Upping The Distance

Since I've been trying to run more frequently [thanks to my cool little running watch], I decided it was time to start upping the distance of my runs little by little. Previously, I was running just over 4 miles per run, nothing huge, so yesterday I had planned on running roughly 5 miles. I was coming to the end of my run and realized I was about 1/10 mile short, so I did one extra lap around the block to get over the 5 mile mark, and ended up just a hair short of 5.5 miles. I know it's not a long run by a lot of people's standards, but it did feel good to run a little farther than normal. I'll probably stick at this distance for a little while, until I feel comfortable upping the distance once more. 

Also, I ran this one at a slightly slower pace, to try and keep my heart rate a little more in check with where it ideally should be. Throughout my whole life and during strenuous exercise, my heart rate has always been slightly above average. Even when I was in peak swimming shape in college, after a hard EN2 set, my heart rate would be somewhere around 205-210bpm [and this was when I was in the best aerobic shape of my life], I don't know why, but it's always been like that. During some of my previous runs and rides, I'll feel pretty good and move at a decent pace, but my heart rate goes right back into that 'too much above my max' zone. Let's see what happens when I run at this slightly longer distance, but at a slightly slower pace for a little while. 

At any rate, the weather yesterday [and today] have been a God-send, so I'm taking full advantage of it. Run yesterday, and another long ride planned for the morning. Here's a snapshot of yesterday's run. Happy Friday folks!

Yesterday's run, [click to enlarge.]