My Journey to 50 miles (2nd attempt)... (comments welcome)

[DopeyBadger]

I'd say very few adjustments from a normal HM Tempo run. Because of the sickness last week, I would advise starting off at an easier effort and easing into it. Have fun!

 

[disneygpa]

I'd say very few adjustments from a normal HM Tempo run. Because of the sickness last week, I would advise starting off at an easier effort and easing into it. Have fun!

Thanks Billy!! Figured maybe start off around 10:30/mile and see how I feel. Then make adjustments as needed.

Main goal is to just finish!! I'll work on time for September's half.

 

[michigandergirl]

Oh man, that sounds miserable. Glad you all are feeling better. Good luck this weekend!

 

[disneygpa]

Weekend update.

Saturday was 2 easy miles.

This was supposed to be just a couple of easy miles. Ended up running the second mile a little faster than needed.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday!! Big day has finally arrived! Woke up at my normal 4 am, showered, coffee, toast with peanut butter. Hit the road at 5:30. Arrived at the race at 6:30. Great morning for a run. Temps were in the mid 50's and not a cloud in the sky. Got my running shoes on, went for a walk to see the area and burn off some stress. 7:10 slow jog around the block. Lined up toward the back of the pack at 7:25. 7:30 on the dot, they send off the fast runners!! Pretty small group of maybe 20. 2 minutes later they released the pack.

Started off crowded. Some of the path was really only wide enough for a couple people and of course we were 5 wide at this point. But, that only lasted the first half mile or so and then it started to spread out. The path got wider and people settled into their paces.

First water/powerade stop was at 3 miles. I didn't take in any water, and I think this proved to be a mistake later on. Settled into a really comfortable pace around 10:30/mile. Breathing was great, legs felt great! At 6 miles I took in a cup of powerade, plus I'd been sipping on my water. 10k clocked in at 1:05:15, this was my 2nd fastest 10k and I was really feeling good about everything!

And then.... Well, disaster... At 8.3 miles my right calve got a twinge of a cramp. I tried to run thru it, but by 8.7 miles it was clear this was going to be a problem. I decided to stop and stretch. This helped a little, but by mile 9, I was pretty much a walker. :-(

Took in water and powerade at mile 9 and at 12. After mile 12, I decided to try and walk and run. Started off, walking 100 steps and running 100 steps. Then managed to increase it to walk 100 run 400. It was ugly, but I managed to finish!


Finished at 2:43 and change. Not great. But I finished.

So. I'm not really sure how I feel about my accomplishment. On the one hand I'm happy I finished! And that was ultimately the primary goal. On the other hand, I feel like I could/should have done better.

Everything felt so good until the cramps!! I kinda feel like the cramping was a lack of nutrition/hydration. I'm not so sure I was ever fully rehydrated from being sick the weekend before. Clearly, I'm going to have to make some better nutrition/hydration choices.

My left knee is feeling pretty sore today. I think that may be the result of changing my stride as I was trying to compensate for the cramps. Hopefully it'll feel better after a few days rest. If not, I think I'll be seeing the doc maybe Wednesday. Want to make sure I didn't damage anything in there.

I'll be taking the next week off from running per my plan and honestly, I think I need it. Going to try and continue to get at least 10k steps in everyday though.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Congrats on the race! Certainly sounds like an electrolyte issue on the surface. The temps didn't seem that bad, but like you said it could have been a result from the sickness the week prior. But you succeeded in completing the HM. Learn from the race day lessons and apply them in training and the next race. Enjoy the week off and hoping everything is fine with the doctor.

 

[Jules76126]

Great job on finish your race. Sorry it was not the results you hoped for, but hopefully you can use what you learned to have a better race next time.

 

[disneygpa]

First run back after my less than stellar half. Felt great to get out and put in a few miles! This morning was 3 miles @ LR, LR = 11:38



Pacing was a little fast in the first mile. Last 2 miles were much better.

Knee feels pretty good so far.

Thanks Billy @DopeyBadger for putting together a plan so quickly for me!! I really like what you got me set up for!

