Night Vision

I learned a lesson the other day:  I don’t have night vision…and it’s pretty darn dark around here in the evenings!

I set out for a run on Tuesday at about 7:00pm, all decked out in a bright yellow reflective vest and a hat with reflective strips all over it.

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And then I realized that people and cars could see ME…but I couldn’t see anything!

I guess it’s been a long time since I went for a run in the dark.  It’s not so bad while the sun is still setting – or in the case of you morning people while it’s rising.

But it was PITCH dark in some spots – and I was terrified of tripping or twisting my ankle in a hole because I couldn’t see the ground in front of me.

So – It looks like my first “running purchase” of 2012 is going to be a headlamp

headlamp

(Photo Credit)

Or maybe a set of Knuckle Lights?

Knuckle Lights

(Photo Credit)

All I know is that I wasn’t even in the most unlit part of the neighborhood and I could. not. see. a. thing.

Other than the whole “not being able to see” situation the run was pretty decent.  3.24 miles in 39 minutes for a 12:08 average pace.  My run intervals were all under 10:45 pace which is good for me.  I just gotta focus on not meandering during my walk intervals!

WHAT ABOUT YOU: Do you run with a headlamp or other light source when it’s dark out? Any recommendations for a good one?

Weekend Warrior

Criminy – It’s 7:00pm on Sunday night and I feel like it’s MIDNIGHT.

After several weeks of lack luster workouts…and…ahem…lots of rest days…I really had a doozy lined up this weekend.

First up was a 6 mile training run with the Karna Fitness running group.

(photo credit)

We did our usual 2 min run : 1 min walk intervals and I finished up in right around 1hr 15min for a 12:19 pace, a perfect for a long run for me.

After the run, my pal (and running partner) Kerri and I sped over to the Legacy Trail to meet up with a group we’ll be riding a 2-day event with in April.

We committed to riding 20 miles – 10 out, 10 back – while the other 4 riders were planning on getting 30 in.

Legacy with Cyclotron

The first 10 felt hard, like a good “push” effort.  The “10 back” was sheer torture.  Ok, really just the last 5 sucked. 

My calves started cramping up, my hips were cramping up…I was just tired.  I was fueling and hydrating, but I was beat.  Nothing like a reverse brick to jump start your workout routine after the holidays, right?

I finished off the weekend today with a trip around the Wilderness Parks “Main Loop” with Ryan.

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It’s SO great to be back on single track trails again – I can’t believe how much I missed mountain biking! (Nor can I believe how much more confident I feel out there now!)

I even took the lead for a few miles today – which I basically had to be forced to do before. 

I was going along at a pretty good clip…taking turns and riding over roots like a champ…and then I crashed.  And by “crashed” I  mean “overcorrected, then re-overcorrected, then ended up on the ground”. 

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That’s where my bike landed…I was to the left, laying on my stomach, perpendicular to the bike with my feet between the seat and handlebars. 

Somehow I managed to un clip and bobble around – even hopped on one leg for a bit – before I faceplanted.  It felt like 30 seconds passed.  Probably really only took about 2. 

Believe it or not, it was NOT scary – and was absolutely hysterical.  Ryan saw the hole thing go down & was trying really hard not to laugh until he realized I was laughing too.  (I’m actually still giggling to myself a little bit now as I write about it!)

Here’s the damage:

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Yeah – just dust on my knees.   Terrifying, no?

In the end we logged just over 15 miles of single track for the day.

Wilderness Parks-Main

My rear end is NOT happy with me after 2 days in a row of “in the saddle” time.

But logging 41 miles over the span of 2 days feels pretty good…especially considering I haven’t logged that many miles in a single WEEK since the beginning of November.

Welcome back motivation.  Welcome back.