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October 29, 2007
This Is Now
According to my running log, on November 2nd, 2006, I ran the Old Gardiner Road from Mammoth to the "turnaround rock" and back in 1:13. This run is 8 miles via a winding dirt road; it begins with a 4 mile, 1300 foot descent, and it ends by climbing back up the same distance and elevation. I marked that run as "hilly and easy."
This route has, through the years, become a fitness gauge for me. How good I feel during the run, how smooth my legs feel on the descent, how easy the climbing is, and my time out on this course all yield data about my current fitness level. Also, I've begun using this road for a hill workout. Most frequently, I'll glide the downhill and push the uphill.
I did this same route today, October 29th, 2007. Tonight I'll mark the following in my running log: "32 minutes gliding downhill, 41 minutes pushing uphill." I'll even do the math for you; that's 1:13 for this route while working pretty hard.
Do I need to remind you that almost 1 year ago I ran this route in 1:13 and called it "hilly and easy?" I guess that was then, and this is now. I'm almost upset about this, but not quite. The reason I'm not upset is because I've recently been making good progress with this route. I'm not too embarrassed to say that it wasn't too long ago that I was over the 1:20 mark for this route. But that was also then, and this is now.
Posted by Meghan at October 29, 2007 6:45 PM
Comments
It's great to have a bread and butter loop that you can use to measure your progress. Of course, remember that you could have been having an off day. At least you're in the ballpark, and you're moving in the right (faster) direction. Plus you feel all pumped up and motivated, right? But really. Running logs. Who needs 'em? HEE HEE HEE HEE HEE. PS: love the new frequency of posts. keep it up!
Posted by: Kendra Borglogger at October 29, 2007 8:15 PM
ahhhh I can relate to this post....
I have an 8.3mile loop outside my house. Now I have for the past week been back running daily, OFFF today...but ran 6 days straight...3 where 6 miles days to get my wind back and see how my legs feel, then the last three days I did my 8.3 mile loop Fri Sat Sun... first 2 days 1:30 Fri., 1:25 Saturday and yesterday 1:20 now that is 9:38 pace with walks and that is very good for me!...now I know I have a lot of work to do & not the fastest peep but was pretty happy with that since i been injured and felt really slow lately.
but I can relate to the point that within a week u can increase ur pace pretty good... Glad ur getting ur running back & that Hilly & easy will be back soon in ur log :-)
Posted by: Bob Gentile at October 29, 2007 9:14 PM
My old-reliables are the 7 mile Red Rocks-Dinosaur Ridge loop, and the 15 mile up Grays & Torreys peaks. I'm getting close to the age when no amount of training will make me faster. So far, my times are still dropping and my distances still increasing.
You're fast and healthy and have good attitudes. As long as you don't set yourself up fo a long-term debilitating injury, you'll keep getting faster until you're about 50 +/- a few.
Posted by: JeffO at October 31, 2007 1:32 PM
OMG, I thought I am the only one doing same thing and actually been at same point (as in happy with moving somewhat towards what was)! OK, I know there are many of us, but it's connecting to read about it:)
Posted by: olga at October 31, 2007 4:15 PM