Well, my Garmin 310XT lasted 21 months and 1518 miles of running in 234.5 hours. That's an average 9:16 per mile pace. It is what it is.
When I've had the Garmin out in cold weather lately, the display crystal has been fogging up somewhat and it looks as if there is a crack in it. When I go inside and it warms up, the fogging is gone and I also can't see any damage to the display. So, apparently the near-invisible cracks are letting water vapor in. Since I'd rather not wait until water damages it permanently, I sent it back to Garmin today. I will get some other refurbished unit back in about 2 weeks. Until then, a digital watch will do just fine.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the refurbished Garmin is a 'good one'.
--Mark
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Ron Daws 25K 2011
Last year this time I learned that cross-training is not the best for ME as a runner. I had cut down my running mileage and number of days I ran weekly, and added a couple of days of cycle classes every week. I ran a 2:14 at the Ron Daws 25K last year. I believe that I just didn't put a hard enough effort into those cycle classes and lost running fitness instead of maintaining it.
This year although I had some very low mileage weeks in January and February, the past 4 weeks I averaged 47 miles weekly. Most of the miles were run at 8:45 to 9:15 pace and the long runs were averaging closer to a 10:00 pace. This was a mini-experiment of running slower, for me, but with nice weekly mileage.
My goal for Ron Daws was to run it at an 8:00 or better pace at an average heart rate of 160 or lower. I wanted to see how close I would be to hitting a sub 1:40 in the Minnetonka Half Marathon coming up on May 1st. A 1:40 half equates to a 7:38 average pace.
The course was different again this year due to snow on the sidewalks. No matter, we had a 2-loop full 25K mapped out for us. I met some friends there and lined-up for pre-race instructions and off we went. I settled in running with my friend Aileen and in a few miles we caught up with our friend Jim. Although our first mile was slow, we seemed to be running at around a 7:45 average pace. I was really happy with that but inside I was wondering when it would all go badly. I was think I could hold that pace until mile 8.
If I remember correctly, we had water stops at miles 4.5, 7.5, and 11.5. I planned on just getting water at 4.5, taking 3 Shot-Bloks and an S!Cap at both the 7.5 and 11.5 stops. That plan worked great. Jim and I held on to our 7:45 pace and Aileen, as usual, seemed to be barely breathing. By mile 11 we were talking that we didn't see a sub-2hr finish happening and Aileen left us in the dust. An advantage of her youth, I suppose. Jim and I slowed slightly the last several miles.
As Jim and I approached the last mile, we were eyeing a guy ahead of us. Could we catch him? I'm thinking sure, why not. I started running fast and Jim held on, just a bit behind me. At around 500 yards to go I'm thinking 'Man, what's that guy got in him?'. My Garmin was reading a pace of the low 6:20's for the last half mile. Ugh. At the finish, the guy in front of me said he ran the race too conservatively, You think? I may have run it a little conservatively, too as I had an average heart rate better than plan of 158 and my average pace was 7:46, according to my Garmin.
My Garmin data with course map is here.
Results here
I really like this year's course a lot. Even though it was a new route, there were plenty of hills to run. I'm looking forward to the Minnetonka Half next, a sub-1:40 is within reach.
--Mark
This year although I had some very low mileage weeks in January and February, the past 4 weeks I averaged 47 miles weekly. Most of the miles were run at 8:45 to 9:15 pace and the long runs were averaging closer to a 10:00 pace. This was a mini-experiment of running slower, for me, but with nice weekly mileage.
My goal for Ron Daws was to run it at an 8:00 or better pace at an average heart rate of 160 or lower. I wanted to see how close I would be to hitting a sub 1:40 in the Minnetonka Half Marathon coming up on May 1st. A 1:40 half equates to a 7:38 average pace.
The course was different again this year due to snow on the sidewalks. No matter, we had a 2-loop full 25K mapped out for us. I met some friends there and lined-up for pre-race instructions and off we went. I settled in running with my friend Aileen and in a few miles we caught up with our friend Jim. Although our first mile was slow, we seemed to be running at around a 7:45 average pace. I was really happy with that but inside I was wondering when it would all go badly. I was think I could hold that pace until mile 8.
If I remember correctly, we had water stops at miles 4.5, 7.5, and 11.5. I planned on just getting water at 4.5, taking 3 Shot-Bloks and an S!Cap at both the 7.5 and 11.5 stops. That plan worked great. Jim and I held on to our 7:45 pace and Aileen, as usual, seemed to be barely breathing. By mile 11 we were talking that we didn't see a sub-2hr finish happening and Aileen left us in the dust. An advantage of her youth, I suppose. Jim and I slowed slightly the last several miles.
As Jim and I approached the last mile, we were eyeing a guy ahead of us. Could we catch him? I'm thinking sure, why not. I started running fast and Jim held on, just a bit behind me. At around 500 yards to go I'm thinking 'Man, what's that guy got in him?'. My Garmin was reading a pace of the low 6:20's for the last half mile. Ugh. At the finish, the guy in front of me said he ran the race too conservatively, You think? I may have run it a little conservatively, too as I had an average heart rate better than plan of 158 and my average pace was 7:46, according to my Garmin.
My Garmin data with course map is here.
Results here
I really like this year's course a lot. Even though it was a new route, there were plenty of hills to run. I'm looking forward to the Minnetonka Half next, a sub-1:40 is within reach.
--Mark
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