A week like normal should be. This put me running 4 days and riding one. That one is better than none. Now with three months of consistent running under my belt. Felt the need to bust out of the neighborhood and surrounding area.
An area that has piqued my interest on the bike would do the same for the feet. Friday, I made my way over to Granby Riverwalk Trail. A series of old fishing trails and a concrete path paralleling the river. A far less popular area, unlike the Cayce/WC Greenway. Started out with a mile warm-up around the new USC baseball field then into the woods. Hitting the trails, turned up the pace for 3 miles of good tempo. Cool down for a mile. No walkers, no senior citizens who pretend not to hear you, no drop kick dogs, no baby strollers & no stalkers. Just me and my ipod cruising through the woods.
Saturday a much needed reuniting with the bike. Broke out the trusty hybrid for a pleasant 90 minute spin out into Cayce and down Dixiana & back. No asshole rednecks and really nice weather. The running has definitely helped with the fitness. Now it's time to familiarized oneself with a saddle again. Even managed the traditional cyclist arm tan. Sweet style.
Sunday was the test of mettle. Trail running at HSP. Surprising to not see many peeps out at the trail. Started from the Eagle TH parking > Discovery Trail > Crooked Pine > Midlands Mtn. > Stewardship > Stewardship Connector > Eagle > Eagle TH = 7.5mi ~ 67min.
The full price of admission came with the accent of Stewardship then onto the connector. This series of climbs started the burn. My small amount of water was gone and the drive was going south. Jim past but I was too focused on the water at the truck to say HI (sorry Jim). Back to Eagle TH headed down hill along the double track picking up the pace to the FS road then a left on Eagle trail. This is one of the original trails in HSP. Off limits to wheels but friendly to feet. Not many cyclist see this trail. With 7 miles in the legs this trail's steep accent back to the car can really hurt. Hence the breaking point for me. Fun stuff, next HSP challenge - Lost Creek.
12.5mi by foot
25 mi by wheel
=3 good workouts
Monday, August 11, 2008
Monday, August 04, 2008
Funk Diving
Just in case anyone was wondering, I have been running instead of riding. Why you ask? Totally burned out on the bike is why. After the Stumpjump XC my desire to ride started on the decline. Stemming from a combination of increasing heat and the simple fact of the same ol' geographic location of my rides. Not sure how it really happened. My guess would be the fact that I rode all through the winter with no real break from the bike.
The downward spiral all started back in late April. It was a string of flats that left me walking out of the woods in one instance. Then I had to call my wife on two occasions to come pick me up out on the road. It seemed as if every other ride I went on was filled with disappointment. During a flat repair down on the Outer Loop @ HSP, I noticed two trail runners coming through the woods. These cats were gliding along the trail having a good time. As I remembered the good times of running high school XC.
Now roll into May, the work load was starting to increase. More and more time spent in the field. All day on your feet in the heat - sucks. Everyday I would come home and plop down on the couch and veg out till time to go to bed. The drive to go out and explore had fizzled. All the routes that I've come up with over the past years did not have the excitement they use to.
So one night while walking the dogs, I decided to jog for a few minutes. After three weeks of this routine I went out and bought some new kicks and stretched these walk/jog/walks a little further. Now early August I'm able to knock out one hour non stop. This new found joy of running has started to pull me from the funk I've experienced. Not sure if it's the thoughts of yester-years or the fact I'm onto something that can be done with little to no travel and minimal prep time. Double bonus is the fact that I can drag my pups out with me. A steady 3 miler will keep them tired for two days.
This past Saturday, I toed the line of a local 5k for the first time in ten years. Nervous yeah a little. Overall goal to beat my PR from 1994 of 18:50 at a Lexington High XC meet during my senior year. This race was a wake up of sorts. Going into it I was confident of a sub 21:00 finish. Excitement took over and the first mile I ran a 6:45 then mile two was 7:00. Something happened between mile 2 & 3. Heat happened! Paced slowed to an 8:00 last mile. Finishing the 5k in 21:38. Totally exhausted but now I have a benchmark to work from. Now ya'll understand why I haven't been posting. There was no need to write about the funk diving till I could bring myself from it. So don't forget about me & lookout I'll be back.
The downward spiral all started back in late April. It was a string of flats that left me walking out of the woods in one instance. Then I had to call my wife on two occasions to come pick me up out on the road. It seemed as if every other ride I went on was filled with disappointment. During a flat repair down on the Outer Loop @ HSP, I noticed two trail runners coming through the woods. These cats were gliding along the trail having a good time. As I remembered the good times of running high school XC.
Now roll into May, the work load was starting to increase. More and more time spent in the field. All day on your feet in the heat - sucks. Everyday I would come home and plop down on the couch and veg out till time to go to bed. The drive to go out and explore had fizzled. All the routes that I've come up with over the past years did not have the excitement they use to.
So one night while walking the dogs, I decided to jog for a few minutes. After three weeks of this routine I went out and bought some new kicks and stretched these walk/jog/walks a little further. Now early August I'm able to knock out one hour non stop. This new found joy of running has started to pull me from the funk I've experienced. Not sure if it's the thoughts of yester-years or the fact I'm onto something that can be done with little to no travel and minimal prep time. Double bonus is the fact that I can drag my pups out with me. A steady 3 miler will keep them tired for two days.
This past Saturday, I toed the line of a local 5k for the first time in ten years. Nervous yeah a little. Overall goal to beat my PR from 1994 of 18:50 at a Lexington High XC meet during my senior year. This race was a wake up of sorts. Going into it I was confident of a sub 21:00 finish. Excitement took over and the first mile I ran a 6:45 then mile two was 7:00. Something happened between mile 2 & 3. Heat happened! Paced slowed to an 8:00 last mile. Finishing the 5k in 21:38. Totally exhausted but now I have a benchmark to work from. Now ya'll understand why I haven't been posting. There was no need to write about the funk diving till I could bring myself from it. So don't forget about me & lookout I'll be back.
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