You Need A Rest Day

Sept 22-28

Aaron — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:31:43 +0000

September 22

51:02

Course: Lake Ontario Loop

Todays run was a little more difficult then the past few. First early run in a few weeks. (0530). Felt better as I approached 7 K and in wasn’t too bad
Start:
5:34 AM
Weather:
6° C
Shoes:
Asic Gel 1130
719/800 km

Slept: 6 hours Resting HR: 54 bpm Weight: 158.00 lbs

September 23

58:59

Course: Little Cataraqui Trails

Great Run. Really enjoy this trail. Ended up losing the plot on Trail 3 but did’t get too far off track. Can’t wait to get back out there
Start:
4:03 PM
Weather:
19° C
Shoes:
LaSportiva Crosslites
60/800 km

Slept: 7 hours Resting HR: 54 bpm Weight: 158.00 lbs

September 24

Here things go a little pear shaped. I had all 4 wisdom teeth out and hoped to bounce back quickly however that wasn’t meant to be. I had a dry socket which was nasty and it wouldn’t stop bleeding. Finally got corrected on Monday so things should be back to normal as I got the green light from the dentist. I haven’t been very fun to be around…sorry to all those who felt the wrath, anyways Monday was good so I will continue with that next week!

Sept 18-21

Aaron — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:17:44 +0000

September 18

52:16

Course:

Birchell Rd

Felt pretty hard this morning. Looking forward to a rest day on Friday
Start:
8:06 AM
Weather:
7° C
Shoes:
Asic Gel 1130 (2)
285/800 km

Slept:

7.5 hours

Resting HR:

54 bpm

Weight:

156.00 lbs

September 20

Merrickville Trails

56:20

Very Strong run on trails. Enjoyed the temperature and actually saw someone out on trails. Felt pace was slower then it was
Start:
8:48 AM
Weather:
10° C
Shoes:
LaSportiva Crosslites
30/800 km

Slept:

8 hours

Resting HR:

54 bpm

Weight:

156.00 lbs

September 21

Merrickville Trails

55:34

Nice trail run, cooler then yesterday. Really want to go furtherbut on call so will attempt to go further next week. Shoes working out great. Met Margaret and ran her in from her run.
Start:
8:21 AM
Weather:
9° C
Shoes:
LaSportiva Crosslites
40/800 km

Slept:

8 hours

Resting HR:

54 bpm

Weight:

157.00 lbs

Last Daily Post

Aaron — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:58:47 +0000

I have decided to change the format of the blog. Instead of daily posts I will do one end of the week post. Today I was back on the trails, and I did take my Garmin but only to check out distance not pace. I was able to go out for 5 K (10 K in total) and still seemed like I was just seeing the tip of the ice burg for total amount of trails available to me so I very happy about that. I will try to change things up and combine both road and trails which should keep things fresh.

SLEEP: 8 Hrs

Resting HR: 54 bpm

WEIGHT: 157 Lbs

A Balmy 5 Degrees!

Aaron — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:49:44 +0000

I actually had to throw on my running coat today when I headed out. I could see my breath and I now know that the fall is on the way. I decided to hit Cty Rd 16 since I have not done that route in a while and I really enjoy it. I went for 10 K and felt good, not pushing the pace at all. I am on-call this week so I will be getting my runs in when I can. The leaves are starting to change, I love this time of year. I will try to do the trails tomorrow if work permits if not I will get some sort of run in. My rest days now have been spent using the spin bike at work but no matter how hard I go I never get any where!!!!!!

SLEEP: 8.5 Hrs

Resting HR: 54 bpm

Weight: 157 Lbs

Trails

Aaron — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:48:27 +0000

I went out on the local trails today and was very pleased. I took Derricks advice and left the Garmin at home. Instead I went out as far as I could go in a half hour then turned around. I was happy because I don’t think I was even close to the end of the system. It had everything from wet exposed bed rock, roots, grass, large rocks, mud and sand and the only pavement was the first 300 m or so. It was technical for a beginner like myself. The running style is so much different and required me to be vigilant for rocks and other obstacles. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to get back out there. I was running in the La Sportiva Crosslites as recommended by Derrick and they worked great. I had a ton of traction even on the wet smooth rocks..thanks Derrick!

