So it was time again for this challenge. Still some more days before the challenge is over.
Yesterday I did a trail running in the snow and have muscle soreness.
Today it was pain, it really burned in my thighs and the shaking increased at the end, I just begged for the pain to be over soon.
Today the time was 130 s.
The best time would probably have been this morning before I ran 32.82K trail running but this is a challenge so it was just do it.
The thighs were aching 🙂 but hardly any shaking
This morning I took the train to Tjörnarp. Tested to have everything with me, in a dry bag I had put socks and a long sleeve shirt and put the bag in my ultra backpack.
The temperature was around 0oC (32F) and windy so I was not sure if my Tierra Windstopper would be enough to keep me warm or if I should have my red Haglöfs jacket instead but decided that the Tierra would be fine. When I would start running I will be warm.
When I got off the train I saw snow to my big surprise, it was green in Lund and Tjörnarp is about 40K (24.84 miles) from Lund. I was going to run in my Fellraiser, it could have been wise to run with metal studs but those trail shoes are new and I didn’t think it would be wise to run 40K with them the first time.
Lars a Coach K Runners buddy of mine happen to be in the woods so we ran around 10K together
During the run Lars and I discussed the ultra races we are going to run and what to bring etc and how to prepare, GPS pulse watches, ultra backpacks, reflections from Tjörnarparen – the ultra race Lars arranged in December.
It didn’t take long before I had wet my trail shoes. Running in snow in terrain was a new experience to me, this was my first time and it was tough. The plan was to run 40K and I was not sure I would do that. That decision would be made during the day.
I said hello to all the hunters that were out and they were the friendly ones 🙂
Lars scared me several times when he told me that here has the wild boars (vildsvin) been. Wild boars are not the animals I want to meet in the woods, they can cause severe damage to my body.
I noticed that I was not so focused the first 10K but more focused when I ran by myself, this is what happens when you run with someone. I missed the loop for example. Lars told me that on your way back you can just follow the feet 🙂 so true.
There were a couple of things I was going to test today
1) My own ultra backpack
2) Testing drinking from the hydration pack
3) Following the route with higher zoom
And then I was going to help Lars taking down the markers after the first fuel station.
So I have to say that I am glad that this train station exist, now I can get there and just start running but if you come 30 min before the train arrives it will be cold to sit outside and wait but Tjörnarp Livs was the Life saver today. I changed my really wet socks but since the trail shoes were wet the dry socks did not stay dry very long 🙂
I ran from Tjörnarp to Frostavallen’s parking lot and back. A guy at Frostavallen asked me if I was running the yellow loop from Tjörnarp 🙂 and I told him yes. Interesting that he knew about this race, I guess he asked me this because I was taking down the markers.
Some walking was needed today and we had to run an alternative way at one part where it was too much weak ice and water.
I still could follow the markers and get around by myself the main part of the route.
Total distance: 20.39 miles (32.82K), total time: 4.41 h
I got so excited to be back in the woods so I forgot to choose the sport mode – following route so I registered the first run and saved it and then following the route so I got two runs registered. I felt that I needed to have a backup just in case I would be tired and got off course.
Average speed on the first run was 7.52 min/k, max speed: 6.13 min/k, distance: 6.83K
Average speed on the second run was 8.38 min/k, max speed: 5.37 min/k, distance: 26.41K
It was so refreshing to be back in the woods and I am stiff but satisfied.
Stretching afterwards: Yoga positions – The Dog and the Dove
I did this challenge a bit late today but the day is not over yet.
I looked at the timer already when it was 1 and 17 s left, oh my gosh!
While I did this challenge tonite I watched a funny Swedish TV-show I huvudet på Gunde Svan (= In the head of Gunde Svan). If you do not know who Gunde Svan is, he was a great cross country skiier who took a lot of medals.
So 125 s and hardly any shaking today but it feels when I get up 🙂
Tonite I had the pleasure of running with one of my Coach K Runners buddies Eva and later in the evening.
We decided we would run my regular 5K run.
It is always fun to run with Eva because we have so much to talk about.
