Running updates and a 5k on the calendar for this weekend.

Earlier this month I celebrated my birthday by running 12 miles that  morning.
Sunday 4/3-

I had a small slice with coffee before my run.

 I wanted to run where I wouldn't be interrupted by traffic, so I headed out to the Sunrise Picnic area.

Photo by Scott Hagan and courtesy of Clark Couty Nevada

This area is kind of isolated but, I was happy to see several cyclists out there.  When I reached the picnic area I decided to head off road.

  I'm familiar with the area and I wanted to cut across the desert to end up on another road that I normally run.  It wasn't a super warm morning, so I didn't bring any fuel or water with me.  I ran about a mile into the desert, and then I was greeted with No Trespassing signs. I kept heading in the same direction

Then I was met with a really large ominous sign that said, Trespassers will be prosecuted... I also saw large metal boxes in the desert.  I decided to just flip a u-turn back out to the same way that I came.  

 I was kind of thrown off when I couldn't see a landmark anymore due to one of the valleys in the terrain.  I can understand how easily you can get turned around in the desert....  I have to be careful no matter what.  #Safteyfirst.

Here's the run data:

That day ended up being warm so I spent quite a bit of time sunbathing and swimming in my backyard pool.

The week of April 4-10

Last week started off really warm. 

Monday 4/4- This was a rest day,  I met my husband for lunch.

Tuesday 4/5-   4 Miles and some weight training. I tried to run some tempo miles at lunch time, it was 83 degrees when I left, and it was the first time I took my handheld bottle out for the season.  I'm not using the orgininal bottle that my Nathan hand held came with.  That bottle bit the dust last summer.  But, I bought this hand held bottle back in 2010 so I can't complain

 I also did some weight training on this day.  Here's what I did:

Dumbbell chest presses
Seated leg raises with an ab twist
One arm rows
Dumbbell hamstring deadlifts
Straight arm dumbbell pullovers
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I used an 25lb EZ curl bar for the following exercises
Bicep curls
Upright shoulder rows
Single leg lunges
Good mornings
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Lat Pulldowns
Half burpees

One set of situps on an incline board.

On this day, I wore a pair of dress flats that had zero arch support and that night my right heel started to feel tender.

Wednesday 4/6 Two a day Total of six miles plus weight training.  In the morning, I ran 2.5 miles so I wouldn't feel antsy at my desk.  This was a progression run.  My heel was a little tender when I got started but, once I warmed up I was fine. Here's the data:

 At lunchtime, I ran again, but this time on the treadmill, and it was short hard progression run of about 3.5 miles. For weight training I did the following exercises:

Decline Arnold Chest presses
Weight situps on an incline board
Back extensions
Back Flys

Incline Push-ups
Roman chair straight leg lifts

Donkey Kicks
1-minute handstand against the wall (trying to balance off of the wall)

Thursday 4/7 -   3 miles. I had to run an errand at lunchtime, but I was close to the Whitney Mesa Recreation area, so I did a short run with some hill repeats thrown in.

I hope you enjoy my pictures of the dirt.

It was warm (82 degrees), but there was cloud coverage so it felt much cooler.  That night a weather system moved into the valley and the temperatures began to fall.

Friday 4/8.  I had arranged to come into work late and then work through my lunch break...  I still ended up showing up late for work....  Instead of running for an hour it was closer to an hour and 20 minutes, but man this run was awesome!!
A few weeks ago I discovered a different trail head, that is near the Amagosa Trail.  I don't think it's an official marked trail..  It might just be a fire road, but it leads up into Black Mountain.

This picture is from a few weeks ago.

I had always wanted to climb the trails on Black Mountain, and hopefully, make it all the way to the top.   I went up the trail in the photo above, and then I found this trail.

View from the top

This trail was a false summit because it headed back down into a residential area.  I then found another trail that was pretty difficult to climb.

 I ended up climbing a few of the different trails that  head up to the top.  But, some of these climbs were super steep, and I chickened out on going up further.

After climbing up and down for close to an hour, I headed back down the hill, and ran two more miles on the road.  This run ended up climbing over 1,000 feet. Here's the data

Saturday 4/9-  5 Miles It had started to rain early in the morning, and then it stopped briefly.  I headed out and I felt like climbing some more.  I headed up into the foothills.  I didn't bring my phone with me because I was worried about ti getting soaked in the rain.  It was really nice to hear the birds chirping and the dogs barking.

This picture is from last year.

Sunday 4/10 7.6  miles.  This was a tempo-ish sort of run....

**Sidebar** My mindset about running has changed since I"m not really training for a marathon or half marathon right now. I think since I don't feel obligated to run very long (12+ mile runs) I enjoy kicking up the pace instead.  When I had to hit a certain number of miles per week I would do my runs at an easier pace in order to be able to tack more miles on.  If I'm just running 3 miles I want to feel the burn.  Same thing with running for an hour. I don't feel like I'm running an all out race pace, but I don't feel like I'm taking it easy either. I guess deep down I want to regain some of the speed I lost training for a marathon.  That and I just enjoy the way tempo pace feels.**

I chose a route that was mostly flat, and I just gradually tried to increase the pace.  Here's the data:

5k race this weekend

I was supposed to race this event last year, but I ended up getting sick with the stomach flu.  I hope I can go sub 22 minutes but, we will see. 

Thank you for reading, this long post.