Friday, October 15, 2021

Friday Fitness

 
Les and I have made plans to go to Yosemite next month.  With that in mind I'm trying to get more hills in my running.  This morning I headed out for a trail run with the plan to go higher up the trail.  I knew there would be more hiking than running on the upper portions.  I also had the added challenge of Santa Ana winds.


I was on the trail before the sunrise, but there was enough light that I could see.  The first 3.5 miles were challenging but I was able to run quite a bit.  At the 3.5 mile mark I had gained about 550 feet of elevation.  The next mile was the meat of the outing and I gained about 570 feet!  It was so steep that I was only able to power walk it and my heart rate hit 155.


I was at the top of what we call Sunshine Mountain at the 4.5 mile mark and decided that was far enough.  I took a few pictures, then started back down.  Getting back down the first mile was more walking because I didn't want to lose my footing.  Once the trail evened out I was able to run most of the way down.

Total stats:  9 miles in 1:55:17, 12:47 pace.  Max heart rate 155, average 135.  Calories burned 832.
 

I also ran a half marathon last Saturday.  It was a great run!  I was able to run the entire time, no walk breaks.  My average pace was 10:16 a mile.  The first half I averaged 10:26, and the second half I was able to kick up the pace and average 10:06.  Total time on that outing was 2:14:36.  Max HR 148, average 130.  I burned 900 calories.  This is only my second half marathon this year.  The one I ran in April I averaged 11:42 a mile.  I'm loving the improvements I'm seeing.

And finally, on another happy note - I am now down 30.5 pounds!  I had gotten down 29.5 and couldn't seem to get to 30.  Last week I was up a pound, but today I was back down.  It has taken a long time to get to this point, but I have continued living and that means celebrations like birthdays and weddings, it means traveling, it means ice cream!  I know I need to be careful about what I eat, but I also know that I can enjoy occasional treats.

4 comments:

Mary Frances said...

RUUUUUUUUUUUUN DOWN???? Soooooooooooo your ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE!!! AHAHAHAAA

Kathy McElhaney said...

What people?? Doesn’t everyone run down?

Mary Frances said...

Nooooooo I'd be dead if I did...or at least with a broken bone from slipping!!! HAHAAHAAA!!! wELL everything is really slippery here...like gravely....buuuuuuut I still wouldn't run if it wasn't!!!

Kathy McElhaney said...

I get it, I am super careful and take smaller steps running down. I’ve had some bad injuries and don’t want that again!

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