Wednesday Night Run in Albuquerque
Have you ever measured off a new course that you just ran while driving your car and because the run felt so good you actually slowed the car down hoping that it would record an extra tenth or two of a mile?
I admit it. I did it!
I didn't leave work until close to 8 p.m. (didn't have the motivation to go run up on the mountain again) and after talking with my daughter, Waverly, on the phone at home in Houston, I finally got out of the door of the hotel at about 8:40 p.m.
I had no planned route in mind, but I knew a direction or two that I didn't want to go. My thoughts were to just run out for about 30 minutes and head back. Maybe go 45. But most importantly, I wanted to keep moving -- run without stopping. I want to be able to run a marathon one day without stopping to walk. I'll get there!
I left the Marriott Courtyard on the north side of Albuquerque, headed right out of the parking lot to Jefferson and then headed south 0.8 miles to Ellison (which becomes San Antonio Drive once it crosses Interstate 25) as it goes east towards the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. I didn't record split times as I turned but a quick glance of my watch showed an approximate time of 10:50. (That sounds bad pace-wise, but I didn't over exert myself because of the altitude - 5,000 feet above sea level - plus once I got diverted because there was no sidewalk along Jefferson.)
I turned left and headed east on Ellison and it was completely uphill. Not a steep uphill, but if I had run all the way to Tramway Blvd., the elevation would increase 1,500 feet. As I ran, my focus was to keep moving through the uphill and I did with the exception of stopping at each intersection.
I measured off in the car afterwards 1.9 miles that I covered in approximately 24 minutes. As far as comparing distances and times, this is the one part of the run that I was really pleased about. I thought about going farther east (and more uphill) in preparation for Saturday's 7.2-mile Sandia Peak Challenge; however, I didn't want to overstress the achilles muscles in my lower calves before the weekend.
I turned left again heading north on Wyoming Drive. It was one (1) mile in the dark (there are only street lights at the intersections not anywhere in between) which can make running at night in Albuquerque fairly interesting and it is a requirement to pick you feet up to make sure that you don't trip. I covered the mile in approximately 12 minutes. In hindsight I was disappointed in this, but the fact that I just ran almost 2 miles of uphill was cause for the legs to be in a place where they make take a bit getting readjusted.
At Paseo Del Norte, I turned left again and headed west back towards Interstate 25 and the hotel. This part was sheer downhill, but I didn't try to all out sprint this part just to better my time. I tried to focus on lengthening my stride and running more relaxed. My thighs right now feel more heavy than they've ever been and I don't know if it is because I've added a pound or two there or it is because I sit for most of the day at work.
The distance to the other side of the Interstate 25 (ran over an overpass) was 1.4 miles and I covered this in roughly 14 minutes. (I try and beat myself up over some of these times; however I have to remind myself that they have high-altitude records here meaning that most runners can't run the same times at 5,000 feet that they can run at sea level. Do I qualify then as hard-headed to believe that I can?)
One more left and a right back onto Journal Center Boulevard and into the Courtyard parking lot covered approximately .35 miles which I covered in roughly five (5) and a half minutes.
So the damage (tongue in cheek, I really felt like I ran well and consistent) was 5.45 miles in 1:05:43. I came back to the hotel and used one of the new route measuring tools and it came up roughly to be 5.5 miles. Not bad!
I will probably not get in a run of any length this evening (Thursday) as I'll be driving with my daughter from Amarillo to Roswell, New Mexico. (Yes, they had the Alien 5K at the beginning of July to celebrate the UFO Festival. I kid you not!)
I admit it. I did it!
I didn't leave work until close to 8 p.m. (didn't have the motivation to go run up on the mountain again) and after talking with my daughter, Waverly, on the phone at home in Houston, I finally got out of the door of the hotel at about 8:40 p.m.
I had no planned route in mind, but I knew a direction or two that I didn't want to go. My thoughts were to just run out for about 30 minutes and head back. Maybe go 45. But most importantly, I wanted to keep moving -- run without stopping. I want to be able to run a marathon one day without stopping to walk. I'll get there!
