Lasting Happiness

Training Training Logs
183

Long trail run: 17 miles; 2726 elevation gain; 4 hours and 3 minutes

I felt ok during the bulk of this. Did not eat before. Had about 16 oz of pedialyte during first hour; then a gel at the 1 hour mark; a second gel at the 2 hour mark, and then a Red Bull. Lots of water too. Stomach was good!

The elevation for the 20 mile trail run is 5300. So I’m well short of that. And I really can’t replicate that without traveling a bit.

I did a 20 mile trail run a few years ago with elevation gains of 4800. That took me almost 6 hours. Adding elevation is a significant stressor. But at this point, I’m more prepared for this upcoming trail run than i was for the previous one.

I haven’t signed up yet though. I thought I had a clear calendar because the date of my son’s HS graduation is before the date of the trail run. But I just learned that the spring sport season extends two weekends past that graduation date. So, I may get to watch him play instead of race.

I’m going to keep training for it. If this one doesn’t work out, I’ll try to find something else later in the summer.

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184

Sunday: MP top sets 65x5x5
Pull-ups ladder down and back up 6-1, 1-6

Bike: 30 min. This was exhilarating for some reason. I just felt great.

“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am. I am. I am.”

Sylvia Plath.

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185

Monday: 3 mile hike

Tuesday: DL work up to amrap 205x9

Heavy singles 225, 255 * this was slow.

Prowler 50lbs x 10 high handles x 10 low handles

Pull-ups 7,6,5,4, 4

——

Will ride bike tonight. Looking forward to running tomorrow.

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186

Wed: 4 mile trail run 935 feet of gain. Slow. But I managed to run up all the hills. And by run I mean only that I didn’t walk. Used my Running muscles only. I’m starting to get it. Definitely improving.

Bench: ugh. Amrap 90x9. This is - 3 reps. Triples @ 95 and 100.
A bit of dip here compared to how I’ve benching. I don’t like it. But if I have to suffer some losses while improving my uphill running abilities— I would choose to sacrifice bench. So, it’s all good.

Pull-ups: 7,6,5,4,3

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187

I think “run” is the universally accepted word for what you did. Don’t self-deprecate!

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188

When the activity is moving one’s body uphill with no vehicle other than one’s legs, I offer a resounding “yes!”

189

@EmilyQ & @TriednTrue thanks for the encouragement!

I’m coming around to understanding that trail running is a completely different beast than road running. I can’t compare times or distances between the two. In many ways trail running is easier on the body. Your stride is naturally shortened in the process of navigating much more uncertain terrain. It’s mentally tiring though—paying attention to the ground. I can’t zone out!

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190

Today:

I am running uphill on my usual trail about 3/4 of a mile from the parking lot. The switchbacks are short; the trail is steep. My dog is just a few
Feet ahead.

I’ve noticed that the grade of the hill is always steepest around the jug handles. I am around another handle. A coyote stands still in front of me.

My dog accelerates toward it. The coyote turns and runs up the hill. I yell, “leave it!” My dog doesn’t listen. And I am left behind.

I run. I yell. And run. And yell.

I hear a confrontation. I try to calculate distance from the sound. They are near the top of the hill I think. I’m terrified the one coyote has led my dog towards others. I think I shouldn’t be here. I didn’t want to get up and run today. I think, I wish I was faster, stronger, Bigger.

My dog returns to me before I can get to him. He appears Uninjured. I see no bite wounds or scratches. Perhaps it was just a verbal altercation? I leash him and we start down. I am relieved. But that relief is short lived.

I soon notice the coyote behind us, following. I stop and face it. I raise my arms and yell in my deepest voice. “Go away!”

It doesn’t.

We repeat this dance over and over. Moving forward. Stopping. Yelling. But it is moving forward faster than I am. Shortening the space between us.

I attempt to be more threatening. I pick up a stick. The wood is rotten. It’s not heavy enough to be an effective weapon. Still I raise it. And yell. My coyote is not impressed. He does not run away. He only stands still and stares. And when I move forward, he continues his escort.

After about 1/2 mile of this, I don’t see him anymore. But I do not run and I do not put down my stick.

This is my fault. I am on the trail early. And my dog is off leash. The coyote had to hear me coming though. It choose to stay on the path and confront us. I assume if my dog did not give chase we
Would have gone our separate ways without incident. But I don’t know. As an early morning runner, I’ve had a few coyote encounters. They’re pretty brazen—meaning They stare me down and I change my course of travel to avoid them.

I’m bummed. I enjoy being On the trail early In The morning with my dog off leash. I’m not going to do it anymore though. I’ll either have to wait until later in the morning or run alone.

