August Running Goal

My exercise goal for August is to run three times a week. So far, so good! I ran on Sunday to make up my third run of the week - it was just a short 3K to get the cobwebs out after my Ultimate playoffs on Saturday.

I've been following a Nike+ Intermediate 5K program in an effort to achieve a time goal at my next race. I had to alter it quite a bit to fit my schedule and to dial back the intensity, too. For the first few weeks I had Ultimate on Tuesdays, so I reduced the mileage increases to compensate for the Ultimate games. Now that Ultimate's over, the mileage starts to increase. Last week was 12K, this week is 15K, then 19K next week, holding at 19K the week after, then a cutback week to 11K. The program initially featured some drastic mileage increases, no cutback weeks after weeks of increases, as well as hills and speedwork. All of this was a little too intense for me, given my mileage base and my running experience.

My achilles is a little sore, so I'm being very diligent about warm-ups, cool-downs, stretching and icing. Other than that, I'm experiencing no problems. I'm looking forward to my rest day today!

I just hope that the transition back to regular running, the mileage base and the bit of speedwork in the plan will all translate into a sub-30:00 5K time at my goal race in September. I finished in 30:08 (chiptime) at a 5K in June, though my iPod showed 30:01 because there was no chip timing mat at the start line.

Oh and I got my running skirt from Runningskirts.com - including a free gift of a tote back, technical tank in pink to match the black and pink skirt, a headband and a chapstick! Kudos to Cindy and Christy at Runningskirts.com. What an awesome bonus gift!

Sugoi, how I love thee

I did some major damage to my credit card yesterday on the Sugoi site. I was accepted as a Sugoi Brand Champion early in 2009 - I get discounts on Sugoi gear, wear it to races and promote the product wherever I can. I love their colours and designs, though the sizing is a little on the small size, so ordering can be a bit humbling at times.

In anticipation of the winter running season, I ordered a couple long-sleeve shirts, one with a full-zip, as I only have 2 that are heavy enough to wear the through the winter, and I only have one light one that's suitable for Fall running after mid-October. These should be great for layering through the Fall as the weather gets progressively colder.

I'd also been coveting their k-Scope tank in Citrine (an awesome yellow pattern). A pair of arm warmers also jumped into my shopping cart, so that I can get more wear out of my short-sleeve shirts. And a pair of running tights, as I got tired of washing my running tights two or three times a week... oh dear, it all adds up quick.

And I'm done buying running gear for the next year. I think my Visa's being revoked. Keep your fingers crossed that it all fits!

New running skirt!

I took advantage of Runningskirts.com's anniversary sale last week. I ordered myself a new skirt in black and hot pink. I bought one of their skirts at the Race Weekend in May and I'm absolutely in love with it. It's comfortable, fits wonderfully, has huge pockets and it's made in Canada!

I can't wait for the skirt to arrive so I can wear it out on a run. There's a lot of controversy over running skirts... some women think they're too girly, while others refuse to wear them. I was skeptical of them at first. That is until I went running in one. I got some strange looks, but they are so comfortable! No chafing. No having to fish it out of your nether regions. No riding up.

Now I hate running in shorts or capris... that is unless it's the dead of winter. If I could run in a running skirt in February, I totally would!

When to throw in the towel

I had originally scheduled my 6K run for Wednesday night. After running 3K on Monday and a rousing game of Ultimate on Tuesday (complete with wind sprints to the endzone), my legs felt like Jell-O on Wednesday. I recognized that maybe my 6K run wasn't such a good idea. Even 3K sounded daunting. So I put the run off until today.

Honestly, I can't say that the extra 12 hours of rest really helped. My legs still felt like lead 2K into the run. I wanted to throw in the towel right then and there. But no, I kept going. I figured that I'd dragged my behind out of bed an hour earlier for this God-forsaken exercise, so I was going to finish it! I ended up having to walk twice and I also had to watch my breathing because of a sidestitch that started at 3K. My legs felt dead at the end of the run and they are already sore.

I wondered... when is it okay to throw in the towel? Not every run is a golden run where everything lines up perfectly. And running when the alarm bells of nagging injuries, tiredness or sickness are ringing is always a bad idea. When should I leave my pride on the trail and abandon a run for a better day?

I thought that completing the run was the best idea for today's case. After all, I was running and out-and-back (run a distance out, run the same distance back) and it was at the 2K mark once I'd thought about quitting my run. This meant that I was going to have to run a total of 4K no matter what. And, an additional 2K really isn't that much more in grand scheme of things.

Then there were the other factors, such as the fact that I was out at 7 a.m. when I didn't need to be. I didn't know when I'd manage to fit in the extra KMs into my schedule. It's too hot right now to run during the day or before 7 p.m. And, I wasn't really hurting—my legs were just plain tired.

Was I right to keep going? Or was I pushing it too hard? I guess I'll find out tomorrow when I realize how sore I am.