Nice and Easy

Aaron — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:05:06 +0000

Today I went out with the BRRC and did a nice easy run for 13.5 K’s. I felt pretty good but my ITB were a bit stiff after. It was very humid today but not too hot. I was discussing my melt down at the TIP and a few people thought I may have had Hyponatremia but I am not sure about that, what ever it was I don’t want it to happen again. I have refocused and will run the Limestone City Half in April ’09. I didn’t want to rush back into it! In the mean time I have an 8K an a 10K coming up in the fall and will work on building a solid base over the winter.

Another Easy Day

Aaron — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:23:12 +0000

Although my base is still there my body took a pretty good hit last Saturday so I had another easy day of 8 K at 5:15 pace. I felt pretty good with just a few aches and pains as a reminder again of Saturday. I plan to go out with the BRRC on Saturday and then try my luck at the trails on Sunday. I have an 8 K in Sydenham in October that I will be running with my wife which will be great. I am refocusing on the half for the spring of ’09 and will enjoy increasing my base training over the winter.

Back In The Saddle

Aaron — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:17:32 +0000

Well even though I am suffering from a brutal head cold now I wanted to get back at it. I did a very easy 8 K averaging 5.25/K. I felt physically strong with just a small tweak in my right hamstring, most likely from the severe leg cramps on Saturday. But it felt GREAT to get back at it. The next week will be easy run’s and with any luck a couple of runs on the local Skidoo trails. Another thanks to all the fellow bloggers for your support!

What Doesn’t Kill Us Makes Us Stonger

Aaron — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 11:23:37 +0000

I remember watching a marathon when I was little where a runner lost control of all the faculties and as hard as she tried there was no continuing. I woke up and checked the weather, it was already 22 degrees and 100% humidity at 0530. I arrived at the race feeling good and was very excited. I had talked with a fellow BRRC member Rod Palmer last week and because we were aiming for the same time we ran together.

The start came and we didn’t feel like we started too fast as we were being passed by a lot of runners however for the first little while we were on a 4:30/k pace which was too fast. I felt good for the first half of the race and we were reeling people in along the way and making good time. Because it was so humid I was taking water at all the water stops. I was getting pretty tired by 17 K and told Rod to go on without me.

It was at that point that thing got a little foggy”. I was still on a decent pace and would have come in around an hour forty but I was really struggling. I kept thinking I was closer to the end then I was, even though I was wearing a Garmin I couldn’t tell how much further I had to go. Then my body just shut down. I stopped and couldn’t keep my balance and I was sweating profusely. I was nauseous and no matter how hard I tried to get up my body wouldn’t respond. I was 1 K away from the finish…1 K! I had a mixture of heat exhaustion and dehydration…not a good combo. I spent some time in the St John’s Ambulance where Margaret got this photo and I can’t believe I was smiling because I felt so miserable.

I felt horrible all night and as I write this post I still feel bad. I am also very disappointed however I am not giving up. Once I start feeling better and let my body recover I will be back at it. Sorry to the people that follow my blog. I wish I could have had a more successful post for you to read.

Final Pre Race Run

Aaron — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:46:33 +0000

Wednesday morning I did my final pre race run ( 8 K at 4:55/K) so if I am not ready now I never will be. I know in the whole scheme of things it isn’t a huge deal but for me it is. Considering where I was 9 months ago this didn’t seem possible. Today I did 30 mins on the spin bike at work with a nice 15 mins worth of stretching. Friday will be a complete rest day and I hope to get to bed early. The next post will be a play by play of the TIP Half!