Back to Running

***Note: This is an example of a post that is more for my benefit than anyone else's. Perhaps I can look back and see where I was and see some improvement.***

It has been awhile since I ran. I have been riding a fair bit and so it is not like I have been sitting back doing nothing. Nevertheless, I had a harder time running than I would have thought. My goal was to do a slow and steady run. When I last ran, back before cross season was nearing about 5 to 6 weeks ago, I was running 70 to 80 minutes at a pretty good pace--around 10 minute to 10:30 miles without killing myself. My heart rate would be in the mid to upper 150's to maybe low 160's if going uphill. I could run for what felt like all day if I kept my heart rate down around the mid 140's. My fastest mile time was close to a 7 minute flat after about 2 or 3 miles of warm up.

Anyway, I am here to testify that cycling and running do not work the same muscles at all. I ran this afternoon for an hour. I kept my average heart rate at around the mid 140's for most of the time until I hit some hills at the end of my run. My max was still only 163 BPM, which is good considering I suppose. Overall, my average heart rate was 147. Well, aerobically I felt fine, never winded at all. But, I could feel that even after about 30 minutes I was not in the best running condition. My muscles are not used running and I felt weak even though my lungs felt great. It was kind of odd. I am sure that I should have only run for about 40 minutes, but I am an idiot in this regard and since I had a goal of running for an hour, I ran for an hour regardless of the discomfort. At least I never stopped. I wasn't even running fast. I was only doing about 12 minute miles. Sure I could have run faster, but only if I wanted to run for about half the time.

This time around I am really trying to do better with my training. Earlier this year I was way too time oriented. Meaning that I was trying to always beat my former times on my bike route to school, or at the track when running. My heart rate would be through the roof often times. This time I am trying to build a better fitness foundation, and I have read that training for triathlons is more effective if I develop a good foundation. This can be done by some long and low heart rate workouts. I have a hard time doing this on the bike, because Portland is not exactly flat and on many hill climbs near our house my heart rate will alway shoot up to the upper 160's or low 170's. But running I can chose to run at the outdoor track which is a 1/4 mile away and nice and flat. As long as I have my IPod with me with either a Podcast of CarTalk or Wait Wait don't Tell Me, or perhaps some good music I am good for a long while. Today I actually went with no Ipod because there was a light rain for much of the time I was out. And yeah, I am hardcore by running in the rain.