Working on the run...

Warmer temps have arrived.  Green is bursting from the trees.  Flowers are blooming.  Spring is in the air!  That means it's no excuse time for getting outside for a nice run. 

Today for the fitness challenge, we were asked to post a picture of ourselves outside...breaking free from the walls that have penned us in throughout the winter.  What better way to celebrate Earth Day!  So I decided it was time for a semi-annual "Stacie in front of the Capitol" pic.  Enjoy!

As you can tell, this was a "worktime" run.  Sometimes this is the only way to get it done if you work full time and have a family.  I'm often asked how I manage to exercise during the work day.  Tongue in cheek, but total reality, my response is "with my blackberry in hand."  I run during my "lunch break" so I'm not missing the real action.  But I do stop at red lights to keep current with what's happening on the blackberry.  And, rest assured, I am responding throughout my runs to any incoming actions. 

Doesn't that make it hard to get in a worthwhile workout?  Well, no.  My lunchtime runs are almost always base miles.  I save the effort workouts (when I get them in) for a time when my training can be uninterrupted by the outside world.

Base miles are important building blocks for all runners.  There is a training progression that every runner goes through with each new cycle. 

Base miles always on the front end...and throughout.  Which is lucky for me.   Because my work also has me on the road a lot, I tend to spend those weeks focused on base miles.  It can be difficult to schedule much more than that when you are worried about making it from one location to the next or the weather or altitude causes physical changes to your body (like my recent travel through New Mexico, Nebraska and North Dakota where we had altitude, high heat and low heat all in a course of hours).  The one thing that keeps these runs fresh is the every changing scenery.

So, if you are like me and don't like to use work or family as an excuse for not taking care of your training needs, then embrace the base miles.  Happy trails!

Stats -

Miles:  3.1 (Thursday); 4.11 (today)
Time:  26:00 (not a road run); 43:06 (average pace of 10:29)
Location:  Minot North Dakota; Capitol Hill
Feeling:  a little tired