I'm a Blogging Slacker

Although I may not have been writing much these past few weeks, it's not for lack of running...

So far the 50-mile training plan has been going well.

I have a new running partner for my long runs, which makes the hours go by much faster. He's close to me in speed, he's enthusiastic, and he doesn't mind when I swear or say inappropriate things. We've already bonded over two major events: discovering a new trail system and running on single track in the dark.

This plan is slightly different than past ones in that I've deliberately increased the amount of time I spend lifting weights. I am doing this two ways: by scheduling my sessions in the afternoon, separately from running workouts, and by keeping detailed notes. Both my marathons and the most recent 10k made me realize how much strength matters. And by "made me realize" I mean "caused me enough pain to get a clue". The best part of my new schedule is having Dave around on his days off: he and Zoe coach my form, while the kitties help me with flexibility.

Something else I've realized through pain is that trails are much more difficult to run. For example, yesterday I'm working hard, thinking we're cruising along, and Chris (my training buddy) tells me we've done less than 4 miles in 45 minutes. Oh goody. But the upside is that my knees don't hurt and I really feel worked by the end.

Yesterday I also tried a new drink supplement: NUUN. It's claim to greatness is that it has the benefits of electrolytes without added sugar. Although it tasted like flat soda, I really liked how un-sweet it was. When I drink Gatorade I have to dilute it to make it bearable; not so with NUUN.