After a long break we were back at the hill training routine again. The part that I hated in Half Marathon training and think that it caused the injury that I am still carrying.  It was with the 10K group so it was not supposed to be as strenuous as the half marathon one. We just went up and down on Spadina between Lakeshore and Front St. It was not bad and the lights helped relax. Overall I think I am getting used to New Balance 890v4 again. It feels good not still on Sunday's it hurts but I am hoping that this Sunday' it goes lot better. 

For some strange reason the Garmin watch takes forever to lock the GPS in Bercy Park. Its probably the only part in FD core which has open sky and it the Garmin 610 cannot get lock there. I also upgraded the firmware and now the route looks more jittery in the maps. Overall the Garmin connect site has really got a new fresh and sleek look which I like. It looks more modern now and is responsive.

Here is how today's run went. 

Today people from work had organized a bike ride event so had to skip running and get my bike out of closet. Damm I really suck at riding a bike my legs give up so fast. This speaks to my bad running habit where I am not consistent with my pace it all bouncing up and down. For doing a bike ride I need to peddle steadfast and one pace and I never got there. It was really a great event I went down all the way to down town and we went from there to "FBI Pizza" along lake shore. It was fantastic pizza place. I know this is a my training blog but it was really good place to go.  Overall we did almost 35K and I was supposed to another 15K back home but decided against it. Mostly due to Saddle soreness. I really hate that even though I can physically do it that soreness prevents me from enjoying it. I know the only fix is to keep biking and I am hoping once my Half marathon at #STWM is done I can go back to it. 

Overall Garmin 610 worked perfectly and I really like the new interface they have on Garmin connect website. Kudos to team Garmin where they deserve it. Here are all the routes.

I did my first 10 miler race today. It was great location right in the lake. I had never been to the Leslie Spits before. Its really great location to especially to run, its green and by lake and flat.
I was hoping to a much better time especially given that I had run this distance before but I was not there today from start I was a bit slower. I took couple of blocks and a gel but it was too late.
Over all it was good run and good preparation for the upcoming #STWM half marathon. Now I am bit worried about the distance not sure why running in heavy rain and thunderstorm was not as bad as today. The Sun was out all along bit it was not too hot it was perfect temperature and felt good. My calf injury did not bother me much once I was warmed up it was all good. My ankle did feel weak after 12K and it did cost some time to ignore it; I have to ice my foot and rest today. Here is how the race looked.

Oh Garmin 610 GPS and heart rate were both on the spot accurate today. For a change.

So #STWM is getting close and today we ran 18K that was so tiring. I was almost dead by the time I finished it. It was pouring like hell when we started. I went mostly due to peer pressure and I know with out the group I would never have run or got till here.
The time sucked as usual the Sunday runs I find it harder more to do with running in morning than evening. My last few evening runs have bettered the time every day but the morning run still suffer. I found few more runners like me. I my case its more to do with having necessary carbs before running. I am trying to get a decent breakfast now before every run. But than it has to be small portion to avoid throwing up before run. I hope I work this balance out in next 4 weeks. 
Garmin heart rate monitor again failed today and I really need to find a solution for this before the race. It was supposed to help tune my run by controlling heart rate better. Need to call garmin support again about this.
We ran all the way to Ballamy beacy past ash bridges bay. It was fantastic route along the lake.

So today's run was supposed to be steady state 8K. It was really great run there was no stop and go no lights on the way to Cherry Beach. The Sun was setting it was nice and orange everywhere. The last few weeks of intense training and hill training has really helped the pace. I can get down to 6:15 and keep it over and over again. I still am doing to 10:1 and that definitely helps avoiding the burnout. We had couple of new people join the Thursday group which is good change as last few weeks the numbers were dwindling down. 

For a change Garmin heart rate monitor was perfect today and so was the Garmin 610 GPS. It was exactly as the route said all the markers matched too. I guess weather does affect GPS quality. 

The route along Queen's quay to Cheery beach is always good. I use to hate it because it had no lights on it but it was the best part no stopping and it was great run. Here is how the run went.

