Second try with the footpod is better.

Turns out it can be used as a datasource at the same time the GPS is on.

It was a bit of a nuisance when it reacquired satellites after I turned the pod on and the main unit asked if I wanted to use it in or out doors. Not sure why it would reacquire sat signal if it already thought it was outdoors and had signal locked.

So it forced me to stretch for an extra few minutes while it got set again.

I still have a long way to go before I think a cadence of 90 is sustainable, much less sensible.



And don't ask me what that 192 heart rate was about. No way. Not in a lengthy downhill area. Seems awfully similar to the way the bike cadence sensor can sometimes crosstalk with the heart rate signal. Effortwise this run felt very similar to the last one where HR was about 165 in that area.

Footpod first test

Hooked up the Garmin footpod for the first time tonight. Ran a route I've run many times before, where I know the distance at several points along the way and overall. It was pretty accurate. For 4 mile run it came up about .08 miles short where I normally stop. 2% error is within the claimed accuracy.

Kind of a bummer that you can't enable both GPS reception and footpod data at the same time. The manual seems to imply you can't. I'll have to verify. It would be more useful to look at my cadence if I could also plot it against elevation/grade, which you only get if GPS is on.

I've been making a conscious effort to up my cadence from my sort of natural tendency to try and run with longer, slower strides. Even after working on faster turnover for months, and tonight I felt like I did OK at maintaining it, my average cadence was 82. Peak was 91, which is what many say your average should be.

Snuck one in today.

Rain let up with just enough daylight left to get in a decent ride. Same one as last week, but the part of it that is a complete loop ran the opposite way this time. Took it much easier on the descents this week due to dampness and dirt in the road that hadn't been cleared out yet following the rain.

Last week:



This week:



Average heart rate was 153BPM both times. Go figure.

Rain means swimming

So sad for the dog who has to wait in the car while I am in the Y.

Swam for the first time in a while. Probably ought to remember to keep it in the rotation even when weather is allowing running and biking. Arms felt kind of weak.

Might brick a swim and a run (indoors) on Sunday if the weather prevents the usual bicycle ride.

Is that good?

When I first started trying to run with a faster cadence I hoped it would allow me to ultimately run faster with the same effort, and also reduce wear and tear on my knees. In the very beginning it was hard to even run that way. Form was hard to hold unless I slowed way down. Tonight I felt like I was running with unusually good form, and managed a decent pace for hilly trail, with an added bonus of not spiking my HR too often (or too high) on the climbs.

Total time in Zone 4 was nearly 2/3 of the run. Only 3% Zone 5. The Zone 3 time was mostly downhill were it seems wise to keep a bit more in reserve given the roots and rocks.

65 and sunny in mid January is a good thing

People were in bikinis and trunks on the beach in Santa Cruz yesterday. Nice day for a road trip.

Today was just as nice and it was a good day for a moderately intense, not too long bike ride. 3 climbs totaling about 1800 feet. Door to door in just under 90 minutes. Felt good for the rest of the day. Wasn't able to get that burrito I started craving at the end of the ride though. The neighborhood mom and pop taqueria is closed on Sunday.

Nice night too.

Warm tonight. Started running trail at 9:30. Cloudless sky and no moon either. Ran out into the undeveloped area behind the Chabot Observatory so what stars you could spy while taking your eyes off the rocky trail were prominent as they get around here. Ran an extra 20 minutes more than planned because it was so nice out. Felt like 60-65.

Nice day

63 and clear and sunny. Not much wind. Was trying to enjoy a relatively slack weekend after a busy week at work and over slacked it a bit. Slept in later than planned and only had coffee and a muffin before heading over to the start of the ride. After 45 minutes of climbing (seemed like 2 climbs because there was a change of roads, but it was really one big one) I was just about out of mojo. No muscles or lungs burning. Just no power and no motivation. Interesting to see that the ride partner turned it up on the last flat bit as we descended back down from the summit, making me work harder than I had on the climb where I was in front.

Busy

Work was kind of nuts this week. On workout days it was almost 10pm before I got out. Had to bend the park rules a bit. It was nice to run with the dog a few times and to see him having such fun. The knees were pain free although I can feel some healing is left to do. It's not time to run 3x a week again yet.

First ride back since holiday vacation.

Pretty nice day with sun and low 50s. Especially compared to the pond-freezing 20s on the last day in PA before I came back. Didn't try for much pace on this ride as there were two difficult climbs right off the bat that were workout enough.