10k

I'm running my first 10k this Saturday at the Los Alamitos Race on the Base. While training, I notice that my legs get tight around the 5 mile mark. Is that just my threshold I'm approaching or would salt or something help? I was thinking of mixing a little Gatorade in with my water. Or is a 10k too short to do anything other than drink water and train harder? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

No more 5k's

I decided yesterday after the race that I don't want to do anymore 5k's for quite awhile. I posted a PR 5k time last week in Huntington Beach and I figure that the only way to really knock that 24:28 time down to 20 or 21 minutes is to train hard for 10k's and half's. I figure a year of training for longer runs will put me in great shape to run a killer 5k. What do you guys think?

Treadmill in the Rain

I have a couple of questions for the hard core and the experienced runners. I read several other running blogs and it seems like everybody does all of their running outdoors. Does anybody hit the treadmill to train? I mix it up, but it always feels like running a certain pace outdoors is easier than on the treadmill. I put the incline at 1.5% to 2% to simulate running on the road. Does anybody else feel this way?

I have a 5k coming up this weekend and the forecast calls for rain. Probably not a terrible downpour, but the last time I ran in rain it was at last year's Surf City 5k and I was totally unprepared. What do people recommend? Running in as little as possible (shirt, shorts, shirtless?) or running pants and a hoodie or something in between? Any advice?

Thanks!

Back attack

I'm racing my first 10k in 2 1/2 weeks so I've started a new training routine for it. Today was an "easy run" and since I didn't get to lift yesterday, I did (or attempted to) a back and bicep routine after the run. Pullups: check. Deadlifts: che-- wait, not so fast. Two sets in my adductors cramped up like crazy. I thought I'd just given birth...to an accountant! Hiyo. This has happened to me before doing squats. I don't know why. I wasn't doing really heavy weight because I want to be able to run my 5k race this weekend and not waddle through it. Anyway, I moved onto 1 arm rows which went fine, but two sets into barbell shrugs the left middle muscle group of my back cramped up on me. What the hell? No biceps for me today. I feel fine now, slight stiffness, but not pain. Luckily. At least I got my run out of the way. I think it's the same thing that happened to my ankle the other day while trail running. My body was just telling me to chill out. I hate it when it does that. So the lesson for the day, listen to your body. When it cramps up it's telling you that it wants a beer and the new season of Breaking Bad to start. Seriously. If you haven't seen that show you're missing out.

Weiner dogs are TIGHT!

My mom gave me a tight as hell Under Armor running shirt as a gift last year. Since then it's been sitting in the drawer waiting to be adorned (it's like a second skin for chrissake). I keep telling myself I have to earn the right to wear that on race day. I'd feel like a douchebag wearing that shirt only to put in a lame time. I've worked hard and want to wear it for this Sunday's race, but I think instead I'm going to give myself another challenge. 26:00 or less on the 5k (give me a break, I've only recently gone hard core about racing) and I'll wear it on the next one.

BTW, weiner dogs are tight. That's what two kids told me and Kristen one day when we were walking our dogs.