I love my running headlamp! It was so nice to be able to see. I could see the road and my watch. It was magical while it lasted! I made a course program last night for my run, but somehow my watch didn't remember this morning that I wanted it to use the program. It was supposed to beep at 1.5 to tell me to speed up, and it didn't. At 1.6, I realized it wasn't going to do what I needed, so I set it for the fast tempo run speed I was aiming for. I'll be playing with my watch a little more today so it knows what I want it to do. I know it's the 10% rule...I've just got to be 10% smarter than my watch. Despite my watch, I was having a great run. Keeping good speeds and feeling great. I was even picking up my heels so I didn't kick my ankles. (I forgot twice, but the pain reminded me to keep on pulling my heels up.) Just after I started my 3rd tempo mile, I got a huge pain on the back of my leg above my knee. It felt like a charlie horse. I couldn't run. I stopped and stretched right there, but it didn't subside enough to run. I was really glad I had my headlamp to shine so people driving by could see me there laying on the grass :-) I ended up walking the road of defeat back home. I stretched more and iced it. It eventually went away, and it's not bothering me any more. I was even able to do my physical therapy exercises. BUT now I have lots of questions.... like what caused that horrid cramp, and what do I need to do to make sure it never comes back? Was it the heel pick up thing? Was it my knee brace? Was it something else? Has anyone else experienced this and knows what I can to prevent it? I brought my gear to run after school today. Should I do it? Is it okay to run again on it, or should I rest it? I never did finish my tempo training run. Should I just finish it today? Or should I try and re-do it tomorrow? I only had 1 tempo mile and 1.5 recovery mile left. Advice would be appreciated. I'm not feeling so defeated anymore, but I sure don't want to irritate that muscle and have that happen again. My paces were good. Warm up 1.5 miles was 9:31 and 9:14. My tempo runs were 1600 with 800 recovery. The two 1600 I finished were 7:52 and 7:49. The 800 recovery runs were 9:32 and 9:53. My target goal pace, according to the training plan was 8:17, so I am happy with my little bit faster times.
This blog is getting long...I keep adding stuff. I like how Carolyn in Colorado has the temp & humidity listed on her blogs. So I did some research and found out that it was 65o and 90% humidity today. It was nice weather.
I went on a very easy and slow jog after school. Just paddled around the track a few times. Got 1.5 easy miles...I didn't use the garmin, but it was over 15 minutes, so it was over a 10mm. I walked the bleachers a few times and then stretched for what seemed forever. Got some pointers from the local yoga lady, and tried some of her suggestions out. Nothing hurt, things felt fine. I have renewed hope for Saturday. Watch out 14...here I come!
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