So finally I am done with the hill training and doing the final 8 repeats on @Canoe landing site felt really great. After a really long time I was not the last soul to finish it and I lapped someone. I know its bad to say that especially when I was on other end but it does feel good. The last few loops were stop and go but I was able to actually sprint the last part which was really good. The heart still needs some training to get the average rate down to 150bpm. Its still very and stays above 178 for some time which may not be good. I need to run slow for that which the Sunday runs' help a lot. I am happy that hill training is done. 

Garmin heart rate monitor was good again today too for a change. My New balance 880v4 seem to worn out and now I can feel the front foot impact much more that when I got this before. I am thinking of getting a 2nd pair so that it is broken in before the race. 

Here is how today's run went.

I was really sceptical if I would be able to run today , as I had to lymph back yesterday. I ICE'ed it and rested the foot. Applied "MYOFLEX" before and I slept and calves were still stiff in morning. I even messaged buddies to see if they wanted to run hoping to bail out today.  When I started it was totally different I blasted through the 1st phase to the hills. Lap time was 5.05,6.15,6:30 and no 10&1 it was all out flat running. Of course the lights helped out in between to get my breath back but it felt like I could do my PB in 5 today.  It 3.5 to the hill site and it felt really good. I was supposed to 6 repeats at Riverdale. I knew this was lot stepper than Canoe place but bit shorter. Damn it was demoralizing just seeing it. I did 5 repeats and stopped my knees were burning like crazy. Heart though wanted to go one more round.  
Way back was good too all while I was under 6:30 pace which was really great I could literally sprint, the hill made legs so heavy that running of flats felt like I was flying. :)  
So all in all I understand why I was not able run yesterday, it was hydration and tempo run though it was slower than today irony ha. But water makes such a huge difference , I was running my tempo pace on way back form hills imagine that. It was fantastic hill run and feels good as I write this. I am sure soon the DOM's will set in and I will repent. 

Here is how the route was. 

For quite some time I was worried what would happen when we start running long distances especially one that were outside my comfort zone. Last weeks 12K run almost exhausted me but today it was 14K. We went all the way to "Boulevard club" on Martin goodman train. I was almost dead half when we reached the turn around point of last week but some how managed to go to turn around point without losing sight of the group. But guess that was the last I saw them after that it went slower and slower for me.

Past 12K point I found some reserved energy to push again , it was funny it was so horrible from 7K to 12K almost wanted to take a cab and go home. The sun was really strong but the cool breeze helped to keep body regulated. 

Garmin 610 as usual had Sunday syndrome and it lost track again at the start eventually it locked and well after that. I have when I cannot brag about distance almost on every Sunday. I heard about the Garmin Fenix 2 sale but going by what others in group say 610 is still better than Fenix 2. Not sure what to do yet. Might not spend money for now I think.

We went for a brunch after the run to get the much needed carbs to refuel the body. It was fun.

Here is how the route was.

Slowly the Thursday run has started to ramp up now. We did the 6K route to cherry street bridge and back and it was really humid today. I was drenched in sweat today even my soc was really wet. Speaking about soc I got this compression soc yesterday. 






I did not wear it yet to the run just because it takes some time to get it up. It also takes time to get it out and I tried it for sometime yesterday night. It felt really good and I am sure its going to help for long runs especially keeps the jiggle really down and hopefully it will reduce the muscle pain that I get especially on long or faster runs.
This is how the route was. 

It was the hill training day again and the repeats keep going up. We were back at Canoe landing site and we had to 5 repeats and it really hurts now. Lately my calves and shin have been complaining a lot. I am not at what point I declare it as injury and rest a week or one run. Today morning it felt like that was going to be today but once I started running and body gets warmed up the pain disappears. I have seen few more running blog report same thing but they all do recommend to rest once in while.
I guess this has been the longest consistent running I have been doing. This time the distance, pace and incline all have been going up and don't see the end any time near. Sunday in 14Km sounds insane too me but I did 12 last week was ok at the end. It was slower but than it was long slow distance run.

Garmin 610 GPS was good today even with repeated passes under the bridge it did not loose the connection and kept me at right spot. The distance was also bang on. I am debating if I should get a 2nd foot pod so that I switch to 2nd shoe.

Oh too solve the calves and shin pain I got the compression sox and roller. Need to try both today hopefully its going help. Here is how the run went.