5.5 mile Vandemark hill loop (which features a 1.6 mile straight climb up a glacier-carved hill from mile 1.1 to 2.7) plus an extra mile. 6.5 miles total in 48:37 (7:28 ppm). 41:13 after 5.5, so 7:24 last mile.
Had to pee whole time. Thought about stopping and going in the woods but didn't want wang to be devoured by a bajillion mosquitoes. Bad news is that caused me to cramp up a bit last half of the run. Not too hot but very humid. At the top of the hill was literally running through a cloud.
Calves a little sore. Shins so-so but I fret now over every little twinge. If I wasn't obsessing over it I might not have felt it. Didn't feel them all day or yesterday, then mysteriously right before I left to go run started to feel something.
First day in new shoes, Asics DS-Trainer 13. The DS-Trainers are as old as my running career and I've had at least one pair of all 13 of them. They felt great today. A couple years ago I started using insoles for more cushion when I started getting shin splints. Even though I'm having trouble with my shins now I'm not using the insoles in my new pair based on the theory that the insoles flattened out my arches thereby causing my shins to actually absorb more shock. The insoles also caused the shoe to be heavier and less flexible, which I think made my foot strike harder and caused the shoes to wear out more quickly. This is my theory anyway, and the insoles obviously haven't been working in the last two years so I'm sticking to it.
The shoes felt like a million bucks today without the insoles, much lighter and more flexible, and reminded me why I've only used these shoes my entire running career. Hopefully my theory pans out. The fact that my calves are sore and they've never been sore before after doing this run makes me think I'm getting more muscles involved.
BTW: Last week's total mileage was 18.5. I took yesterday (Saturday) off.
Labels: hills, injuries, long run, new shoes
