SNAP

Haven't updated in a while, but my report is now "complete" for work, so I have a little bit of time now, so I should be able to run more this week.. just as I should start tapering :). Oh well, I guess that's how it works.

Last week started off well, except it was the first really hot week this year. It reminded me of this table I saw in a Jeff Galloway book, on how much heat can increase running times, here's the table (based on 8:00 miles)

55-60 degrees - 1% - 8:05
60-65 degrees - 3% - 8:15
65-70 degrees - 5% - 8:25
70-75 degrees - 7% - 8:35
75-80 degrees - 12% - 8:58
80-85 degrees - 20% - 9:35
Above 85 degrees - Forget it... run for fun

Odds are that Lunar trek will be at least 75 at start time, and potentially over 80. Fun.

Wednesday of last week was extremely hot, which was complicated by a leak in my hydration pack's bladder. After 5 miles in, found the problem, and fixed the leak (tube wasn't completely screwed in), but I was so far behind on hydration, I only ended up putting in 10 slowish miles.

Saturday was supposed to be my first 30 mile run.. ended up running with Nick, Jim, and Christy. I had no clue what type of pace to run for 30 miles, so Nick lead for most of the run. The pace was slow, but I felt strong.. in many cases I really wanted to run faster, but knew that the other runners knew best.. especially over 30 miles.

Just over 16 miles into our run, I heard a snap.. and the next thing I knew I was on the ground grabbing my ankle... The pain was intense at first.. and at first I told the guys I was with that I thought I had broken it.. and that I was done for the day. Things ran through my head like how I'd have to drop from lunar trek, how much crutches were going to suck, and how much Kristin would be making fun of this... but after about 3 minutes, the pain subsided, and I could put weight on it.... and I realized I could run. I ran the rest of the way back.. we had cut the course before I snapped my ankle to avoid tall grass, so I ended up with 28 for the day.. not too bad, and the first time I had truly ran more than a marathon distance.

The ankle was a little swollen when we arrived back at the trailhead, but no pain at all, so I thought I'd take it easy. I ended up taking my first "off" day in 5 weeks Sunday to rest my ankle. The swelling eased a little, and I was able to squeeze out a hot 10 miles on streets on Monday. Good news. I have avoided trails all week and managed to get in 30 miles so far. Wednesday was a fun night to be out, on the path that runs along k-10 in southwest Lawrence amid a lightening storm. At least the air was cool from all the rain.

Tonight I'm running gravel roads with the Lawrence Trail Hawks, which should be great fun once again. Start at 11, finish sometime in the early morning hours.

The bottom line at this point is, despite an injury scare I think that 6:10 is still my goal, but heat might be a factor. We'll see what happens.