I left the Marriott Courtyard on the north side of Albuquerque, headed right out of the parking lot to Jefferson and then headed south 0.8 miles to Ellison (which becomes San Antonio Drive once it crosses Interstate 25) as it goes east towards the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. I didn't record split times as I turned but a quick glance of my watch showed an approximate time of 10:50. (That sounds bad pace-wise, but I didn't over exert myself because of the altitude - 5,000 feet above sea level - plus once I got diverted because there was no sidewalk along Jefferson.)
I turned left and headed east on Ellison and it was completely uphill. Not a steep uphill, but if I had run all the way to Tramway Blvd., the elevation would increase 1,500 feet. As I ran, my focus was to keep moving through the uphill and I did with the exception of stopping at each intersection.
I measured off in the car afterwards 1.9 miles that I covered in approximately 24 minutes. As far as comparing distances and times, this is the one part of the run that I was really pleased about. I thought about going farther east (and more uphill) in preparation for Saturday's 7.2-mile Sandia Peak Challenge; however, I didn't want to overstress the achilles muscles in my lower calves before the weekend.
I turned left again heading north on Wyoming Drive. It was one (1) mile in the dark (there are only street lights at the intersections not anywhere in between) which can make running at night in Albuquerque fairly interesting and it is a requirement to pick you feet up to make sure that you don't trip. I covered the mile in approximately 12 minutes. In hindsight I was disappointed in this, but the fact that I just ran almost 2 miles of uphill was cause for the legs to be in a place where they make take a bit getting readjusted.
At Paseo Del Norte, I turned left again and headed west back towards Interstate 25 and the hotel. This part was sheer downhill, but I didn't try to all out sprint this part just to better my time. I tried to focus on lengthening my stride and running more relaxed. My thighs right now feel more heavy than they've ever been and I don't know if it is because I've added a pound or two there or it is because I sit for most of the day at work.
The distance to the other side of the Interstate 25 (ran over an overpass) was 1.4 miles and I covered this in roughly 14 minutes. (I try and beat myself up over some of these times; however I have to remind myself that they have high-altitude records here meaning that most runners can't run the same times at 5,000 feet that they can run at sea level. Do I qualify then as hard-headed to believe that I can?)
One more left and a right back onto Journal Center Boulevard and into the Courtyard parking lot covered approximately .35 miles which I covered in roughly five (5) and a half minutes.
So the damage (tongue in cheek, I really felt like I ran well and consistent) was 5.45 miles in 1:05:43. I came back to the hotel and used one of the new route measuring tools and it came up roughly to be 5.5 miles. Not bad!
I will probably not get in a run of any length this evening (Thursday) as I'll be driving with my daughter from Amarillo to Roswell, New Mexico. (Yes, they had the Alien 5K at the beginning of July to celebrate the UFO Festival. I kid you not!)
posted by WalkSports.com | 6:52 AM
5 Comments:
Ah yes, I have done that, measured my distance in the car, but now, there is a better way! You're going to love this (I spent hours mapping out different routes): http://www.sueandpaul.com/gmapPedometer/
Genius I tell ya! Great run.
And a better way still:
www.harra.org.
I actually used that tool to measure off the approximate 5.5 miles that I mentioned at the bottom of the post.
One of our club members, Vic Kaiser, actually offered this up as an alternative to the popular Goggle or Yahoo maps that is getting a lot of ink.
I was actually very comfortable using the tool that you referenced.
Oh, I love that Google maps pedometer! Seems pretty accurate too, and the best part is you can measure routes that aren't entirely roads...
Wow! Why have I never heard of these measuring tools on the net. I just drive mine myself generally, just to make sure I know them, but yes, I've done the slowing down thing. Especially if I can tell I'm getting to the end and I'm thinking "There's no way that's all that I ran!!" :)
Great, now yall have officially tossed my afternoon's productivity out the window, as I'll be playing with these route maps the rest of the day. :)
God Bless!
Sam
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