M.O.R.E.: Mid-Winter Slump

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Mid-Winter Slump

I haven't blogged about the past two runs, because they were just not worth blogging about! It seems that all three of us, are in a slump. Our legs are dead, our breathing bad, and the urge to stop mid-run seems to be the only thing on our minds. This morning I met Marathon Mom at Lowe's for our long weekend run. C is spending the day in San Diego, so we headed out without her. We had already discussed trying to get in 10 miles, but if we were having a bad day, we agreed we would turn back early. Marathon Mom's hubby started the run with us, and kept us at a bit faster pace than we are used to, luckily today the legs seemed to have a bit more in them. We needed a change of scenery, so we headed toward Decoro, and took the far side of the trail to Copperhill. It is 5 miles, just short of Copperhill, but instead of turning around we headed to the bathroom at Cheesepark. It seems like the GU and the cold water combo, does a number on our stomaches. The stopping does make our run time longer, but we both agreed that the running was much better this week. We managed to run our 10 miles, in a 9.57 pace, which is just fine for a Saturday morning. I know that when the weather starts to warm, so will our legs, so the important thing to do for now is just force ourselves to get out and follow our routine. It doesn't hurt to mix things up a bit, and go in a different direction either, today it really seemed to help! We got lucky with the rain, I hope we are just as lucky next week.

4 comments:

marathon mom said...: I felt great during and after our run today, which is a relief because I felt so crummy on Wednesday. However, my knee is really hurting me now. It never bothered me during or even after the run, but I can barely walk on it now. I really did enjoy the change of scenery though. I think we need to be more creative as far as our runs go so we don't get into a rut.

I found it funny how another group of women from SCR were smart enough to start an hour later too. Women are much better planners. I will enjoy sleeping in tomorrow!; February 20, 2010 at 7:59 PM
Claire said...: Wow, 10 miles is a slump?!?! :) Just kidding, I know you ladies are feeling the frustration and pain, just like I am. It's hard knowing what you're capable of and not being able to reach that. I say keep up the good work, you all are still an inspiration to me.

I'm in a huge rut with my runs too, I run the same route every time and I think that is part of the dread I feel every time I get ready to run. I guess it's time to change it up out here too!; February 21, 2010 at 6:38 PM
Patty said...: It helps a lot to change up our runs, and that is the beauty of running with other people. If it was just myself, I probably would just go out my front door and and down Seco, which I hated and didn't do very often. I think it would help you to have a few different routes to choose from. I think the frustration comes from seemingly running so much and still having those, can't move the legs or breathe days, and don't even get me started on the things that start to hurt, during or after. Some how I feel I should have something to "show" for putting in the miles, a great body, faster times, or at the very least no injuries, in that order!; February 22, 2010 at 7:29 AM
marathon mom said...: I think the best thing we have to "show" for all the miles we run together is our friendship. It's also a lot cheaper than a visit to a therapist and I think our families are a lot happier too. Mom is a lot less grouchy when she runs.; February 22, 2010 at 8:48 PM

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Favorite Trails

South Fork 3.1: Start from dirt parking lot on Magic Mtn Pkway and run to the loop at Wiley Bridge and return the same way.

Tesoro 3.25: Start in Albertson parking lot and take sidewalk/trail until it ends and then enter the water tower road to the top two towers where the ends. Return the same way.

Chesebrough 3.25/4.60: From Chesebrough Park, N. to Copperhill, So. on Bike Trail, turn around at Decoro, back up trail to power lines to bridge at park. Turn around at Heritage will give you 4.6 miles.

Chesebrough 3.5: Chesebrough Park down to McBean, south to Northpark Dr., the paseo trailhead. Take the paseo to Helmers and back. Very hilly.

Bridgeport 4.0: Fairly flat, run toward Lowes and under Bouquet bridge to RiverPark community until you reach the closed gates and return. For a hilly run, go north into Helmers and run up the paseo switchbacks into Northpark where the paseo ends and return the same way.

Chesebrough 4.0: N. to Copperhill to west side of river trail, run S. on Bike Trail past Decoro bridge, across Decoro to the east side of river trail, up back to power lines trail, back to park.

Chesebrough 4.0: From park down power line trail to Heritage Park and back same way.

Bridgeport 4.0: From School, cross McBean via bridge or street and head into industrial center on Ave. Scott Bridge and enter bike trail going south toward the train bridge. Turn around at train bridge and return same way or cross the bridge and head toward Peet's after crossing train bridge and back onto the Lowes Trail.

Heritage 4.0: From park, run up bike trail to Decoro, over McBean Bridge into Helmers, and into Bridgeport through lake trail back to park. Can be done in reverse. Moderately hilly.

Chesebrough 4.25: Chesebrough north to Copperhill, left to Albertson side of bike trail. Run south on trail to Decoro and cross over bridge and head north all the way to Copperhill on east side of river trail and back to the park the same way as started.

Cheese/Decoro/Helmers 4.25: From the park, down dirt trail to bike path, south to Decoro. Leave bike path at Decoro and cross paseo bridge at McBean. Stay on paseo up hill towards Helmers. Run up water tower trail once then continue on to switchbacks and paseos back to park.

Heritage/Bridgeport 3.3: Heritage Park south to McBean Bridge @ Panera. Cross and head toward Lowes bike trail and head east toward Bridgeport Park. Halfway mark is at park bathroom, head back by entering trail along the lake and back onto the bridge.

Lowes 4.25: Lowe's parking lot to McBean, cross the bridge and to South Fork. At Valencia Bridge, enter trail behind Hart Baseball diamonds. Continue on trail to Bouquet and across the bridge on the east side and back under the bridge again towards Lowes.

Peet's & Decoro 5.2: Peet's Coffee to train bridge path; to Decoro and across bridge; back down McBean side of bike trail back to Peete's.

Peet's & Wiley 6.0: Start at Peet's Coffee and head east toward South Fork trail and past the Wiley Bridge. Keep running another 200 yards to where the trail forks left and right. Turn back same way.

Peet's & Copperhill 6.0: From Peet's to bike trail heading north to Copperhill and back.

Albertson 7.0: From the Albertson parking lot on Copperhill, enter the westside bike trail and head south until the train bridge. Return the same way.

Peet's 8.5: Run to Copperhill on east side of river trail and return via train bridge on other side.

Lowes 10: Start in the Lowes parking lot. Enter the bike trail heading west. At McBean, cross the bridge and head east toward SouthFork trail. Continue on trail until you come to the Wiley bridge and head back the same way.

McBean 14: This route can be done from anywhere along the trail route. Starting from McDonald's across the post office, run to the end of the South Fork trail and return the same way, cross the McBean bridge and run on the Lowes trail until you hit Bridgeport Elementary and then cross Newhall Ranch via the bridge or street and run back towards McBean. Continue north on McBean until you hit Copperhill. At Copperhill, cross McBean and enter San Francisquito bike trail and run south on the trail until you are back at McDonalds.