sábado, 31 de diciembre de 2016

Last run of the year

Yesterday I took the day off, it was planned.

Today morning I went out later than planned, I headed out at 8:20 a.m., wanted to go out earlier but it was raining at 6:45 a.m. that was the time that I woke up. I downed 3 beers yesterday night and I thought that it would cause me problems during the run, but they did not. I actually felt good, although a bit tired.

I only looked at the watch when I got to the conservatory in 7:32 and on the first lap in 6:10, then I decided that I would not race the watch, so I stopped looking and ran at a pace that felt easy, then felt good and let the body follow, of course in the easy effort range. 5 laps in the conservatory and finished the 7.5k in 45:04.

In the last few runs, the difference has been a few seconds, so I might become a pacing machine, lol. when I was at home I checked the remaining splits and they were 6:09,6:04,6:02,5:52 and back home in 6:40. Finished feeling pretty good.

This year as I have stated, it was pretty much off from racing, I only raced once and it was basically to run with my father, but next year I ll be back to the racing scene, since I want to get back to 21-22 mins 5k. Right now I think I am in shape to run 23:55 - 24:15, but I dont know for certain.

Another goal that I had was to lose weight and I did it, I just stopped weighing myself and promised myself to weigh again on January 1st of 2017, probably it will take longer than that, because my scale is not working, but I might find one to weigh myself in  a mall or super market.

Its incredible, how I just stopped stressing about weight and the weight came off, of course it was not that magical, I just decided to eat at night healthier, decreased the fried chicken food, especially in the first half of the year,  and running consistently (4-5 times per week), but the soda is still there and I indulge on weekends without guilt, as long as my running is not suffering I know that I am not getting too fat.

However, I have noted that in the last couple of months I have gained weight, because they re opened the food shop that sell fried chicken and fries and lately (we are on December so We gotta fuel ourselves,lol), my stops there are more frecuent, but I have decided to eat better at night once again, and be a bit more serious in the running.

As of how much weight I have lost, I will tell you when I weigh myself probably next week, the last time I recorded my weigh was 196.6 one year ago exactly.

This year I also found a job, so heading the right direction, slowly, but surely. I hope that 2017 is even better. Today I ll celebrate with beers, but not much because the running has to continue tomorrow!

Have a great new years eve folks!

jueves, 29 de diciembre de 2016

Evening easy run

Today the early waking up did not work, but I just could not sleep past 5:40 a.m. anyway, so it was a lose lose. I left work early today and I was running in the park 5 mins before 7:00 p.m., the plan was to run easy, because I was not feeling pretty good, was feeling sluggish and with low energy.

However, I headed out and decided to not look at the watch during the run, just run at an easy effort. I was very surprised when I saw the watch when I finish the run, I thought that I had run around 47-48 mins in 7.5k given how easy I was going in terms of effort, I even did not break sweat. The time was 45:11@7.5k, when I checked the splits post run it said 7:39 to get to the conservatory and 5 laps in 6:14,6:06,5:59,5:58,5:55.

I was very surprised, I dont know if its the weather that is helping a ton, or I am improving my fitness, either way, I felt good at the end.

Probably will rest tomorrow and push in the weekend. You gotta stress the body in order to improve.

Have a great Tursday!

miércoles, 28 de diciembre de 2016

Finally a weekday morning run before work

Yesterday I promised that I would run in the morning today no matter what, I have said, I am leaving work late and its getting complicated to get my run in, because I dont have enough motivation or I am hungry, and sometimes I am just disciplined enough to get my run in. But I know that If I want to get my back to my old PR`s I cant just train like that, I need more consistency.

So I woke up at 4:xx a.m. today, the alarm was set for 5:40 a.m., but after 4:40 a.m. I just could not sleep and just kept moving from right to left on bed, until the alarm went off at 5:40 a.m., my clothes were ready from the night before, so I pretty much woke up, got dressed and out the door at 6:00 a.m.

I was hoping to feel very sluggish and the pace very slow, but I was surprised when I got to the conservatory in 7:35, and the next 5 laps of the run were in 6:07,6:03,6:00,5:58,5:55, back home in 6:52 for 45:03@7.5k.

From the first lap I knew that it was going to be a good day, I was just running easy, but the pace just got quicker and quicker, it seems that the fried chicken yesterday night gave energy.

Honestly, I thought that I was going to feel tired and with a big headache at work, but I felt great during the run, after and at work I felt very positive, although its difficult to maintain positivism in that kind of job, but I felt relaxed and happy knowing that I started my day on a good note, its difficult to explain with words.

Now as I type this, I already did my food for tomorrow, running early in the morning gives you time in the evening (thats where I normally run) to do other important things.

