I had to take the whole week off from running! I managed to ride one of the stationary bikes after school on Monday, but my calf was so painful on Tuesday that I didn't attempt anything else until the end of the week. I did some alpine skiing and Nordic skiing over the weekend, and went for a short hike--and that was it. The weather was great over the weekend, so I was able to get a lot of garden work done, at least. The good news is that my calf is feeling much better. I might have tried running today except that I tweaked my knee while Alpine skiing (in best powder of the year!). Hopefully I'll be running again this coming week!
This week's very little mileage: hike = about 2 miles; Nordic skate = about 7 miles
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Me: "My solius hurts." K: "I didn't know you had one."
That was today's conversation before class started; too funny to omit, for sure. But yeah, I'm back on the injured list.
March 12-18 training:
The week was going so well, too! Well, in terms of running anyway. It was also HSPE week, so it was rough at work followed by the liberation of worries via running. It was more of the same short stuff. Monday was a three mile loop after school and before my meeting. Tuesday was a three mile out-and-back in the Dishman Hills where I saw my first buttercup of the year and ran through a beautiful section of trail where 30-40 bluebirds flitted in front of me as I slowed to a walk to admire their color. Wednesday was another three mile out-and-back. Thursday and Friday were supposed to be my only days off--I completely crashed on Thursday. I could barely keep my eyes open as I tried to work on grading after school, so I went home and took a nice long nap instead of running. I wanted a nice trail run on Saturday, so I started from my parents' house and ran toward Antoine Peak. I was halfway up the first big hill when I decided to "pause" the run and do some off-trail exploration. It was such a pretty day, and it's fun to follow the game trails when the snow is gone but before the vegetation is too thick. I hiked for 30-45 minutes, gradually working my way uphill, and I eventually intersected the main trail again. At that point I decided it was time to head back and I started running down the trail...and my calf tightened up almost immediately. I jogged some and walked some, and fortunately ran into my dad when I got back to the road & I hitchhiked back. I took Sunday off (well, I still worked on the garden for several hours, but no "real" exercise to speak of). I hope that through rest it will heal quickly--the last time this happened, I was out for two or three months.
Mileage: 12 miles running; 2 miles hiking
March 12-18 training:
The week was going so well, too! Well, in terms of running anyway. It was also HSPE week, so it was rough at work followed by the liberation of worries via running. It was more of the same short stuff. Monday was a three mile loop after school and before my meeting. Tuesday was a three mile out-and-back in the Dishman Hills where I saw my first buttercup of the year and ran through a beautiful section of trail where 30-40 bluebirds flitted in front of me as I slowed to a walk to admire their color. Wednesday was another three mile out-and-back. Thursday and Friday were supposed to be my only days off--I completely crashed on Thursday. I could barely keep my eyes open as I tried to work on grading after school, so I went home and took a nice long nap instead of running. I wanted a nice trail run on Saturday, so I started from my parents' house and ran toward Antoine Peak. I was halfway up the first big hill when I decided to "pause" the run and do some off-trail exploration. It was such a pretty day, and it's fun to follow the game trails when the snow is gone but before the vegetation is too thick. I hiked for 30-45 minutes, gradually working my way uphill, and I eventually intersected the main trail again. At that point I decided it was time to head back and I started running down the trail...and my calf tightened up almost immediately. I jogged some and walked some, and fortunately ran into my dad when I got back to the road & I hitchhiked back. I took Sunday off (well, I still worked on the garden for several hours, but no "real" exercise to speak of). I hope that through rest it will heal quickly--the last time this happened, I was out for two or three months.
Mileage: 12 miles running; 2 miles hiking
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
March 5-11
I was much more consistent this week, although I really need to start adding additional mileage. I'm starting to look at the summer calendar to plan some trips, and I need to be in better shape!
Monday and Wednesday were just easy three mile loops from the school; Tuesday was a better three mile loop in the Dishman Hills. Thursday was the best workout of the week--it was a full moon, and I decided to see it from the Nordic trails at Mount Spokane. I got to Selkirk Lodge around 5:45, so I got to enjoy the sunset. I took Valley View and Eagle Crest to maximize sunset views, then I went around Shadow Mountain to see if the moon was coming up yet. It wasn't, but I went down Moose Meadows to see the the Alpine area all lit up for night skiing. I returned via Linder Ridge and was nearly back to the lodge when the moon came up; I got several nice pictures using the tripod. It was red when it came up! I think I skied about 7 miles. Friday I went to my parents' house and did an easy three mile out-and-back with Kari; she's ten now, and has finally slowed down, poor thing.
The weekend wasn't so great for running, however. I wanted to use Saturday for my off-day and work on the apple orchard, so I got a great upper-body workout. I intended to run on Sunday, but the weather was bizarre. I went so far as to get dressed for running, but it was right about that time that it started to rain, then hail, then snow, then the wind came up, then I heard thunder in the distance. I crawled back into bed to grade some papers!