Really looking forward to this training cycle. I feel like I have some unfinished business with the half!!

 

[disneygpa]

Soooo... I had a birthday on Saturday. Successfully made it to the ripe young age of 53. Of those 53 years, I spent about 30 of them being obese. I'm not talking a little extra, I was seriously 100lbs overweight. Most people wouldn't believe me when I said I was obese. I covered it pretty well with baggy sweatshirts and things. Even my surgeon said I didn't look as big as I was. Anyways. Two years after getting the bariatric sleeve, I'm still down around 100 lbs. Somedays more, somedays less. Best thing I ever did for myself!!

Went to see my back doc yesterday. All indications are that my hardware is still firmly in place and my bones have healed. Long term prognosis is good. As long as I keep up my fitness routine, the fusion shouldn't be a problem. He did point out that I have some issues between L4 and L5. I have some significant degeneration. It may become an issue later in life. Most likely the biggest contributor to the damage is being overweight for so long. He made me feel pretty good about progress!! He asked if I was able to exercise without pain. I told him that I had just run my first half marathon 8 days before and he said I was an "amazing" patient. I'm my own worst critic. No one is harder on my progress than me. And to be honest, it felt good to get the reassurance from the doc that I was doing good!!

I got my birthday gift from DW last night!! She got me a new Garmin Vivoactive 3!! whoop whoop!!! I'm still learning how to use it, but I love it already!!

I'm wearing both my Fitbit and my Garmin right now. Looks kinda silly but we are doing a walk challenge at work and it is synced with my Fitbit. I don't want to go thru the hassle of syncing with the Garmin and possibly screwing something up.

This morning was my first run with the Garmin. Data was really close to the Fitbit. Really enjoyable run. Weather was perfect!! Was thinking while I was running, just how much I enjoy these easy runs!!



Paces were a little fast, but not horribly fast on mile 2 and 3. Should have been 3 miles @ EA, EA = 12:49.

 

[Jules76126]

Happy Belated Birthday!

 

[disneygpa]

Wednesday. Didn't sleep well last night. Woke up at 2:36 tried to go back to sleep until the alarm went off at 3, but no luck. Decided to get up at 2:45 and get my run done! Great morning for a run. Must have rained pretty good overnight, there were some pretty big puddles to avoid.

Still wearing both my fitbit and my garmin. I'll be adding both summaries in my journal until I retire the fitbit.

Fitbit summary


Garmin summary


Interesting disagreement between the two. I'm not really sure what to think about the differences. Not a huge amount but certainly noticeable. One thing to note is that the garmin isn't giving me credit for stairs climbed during my run. It sees that I have an elevation gain. But doesn't recognize it as a flight of stairs. The fitbit on the other hand gives me credit for stairs climbed equaling the elevation gain. Not a huge deal I guess.

 

[disneygpa]

Happy Belated Birthday!

Thank you!!

 

[disneygpa]

Whew! First 3 day in a row stretch complete!! I haven't been sleeping well lately but still getting up early! No problem crawling out of bed at 3. At least so far. Tomorrow morning I won't get up until 4. It'll be almost like sleeping in!!

This mornings run was 3 miles @ EA, EA = 12:49

Fitbit summary


Garmin summary


After wearing both the Fitbit and the Garmin for 3 days now I have some observations to share.

First, the Fitbit is far more generous with non walking steps. What I mean by this is that it gives me credit when I'm doing things with my hands, like working on a project in the garage, or at my test bench at work. Neither of these require much in the way of walking but the Fitbit gives me more credit for those steps.

Second, the Garmin is far more stingy when it comes to credit for stairs climbed. It recognizes that I have elevation gain during my run but does not give me credit for stairs climbed. The Fitbit gives me credit for stairs for this elevation gain. Even though I've worn the trackers the exact same amount of time today. The Fitbit has given me credit for 18 flights of stairs and the Garmin only 4.

Third, I'm not sure which one to believe for my distance. The Garmin gain's about .02 miles/mile on the Fitbit. Now, this isn't much of a difference on a 3 mile run. But, could add up over time. I wonder which one is more accurate.

