"There's only one hard and fast rule in running: sometimes you have to run one hard and fast."








Saturday, May 1, 2010

Giving the Calf a Test Drive

It's been a couple of weeks since I tore my left calf at the Ron Daws 25K and I wanted to test it out. There were a lot of temptations; Runnin' in the Ruff 10K in Milaca is today, as is a 5K in my backyard (Run for Batten Disease. I've won it more than once). There's another 5K in my backyard (and I mean that literally. If the runners wanted to, they could watch me eat breakfast as they go by) tomorrow - the Joe Plant 5K, which Helen Lavin did the past two years (she's doing the Miwok 100K instead. Just slightly more difficult) and in which I'd be tempted to run as fast as possible.

So I went to Afton instead. The plan was to blast 9-10 miles and then slow down and turn it into a long run. I passed Zach and Karen on the one hill on the prairie and Jim and Bill going downhill toward the beach (according to the Garmin, at 4:46 per mile). I hit 6 miles in 47:08, but the calf was not feeling right. I hit 8 in 64:01 - so close to 8 minute miles! I made it to 11 in 89:26, which brings me to the bottom of the Meatgrinder Hill, a very very good place to slow down. From there it was what felt like a slow jog through the rest of the course and I did the 25K loop in 2:13. That's faster than I did it as a race in 2003 (proof).

I'm thinking I can run the Superior 50K, though I haven't done a long run all year.

..................

Fun note: Roy Pirrung and Marshall Ulrich want to be my friends on Facebook!

10 comments:

Zach said...

That was me and Karen on the prairie, you were cruising to fast to make a positive ID :)

SteveQ said...

Zach, I'll make the correction. Guess I don't expect to see you running Karen's pace!

PiccolaPineCone said...

25 km to "test" your calf? I take it, the calf passed?

Kel said...

Were you able to outrun the ticks on the snowshoe loop? That's the "real" test ;)

wildknits said...

So... will see you at Superior - running. Alright!!

Glaven Q. Heisenberg said...

Roy Pirrung and Marshall Ulrich want to be my friends on Facebook!

ZOMG1! This almost makes me wish I knew who Roy Pirrung and Marshall Ulrich are! Or were!

Do they have more juice on the Intertubes than I do?

Hahahahahaha! Just kidding. Because who doesn't have more juice than I do anywhere? Especially on the Interwebs?

But seriously: Who are Roy Pirrung and Marshall Ulrich?

O, SteveQ! You're sooooo fast! You know when RBR reads this post she'll be all slippery for you and you'll both be all: Who are Roy Pirrung and Marshall Ulrich? And why did they seemingly matter to US?

But also, when you're .. ahem ... "so fast" for RBR? She'll be all, Why did he [SteveQ] matter to me? Because I knew he was fast ... but not in that way ...

Hahahahahahaha! ZOMG! I think that's the beer talking! I'm such a PIG!!!1!

Congrats on the great run!

@ RBR: You WHOO-WER!1!1!

RBR said...

25k "test" drive and I am trying to build back up to double digits runs.

*sigh*

I am really glad to hear that your calf was feeling good and no further injuries were sustained. I am certain my heart would have exploded in my chest if I even thought about a 4:46 mile.

Now, of course, I would love to read your report of the Superior 50k. When it comes down to it I am just an ultra-groupie.

(I am in the process of being talked into my second ever 50k in September. You will LOVE to hear that my PR for that distance is about twice that of yours as well. Whatever. I look cuter in pink)

@ G: do not cheapen my unrequited love for SteveQ

SteveQ said...

G: I've added links to bios for Roy and Marshall. I'll let them speak for themselves.

SteveQ said...

@Piccola: It passed, but just barely. I give it a D+

Helen said...

Nice going. Looks like we're on for Superior then? :)

Don't know why that makes me smile given I can barely walk today...