Running diary July 21, 2024 - July 28 2024

This was a profound and difficult week of running I might want to remember.

July 21, 2024, 20 miles easy

I ran this alone, on Fairmount. Fairmount is a 3.5 mile loop of rolling hills, so this was 5 loops plus a little out and back. In the second loop I heard thunder, maybe the third time I've heard it since moving to Portland. It started pouring, huge, cold raindrops. I stashed my shirt and the rain on my shoulders felt great. I ate 3 gels, one after 45 minutes, then every 30 minutes after that. During the fourth loop I realized I couldn't feel time passing, felt like I wasn't breathing or running, just translating my head through space. It was the most intense high I've ever felt while running, a total disconnect from my body. It was like I was seeing a latent genetic secret, dipping my head into the through-line, discovering something that early humans buried in our genetics millions of years ago: that if I ran enough my brain would start dumping chemicals. Eventually the high wore off and I realized my knees were screaming. I finished the run and got in the car and heard on the radio that Biden had dropped out. I got two donuts on my way home. 20 miles at 6:47 pace.

July 23, 2024, Dual Duel

The calendar said to do 6 miles of recovery, but Michael asked if I wanted to race this relay with him and it sounded fun. It's a 10 mile relay on the track, each runner on the team running alternating 400m legs, so 40 baton passes. This was at the Catlin Gabel track which was radiating heat by the time we started. I ran all my legs in around 75 seconds, which was my goal. I'd finish my leg, bake in the sun, then convince myself to run again by the time Michael was coming around the turn. With 4 laps left I started slapping my legs between intervals to try to get my brain back in it, and after the race I had two big handprints on my thighs. This absolutely torched my glutes, and was a fun mistake.

July 24, 2024, 4 miles

This was supposed to be 14, so I went up to Fairmount again, since it would be cool and shady. My legs immediately gave up on this so I finished a loop and went home.

July 25, 2024, 14 miles

Back at Fairmount, this time better rested. My knees didn't handle this well, just too much elevation too quickly over the past few weeks. 14 miles at 7:12 pace.

July 26, 2024, 6 miles

This was supposed to be 6, so I just ran up Tabor until I hit 3 miles then turned around. I got home and realized I was locked out and tacked on a little over a mile trying to find Alyssa out for a walk. 7+ miles at 7:30 pace.

July 28, 2024, 16 miles

The calendar said 16 with 12 at marathon pace, which I'm trying to say is 6:05. I wanted to go to Fairmount, but I haven't done much marathon pace work yet and figured being consistent and locking in would be important. I drove up to Sauvie, did 2 miles out toward the Pumpkin Patch, then turned around and hit the gas. My glutes and hamstrings were still completely dead from Tuesday and I couldn't settle in. I kept waiting for the pace to feel easy but it never did. At mile 13 I stepped off into a u-pick berry farm to shit in a port-a-potty. The entire island is covered in gorgeous blackberries. During cooldown I had stabbing pain in my soleus. After the run my calves cramped and were sore for days. I guess they were doing most of the work. I hit each of my fast miles, 6:05, 6:04, 6:03, 6:05, 6:03, 6:05, 6:06, 6:07, 6:04, 6:03, 6:05, 6:02, but it really killed me. I'll see how the next marathon pace workout feels on fresh legs but 2:40 might be too ambitious.