Training Updates: times, performance, and learning

Health meter: 95%

Split Times - 9:30 on the road!

This past Sunday, I braved cold and rainy conditions and hit the North Park 5-mile road loop around the lake for my first real push of the season. Going in, I'd just completed my first week of P90X3 - which was a big success, as I enjoyed it and felt a lot stronger. As I started, I was quick and strong with good form. At mile 9 or so, I began to get hindered by knots in my calves and right hip flexor that had been bothering me for at least a few months. The one in my left calf was even beginning to cause plantar fasciitis. Despite hitting that wall, I made it 12 miles in 1:50. My best overall performance to date.

For two days after the run, I laid off activities in lieu of heavy massaging, foam rolling, and block icing all the knotted areas. As of this report, I feel good as new and ready to continue training unimpeded. I will contine to focus on these areas until there are no more traces of knots.

After my tax refund comes in, I'm getting my first Garmin watch, so I have more accurate information about my runs to learn from and keep track of during and after activity.

Boyce Park - 28 miles of single track!

Last week, I started both training and familiarizing myself with the Boyce Park trail network in the Plum area. The soccer field access point is only 12 minutes from my house! Because of the locality, this will be the primary place for me to train off-road. The roads aren't too busy and the trails offer plenty of cardio as they're plenty slopey. I'm starting with the eastern half of the park (which is bisected by Pierson Run Road). And the course I'm training on is that of the Pittsburgh Wild Half Trail Race. The eastern half contains the first 10K of the 22K course. I will begin to conquer the western half of the park toward the end of ski season, as the trail traverses all of the slopes laterally from east to west. The race at Boyce is on April 19, 2014. Over 200 people will participate in the three different race lengths offered.

I will do most of my long trail runs at Boyce throughout the season in preparation for longer and more difficult events.