Friday, February 27, 2009

Wonky Ankle - yes. Wonky Data - maybe.

Today started out like a potentially great day for running home from work. When I left the house in the morning with the boys it was +9C! Very warm indeed. When I went out to grab some food for lunch around noon it was still very warm. Then, mid afternoon or so, I decided that I needed to get a quick haircut and once again ventured out. This time there was a bit of a bite in the air and it was definitely getting colder. The forecast said it would not start to get cold until the evening, but I guess the weather had other plans. By the time I split for home on my run it was -4C, and windy as all Hell!

My Garmin has more trouble getting a satellite signal downtown than at home, on account of the tall buildings I suspect, and I nearly froze standing there waiting for it to let me start running. I know, this can't be a completely healthy addiction, but I can't justify running without the statistics offered by my Garmin.

Anyway, as I set off I was frozen solid, and I guess I started running faster than intended. The first split of my 7km run registered at a much too fast 4:30. The second was also too fast at 4:50. Then I got a stitch in my right side (just like last Friday on the way home) and had trouble keeping pace and staying warm. The wind was really strong too, and on this third kilometre I was running straight into it for a while, finishing the split in 5:42. Once the stitch went away I was able to maintain a decent pace for the rest of the run with my splits coming it as 5:12, 5:19, 5:21, and 5:08. My average pace for the entire run was 5:09/km and I completed the 7km in 36:04.

I question the accuracy of the stats that my precious Garmin produced today since I don't think I am able to run that fast at the beginning and maintain a low heart rate (which averaged 126bpm for the first kilometre and 142bpm overall). When looking at the maximum speed attained I definitely think something wonky was going on. Take a look at the splits (this time in imperial units, for my American friends):



Can I seriously believe that I was able to run, for even a second, at 29.5mph? Ummmmm, I don't think so. Garmin must have been fooled by all the glass towers that I had to run between at the beginning of my trek.

In any case, the run was damn cold, but relatively easy. I now look forward to the long run that awaits on Sunday which will be 18km in length. Also, I passed the 100km mark for the month of February, just barely, coming in at 100.5km exactly.

And lastly, another milestone of note: this is my 200th post! I guess this running "fad" is not such a fad after all. Here's to another 200 days of running and blogging, for that will not only mean that I am still alive and kicking sometime in September or October, but also running!

Garmin don't lie, though it may sometimes stretch the truth.

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3 Comments:

Blogger Mel-2nd Chances said...

it's crazy how much the temp dropped today. I've gotten wonky data at times too, but like you, i like the numbers. have a great weekend.

February 27, 2009 at 10:12 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

29.5 MPH! Dang you're fast.

February 27, 2009 at 10:48 PM  
Blogger Felice Devine said...

Yay for 200 posts and 29.5 mph! Ha! Nice overall pace, though.

February 28, 2009 at 8:11 PM  

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