I've been training hard the last month in preparation for the Utica Boilermaker, which I ran with my brother last Sunday. I was having some major shin pain the week before, so I ran very little the 6 days before. My track workouts had been great, but my lactate threshold workouts (which I did at the end of the week) were pretty inconsistent and mostly not so great!
Based on my 1 race time this year (5k - 19:52), I theoretically could run under 64 minutes, so I put "65" on my estimated time, which put me in the top 1,000 seeds. Pretty ambitious, considering it was my first 15k ever, and I really haven't done many long runs (I did one 12 miler 2 weeks before in 1h 45m).
The day dawned fairly warm and very, very humid. I know from my high school years that I tend to run poorly in humid weather, and since I live on the coast in California, I am not adapted to humidity. I went through the first mile in 7:10, a bit off pace, not too bad... and then at about 1.5 miles, the wheels started to come off fast. I was overheated already, and my pulse was above where I wanted it to be. So... I started to slow down. I wanted to find a pace that felt comfortable... unfortunately my pulse would not get below 160, where I wanted it to be, even at nearly 9 min/mi pace! So I switched into "survival" mode, and ran the last 10k at just over 8 min/mi pace. My 5k/10k splits were about 25min per 5k, and I finished at 75:05, About 9 minutes slower than I had hoped. Oh well, I still finished, and was proud to tough it out on an off day. I learned that you have to take what the race gives you... and even if you don't run well, you can still try to race those around you! I enjoyed several beers at the finish, and chatted it up with the peeps around me. I also developed a nasty skin rash on my legs from pouring so much water on myself during the race! I was very sore for a couple days after, but now I'm back into training again. My brother kicked ass, finishing in 57:30, top 200 in a 12,000 person race. I don't plan on tackling any more 15k's until I feel I feel comfortable at the 10k distance, which I also haven't tried yet (I did a 10k in 37:20 in high school... is there still hope?).
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I am very much feeling the lack of acclimation to the heat and humidity too. To the point, I am questioning if I have a marathon and the prerequisite training in me for the next 11 weeks. I hear you about the heart rate things. Some days the runs seem easy, and others the conditions (whether physical or mental) undermine that success. The only thing in my case that can help is more training in uncomfortable conditions to better prepare long runs.
i don't know if i need to start running like a boxer in full sweat suits or what, but i suck in humid weather. i did 3 miles of tempo today, my average hr was 6 beats lower than the 15k, and my pace was under 7 min/mi. i still have hopes of staying under 7m/mi in a 15k, but i better choose better weather to try!
I have found the only weight loss sucess I've ever had by eating low carb, and have constantly tried to marry eating this way with running.
Did you find that at first, as your body was getting used to the lack of carbs, that running was more difficult?
I've spent hours running, and while eating a "balance" diet of apprx 40% carbs, I have 0 weight loss.
I want to be thin and continue running!!
Any advice?
Andrea, Please read my "simple rules" thread http://lowcarbendurance.blogspot.com/2008/06/simple-rules-for-low-carb-athletic.html and give it a try, and see how it works for you. The zone diet is also good for endurance sports, if you can tolerate that much carbs without gaining weight or getting sick. I used that diet when I was younger to lose over 20 lbs and get in great shape mountain biking. Also the "anabolic diet" might work for you as well, here is a link to a free explanation of that diet.
http://www.musclehack.com/best-bodybuilding-diet-plan-revealed/
I would still eat 30-40% carbs if I could, but my intestines do not tolerate nearly that much!
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