I ran my first run (after the surgery) with decent grip even if roads were close to unrunable. Our backyard provides (in addition to Paavo Nurmi Stadium) a trail (about 0.9 miles long) which is maintained in excellent shape for walking and running through the winter. Due to the fact that I wasn't running on snow/ice/their combination, the achilles felt pretty weird. Moreover, I postponed alternating skiing days and did some core workouts instead. That's okay since xc skiing sucks and it especially sucks if you have to ski on ice.

Today I ran in the evening after traveling to Tampere and back. Just out of curiosity I took HRM with me and was amazed by how off my engine really is. But it will be humming again. Oh and an update: I have lost 3.3 pounds.

At last

After winning a 5 day long but uneven battle with sore throat and cold I returned to the more or less continuous streak of core training. In order to keep things interesting, I walked with Lil' D and sweetie for 45 minutes on Wed and on Thu I repeated that and added 15 minutes.

But today I walked to the indoor track, changed my shoes and gear and RAN. Well, I ran and walked, but still this is the start. I did 200, 400, 800, 400, 400 and 200 meters (@ extremely easy pace and smile on my face) with walking rest of 200 meters. Achilles is darn stiff but it's not hurting. In order to get some sweat going I spent 20 minutes on Concept2 (a rowing machine). Now I gotta remember the baby steps. Luckily, the stiffness will keep me alert (I hope). I'm still far from decent running streak, but it's a start.

What a fun morning! 

Marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon, marathon and Grapevine!

Punishing worn out body

Tempo run - one of the most pleasant workouts - felt awful. And I'm not just saying that. That felt really AWFUL, it sucked and I totally disliked it. But I did it. Only 3.1 miles of it, but it's a start. And this time 3.1 miles was more than enough. Being away from the road for 8 weeks and then running the first tempo run should of course feel like this, but I still hate the fact your body/engine has the ball and not me.

And like these butt/hamstring -problems weren't enough. Now, due to DNRs, my left achilles has become totally useless. I hurt it in Baltimore about 3 years ago and it's bothering me with its whole power. Stupid worn out body.

Even Pepsi Max does not work...

It's already Thursday but it feels like Monday afternoon. Is it good or bad I dunno. This week has sucked almost in any field. Both work and running do not provide anything to brag about. They just take my energy and give nothing back. But I like them both. Reason for this downbeat may be related to the fact that this week is easy.

Monday was off, on Tuesday I jaunted 4 miles (with 4x100m strides) in the morning and then joined triathletes in their core workout in the afternoon. This time we did an adaptation of Norwegian Olympic skiers' workout routine. Accordingly, Wednesday morning's 10 miler was flavored with sore muscles. Today I almost skipped my morning run, but did it anyway. In the afternoon I have planned to do some tempo repeats.

At last

It's pretty close. Spring time. Roads are more and more runable as well as at last running feels normal. Heavier but normal. I did my normal morning routine and then ran something before the core workout. Yesterday my legs were hurting, but today was better. Accordingly, I think that tomorrow I will join J when he's starting the outdoor season at the Karikko loop. It's going to be great!

Ice

I had planned some tempo repeats for this morning, but after falling down TWICE during the WU I decided not to even give a try. Guys in MD push their pace already in 60s and we are stuck with ice here. Not fair. On the other hand I'm still sore from Saturday and Sunday so maybe an extra easy day is not that bad. But soon I have to start to be more consistent. Today it's time for core workout with a little longer warm-up run.

Evening's outcome was decent but exhausting: core workout with 11 miles WU (@7.00/mile).

Casa di tired legs

Monday: 6 miles in between of work and leisure time.

Tuesday: Morning 6 miler added with another 6 miler and core workout (Indiana Elite's) in the evening. Roads are now a big mess and I have to rethink my plan to enjoy mileage for forthcoming Berlin (fun run). After only three runs my hamstrings are getting worse pretty fast. Is it really worth of pushing the envelop yet...?

Workout Tuesday

No morning run/jog. Now it's an ez week.

In the afternoon I joined triathletes in their core workout. Before that I ran w/Bruni about 7 miles. Roads are now offering their worst for runners, but that's only temporary. I think.

