Did a short walk today (3 miles) and spent all afternoon doing garden work–mostly getting the soil ready for plants that should come next week. I love playing in the dirt.
I’m going to a Boston Marathon party tomorrow–friends of our downsized and moved to the city and they’re right on the route. We’ll go see the Red Sox and then go to the party after the game. No one here is running? BB you aren’t running again, right?
Michael- sorry you had to miss the ride. Hooe things get better! I’m sure they will.
Hi, Deborah!
IDad, I thought that might be the case on the Hell of Hunterdon ride given the amount of hills and the extreme headwinds. But then when it happened again a week later, I began to wonder if there were other factors at play. In speaking to my regular riding partners, who were with me on both rides, they raised a hydration issue based on what they saw me consume. Probably a bit of both. It probably didn’t help that the night before the second ride, I had two high octane margaritas, something I never normally do! In any event, whether it’s because I’m paying more attention to ride hydration or I’m getting in regular outdoor miles, things are improving. Last Thursday, I did a very high intensity 1 1/2 hour ride and a 2 1/2 hour one today and it seems to be okay.
Nrdsb4, you doing a 1 1/2 hour ride is great! Think about where you were when you started riding. Keep riding consistently and you’ll get to 2 hours sooner than you think. Nothing is a substitute for consistent saddle time to achieve consistent improvement. As to your comment on cadence, yes, spinning your pedal strokes is always better than mashing the cranks. Finding the right cadence range and spinning as opposed to mashing is instrumental to improving your cycling performance. The right cadence range is an individual process but a general rule is somewhere in the 85-105 range for on the flats and short rolling hills while 75-85 for tough hills. Where you fall in those ranges will depend on your experience, developed technique, mix of fast twitch and slow twitch muscle fibers in your legs. You don’t want to spin so fast that your form disintegrates leading to inefficiencies and potential injuries while at the same time, spinning too slowly with high resistence impedes the development of muscular endurance and risks knee injury.
Bromfield, have a wonderful time in Boston! I could have tried to enter with my last year’s Boston time as my BQ, but decided against it. First, no other Boston will compare to the experience I had last year. Second, I am busier than ever this year, and serious training just could not fit into my schedule (I plan to resume regular training this summer). Third, it is a pretty expensive trip. So no Boston for me this year. 
But I will be watching the race highlights on my computer at work. 
Thanks MOWC. I was disappointed but the single most important thing I’ve probably learned over the last couple of years is to temper my “enthusiasm” with prudence without feeling guilty about it. For those in it for the long haul, it’s a must. So to compensate, yesterday I went to a 2 hour Brazillian Jiu Jitsu clinic that my son was co-coaching and rode today with my Sturdy Girls friends.
Ran every day this week. Four days at the track. Saturday I spiked up for the first time so my calves are a little sore and tight today. Wasn’t going to run today but I saw the weather forecast for next week was going to be colder, so I ran 6 easy miles.
Ibuprofen and Epsom salt bath before Madmen tonight.
MNK, I’m sure you will get that thing under control. Sigh, it just takes time… A 2 hour Jiu Jitsu practice will do me in, so you are doing super great!
Ran 5.25 miles. Gorgeous day, 70 degrees. Could have ran some more, but I had to stand under the ladder and watch how Mr. B cleaned and patched our gutters. You know, to catch him in case he fell. 
MKat:
I don’t think my cramps were hydration related, although I guess anything is possible. I hike with a camelbak style water reservoir, usually with two liters of water, and am constantly drinking. Plus, the SuperStarch protein shakes that have some electrolyte replacement.
I guess I could force myself to drink more, but that’s what it would take.
Both times I cramped up, I also had significant muscle soreness for a couple of days. I just overdid it on steep downhill terrain (eccentric loading).
“I’m going to a Boston Marathon party tomorrow–friends of our downsized and moved to the city and they’re right on the route. We’ll go see the Red Sox and then go to the party after the game. No one here is running? BB you aren’t running again, right?”
My D will be cheering them on at the scream tunnel!
Up at 5:30 to ride after two days of rest. I like getting there early and being done with much of the day still left ahead.
Ran a little under 4 miles – a shortened version of my usual route here at the shore since it started raining. Unlike all those running the Marathon today, I had no strong desire/need to run in the cold, wet, and wind!
Bromfield - a Marathon party sounds like fun! Bundle up for the game – unless it gets rained out?
Easy 7.2 this morning, glad to get it in. Storms swept through overnight so it was humid and damp with lots of standing water, but nothing coming from the sky. Feeling anxious about Saturday’s half.
Sabaray, wouldn’t probably be a race without some anxiousness, right? Here’s hoping for good weather for you! Otherwise, I know you’ll do just fine!!! Are some of your running partners doing this race with you?
Week 3, Day 1 complete! I went to our local running store yesterday and after trying on many pairs of shoes, having my gait analyzed and reviewing my myriad of earlier injuries, settled on the Saucony Triumph ISO. Felt good this morning but I think I have to play with the back-lacing to get a more snug fit in the heel on my smaller foot. It was amazing how shoes I wore for years (like the Asics Gel Nimbus series) seemed to have the arch in all the wrong places now. Old feet, I guess! Anyway, Saucony is probably the only brand I haven’t worn over the years, so we’ll see how it goes. All the guys in the store (serious running types who have been in this store since we started buying shoes there when my now 30-year-old started running x-country in 9th grade) were wearing Hokas and swear by them. The rain has started and it looks like we’ll be calling for Noah before it’s all over this afternoon.
Good for you Runnersmom, heading back to be properly fitted! I’m sure feet change over the years! Did you try the Hokas???
To be honest, he thought they would be a bit much shoe at this early point in my re-entry to running. Something about the lack of drop from heel to toe and not wanting to impact my mechanics until I was “back in the saddle!” I must admit, I tried them on once at REI and though they were soon comfortable, I felt a little unstable. If I work up to more mileage on the roads, I may ask more questions and try them. Cushioning is my biggest concern. Apparently, I no longer overpronate and can wear a neutral shoe, but I hit pretty hard with my forefoot, so cushioning is important.
The Saucony Triumph ISO is an excellent shoe. I have them.
Sabaray- take it easy this week. You are ready!
Saturday’s Marathon Relay was a lot of fun. It was a really nice day and a great event. We ended up winning the Cod Division of the Marathon Relay and we were second overall. There weren’t as many teams competing in the relay this year but they had record participation in both the full and half marathon. I was happy with my pace for the 8 mile leg that I ran but I’m not sure that I could maintain it for another 5.1 miles for my upcoming half. This course was hillier, though.
We know two people running Boston today. One is my husband’s college roommate and the other is the race director of the marathon that we participated in this weekend. It was funny tracking the two of them today as they finished less than a minute apart (both clock time and gun time) and were at nearly the same pace and at the splits at almost the same times the whole race.
Sabaray-you will do great at the half this weekend! Your training has been so consistent. Are most of your running partners participating also? Will you plan to run together?
Ack! Typo - it was the Coed Division of the Marathon Relay. No fish participated in the race…
C3Baker- that made me laugh. Glad it was fun.
My friends who ran Boston seem to have done pretty well- at least as far as I’ve seen up to now.