As for this mornings run. My pacing is still fast regardless of which tracker I look at.

I think after I finish the step challenge at work I'm going to have to retire the Fitbit and just use the Garmin. I might drive myself crazy trying to figure out why there are differences between the two.

 

[DopeyBadger]

I might drive myself crazy trying to figure out why there are differences between the two.

GPS "halo" pings, frequency of pings, and software interpretation of the data set to name a few reasons. I'd trust the Garmin.

 

[disneygpa]

GPS "halo" pings, frequency of pings, and software interpretation of the data set to name a few reasons. I'd trust the Garmin.

Thanks, that is what I am going to do. The Fitbit will be retired and passed on to someone else as soon as I'm done with a step challenge through work.

 

[disneygpa]

Another great morning for a run! I really enjoy running in the wee hours! So much more peaceful than the rest of the crazy day.
Today's run was supposed to be 3 miles @ EB + Strides, EB = 11:58.
My overall average was good. A little slow the first mile and a little fast in the last two miles. Strides were fun as always!

Fitbit summary


Garmin summary


Looking ahead to this coming Wednesday, I have a CV run. I believe this is the first time this has come up in a training plan. Looks like fun and a new challenge!! @DopeyBadger Billy, could you explain the CV pace? What is it and what's the benefit? Thanks as always for your input!!!

So, I forgot to mention something interesting that happened on Wednesday's run.

I get up pretty dang early to get my runs in and I usually can count the number of cars I see on the roads on one hand. And I can't usually count any people!! But, Wednesday morning I actually ran into another runner!!!??? Not like physically made contact, but saw them run by. Said hi to her and gave her a wave. That makes the total number of people I've seen in all these early mornings a grand total of 2. Weird to see another runner at that time!!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Looking ahead to this coming Wednesday, I have a CV run. I believe this is the first time this has come up in a training plan. Looks like fun and a new challenge!! @DopeyBadger Billy, could you explain the CV pace? What is it and what's the benefit? Thanks as always for your input!!!

CV is critical velocity. A pace that falls between LT (lactate threshold) and VO2max. If run appropriately, it is theorized that it can combinatorially work both LT and VO2max at the same time.

 

[disneygpa]

Dang. Had to be at work an hour earlier than normal this morning to turn a substation back on. That means, getting up even earlier to get my run in. Alarm went off at 2:30.... out the door by 2:42, 4 miles in the books. Made it to work on time, substation turned on, everyone happy!!

Today was supposed to be 4 miles @ Long Run, LR = 11:38

Fitbit summary



Garmin Summary



According to the Garmin, my paces were pretty darn good! I'm chalking this one up to one of my most successful runs!

Interesting observation this morning. The Fitbit actually read more distance than the Garmin. The last few runs the Fitbit has lost about .02 miles/mile in comparison with the Garmin. Today it gained .03 over the four miles.... Go figure...

Another great morning for a run. Temps in the upper 50's, humidity was decent, and a cool gentle breeze. A couple interesting notes from this mornings run.

First, I saw a car idling in the middle of the street with its lights off. Not really sure what to make of it. Could have been some teens sneaking home/out, but just weird that it would just be sitting in the middle of the road. It drove off with the lights off after I went by.

Second, heard a man telling a laughing woman to "get out, shoo... what are you doing in here!" Interesting what you hear at 3am when your not listening to music....

Tomorrow is a much needed day off. Between working 19 days in a row, redecorating 3 bedrooms in our house, moving furniture for the decorating and trying to make time to play with the grandkids, I'm feeling a little beat.... Sleeping in until 4 tomorrow... YAY ME!!

 

[disneygpa]

Today is a much needed rest day. Not really from a running standpoint. But, from a sleeping standpoint.

I've kinda been burning the candle at both ends this last week. Getting up early to run, and making big changes at our house. These changes have involved lots of furniture moving and painting. Feel like I've been working two jobs. Only need to move one more bedroom set and I'll be done!! Hopefully that'll happen tonight!