Totals for the week: running = 12 miles; xc ski (skate) = 7 miles
Monday and Wednesday were just easy three mile loops from the school; Tuesday was a better three mile loop in the Dishman Hills. Thursday was the best workout of the week--it was a full moon, and I decided to see it from the Nordic trails at Mount Spokane. I got to Selkirk Lodge around 5:45, so I got to enjoy the sunset. I took Valley View and Eagle Crest to maximize sunset views, then I went around Shadow Mountain to see if the moon was coming up yet. It wasn't, but I went down Moose Meadows to see the the Alpine area all lit up for night skiing. I returned via Linder Ridge and was nearly back to the lodge when the moon came up; I got several nice pictures using the tripod. It was red when it came up! I think I skied about 7 miles. Friday I went to my parents' house and did an easy three mile out-and-back with Kari; she's ten now, and has finally slowed down, poor thing.
The weekend wasn't so great for running, however. I wanted to use Saturday for my off-day and work on the apple orchard, so I got a great upper-body workout. I intended to run on Sunday, but the weather was bizarre. I went so far as to get dressed for running, but it was right about that time that it started to rain, then hail, then snow, then the wind came up, then I heard thunder in the distance. I crawled back into bed to grade some papers!
Totals for the week: running = 12 miles; xc ski (skate) = 7 miles
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Busy, busy, busy
I keep telling myself that as soon as I accomplish X, Y, or Z, things will slow down and I'll have more time for everything else. Instead, I finish X, Y, and Z and discover A, B, C, and D waiting for me! This past week was no different, and the activity that gets dropped is usually my running. The good thing is that I have entered the Cutthroat Classic, so I have something to train for; that is not a race where one can just show up and gut it out. I have to get in shape for that one, especially since I signed up for wave one. I had to miss the race the last two years, so I'm excited to train for it again. I just hope I don't end up with another injury like two years ago, and especially not another funeral to attend like last year. At any rate, my running did suffer this week, but I think I'm gradually making improvements and I'm certain I'll be ready by August, baring disaster.
Monday was a complete loss, however. I had students come in for makeup work right after school and I had to type up lesson plans for my substitute on Tuesday. I didn't leave the building until after 6pm. It would have been pretty tough to run outside anyway since there was still so much snow.
Tuesday was much better. After working so late on Tuesday, I was determined to avoid going back to the building after my all-day meeting at the district office. I live closer to the district office than I do to the school, so I just headed for home after the meeting ended. I stopped at my parents' house and saw that there was still plenty of snow in the front field, so I put Blaze's harness on him and skijored in the field. We did two big loops and Kari ran loose with us so that she wouldn't feel left out. Then I put Kari in the house and took Blaze for a three mile run in the slush up Robbins Road.
I had progress report grades due on Wednesday, but I ran on Thursday--it was my usual three mile loop in the Dishman Hills. Friday was too busy again and I skipped the workout.
Saturday was the main event of the week: The sixth annual Bounder Paws and Poles skijor/snowshoe race at 49 Degrees North. I can't believe there have been six of them; I think I've done nearly all of them (I just can't remember if I did the very first one). This was the first time that I brought Blaze instead of Kari; she just can't do that distance anymore. Blaze actually raced this time, too! We took first place and completed the 5k in 15:23. In skijoring it's as much about how one's dog behaves as it is about the ability level of the skier; there were MUCH faster skiers present, but Blaze was the fastest dog. We did about a mile warm up, skied the 5k, and then went around the loop again for the cool down. Then I drove out to the Springdale property for an extra hike in the snow; I didn't go far, maybe two more miles.
Sunday was another slushy run--this time up the Antoine Peak conservation area to the first valley overlook and back (four miles). After that I did a little more pruning in the orchard...and right now I'm procrastinating on the paper grading as I type this update. Time to get back to work!
Weekly totals: Skijor = 9 miles; Hike = 2 miles; Run = 10 miles
Monday was a complete loss, however. I had students come in for makeup work right after school and I had to type up lesson plans for my substitute on Tuesday. I didn't leave the building until after 6pm. It would have been pretty tough to run outside anyway since there was still so much snow.
Tuesday was much better. After working so late on Tuesday, I was determined to avoid going back to the building after my all-day meeting at the district office. I live closer to the district office than I do to the school, so I just headed for home after the meeting ended. I stopped at my parents' house and saw that there was still plenty of snow in the front field, so I put Blaze's harness on him and skijored in the field. We did two big loops and Kari ran loose with us so that she wouldn't feel left out. Then I put Kari in the house and took Blaze for a three mile run in the slush up Robbins Road.
I had progress report grades due on Wednesday, but I ran on Thursday--it was my usual three mile loop in the Dishman Hills. Friday was too busy again and I skipped the workout.
Saturday was the main event of the week: The sixth annual Bounder Paws and Poles skijor/snowshoe race at 49 Degrees North. I can't believe there have been six of them; I think I've done nearly all of them (I just can't remember if I did the very first one). This was the first time that I brought Blaze instead of Kari; she just can't do that distance anymore. Blaze actually raced this time, too! We took first place and completed the 5k in 15:23. In skijoring it's as much about how one's dog behaves as it is about the ability level of the skier; there were MUCH faster skiers present, but Blaze was the fastest dog. We did about a mile warm up, skied the 5k, and then went around the loop again for the cool down. Then I drove out to the Springdale property for an extra hike in the snow; I didn't go far, maybe two more miles.
Sunday was another slushy run--this time up the Antoine Peak conservation area to the first valley overlook and back (four miles). After that I did a little more pruning in the orchard...and right now I'm procrastinating on the paper grading as I type this update. Time to get back to work!
Weekly totals: Skijor = 9 miles; Hike = 2 miles; Run = 10 miles
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