I ll run tomorrow morning again, and I hope that the feeling is the same as today. Bring on Predawn!

Have a great humpday!

martes, 27 de diciembre de 2016

Catching up

I was supposed to run on Sunday, but I left for the evening and you might imagine what happened, I was invited to a lunch in Adelino`s house, but I just could not scape and We stayed there and then went out drinking and dancing, there were around 9 people in his house. DNR.

On Monday I left work at 7 p.m., but I was determined to zap the zero and on my way to home that is 30 mins walking to home, I thought about pushing the pace a bit maybe 2-3 laps at 5 mins per lap or under given that I was recovered and did not need another easy day, so some quality laps were in order.

I got home, got dressed and at 7:35 p.m. or so I went out and met with Adelino, We got there in 7:59, and then did my first lap in 6:29, then I took off, Adelino kept talking because that pace is a piece of cake for him, but for me is not that easy so I let him carry most of the conversation. The plan was to do 3 laps at 5 min per lap or less, The 3 quality laps came in 5:11,4:59,4:50, for a total of 15:00 for 3k (laps), I really did not like that 5:11, felt much faster and the effort reflected a faster lap, no biggie because I could find my pace in the other 2 laps, then did 1 lap easy in 6:22, then did 5 strides and the 6th lap came in 5:32 because of the strides. Did 43:00 or so for 7.5k.

Adelino with 500m to go on my last fast lap, He took off and did 2 more laps sub 4 mins, what a beast, He built a gap on me like I was walking and He was running. Basically I encouraged him to push the pace as He always runs with me and running with me given gis ability is not much a training benefit for him.

The weather was good, but to be honest not a lot of people in the park, which make it more difficult to find motivation to go out. That happens to me today, I was going to run, but when I crossed the store where they sell fried chicken, I just stop brought fried chicken, and when I got home I was going to run, but the chicken beated the run, so another DNR.

However, I promise to run in the morning tomorrow to avoid this type of situations, I am just leaving work later than planned and sometimes its difficult to motivate yourself after a long day at work, pluys I want to accomplish my running goals also, and jogging around to destresss after work its going to do much for my racing times.

Have a great Tuesday!

sábado, 24 de diciembre de 2016

Easy morning pre Christmas run

Today I got out to run at 8:30 a.m. because life can get in the way in the evening, its christmas day after all. When I went out I knew that its going to be a little bit of a struggle because I felt tired overall, I even played with the idea of only do 3 laps and get back to home, but I stayed strong and did the planned distance.

I got to the conservatory in 7:34, and was the only time that I looked at my watch during the run. Did 5 laps and get back home to finish 7.5k in 45:30, I was glad to be done, I just felt tired, eventhough I thought that I was going way slower than the actual time. When I was at home I checked the splits and they were 6:13,6:10,6:04,6:03,5:58, and back home in 6:54.

Happy to have gotten my run in, and I wish you all of you a Merry Christmas!! enjoy your time!

See you on the roads!

viernes, 23 de diciembre de 2016

Easy progressive run with Adelino

Today I left work early just after mid day, so I ran much earlier than most times. I headed out to run at 5:35 p.m. with my friend Adelino and We met when I had 500m within the run. We got to the conservatory in 7:22. The conversation was flowing, but with each passing lap I increased the pace a bit more, until in the last lap I could not talk too much , especially in the second half of last lap. I finished the run somewhat hard and We finished there. We completed 7.5km in 42:59.

Splits were 6:11,6:06,5:48,5:43,5:29,4:58,1:04, the last minute of course to complete the last 200m of the run and get ot the 7.5k mark. I felt real good, but at the beginning I was feeling some stomach problems, but nothing too serious.

I did not run on Wednesday or Thursday, life (especially work) got in the way on both days. The weather was good today also.

Ill get my run in tomorrow morning as in the evening I think it wont be possible.

Have a great Friday!

martes, 20 de diciembre de 2016

Catching up

Monday - Left work at 6:10 p.m., got home, got dressed and was out to the park, today the plan was to do every lap in sub 6 mins, and that is what I did, but I felt better than expected and decreased even more the pace. Did 7.5k in 40:46. Got there in 7:17, then did 5 laps in a very dark park and cool night, 5:47,5:33,5:28,5:20,5:13, then headed off the conservatory and did 5:36 to get home so around 4:30 per km for that segment.  I was very happy with this run, because I felt pretty good and strong and the pace was fast, the effort felt easier than I thought. Good times.

Today I left work at 7:10 p.m. but called my friend the spanish runner and We met for a run, I was a bit tired so I took it easy today, got to the conservatory in 7:51, then did 5 laps in 6:29,6:19,6:14,6:14,6:20. Then ran easy to home to finish up the 7.5k in 47:31, so much slower than yesterday, but the effort was very easy today.

