The beauty of double long runs is that by the second half of the second run, my legs are feeling it and I am shuffling along. Slow and steady means lots of quiet time to look around. So many little wonders!
Into the belly of the build. Five weeks in, five weeks out.
Warmer than usual for this time but still cold enough for long tights and gloves. I have been making my own hydration and nutrition for long runs this build. I figured that silicone baby food containers would work for my "gels" - a mix of honey, ginger syrup, and maldon salt. So far so good!
My elevation runs are laps of the sledding hill. Boring but lots of time to think and reflect. And it makes elevation on race day seem luxurious! I was observing today how different I feel since finishing the phd. I feel it in my muscles. In my bones. It's been about seven weeks since graduation and I am still marvelling at the change. I am excited for the next five weeks of build!
1040m of climbing today in the middle of my long run today. Yoga practice 1174 - self guided yin.
When we were looking for pup and imagining what life would be like, I imagined a running buddy. This little snuggle bug doesn't like wind or precipitation or cold. Her max distance is not quite long enough to go for a run together. Usually, I come back from my run and then we go for her walk. It's not what I expected but I do appreciate the opportunity to stretch my legs after my runs. Today the trails were sloppy greasy snowy and messy. The runs all this week since winter arrived have been slippery and greasy. Oh, how I am glad for those little shake outs with the pup! Most importantly though, she is my resting buddy. She enforces a snuggle schedule like a strict coach! #DogsOfMastodon#LongRunDone#Puppy#PuppySnuggles#TrailRunning#UltraRunning#TiredLegs#WinterRunning#SundayRunday#Running#SilentSunday#UltraTrail
A beautiful Sunday. Second long run of the weekend, kept it easy after yesterday's interval long run. Stunning skies for the pup walk. Yoga practice 1000/1000 this evening. A moment of celebration for a goal reached - a thousand yoga practices.
After a cloudy, chilly run, the skies opened up during the pup walk around the pond.
This week running, I have seen two snakes, one beaver (who scared the stuffing out of me sounding an alarm with its tail! Twice! ), so many birds (FIVE egrets in 200m today) and so many bugs! I enjoy finding ladybugs much more than eating gnats!
Double long runs done! I'm enjoying taper! I found this training block hard mentally (have I run enough, can I run that far, is this enough elevation) but I have gone over my kilometres and altitude for the last 18 months and the last two races and I am just starting to get out of my own way. I love the physicality of running, I love the meditative state of running, but I also benefit a lot from the working on your own internal discourses that you have to do to run far.
This is one of my favourite #PostRun stretches. Followed by opening out for the inner thigh, and then across the body for IT band. If you don't have a strap, a scarf or a towel works. I do a couple of minutes in each and then switch legs and it feels SO GOOD