Official timed runs Official race distances, bib/registration required for 5$- free if you are a member of Oregon Track Club. No awards or ceremonies. Free drinks at the end. Race- or just have fun running with others.
Foggy mornings A few days in the 40's - most still in the low 50's. Still no rain for weeks and weeks...but I am actually looking forward to just a bit of rain. But only just a bit.
Gaiters These things are RAD. I hate getting rocks stuck in my shoes, so gaiters are the way to go on trails. You can buy them off the internet for about 20$ (These are fancier with hooks to secure the bottom to your shoes), or make your own. Easy and cheap. Here's how (in case you couldn't guess by the photo):
Just cut the arms off of a cuffed knit shirt, (like I did with my Eugene Turkey Trot 4-miler prize)...and pull them on cuffs first to cover your shoes. (Can you believe this sweatshirt had a big orange turkey on the front of it?)
Be warned that they CAN get hot, so choose your fabric accordingly-- Or just wear them as leg warmers :)
Lower heart rates & other improvements. What can I say? I like the green light to travel faster. My longest run in September was 13.14 miles. I had not planned that as a half marathon, but realized when I finished. It took me 1:47 and some change to run -all within an easy aerobic heart rate zone. A few years ago I ran my first half marathon RACE in 1:57 and change. That just boggles me.
Also- I took an easy week last week (due to some little muscle/tendon issues) and stayed away from speed. Today I ran a 5x1200M workout that surprised me with how little effort I felt for the pace. I love days like that- where I feel I could do more, faster, but stop while I am ahead.
Food: I might also be loving crepes with apple pie filling for breakfast- way too often.
Running trails!! This week I had the luxurious opportunity to hit the bark paths in Eugene/Springfield TWICE. Right now they are wonderful...not soggy, just softer than gravel. In a month or so, there will be plenty of mush there for mud-seekers.
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| A cozy stretch on Pre's trail |
I hope to be back for more in a little while but have to say that I LOVE your gaiters. What a great idea! And you could start your own little etsy line of funky looking gaiters made from old sweatshirts. So glad you had this 1200 workout and felt so good. I hope to be in this place soon. And I loved the trails in Eugene. Glad to hear you happy and well Raina. Love your pictures. xo
ReplyDeleteheh. You should see what I did with the rest of the sweatshirt!
DeleteHope you are running strong again friend. I am glad to see you have been running again!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the gaiters too!! I also hear you on the rain, much as it pains me to admit it. Kudos on the speed-- as if there were any doubt. ;)
ReplyDeleteJust a little rain...not much! I will come visit when it starts drowning us here. :)
DeleteLove your idea for gaiters too - perfect for trail runs, and I'm never going to look at a sweatshirt the same way again!
ReplyDeleteIt is so encouraging to read how you've improved over the years, what a great reward for your efforts!
Those cuffed sweatshirts are not the best cut, but they are still useful! :)
DeleteI like homemade running gear. I'll remember that if I ever need some gaiters. Thx!
ReplyDeleteYou bet Tina! You are pretty crafty with homemade arm warmers :)
DeleteSpeaking of foggy mornings, yesterday I was driving to work, while driving over a bridge the whole road suddenly got super foggy! It. Was. Awesome! Like the Sleepy Hollow movie! Fall is definitely my favorite season. Besides the pretty trees and perfect running temps, it reminds me of cross-country and trail races.
ReplyDeleteI bet that was fantastic! I love fall too :)
DeleteYou and I have to run trails together! We both love them so much! Ahh!
ReplyDeleteOh, how I get what you are saying here, the excitement of getting faster, or running a pace that used to be hard at a comfortable effort. One of the best parts about running after a break is that we get to experience this upward slope that eventually takes us higher than where we were before the rest. So excited for you and your upcoming races! Crepes with apple pie filling = YUM!
I am looking forward to running trails with you someday! If you come out here, we have a number of good bark/ dirt ones I could take you to :)
DeleteI am super jealous of your foggy temperature. Unfortunately for me, it's still 80-90 degrees with an obscene amount of humidity.
ReplyDeleteGood job on your speed workout and making your own gaiters. It's a handy trick that I'll try to keep in mind when I go trail running.
Agh! I hope it cools down for you soon!
DeleteWhat a great idea those gaiters are!! Around here the challenge is keeping the sand out of my shoes and socks! I'll have to check that out!! LOVE cool foggy mornings!!
ReplyDeleteI bet that you could use some for the sand!
DeleteLOVE your gaiters- what a great idea! I am currently loving everything about fall right now. I can't wait to go watch some high school cross country this weekend. Fall makes me so happy!
ReplyDeleteOoh! High school CC is fun!!
DeleteFall is my absolute favorite. I too am loving the foggy mornings and can not wait for the rain as well. High-five to running faster with less effort... getting faster is one thing; but being able to do it with a lower heart rate takes a lot of work and patients!
ReplyDeleteNoticed you added the Brooks Pure Connect on your side bar>>> Currently my favorite shoe!