Have a great start to the week!

domingo, 18 de diciembre de 2016

Catching up

Did not run during the week except on Monday and I posted that run. The reason for not running was either rain or job commitments, of course I left the run till the evening and that was the reason job got in the way, so not a valid excuse.

Yesterday (Saturday) I headed out at 8:00 a.m. to the conservatory after a long afternoon and evening on Friday due to being the party where I work, I drank around 9 beers and I was surprised that I felt that great in the same night, and in Saturday morning, I would take anytime. I got to the conservatory in 7:30 feeling good and then did 5 laps in 6:11,6:05,6:04,5:55,5:47, and back home in 6:19 to finish up the 7.5k in 44:24. Felt good and happy to have run feeling well and strong.

On Sunday (today) I headed to the conservatory at 7:30 a.m. with my father again, drank 3 beers yesterday night and I felt great in today`s run. It seems that the beer is helping my running, ha. This time I got to the conservatory in 7:46, and then did 5 laps on my own due to my father slipping back as soon as We entered the conservatory, 5 laps came in 6:24,6:14,6:09,6:04,5:41. Then waited for him running and ran around 500m more before getting out the conservatory. Then when I had around 400s to go I decided to kick and finish strong, finished the 7.5k in 45:21, then jogged back to finish up with my father, He finished in around 49 mins, He said He felt tired. Last 1.2k for me were in 6:31. The weather was ok and I felt generally good. As I type this I feel a little tired. I hope that my consistency improve because although I have not lost apparent fitness I am not improving either and I have noticed ( without weighing myself) that I have getting fat, because of the mirror, I ll start to eat better again, and Iam pigging out too much lately.

All in all, happy to be back at it! I have to set some goals for next year and get back to the racing scene! Have a great Sunday! 3 runs this week!

lunes, 12 de diciembre de 2016

Zapping the zero after drinking

Today We had a lunch at work and basically after that it was drinking and chatting till go time 5:30 p.m., I drank more than I should, but fairly moderated, I think that is the key for me. I wanted to get my run in, and that is what I did when I got home I relaxed for a bit. At 7:10 p.m. I went out to the cojnservatory feeling good in 7:46, then did 5 laps in 6:09,6:07,6:01,5:55,5:52 and back home to finish up in 45:12 for 7.5k. Felt pretty good and the alcohol did not affect me at all, I think that if you drink very moderated, then alcohol is not really a problem, but when you cross that threshold ( a lot of people cant control themselves), then the problems come.

I felt pretty good and felt very strong. This is the first time that I run after consuming alcohol in the same day. It was not that bad, but of course, I stopped drinking way before 4 p.m., so I think that played a roll.

Have a great rest of the week!

domingo, 11 de diciembre de 2016

Another easy run

Today I went out running with my father at 7:30 a.m. We went out to the conservatory once again, but this time I was tired, I was huffing and puffing early, We managed to do 5 laps though. Got there in 7:59, then did 5 laps in 6:31,6:17,6:04, then I tried to do a fast km, but 400s in I just ran easy again, I was too tired and I seem to have lost some fitness in that 11 day break, that lap came in 5:33, then the last one in 6:14, then back home to finish  in 46:03 for 7.5k. My father was a bit back.

The weather was very good, and I felt pretty good at the end, I need to recover my consistency and throw some workouts so that I can get back to racing next year after this year of pretty much no racing.

Have a great Sunday!

sábado, 10 de diciembre de 2016

Getting back to the running scene

It has been a long time since I had my last run in, it was not planned though. The last time I ran was the day that I did 3 x 1000s and days after I was in bed sick with fevers and strong body pain. I dont run sick anymore, it just does not worth it anymore. I kind of recovered on Monday and this week at work its been crazy  and I have been leaving work at 8 p.m., no motivation to run at that hour when you are starving, no excuses I know, but sometimes in life our hobbies have to take a back seat for a while. I think that the break finished and I was back in the running scene today.

I woke up early today to run with my father before leaving to  work, my spanish friend joined there in the park. We went out at 7:30 a.m. or so to the park and I just did not look at the watch till the end, I went out to do 5.5k (3 laps in the park), but I was feeling good and decided to do 7.5k my normal run.

We did 5 laps there with laps between in 6:24-6:14. The conversation was good and the run passed by very quickly, I felt that I did not lose any fitness in these 11 days off. Of course I did , but not much. We did 46:46 for 7.5k. I felt really good afterwards and went to work feeling relaxed and strong. Maybe I should shift my running to the morning on weekdays, but that would mean to wake up a lot earlier, I think it worth it. We will see, I am losing a lot of runs, because of late hours at work.

Looking forward to my run tomorrow morning!

Have a great evening!