So, my run was cut short today. And then I can home and didn’t run more. I warmed up To squat but I really just don’t want to. Maybe later.

I’m a city girl by upbringing. I was scared today In the woods alone with my dog. :frowning: I’m grateful he’s ok.

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191

I’m glad your dog survived and you made it home safely with him. We have lots of coyotes where I live, and I’ve had a few encounters, too. When they see people every day, coyotes lose their aversion of us. From what I know of their behavior, the lone coyote was a female in heat and trying to lure your dog back to a pack. Fortunately, your dog defended himself enough to enable you to catch and leash him.

Unless rabid, I don’t think a coyote will attack an adult, but don’t quote me on that. Have you tried assessing their hunting times? Here, they seem to hunt at specific times (and it changes every few months.) I started walking my dog during non-hunting times and stopped having encounters. I also started carrying a fiberglass axe handle - light, unbreakable, and made for swinging should the need arise. A small aluminum baseball bat would work even better.

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192

That’s a good doggy! :hugs:

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193

No. I think generally they are more active here at dawn and dusk. Perhaps they have pups in the spring, which makes them more active later in the morning. Hungry mouths and all.

Thanks for the ideas about carrying something. A whistle sounds like an easy addition — that might help me be a more effective hazer!

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194

Happy to hear you and your dog got out of the encounter unscathed. Just this week a lady in the next county was attacked by a rabid skunk while walking her dog. It bit her 5-6 times.

I agree with @TriednTrue about the female in heat theory and carrying something to defend yourself.

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195

I found a few puncture wounds on my dogs’s torso. I took him to the vet and they prescribed a round of antibiotics. He is sleepy today but otherwise ok.

Saturday: 8.26 miles; 1:24:24; 10:13 pace; 404 ft elevation
Felt good.

Squat triples: 65,85,105,125,145,165,185.
Miss at 205.

Drop set 125x20.

I probably didn’t put up enough fight @ 205. But I was intimidated by how the weight felt on my back and not high in confidence at the start. So meh at least I didn’t re-rack it.

I’m hungry for a lifetime PR and squats are my best bet right now.

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196

I appreciate the advice. I don’t want to be afraid on the trails, but I suppose I need to be better prepared and more informed. I mean I am trespassing In to their habitat. :slight_smile:

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197

Yep, exactly! I’ve never had to go fist-to-tooth to keep my dogs from becoming a coyote’s lunch (and hopefully never will.)

Unless rabid, most predatory animals go after the easiest possible prey. An injury to a wild animal can easily lead to its long, slow death, so they stay away from capable defenders. Evidently, the coyote thought your dog was small or weak enough to just grab and carry away, hence the bites on his stomach. However, your dog fought effectively enough to save himself. That’s where carrying a light whacking implement comes in - a sharp boop or three on the snoot/ribs/whatever you can thwack will likely drive away a coyote.

Rabid animals are another matter. If attacked, go buck-wild on them.

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198

Sunday: love, gratitude, and 40 minutes on the bike.

Today: starting Cycle 7

MP top set 55x14, pull-ups 7,6,5,5,4,3

Yoga!

Gotta run or bike later…

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199

Tuesday Deadlifts: worked up to an AMRAP set of 190x15. Pleased to get that number because warmup weights felt heavy and slow.

Upper body is feeling a bit beat up which is unusual for me. Accessory work was focused on moving blood.

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200

You’re giving me some real catching up to do on deads. Nice work.

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201

Wed: 10k @ 1:02. Happy to be hitting 10 min miles more frequently and easily. Still have not returned to trail. Waiting for dog’s injuries to fully heal. Purchased a leash that is secured around my waist. I’m hoping that will enable me to run the trails with him…without falling down. He is strong and sure footed. I need to anchor him to my level.

Thursday: squats 95, 115, 135, 150x5; amrap 160x12* I usually don’t listen to music while training. But I’ve been using it lately to help me with that top set. It’s a way for me to mark time. Instead of focusing on the number of reps I pay attention to the short amount of time I have been straining, tap into that endurance mindset, and think …yeah you can keep going.

Pull-ups—ladder down from 8 to 2.

Yoga and PT stuff

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202

Thursday: got dose 2 of moderna; found out a friend has a brain tumor.

Friday: spent several hours in the morning lying on the floor of my bathroom. My head hurt and I was nauseous. I felt really poorly for about 6 hours. After that I was able to sit up and tolerate light. By the early evening I was well.

Saturday: I didn’t eat enough yesterday. And I don’t have my usual appetite today. I feel puny, but I benched anyway to get it over with.
To do something.

Triples up to 105; drop set 85x15.

1 set of 5 pull-ups. I cannot even try here.

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