They ARE awesome. Would love to see what the new updates on the PureConnects will bring. Looking forward to the PureDrifts too!
DeleteYou need the Brooks PureGrit for your trail runs, those shoes are heavenly on those rocky trails!
ReplyDeleteYour homemade gaiters are really cool - how creative are YOU! :)
Jill, I agree! I need a pair of PureGrits. I have been waiting to get them until I ran on trails often enough to justify it- but I think I am there now :)
DeleteSeems like life is good there by you, awesome! Love your gaiters! I don't use gaiters and by some miracle I have never had anything in my shoes on any run...until I jinxed it now :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing! Never?? I must have a real knack for getting stuff into my shoes.
DeleteDrat - now I want apple pie filling. :)
ReplyDeleteWarning: Highly addictive!!
DeleteI can't believe you "upcycled" the turkey trot sweatshirt... it sounded absolutely lovely, the kind of shirt one would want to wear every day for every occasion. Ha! :) Fall is my favorite. Your pictures are really making me miss my Eugene trails. :(
ReplyDeleteHope your new trails are doing the trick! I am looking for a reason to come that direction :)
DeleteI <3 running trails, and that gaiter idea is pretty brilliant! I'm totally going to try that.
ReplyDeleteMy first half marathon was also 1:57...which boggles my mind knowing how fast you are. And then it makes me think that I really ought to train harder, though I don't think I have anywhere near the running talent that you do in your pinky toe. :)
Yes, Kate- I think the gaiters would be perfect for your crazy trail races!
DeletePre's trail does look awesome, someday I'll get up there to run it. Nice job on the homemade gaiters!
ReplyDeleteI was shocked that Stanford knocked off USC last week to move to 3-0, if Stanford keeps winning we could be headed for a Stanford-Oregon undefeated showdown on Nov 17, haha. Though my guess is that Stanford will lose either 1 or 2 games between now and then (likely to either Notre Dame or Cal). But who knows, they might keep it rolling to go 10-0 heading into Oregon. I know Oregon will be 10-0 at that time, that matchup would be epic if it happens like that. =)
Yep. The big face-off will be on a good weekend!!
DeleteYes, those gaiters ARE rad:) Great idea and since over 75% of my running is done on gravel or ditch trail these would come in MIGHTY handy! Pre's trail looks beautiful in that picture!
ReplyDeleteSuper job with the 5X1200m workout!!! LOVE those days when it all feels RIGHT! I think you are going to have SO many of these days!!!
Ditch trail. That just sounds grueling!
DeleteWow, a 1:47 half at an easy aerobic pace sounds wonderful! 5x1200 that felt great and quitting while you were ahead sounds great too. Nice when all the hard work pays off.
ReplyDeleteFantastic endorsement of HR training. I wish mine hadn't been sidetracked by that stupid cold last week--it was going really well.
ReplyDeleteI love gaiters too--they were a revelation the first time I tried them.
Fall IS the best, isn't it?
Hope you are feeling better now, Terza!
DeleteThose are RAD! Seriously, what a great idea! I love reading about all the fall running. We're still having highs near 90... no cool weather for us yet.
ReplyDeleteYikes! Sounds like the beach would be the place to go.
DeleteNever seen the RAD before, that is a good idea to run safe.
ReplyDeleteFall here is wonderful: warm, with beautiful colors and sometimes a bit rainy. In this city the foggy mornings are unknown but I'd like to run in such atmosphere.
1:47 at an easy pace is very fast.
Fog can be glorious! It's the best as it burns off with bright cold sunshine.
DeleteTemps in the 40s and 50s?!?! I am so jealous! Getting ready to head out on my long run fairly early because it's going to be another scorcher today. High of 109. 109!!!!! On September 30th! I am actually terrified now of my 5K that I'm running on Friday. It starts at 6 pm. Maybe the temps will dramatically drop this week? Or maybe I'll just go ahead and run the thing, revising my goal to break 30 minutes. HA!
ReplyDeletePS-It's Allison from Johnson Jocks. I can't be bothered to log my husband off of Google and sign in as me right now. Haha.
109? That is a great excuse NOT to race. I hope it cooled down for you!
DeleteOur running group did a couple timed runs, over the Summer. It was the perfect "quick fix" to fill a racing void.
ReplyDeleteVery jealous of your temps, right now. We got excited when it dipped below 80, last week!! ;)
Timed runs are great- race them or relax!
DeleteI'm not sure what appeals to me more: those rad gaiters or apple pie crepes? Yum!
ReplyDeleteHa! make both!!
DeleteJust popping by looking for that 10k recap... :) Have a great weekend, Raina!
ReplyDelete:) Working on it..
DeleteYou too!
I LOVE running trails. For some reason everything is ten times more fun on a trail. I'm glad you've had the chance to run some lately!
ReplyDeleteThe highs have been in the 50s lately here too, which makes for great afternoon/evening runs, but it's disappointing how cold it already is in the mornings when I get up for an early workout.
It has been getting colder here too in the mornings. I finally broke out the tights.
Delete