Workout Tuesday

I'm exhausted, muscles are sore and I bet that moving my ass from this couch will be pain. I did my first faster tempo repeat workout since last summer and finished my energy reserves with adapted running core workout. The latter was adjusted/adapted from Indiana Elite's core workout (check out this Flotrack's WOW). The running part of today's demolition was 6x500m'200m (@5:05-4:52 pace) + 4x200m (33-32).

In all, today was the beginning of the preparing phase for the marathon training period waiting for me. 

It's called life

Monday was tough. We had a team meeting at the hospital. Dad's situation is not expected to improve too much from the current state. As I'm worried about him, Mom's back-and-forth is extremely tough now. Runningwise I had energy and time only for 6 miles morning jog.

Today I ran a 6-miler in the morning and then after having fought with "windmill" I started my easy WU for core workout with 31 minutes 5-miler. It eased the pain, but nothing chances the realities.

And then there was more snow

Yesterday I had time only for 6 mile's morning jog. It was okay. In the evening I drove to Helsinki to attend Hatebreed's gig (they were just a warm-up act before Machine Head which I gladly passed). The drive back was .... different due to pretty heavy snowfall.

Today I doubled by running an easy 6 miler in the early morning and on brand new and slippery layer of snow. I also received the results of my blood tests (= my body and blood wasn't hurt by the American diet and Five Guys) today. In the evening I was in charge of the stairs and core workout. Today's theme was "instant punishment". It worked pretty well - at least for me.

Blue Monday with Claws

Yesterday was a tough as listening to censored versions of any CMW's old tunes. Not so gansta that is. I felt like everything outside home is slowing falling down. Runningwise life's the same - good. Morning's 6 miler was ok, and due to work related involvements it was the only exercise.

Sunday I ran 13.1 miler pretty slow compared to the guys back in MD. But hey, we have freezing temps and snow. Hah. After that I hurried to another workout (skiing). I have two race-level skate skies to select, and I was trying them both. Week was only 55 miles.

Today I was adviced to run 5-6x1000m indoors, but I'll have to postpone that to Thursday. Probably. Or then I just do them before the core workout. 

F or C - it does not matter, it's cold

Yeah man! It's still pretty cold, but running feels ok. On Tuesday I missed stairs routine, but surely didn't miss the core workout. Even today I'm still hurting. Yesterday it was too cold to run fast, so I shorthened and moderate the pace accordingly. Tempo part was only 3.1 miles but that's better than nothing, I think.

Today morning my legs were pretty sore, so no double for me today. In other words this is the deceptive tenderness of running without a specific schedule. Later this year, I will start to follow some sort of plan. Berlin Marathon 2010 is approaching - slowly.

Red nose

Once again the temp is dropping. It's getting close to 0F, but it doesn't matter. At least the grip is better now. Yesterday I ran only once, but today I have enough time to double. Next up.... stairs and core workout.

A Better Tomorrow

Today I realized that I'm pretty far from putting my money where my mouth is. So no indoor track today. I ran 10 miles (3 in the morning together with short hill reps) in pretty messy conditions and did the usual stairs / core workout. It has been snowing the whole day and roads are less runable but they look really nice.

Shortcut to Pain

Damn! After today's (almost 3 hrs) workout I'm ready to suggest the following. In order to find instant, but good muscle pain follow these steps:

1. Neglect the majority of core exercises during the next 2.5 years.
2. Neglect all of the possible stairs exercises (jumps, running) during the next 2.5 years.
3. When the steps 1 and 2 are achieved, do 2 hours intense workout including both stairs and core exercises.
4. Enjoy the gooooood pain.

Results may vary.

On the Verge of Getting back

Last week's mileage was miserable. I had time and energy to run only 38 miles which is nothing. But last two weeks have been messy and exhausting. Yesterday I had my 37th birthday, and today I'll try to get back to my normal routines. This evening I meet a group of triathletes and join their stairs' workout followed by circuit training (basically core exercises added with some 400s and 800s).

Next "real" workout will take place on Saturday. Then it's tempo time.