Running 6 miles vs. walking six miles

On Wednesday of last week (I think) I ran my promised 6 miles. As expected, it was a glorious run for the most part. I was running through farmers fields and hadn't taken my allergy meds for a while, so I had some snot issues, but other than that it was quite enjoyable. Using Jenni's new 5 star system, I would have to rank it as a 5 star run. Well maybe knock a quarter off the last two on the list. Let's say 4.5 star run.
I did it: one star
I made all my time intervals: one star
I made my set distance: one star
I made that distance in my set time: one star
It was fun/easy/good: one star

Then on Friday, I went for a walk around the Seawall in Vancouver, which is also about 6 miles. I was with someone who walks the seawall almost every day, so I was really no match for her. We were walking FAST and talking fast, and for the most part I was distracted from the burning sensations in my legs. About half way through the walk, I finally realize that my legs are getting really sore, which makes me surprised since I never get sore legs when I run unless I run really far. By the end of the walk, my legs feel like jello, and I am anticipating being VERY sore the next morning, something that also hasn't happened after running in a very long time. I wasn't as sore as I thought I would be, but still more sore than I feel like I should be from walking.
 
Before Friday, if I had to guess which was harder between running or walking 6 miles, I would have said running. Until I realized that I run all of the time, and I almost never walk, except the 1.3 kms to school. When I do walk, I walk pretty damn slowly. And apparently speed-walking and running use different muscles or at least use the same muscles differently. So, my conclusion is that walking is harder than running, especially when one does not walk very often.
 
Seven miles tomorrow in Surrey. It won't be as good as the 12 mile Tour de Surrey that I did when training for the half marathon back in January, but it will be fun nonetheless. I can't wait!

Sunny San Diego

Well, I haven't been posting much because I haven't been running much. I am planning 6 miles for tomorrow, 7 miles for this weekend, and 8 miles the following weekend. My training schedule was slightly adjusted from the Austin Fit one that has 8 miles scheduled for this weekend. According to my schedule that will get me running a half marathon in October, I need to run 10 miles this weekend. That will most likely not happen. Although, I am feeling slightly manic, so perhaps it will :)

I just got back from sunny San Diego, where I had envisioned glorious runs on the beach. Instead, I ran on a treadmill at a hotel, while looking at the beach. I have no idea why I made such a choice. It just seemed easier to run in the hotel instead of literally walking across the street to the beach. That would have involved sunscreen and sunglasses, and other sun-related accessories. The gym at my fancy hotel was not air conditioned, which made it rather uncomfortable, and I had to pay to use it, which was just absurd.

Anyway, the run was fine, and I am glad I did it. I have been starting to really crave running again, which I think is a good sign. I am going to rock my 6 miles tomorrow. I gotta feeling... (Hey, I should get that BEP song. I bet it would be good to run with.)

Distance: 3 miles on a treadmill
Lessons learned: I don't hate running on a treadmill as much as I thought I did
Song that rocked my run: What was I thinking? by Dierks Bentley (am I seriously admitting I listen to country music?)

I won't rank this run on the new 5-star system because I really had no plan going into it. I will rank my sure-to-be awesome run tomorrow.

eight miles?

LDH has been trying to following the training plan of our old running group, I...have not. I just got an email from our old half marathon training coach that tomorrow's run is an 8 mile run. Wow, am I far behind. I'm not sure I could do 8 if I tried. I'm going to set my goal for a 6 mile run this weekend.

LDH, remember when we used to be good at this?!

and, for my next trick...

My labmate, her boyfriend, one other friend, and I just registered for what appears to be my next race. It's called the Warrior Dash, and is a 5K run with 11 obstacles along the way. When I say obstacles, I mean...OBSTACLES:

*Warrior Wall - conquer the wooden barricade

* Breathless Bog - trudge through waist deep water and over the logs

*Walk the Plank - traverse the gully on wooden planks

*Knee High Hell - speed step through hundreds of tires

*Tunnels of Terror - burrow through the black tunnels

*Black Forrest - forge your way through uncharted forrest

*Hay Fever - hustle up and over giant straw bales

*Junker Jump - clamber over the rusted wreckage

*Cargo Climb - maneuver over the cargo nets

*Warrior Roast - leap over the warrior fires

*Muddy Mayhem - scramble beneath barbed wire as you near the finish

5 star system

I've devised a new system for rating my runs, which is less based on speed and distance, and more based on meeting set goals. Following this system, each run will be rated as followed.

I did it: one star
I made all my time intervals: one star
I made my set distance: one star
I made that distance in my set time: one star
It was fun/easy/good: one star

This morning I set out on a 3 mile run, hoping to complete it in 36 minutes (12 min/mile). The time was 7:30am, the temperature was 88 degrees, the humidty was 10000% (ok, less than that as it wasn't actually raining).

This run receives a 3 star rating.

Breakdown.
I did it: one star
I made all my time intervals: one quarter star (i made approx a quarter of them)
I made my set distance: one and one third star (i went 4 miles)
I made that distance in my set time: no star (it was not quite 12min/mi)
It was fun/easy/good: one half star (besides the heat, I think it was enjoyable)

Intent

Internet, you see it - right there, at the very top of my list. I had the alarm set for 615, I had my shorts and stuff all laid out, I was going. Funny thing about laying my clothes out. It took almost no effort, because they were laid out from the night before.

Two days, I had the intent of waking early to run.

It's not a lie, it's on the list.

What happened? Let's ask my alarm clock why it decided not to go off. I have no idea! Yesterday, I just assumed I set it wrong (am/pm, maybe I shut it off in my sleep...something) But this morning too, no, the fault is in the alarm clock.

Sadly, as with many things, the fault is not mine but I suffer the consequences. I did not wake up at 6:15, I woke up at 7:30. And clearly, based on this list, I had missed the alloted running time. There was no way to squeeze it in and be ready when my airport ride arrives at 9:30.


(OH, and even though this list makes it look like I need ONE HOUR to change my sheets - really, the post-run shower, dry hair, get dressed and the like were all wrapped into that last item. They didn't explicitly make the list, because I wasn't so afraid of forgetting to do them!)