So we were back at the Hill training today. The plan is to practice a lot more for hill to strengthen calves and hams for real Half marathon run. It definitely helps but I guess I am never going to like it. So a change from last time was no demo period we straight went in to hill runs. We also did a round more than last one, actually I did only one round others did 2 more.
It still was horrible but surprisingly my pace was consistent around 7min/km, which is great improvement. Really tiered today to think about new shoes yet. Still the sayonara one is in the short-list, hopefully next week I will get there. 

So one of my goal was to get down to a pace for 6:30 and below and maintain it for 5K. I got there today, wish Sunday race timing was like this. I think it has lot to do with the hill training that I did yesterday. So guess what we are doing hill training again tomorrow just to keep up with the group. 

It was nothing great we just went up University and came back down. As expected going up was slow given the climb. 

So hill training during my last 10K training was the most hated part. Now it  begins for the half marathon clinic and its lot more intense this time. I was able to the 3 repeats on the hill which was all due to the training from 10K clinic.
The good part was it did not kill me like the last one did I was able run back at a decent pace. Now I am really contemplating if I should ditch New balance 890v4 for hill training and get a medium stability shoe. I was thinking of going with Mizuno Wave Sayona. It looks like a good light weight shoe and has enough cushioning and stability support needed. I really can fell my left ankle struggle as usual. 

Overall it was good run. Garmin 610 lost GPS at start so the map is not accurate but it used foot pod to keep distance accurate. It matched the numbers from Garmin 220 which I think is best watch out there now. 

Here is route.

It was supposed to be a tune up for the Toronto water front Half marathon , did not sign up early enough to get the 10K race registration. So did the 5K and it was good decision or luck. It was super hot day and the sun was really blazing. I was completely dehydrated by half way point and was almost out of water, lucky they had gatorade to help replenish the fluids.  It was not the best time it was 7min pace and good run. Not too many people less than 200 for 5K i guess. 

Unlike last races I was not in the last pack , finished somewhere in the middle. 

The spenco Gel "Ball of Foot" helped or almost fixed the pain due to "metatarsalgia" and it almost makes the new balance 890v4 shoes comparable too 880v3. 


It was really nice location right next to the beach and we ran by the beach all the way and a bit out on the lakeshore towards the end. 

I am really not sure if I should blame New balance 890v4 shoe or just assume that it was a co-incidence. It started on regular tempo run where I pushed myself a bit. Now as I said in previous blogs that I definitely think that New balance 890v4 actually made me land on forefoot a lot more often than my New balance 880v3. 

I think that fact and lack of cushioning and the slight tilt inwards towards the toe is now causing a throbbing pain. It looks like "metatarsalgia" and I am not sure how to fix it. Looks like wearing the right shoe is one of the solution. I see some people recommending a cushion. Need to explore a bit more. 

Todays run was a regular 4K practice with steady pace. The group was targeting 6min/km but I think we started a lot faster, as fast as 5.25 which was too much. Eventually I feel back to 6.40. It was great run ,the GPS struggles in hot weather and is still inconsistent across watches.  
Here's how the run was. 

The half marathon group is a bit fast paced and it has forced me to push my pace and now I am trying to maintain it. Its kind of working and kind of not. Hills seem to reset the pace actually they make it worse when I try hard going up hill. Overall quite a few people running with me do seem to have same pain as me , its taxing on everyone. 

The lack of cushioning on  new balance 890v4 if definitely showing up it actually changed my running a bit. Now I land on fore foot a lot often but the cushioning or the say lack of it does hurt a bit. Now I dont want to buy New Balance 880v3 and want to wait for 880v4. New balance where is my new shoe.

So it was really hot and humid today. Din't even like the walk to running room. It was supposed to be a tempo run and probably made a big mistake by jumping straight to it. Should have done first half K and slow pace and than started to increase speed. Overall it was great run was not enough though. 
My cough still is limiting me need to take a 2nd opinion tomorrow this will probably hurt this way. 

Went to downtown today it all started all well till I had to look for restroom on the way. Its always good to run early in morning such things help you prep for the race day. The break left me all by myself it was new route through Wellesley park - Rose dale valley rd and back on bay. It was all green and wet with the rain from yesterday. 

Overall it was a good run. The less cushioning in New balance 890v4 can be felt as I go longer and longer.  I am going to try to add bike excursion today and see how far I can take it. 

So shaved 7 min from my previous ride on same route. This time almost did half the hill on Daveport and did the full york mills hill. It was really great this was fun. 

Now need the bike boots for sure.. Damm this biking is going to cost a lot more. Now I also see why I need a brompton but alas not now. Talk to Larry and the Half Iorn needs 90K bike ride :) :) .. Need to try that distance on flat routes more. Now I am barely doing 15K and I am out. It was up hill but still it took me out.  here is how it went.

Finally looks like the New Balance 890v4 shoe broke in now or is almost there. I was able to actually run run at a good pace today. It was not a lot just 3.3K but I was doing decent 6.30 pace. Which lately was getting hard. 

Just regular run nothing great went west to Spadina up to Richmond and back. Here is the route details.