This week the temperature has dropped so it was 2oC (36F) so winter clothes and the mandatory reflective vest and headlight.
My 5K run is mainly on bike paths and maybe 500 m dirt road where it is no light and holes.
We had a varied discussion today and this would definately be called a fun run.
When we finished the run and stood and talked before Eva ran home, a runner in the building was wondering about our uniforms 🙂
Total distance: 3.16 miles (5.08K), total time: 32.54 min, average speed: 6.28 min/k, max speed: 5.28 min/k
What I like about my own GPS pulse watch is that now I will know for sure how long my distances really are 🙂
This challenge is getting closer to the end. Only 8 more days to go.
Today I was doing this exercise for 120 s and today I already looked at the timer when it was 28 s left. Some shaking today, the shaking has now stabilized, it did not shake more and more towards the end. It feels more and more to get up after the exercise is over each time.
As a rookie ultra runner I have tried to find a program to get ready for my second Ultra race in May and there was Yoga and Pilates and of course I wondered what these two trainings would give me as a ultra runner. I believe these are good for any runner. So after some searching on the internet I felt that Yoga is w.orth giving it a try.
Last week I tested YinYoga which I believe is good to do early in the morning. Today I tested Poweryoga. The aim is to get to Poweryoga 2 but first you need to learn the positions so I went to Poweryoga 1.
I got myself a mat and a blanket, this time I had my socks on from the beginning and I did not take them off when we were told to take our socks off (I didn’t take them off out of protest, just because I got cold feet last time and wanted to keep my feet warm).
So first we sat down in a lotus pose and just breathed.
After that we were doing Salute to the sun 1 (solhälsning 1) and Salute to the sun 2 (solhälsning 2). At YinYoga we only did Salute to the sun 1.
The other poses we did was the cat (katten), the dog (hunden), was at YinYoga too, Cobra (kobra), also at YinYoga. The cobra showed up in the combo poses and after a while you could choose between doing the cobra or upward dog (uppåtgående hund). We also did the dog with one foot up in the air.
Then we also tried Warrior 1 (krigaren 1) and Warrior 2 (krigaren 2)
Other poses were the dove (duvan) and the lizzard , butterfly (also at YinYoga), child pose (also at YinYoga) and happy Child (also at YinYoga).
The Yoga plank was also a pose (also at YinYoga).
The boat was a new yoga pose for me. The boat (båten) ) is one of my core exercises and then the butterfly (fjärilen).
Last was just to breathe and lay on the mat.
Of all the yoga exercises I have done so far I Believe that Poweryoga is something that would be good to do regularly as a runner but Poweryoga 2 (some of these poses today I did at the yoga class we had with Coach K Runners this summer) but there were also balance and power poses.
Then I have to decide if I should do Pilates or Core regularly. Which one is best for me.
Time again for this challenge. Only 10 more days to go.
Continued with the Yoga breathing during the exercise for 115 s. Some shaking in the beginning and more at the end. And then it was only 17 s left and finally the beep. 🙂
The challenge continues.
Today I was using the yoga breathing I learned at YinYoga last week during the exercise and the exercise became much smoother.
I was sitting for 110 s and once again when I looked at the timer it was only 17 s left and then I heard the beep. I feel it more and more in my legs when I rise after the sitting is over. 🙂
First day of the week is here and one of the rules is to never skip a Monday.
So as warmup at the gym I ran 1.24 miles (2K) on the treadmill. Tonite I decided I would run faster and faster so first I started with a comfortable 6 min/k (10), then after 1K I increased the speed to 11 and then after 500 m I increased it to 12 and then when it was 250 m left I increased it to 12.5.
Average speed: 5.48 min/k max speed: 4.24 min/k
After that I exercised biceps, triceps and legs. Did one of my hip stability exercises but my left knee is a bit grumpy so I skipped exercises that would make my left knee upset so the other exercise I did my leg curl.
Ended with core: side plank, the boat between, the boat slowly down and held it for 30 s, and then the regular plank for 4 minutes. And also a exercise I have not done in a while where I am on a ”pilates” ball and stand in plank position and then draw my knees to my stomach and back.