Red Mosquito

Ran 11.5 miles yesterday, 4 miles longer than my previous longest run. Feeling better about the half marathon in October.

Yeah, today i had what felt like a brutal run. I partied a bit too much the last few days and just felt like shit. And then it was also the first time I ran sober in a bit so that made it hurt more too. In the end I did 6.5 km in 34 min. 2 minutes faster than I have been running that route on average. I was happy. That's an 8.5 minute mile... There have been growing pains with this so I haven't really improved in time over the last month. Lot's of aches and pains. Most recently the ankle I twisted last summer has been bothering me. But today I finished without any lasting pain. Now I just gotta clock in at under 8 and I will be so stoked. Maybe on the next one.

So I'm a heal striker. That's just what feels most natural to me. But I tried running the whole 3 miles this morning landing on my mid-foot and it went ok I guess. Is it really as important as people make it seem for someone who isn't going to be winning any races anytime soon? I like that it puts less stress on the knees. I was way more fatigued than I typically am at 3 miles though.

It's worth teaching your body to get rid of the heel strike imo.

Yeah that's what I'm thinking. Just feels so awkward right now.

Bros, running is life.

I'm tempted to go again today, but I feel like I need to rest every second day or I will start straining shit.

guestT wrote:Yeah that's what I'm thinking. Just feels so awkward right now.

I'm not sure it's worth it, tbh. If you were going to run 5ks, then for sure, but you're training for a half. Unless you're exceptionally fast, I think all that matters is making sure your feet aren't in the air much. Lots of steps per minute. Oh, and do a little research. The outside of my heels wear, so I run in shoes that compensate.

How's your week going, Verb? My goal is 40 miles this week and I'm only 7 miles from it right now. Can't decide if I want to try 7 tomorrow and have a full rest day before my Sunday long run or do 5 and then 2.

I've had a nice pair of 'trail runners' the last little while, but the only 'trail' I've run on is basically the little strip of grass along the sidewalk. Today I went for a run on an honest-to-goodness trail, out in the woods and everything. That was much more fun than running through the park or on the streets. I also think I ran for longer than I usually do, but I forgot to keep track. My focus was on not getting lost in the woods and making it out before dark.

daft twat wrote:

guestT wrote:Yeah that's what I'm thinking. Just feels so awkward right now.

I'm not sure it's worth it, tbh. If you were going to run 5ks, then for sure, but you're training for a half. Unless you're exceptionally fast, I think all that matters is making sure your feet aren't in the air much. Lots of steps per minute. Oh, and do a little research. The outside of my heels wear, so I run in shoes that compensate.

Yours and verb's responses are a perfect distillation of the range of views I've found on the internet re: foot strike. Seems to be split 50/50 between heel and mid.
Today, my hamstrings are screaming go back to heel. Is doing both a thing, or is that asking for trouble? Like mid for shorter races, heel for longer. I was noticeably faster striking mid.

daft twat wrote:

guestT wrote:Yeah that's what I'm thinking. Just feels so awkward right now.

I'm not sure it's worth it, tbh. If you were going to run 5ks, then for sure, but you're training for a half. Unless you're exceptionally fast, I think all that matters is making sure your feet aren't in the air much. Lots of steps per minute. Oh, and do a little research. The outside of my heels wear, so I run in shoes that compensate.

How's your week going, Verb? My goal is 40 miles this week and I'm only 7 miles from it right now. Can't decide if I want to try 7 tomorrow and have a full rest day before my Sunday long run or do 5 and then 2.

I've had a few strong runs this week but my weekend has been complicated by a three day trip to Minnesota where we are staying with my girlfriend's brother and wife. No run at all yesterday. I will probably try and get a longish run in tomorrow and then again on Sunday to finish around 25 miles this week. Who knows what type of horrible food I am going to ingest over the next few days. Hopefully next week I can make up for the awkward weekend setback.

We're gonna be in Stillwater, MN this weekend. Hoping to go for a nice long run around downtown (lots of hills) Sunday morn if I don't overdo it Saturday night.

guestT wrote:We're gonna be in Stillwater, MN this weekend. Hoping to go for a nice long run around downtown (lots of hills) Sunday morn if I don't overdo it Saturday night.

Shit, man, that's like 20 minutes from me. We have a soccer tournament this weekend (3 games) and I'm going to this concert festival in the evenings in Somerset to see Soundgarden and the Offspring. Plus Sunday is Mother's Day. I like to do my long runs on Sundays. Too bad it wasn't such a busy ass weekend or I'd try to run with you.

Pizza Ranch. I just ate at a Pizza Ranch.

daft twat wrote:

guestT wrote:We're gonna be in Stillwater, MN this weekend. Hoping to go for a nice long run around downtown (lots of hills) Sunday morn if I don't overdo it Saturday night.

Shit, man, that's like 20 minutes from me. We have a soccer tournament this weekend (3 games) and I'm going to this concert festival in the evenings in Somerset to see Soundgarden and the Offspring. Plus Sunday is Mother's Day. I like to do my long runs on Sundays. Too bad it wasn't such a busy ass weekend or I'd try to run with you.

That would've been cool. Maybe next time, we stay in Stillwater a couple times a year at least.

Today I ran in just under 34 min. Tight. I'm keeping this new pace. I'm eating it up out there.

Did a combined 12 miles in the last 12 hours or so to try and make up for the Minnesota bullshit.

The other day I passed another guy running who also had a moustache and we kind of had a moment where we smiled at each other and were like, "yeah, buddy."

Hit the 40 mile mark last week and will try for that one more time before starting to add 4 a week. Didn't have a moment to run on Sunday, so I did my long run today. 12 miles. Very slow first 11 (about 8:10 avg) and then did 7:17 for the last mile. My knees ache, though. My legs overall are experiencing pain in all the worry spots.

It's humid and 90 here. Did 6 after work but it was pretty slow 7:56 pace. I'm not sure I'll be able to build up to say a 45 mile week. Will I still be able to get the job done and slide in sub 4 hours? Sorry to hear about the aches and paint Daft, hopefully just stuff you can work through.