Running In Place

Chunk was a word my niece coined for chipmunks when she was first talking. She’s nearly 12 now but Auntie Lara just won’t let it go.

Anyway, I spent far too much time yesterday sitting and watching the chunks busy at work emptying my birdfeeder. Here’s the routine:
1) Scamper out of the woods, hop hop hop, with fuzzy tail pointed straight up to the sky.
2) Climb the shepard’s hook (which we thought was rodent-proof).
3) Balance on the edge of the feeder, rocking it violently and scaring all those pesky birds away. Ignore the foul language of the blue jays – sticks and stones…
4) Stuff cheeks full of seeds and nuts till adequate Marlon Brando as Godfather look is achieved.
5) Scamper back into woods and deposit loot in secret chunk hideout.
6) Repeat 10,562 times.
7) When feeder is empty, wait impatiently on the porch for the lady in the green plaid bathrobe to refill.

In between myWild Kingdom front yard expeditions I did manage to run last week, and also added in some strength stuff – which, if anyone knows me, knows is my 2nd or 3rd least favorite thing in the world to do. I got some resistance bands that I seem better able to manage than dumbbells (until the inevitable handle-snap-back-in-the-face hilarity ensues, anyway). My arms and shoulder muscles are whiney and sore. Is that good?

Monday
Distance – 4.45 miles
Time – 50:00
Avg. pace – 11:14
Effort – hard 8 of 10
This was really my first run in (relative) heat this season. 75F may not seem hot to most but man, it was hurting me. Definately some acclimating to do.

Wednesday
Distance – 2.75 miles
Time – 30:00
Avg. pace – 10:55
Effort – again hard 8 of 10
Another hot, sunny day.

Friday
Distance – 7 miles
Time – 1:19:34
Avg. pace – 11:22
Effort – 7-8 of 10
This was my longest run yet! Blessedly, it was sunny and 55F with a breeze. I am really happy with my pace overall and actually did wicked negative splits with the first few miles being in the 11:40′s and the last few miles being in the 10:30-40′s.

I did skip a scheduled 60 minute run this week due to some persistent pain on the inner aspect of my left calf. I think it’s a tendon and it was pretty consistently sore all week, though never acutely painful or unmanageable during a run. Icing seems to help and today, after 2 days off, there is no discomfort at all. I think, hope, that I am starting to come to terms with having aches and pains in my legs as I progress in my training. It would be nice to not believe that every single discomfort is the end of running. Getting there.