Thursday I did my run over in Bonelli Park. My schedule called for 6 miles. During the day I had contemplated doing the 6 mile route in my neighborhood. Then I remember a comment on my blog about running more in Bonelli Park. I have a 5 mile route on roads there, so I just figured I would add a little on to the end. That was my plan most of the day. But then...on my way home I realized I hadn't done my speed session this week. Now, what to do? I was looking forward to my Bonelli run. As a compromise I decided to keep my original plans but take the run onto the trails and substitute some hills for the speed work. I also decided that I spend way too much time thinking about where and when I will run. I am perhaps a little obsessive.
I got over to Bonelli and hit the trail on the west end of the park. This trail parallels the 57 Freeway. This is the biggest negative about Bonelli in that even on the trail you are often within eye sight and definitely within earshot of the local freeways. Bonelli is tucked into the intersection of Interstate 10 and 57. Its proximity to home being the biggest positive.
As I made my way up the first hill I caught up to and overtook a trio of mountain bikers. I know biking uphill is difficult but I always get a kick out of passing them on foot. The odd thing is they never caught up on the downhill. They must have turned around and went back the other way. After about 2.5 miles the trail ends and I was forced onto the road that goes over the dam. This then connects to an easy trail that parallels the road on the north side of park. Running on the trails, I am never quite sure of my distance. When I hit the road I was at 22 minutes. I thought I had kept up a pretty good pace on the trail so assumed 9 minute miles. Mentally I'm calculating when I will hit 3 miles to turn around. I come up with 9 x something = 36. So I'll turn around at 36 minutes. I didn't give in another thought. There is a natural turning point on this trail and I got there at 36 minutes and change. Good. I turned around and retraced my steps back to car. The trip back is unfortunately more uphill than the trip out. I got back in 39 minutes. I checked the time to find out it was 7:43. I had originally told my wife I'd be home by 7:30. Assuming 6 miles at 10 minute miles, worse case, and the drive back and forth I should have been done in about 1:15, not 1:30. I thought this was strange but didn't really give it another thought.
Upon my return home and after kicking my youngest off the computer, I g-map'd my route to find out that I had run out 4 miles, not 3, doh. Simple math. 9 x 3 = 27, 9 x 4 = 36. I guess I'm not the most lucid of thinkers on the run. No wonder it was so late when I finished. Oh well, no worries. It was a nice run.
9 comments:
A "little" obsessive?? Hmmm...little is pretty subjective, isn't it?
Maybe it's time to go back to school to take a refresher course in multiplication tables?
And don't you work???
I share the same glee at passing mountain cyclists on a big hill. I do smile and offer support, just so they think twice before mowing me down when the roles reverse. Sounds like these were nice guys, even if they never made it past you.
that sounds like angie math **grin**
Work????? What is that. You have to get obsessive about where to run and then when to run and then you have to figure out if you computed it right and then it is wrong. Boy, I sure hope your job isn't with math.
I was doing the math in my head as I was following your story and thinking I wonder why he went out for 36 minutes when he wanted to run 6 miles? At least you figured it out so you can add those extra miles on to your weekly total.
Guys at work call me 'math man' because I'm goofy with numbers - the simple stuff. As Rob said, the benefit is that you've run a few extra that you can tack on to your weekly total.
I get what you mean by seeing and hearing the roar of the traffic. No wonder your math was a touch off...with all that noise and distraction.
Have a good weekend.
I'm reading for inspiration and found your blog. Great stuff! Once things get a little complicated (doesn;t take much for me ;)...) i bail. Want to run the distance and no poroblem doing the work, but can't get behind calculating training stats. I think about that often... shouldn't it mean enough to me to do it...or am I content, just where I want to be. What struggles! Great blog...congrads on all you do!
Ha! I can't do math while I'm running, either!! Esp during realy long runs. I think my body can only focus on one thing at a time!
Darrell,
That was pretty funny- I run into that problem all the time. Especially during races...strange how simple math becomes "calculus-like" when you are really moving....
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