A running ramble

[ktsok]

It is hot again. Garmin says it was 20*C during my run, with very little breeze to be had.

I’m a bit annoyed with Garmin. For one, apparently I need 3.5 days to recover; 3.5 days?!!! And for two, my VO2 max score has dropped 2 points to 41 seemingly as a result of just this run!

In the absence of proper race bling that one can hang around one’s neck, stats are my humble equivalent of race swag. To see these stats was like finishing a 5k and receiving a slap instead of a handshake.

I exaggerate, of course... (grrrrr).... and can see clearly that the important thing is I just ran 5k without stopping... (yay!)... then after a minute’s breather, ran another 1k (grrrrr), AND managed to run at a slower pace. Not quite at the recommended 8’, but almost at 7’ per km.

Does running shorter spurts at a faster pace improve VO2 max capacity more than longer slower runs? My aerobic effort seems to remain the same (zone 4) regardless of whether I run at 5’45 or 7’ pace, although of course I can sustain the latter pace for longer. Is the fact that my heart is working just as hard at a slower pace interpreted as lower VO2 max?

I know one option is to forget about stats - but I do like them. Even when I’m annoyed with them, they keep me company and keep me interested. It isn’t very zen, and I wish I could be this Buddha-like creature effortlessly floating along thinking nothing, or thinking something profound, but I’m just not that evolved. Yet!

Thank goodness we have this forum in which we can examine our running navels with like-minded VRBs! Can you imagine if our poor non-running families had to listen to this?!

But let’s get back to the headline news: I can still run 5k nonstop, peeps. In hot weather.

It was an inauspicious start to the run. With firm resolve, I set the alarm last night for 6.30am but unset it at about 3am when sleep was proving sporadic. At 8am I came to, pretty bleary, and it took an hour - an hour! - to go to the loo, make a coffee and get dressed. I think half of that time was swallowed up deciding what to listen to and being shocked at the price of Audible downloads.

Dressed in compression calf sleeves, compression socks, knee brace and shorts, I hit the road with NRC Run with Eliud (Kipchoge). The compression stuff is so darn tight you can barely feel your lower limbs - perfect. And I found myself really enjoying Kipchoge’s talk and the African World music that accompanied it. There were drums and chants, it was upbeat and relaxed at the same time. I didn’t have a clear plan on where I was going other than to try and avoid stiles, gates and cattle grids, in order to better get into a steady rhythm. I ended up looping down the same trails and fields and roads and the distance oozed by semi-comfortably. I kept checking my pace on the Garmin - if left to my own internal devices, I speed up to a pace that I can’t sustain - and a dozen times, reeled myself back in to a nose-breathing pace.

This was pleasing. Recovering whilst running is like being an eco-friendly hybrid car, recharging on the move. As opposed to an old diesel, stalling every now and then. Or a flash Harry sports car, needing a frequent pit stop. Sorry - seriously rambling off-tangent now.

And seriously overheating. My calves are cooking in these sleeves!

Have a good day everyone 🙂

[E27M14 Graduate10]

I found that when I was having trouble finding time for longer runs I did a couple of weeks of running for 30mims. It was pretty slow so I was covering maybe 3.5km and keeping it easy. Almost every run my VO2 max would go up, and my recovery time would be around 24 hours. Add in a longer or faster run, and the VO2 pops back down 😥 Like you, I try to ignore them, but I love the stats!!

[Katnap Graduate10]

Ignore VO2. It is a silly measure of performance.

Time, distance, and pace give you all you need!

[Deals1 Graduate10]

my VO2 max has done this too recently ... Im not too why either

Garmin also says odd things re my recovery time, I tend to ignore and listen to how I feel!! im not sure if I do another 'activity' it 'forgets' the last !?

well done. love the socks!

[Jell6 Graduate10]

For me, ignorance is bliss, I set a time, and go, if I don't stop before that time it was a good one.

I am clueless about VO2 (having read your post I think I will remain so!)

Great that you got your non stop 5k😊🏃‍♀️

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

I too have no clue at all about VO2 stuff. Apparently mine’s pretty good, although after my long run yesterday it dropped from 44 to 39. My average heart rate is always low and breathing is never an issue with me (except for monster hills). So like I say, I’m clueless and am happy to remain so,

Your run looked excellent ktsok! Well done indeed! 👏👏👏

[backintime Graduate10]

I don't know what those stats are, I don't have an app, I just run and stop after x km (inside or outside). My heart rate seems to come back down and my breathing sorts itself out...

I know that to go longer distances I'm going to have to start thinking about breathing and heart rate but right not, ignorance is definitely bliss

[Macmac Graduate10]

I’ve had this a few times over a couple of years - usually when the HR has not locked on to my pulse correctly, so all the figures end up way off. I just ignored it, as it is normally 10hrs recovery or something for a short run so knew it was wrong. Check the HR graph for your run and it will probably look strange. Luckily, this is very rare with my watch..