Archive for: heart monitor

Running on the Riverwalk

Posted by Jim on February 21, 2012

Mile marker 0 on the Tennessee RiverwalkI had an interview near downtown Chattanooga today, so I decided to take a change of clothes and run on the Tennessee Riverwalk (just across the street from my interview). It was a chilly 52 degrees, but the sun was shining and the Riverwalk was busy. I parked by the Chickamauga Dam, changed clothes and hit the trail. Even though I had a long run yesterday, I was feeling great and decided to see how I did eliminating my walk breaks on this run.

My pace for the first mile was nice at 11:45. Again, since I run with a heart monitor, I expected that I would slow down over the next few miles. And I did. I decided to turn around at the two mile mark (easy to recognize by the Jim Collins metal sculptures place at each mile mark, see photo above). My run back was almost a minute slower per mile.

I finished the four mile run in just under 49 minutes. This is a pretty good pace for me right now. I stayed in my training zone of 132-150 heart beat per minute for 95% of the run. Overall, this was a great run for me. I feel confident now that my past injury is healed and I should have no problem training for the marathon these next two months. I still want to lose nearly 15 more pounds so that I’m running the marathon at a weight of about 235. But honestly, I’ll be happy to be under 240.

Tennessee Riverwalk and a view of Lookout MountainOne other note: since I am playing catch-up on my training, I have to accelerate my long run increases for the next several weeks. I’m thinking about adding 3 miles to my long run every other week. That would have me running my longest, a 22 mile run, just two weeks before the marathon. I had wanted to run up to 25 miles on my longest run before the marathon, but the 22 miles will have to do. I don’t want to injure myself from over-training.

(Original Photo Credit: Michael Tinkler)

Categories Diet, Training
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Cool Running

Posted by Jim on November 29, 2011

Bear Creek TrailA couple times this year I have run the Back Country Trail at Cloudland Canyon State Park to get some trail running experience.  This is what the trail looked like today.  My friend Greg “Sourdough” Foster took this photo while hiking at the park while I stayed in the slightly warmer valley down below. Just this past Friday I rolled my ankle on this trail and today was my first run since that slight injury.  I stayed away from the frozen trail.

Since I hadn’t run since Friday I decided to put in a couple extra miles.  I did 6.4 miles on an asphalt trail in about 1 hour and 12 minutes.  The ankle felt great, so I’m not worried about it slowing me down.  Actually, I felt good all around with the exception of the frigid 38 degree temperature.  But I was ready: gloves, hat, layered tech shirts and running jacket and pants.  The only thing that I didn’t manage to keep toasty warm were my toes.  I should have put on an extra pair of socks.  But it wasn’t that bad.

I ran the first mile a little fast and had trouble keeping myself in the correct heart rate zone.  I think my body was just trying to keep warm.  I settled in to an 11:30 per mile pace after the second mile.  With just under a mile to go, I decided to ignore the heart monitor and just run at the pace I felt comfortable with.  It was a good finish to a good run.

Categories Clothing & Equipment, Training
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Short Run, Tight Calves

Posted by Jim on November 2, 2011

Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church Trunk or Treat 2011

The above photo was taken at the Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church Trunk or Treat event from this past weekend.  The vehicles were lined up around the asphalt track at the church where I often run.  This is where I ran today.

Just a short run, but I’m kinda glad.  My legs, especially the calves, were feeling a little tight.  Not sure why, but they felt fine after the midway point of my run.  I wore the heart monitor which had me running a slightly slower pace than Monday’s run.  I ran the 3 miles in 34 minutes.  I’ll be doing my long run of 7 miles tomorrow.  Not sure where I will run, but I’d like to avoid any of the typically small loop courses I’ve been running.

As I passed a couple older gentlemen walking the track today one of them jokingly said to me that he wished I’d come out later and not make the two of them look bad for walking.  Given that they were both probably 70 or older I responded, “I’m only doing what I’m doing now so that when I’m your age I can do what you’re doing.”  I only hope that getting fit now will allow me to get out and exercise when I’m 25 years older.

Categories Training
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