Week 11

(Monday, 30 July)
Well, I did it. I made it to 50 miles last week for the first time, and only 1 week off schedule. I am pretty pleased that, after sitting down and making that schedule with Ian what seems like only a few weeks ago, I'm actually at that peak mileage. Now the intensity will follow.

Today I'm mixing it up with a double, to see if on the easy days this makes my legs feel better or worse than LSD runs. I'm thinking this would be a good way to add in some easy runs but also do a little bit faster stuff without thrashing my legs. [Insert Megumi rant here about how double day mileage doesn't count.]

This morning the tide was finally cooperating again, so I did the north jaunt of the beach run to Cardiff and then a mile total down to the Point barefoot. Some guy with a hose at the top of the lifeguard ramp washed my sandy feet off for me. I wonder if he knows in some cultures we're married now? Foot felt fine, but my calves are tighter than a 12 year old girl.

Lunch run felt good, but at the end my left quad started getting sore in the same place as before. Did some cold-shower therapy per Kangway's suggestion. It woke me up, but who knows how much good it did. The run was 3.5 miles with a 5-4-3-2-1 on trails and the track with 5 (crawl) - 4 (oh, I'm supposed to be running) - 3 (those guys in the bleachers are judging me) - 2 (I am now running fast enough to get on the track, not just the grass around it) - 1+ (about 2 minutes at 7 pace).

(Tuesday, 31 July)
South on beach 37 to "no dogs" sign at cliff near TP, I think this run is 8.5 beach - beach and 8 beach - bike path. (Tide was coming up). The last time I did this run I tempo-ed back and I thought I was hella hardcore because 8 miles was no biggie. Today I was berating myself for not going farther.

But, my better judgement said to take it easy, with the whole ankle/sore calves/left quad hurting again thing. I managed to fall asleep on my stomach with my feet hanging over the edge of the bed last night, and the bottom of my right foot felt much better. Unfortunately, the calves are just going to be more sore starting tomorrowI think. I think either my vastus medialis or adductor longus on my left quad is substantially weaker than surrounding muscles. This is the second time that specific muscle has gotten sore (both times after periods of high and/or increasing mileage). Just going to ice, massage, and hope for the best.

Also, very tired today. Hard to get out of bed - I just laid there for 25 minutes until I couldn't stand it any longer. I'm going to attempt to go to bed really early tonight. But, I did get asked to a softball game, and I'm going to go, but I'm going to try really really hard not to pull a Matt.

(Wednesday, 1 August)
Ran to work, took it easy (again). I'm starting to get worried I run too slow. On this run (10 mi) on the flat stuff I was probably only going barely sub-9. My legs *are* still kind of dead, and I don't want to overtrain myself, but still. How long does it take to adjust to max mileage? I'll see how I feel at the end of this week.

My legs feel pretty good, not as sore as I thought they would (they feel about the same amount sore as yesterday, instead of worse). I did still have some trouble getting out of bed again this morning, so I really *must* get on that tonight. Also I did the cold water at the end of my shower thing again. Not sure if it does anything. How long am I supposed to do it for?

(Thursday, 2 August) -- SCA volunteering --
Long run down the beach. Ran to TP and met up with el gang - DL, Steve, and Ray. Then we did 6 miles (3 out to just past the Black's trail, and then back). Where were all the naked people? I was feeling pretty good, the legs aren't too sore any more. I'm getting back my giddyup. Steve had me pick it up to about 7 minute pace the last mile or so, which felt pretty good. We're going to do intervals on Tuesday at the UCSD track. Also, he claims that the red jellyfish are actually squids, so I'm going to have to do some poking around the next time I'm runnng alone.

Not feeling as tired as before, but I'm WAY dehydrated right now. GOT to get on that. Going to take the next few days easy and low mileage (I've racked up the miles the last few days, so I deserve a rest).

(Friday, 3 August) -- SCA --
off, worked at SCA, chilled, at a fuckton of bad stuff and drank a lot of coffee.

(Saturday, 4 August) -- SCA --
6.5 easy in the AM, with a couple of surges. It felt REALLY good to sleep in, like, REALLY REALLY good. Punishing myself for eating so much crap yesterday. Walking around my legs did feel tired though, I hope that's not the way the whole next week will seem.

(Sunday, 5 August) -- SIGGRAPH starts --
4 easy in the AM, resting legs still. It felt kinda dumb just to do 4 miles though. Sleeping in was once again amazing. Legs feel good.

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total miles: 49.7
(goal miles: 50)