Chilly Evening Run

I went to the track and ran a warm-up lap then stretched. Then I ran 1.0 miles in 8:15. It was chilly so I wore my bright green coat and capri-pants. I could see my breath, which was saddening. I realized late in the mile that my feet were numb. After the mile I loosened my shoelaces and that helped some in my second mile as did having more blood pump to them. I completed the 2.0 miles in 16:32. Then I ran/jogged/walked a cool down lap.

The pace felt doable and somewhere between mile 1 and 2 I finally warmed up. I hope it isn't much cooler come race day but I know it will be. I know I'll warm up as I go but I know it's going to be rough waiting around for 30 minutes in the cold prior to running. I am trying to mentally prepare for it now.

New Miles: 2.5
Total Miles: 1106.0
Miles Remaining: 394.0
Weight: 126.8

Make up run

To make up for yesterday's disappointment I also ran today. I was originally thinking that I would run at least 5.0 but then I realized I should not exhaust myself just one week out from the big day. And so I did a 3 miler in my Adizeros and it was very tiring. The wind was against me the whole way and I could feel the lack of nutrition in my muscles and them just trying to do what they could. I pushed it out towards the end - trying to get less than 24:01 but when I stopped my watch it said 24:01:05. So close and disappointing to just miss it. Then I stretched as I watched TV.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 1103.5
Miles Remaining: 396.5
Weight:126.6

1100 Miles! & Annoyances

I slept in a bit longer than I would have liked and that ended up making me highly annoyed as I had to weave through people and cars rather than having a relaxing morning run. I started running at 9:15 and that turned out to be too late of a start to avoid the madness of a 10:30am homecoming parade. I got off the main road and ran up backroads, which was problematic since that was where everyone was parking. But after mile 1 it cleared up and I did the next mile out in peace and the returning mile.

There is a cemetery on the route and I decided to finally check it out. But as I ran down hill I realized that the longer I took to get back the worse it would be and then once the parade started I would really have issues. And so I immediately got back on the road and ran through a mile of people standing and walking on the shoulder with some cars still coming by - but fortunately slowly.

If I wasn't so annoyed I would have appreciated the sight of a horse drawn carriage clopping past me. But as it was I was very annoyed, especially when some high school cheerleaders were walking and so I moved over some but they didn't move over at all. And so instead of moving out of the way completely I stayed where I was and so when we passed we hit shoulders. Again, highly annoying. But I trudged along slowly just trying to get through, and eventually I did. I did 4.5 miles in 38:39.

It was also rather cold when I started, but at least sunny. I wore gloves, pants, a t-shirt, a long sleeved shirt, and my bright green running jacket. I think the extra weight also made the run hard.

I ended my run highly unsatisfied and having gone a distance shorter than I had wanted. I reached the 1100 milestone without even realizing that I had reached it and definitely not appreciating it as I should.

New Miles: 4.5
Total Miles: 1100.5
Miles Remaining: 399.5
Weight: 126.4

Free Run

I did my 3.0 mile loop in my Nike Free Twists. The shoes felt good; not as good as they do on a track but decent enough. I feel like they do help me to have good foot strikes and they didn't make my calves burn which was nice. I did the 3.0 in 24:01.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 1096.0
Miles Remaining: 404.0
Weight: 127.4

Fast Pace

3.0 miles in 23:00; 4.0 in 30:37; 5.0 in 38:28 - average 7:41 pace. Then run home. Total Workout: 5.5 miles in 43:48.

The first 4 miles felt good, the fifth mile was getting a bit rougher but the pace was maintainable thru the mile. Then I ran home at what felt like a faster pace than my watch said, but it was supposed to be a cool down. Then I walked my driveway a few times to cool down for real.

New Miles: 5.5
Total Miles: 1093.0
Miles Remaining: 407.0
Weight: 128.0

10 Miler

Out to the lake for a 5 mile loop times two at 8:30am. Chilly 47 degrees. Wore my new hot pink Fila skimmers with my lime green shorts on top and my blue Fila light Running Jacket. The first 5 miles felt effortless except for the one big hill. The second 5 miles felt good but it was not too strenuous. I feel very ready for the Half in just two weeks (!).

Nearing the end of the first loop I ate (drank?) a GU gel. Then at my car I drank some Gatorade. And within 2 minutes I was out running again. I did the first 5.0 in 41:58 and finished all 10.0 in 1:23:53 (8:23 average pace). I know come race day I'll have 3 more miles to do but today it definitely seemed like an additional 3 would not be a problem. And while my average pace was decent I want to go faster come race day. I feel confident that under race conditions I will be able to go faster.

New Miles: 10.0
Total Miles: 1087.5
Miles Remaining: 412.5
Weight: 126.4

Lunch Walk

Lunch walk 1.0

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 1077.5
Miles Remaining: 422.5
Weight: 126.4

Evening run

Evening run 3.0 loop in 25:16 then treadmill for 1.0 miles (in 10:30). Total Workout: 4.0

New Miles: 4.0
Total Miles: 1076.5
Miles Remaining: 423.5
Weight: 126.6

Feeling Better

I felt much better, just still some stuffy nose and coughing. Ran 2.0 in 15:04 in my Nike Free Twist cloud shoes. Changed shoes and ran 2.0 in total 31 minutes. Then I did 1 mile where I jogged, walked, jogged then ran 100m hard. Total Workout: 5.0 in 41:01.

I also did a warm-up lap and a cool down lap for a Total Workout of 5.5 miles.

New Miles: 5.5
Total Miles: 1072.5
Miles Remaining: 427.5
Weight: 126.4

Lunch Walk

Dreary looking day due to rain clouds, but luckily the rain stopped during lunch and I went outside for a walk. It was 67 degrees and nice and warm feeling and humid. My lungs liked the humidity and the warmth. The walk was fine, I think my lungs handled it well. But then I went back into work and the air was a bit cooler and so I am hoping that the change in temperature doesn't make me re-sick.

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 1067.0
Miles Remaining: 443.0
Weight: N/A