Another observation from wearing the two fitness trackers. The Garmin is far more generous with my sleep tracking. Last night it gave me 8:03 of sleep. The Fitbit only logged me 7:16. Now, either way this is the most sleep I've gotten all week. Seven hours is my goal every night, but I rarely achieve that goal.

That extra hour of sleep felt soooooo good!! The guys at work are gonna wish I hadn't slept that much!!

 

[disneygpa]

Another great morning for a run! Weather was about as good as can be for mid July... Little rough getting up, stayed up too late watching the last episode "Stranger Things" season 3. I don't watch a lot of TV by choice, but this is a really good series! Unfortunately that meant I stayed up to late and only slept about 5 hours.

Moving furniture around the house is complete. Grandma and I are ready to move out sometime next month and the oldest DD will be taking over the house with her kids and step kids. We are excited to move on to this next chapter of our lives.

Back to the run.

Fitbit summary,



Garmin summary,





I included the HR data in this run because the Garmin seemed to be reading high during my run. It seems as though I may have slipped into HR cadence during this run with the Garmin. The Fitbit data seems a bit more accurate and is what I would have expected to see during an EA run. Might need to tighten the strap one more notch on the Garmin for tomorrows run.

Another note on wearing both activity trackers. Battery life. I charged them both to 100%. They have been reading within 1% of each other until this morning. This morning the Garmin read 35% and the Fitbit had dropped to 26%. Went on my run and then put both of them on the charger, the Garmin was down to 28% and the Fitbit had dropped to 16%. Left them on their chargers while I showered and got ready. Roughly 20 min later the Garmin had already charged to 70% and the Fitbit had charged to 43%. Nothing really to take away from this. Battery life may be slightly better with the Garmin, and charging is much faster. Just noting an observation at this point. Won't matter in a week as the Fitbit will be finding a new wrist after then.

 

[disneygpa]

Learned an important lesson today. If you input a workout into Garmin Connect online or on the app, it doesn't automatically download to the tracker . Unfortunately, I learned that lesson after I got out for my warm up walk and just before starting my run. Lesson learned, will really try not to make that mistake again.

Today's run was supposed to be 1 mile WU + 5 x 4 min @ CV w/ 75 sec RI @ WU + 1 mile CD. I managed to accomplish the goal, but had to rely on my Fitbit lap counter for data because I haven't figured out how to do laps on the Garmin yet. The data seems accurate. I was really fast during some of the CV runs, and spot on for a couple of them. I really enjoyed trying to run faster today!! I'm really feeling it in my legs. Haven't run that hard in a long time!

Question Billy, @DopeyBadger during these CV runs like the one above, do you run a 5th RI? OR do you just incorporate the RI with the CD mile? Does that make sense?


As you can see when I put this in my workout I subtracted the time for the last RI from the CD. But then I got to thinking. Maybe I'm supposed to run all 5 RI's AND the CD mile. Maybe it's not that big of a deal. But, I want to do things right!!

Now to the actual run.

Fitbit data



As you can see, some of the CV intervals were pretty good, others not so good. It's a work in progress really. Funny thing about the time for each interval. I was using my Garmin to watch for 4 min and for 75 sec and I tried to hit the lap button when those times came up. Now, I'm not really great at math at 3:30 in the morning. But some of those are way off and I can usually get those right. Guess I should have been using the Fitbit for everything.

Garmin data



Not really sure what good this is other than it shows I ran fast and slow. Lesson learned. Make sure your workout is on your tracker PRIOR to leaving the house!!

So, today's interesting tidbit from the morning run. As I was about 100' or so from the entrance to one of the new neighborhoods in town. The local police come rushing into the entrance. As they pull in they shutdown all their lights. Hesitate at the entrance like maybe they are thinking about coming to talk to me then they move on. Now I have to make a decision. Follow my normal route and the cop, or bypass the neighborhood and make up the distance elsewhere. I decide to follow my normal route and follow the cop to see what all the hubbub is about. Well, turns out to be no hubbub at all. Bummer, I was hoping to come around a corner and see some action but I ran the entire loop and nothing, nada. Not sure why the officer came flying in like that, but they were sure in a hurry to pull in. Good times in the hood..