Running from Fate

Aug. 2nd

I have been exercising my butt off....  literally.  A while ago, I signed up for a mud run thinking that it would be a great goal to work towards and otherwise keep me motivated.  So far that has worked like a charm.  I not so secetly wish that there was a shorter version as the 10k seems so far!  I get that it is only about 6.5 miles, but it still has a 10 in the title of it and that is the intimitating factor.

Keeping in mind that I, for so many years, have been almost smug about the fact that I would only run if I were being chased, I have since began to change my tune a little, but out of necessity not from desire.  I have a walking course mapped out that leads through the neighborhood hills to the SW of my home.  There is a short version of roughly 1.5 miles all the way through 5.5 miles.  While I have been careful to mix it up to ensure that my body doesn't get used to doing the same thing over and over, I have realized that it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain an average heart rate over the mid 130's without a little prodding.  Today was no exception.

This morning, I set out on my walk at 5:40 am intending to burn through some calories to bring the weight loss to an all time record (more on that later).  Things started out well and I reached a healthy and sustainable 147 quite easily.  So easily in fact, that I thought I was going to end up having to slow down once I got to the steeper part of the hill.  On the contrary however, it seems that I got "in the groove" so to speak and my HR started to drop down into to the low 130's.  In the past, when I have gotten my HR up into the 160's it generally stayed in the 140's for  quite some time with very little effort.  This was no longer the case.
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Updated 8/4
I made a rule.... one my HR drops to 130, I run.  When I am satisfied with the distance that I am able to cover for each running session I will increase the threshold to 135.  I'll keep you posted on the progress.  :)