Last run of the month

I almost blew this run off as it wasn't until 7 pm when I could start it, but as soon as I got home, I changed and went out.

I felt a bit sore and sluggish at first, but after a bit, I found my legs and had a good solid run. I looked back over the month and found out that I clocked this same exact time for this same exact mileage on March 19th.

So I guess I'll take solace in the fact that the 3/19 run was after a day of rest and an easy week before and this run is at the end of a 23 mile week with six of those miles done yesterday.

Yeah, that sounds like a suitable excuse. Anyways, I put in 68.15 miles this month. Uh, yay!

Switcharoo

I was too lazy to mention my 21st wedding anniversary yesterday, so I'll mention it in this post. Poor Mrs. Nutjob...

Today's run was yet another lesson for me in going out too fast and paying for it in the end. I will say that miles one and four were into the wind, so there's that excuse (they tired me out for that fifth mile.)

Today was supposed to be a four miler, but I am going to have some difficulty fitting it in tomorrow, much less a six miler. So I got the six in today and hopefully will be able to squeeze in four tomorrow.

Intervals

There is something about interval work that I like; I'm not saying that I'm a glutton for punishment (although the torturers at the chiropractic office would tell you different), but I do like the fact that I get up to race pace speed and I know I only have to hold it for a quarter mile.

It's that end in sight thing, I suppose. That's one of the reasons I like to google maps a course before a race, so I can pick out certain land marks and gauge where I'm at. Of course, usually races have mile markers out and I always have my Garmin 305, but still it's nice to have visual reminders like - "Yes, you only have 9.34 miles to go in this 1/2 marathon!"

It comforts me. Yeah, that's it.

Anyways, it was partly cloudy and 63 degrees F! I found it a tad too warm, but the breeze was nice to help cool me off, although I could have done without running into it.

Nicer 7 miler!

56 degrees F.

Sunny.

A slight breeze.

In short, running heaven!

I set my fast pace alarm at 10 min miles and left the slow pace alarm off. I checked my pace regularly to try to keep it around 10:30 min/mile. The last mile, my goal was to hear my fast pace alarm continuously (which doesn't happen because the watch sample rate isn't all that fast.) I heard it a lot, not every GPS update, but often enough that I knew I was on target for a sub 10 minute mile.

Wed is 6 miles - 2 mile warm up, 2-3 miles of quarter mile intervals, 1-2 miles of cool down.
Fri is 4 miles.
Sat is 6 miles easy.

Nice 7 miler

Poor time management, rain, and an unexpected phone call all were factors in ditching the three miles yesterday. I had a short window in the afternoon to get it in and forgot about it.

But, today!, I did get in my seven miler and at a fairly good pace. The last mile and a half even had some hill in it!

Slow, easy 5 miler

Also after dinner due to the unseasonably warm weather. I just took what my legs would give me this run as I still have 10 more miles to get in this week - 3 on Friday and 7 on Saturday.

Half Marathon Training, Week 1, Day 1

This run is brought to you by "Pace alert free negative splits" and "Never give up." As all of you are well aware, I pass by my house every 1 to 2 miles for these training runs, and let me tell you it was mighty tempting to stop at the three mile mark!

But, I knew that I had to get in that last mile, but boy, I was really feeling the run. I thought that I went out too fast, but after looking at my times, I saw that it just felt fast.

That last mile, I thought (and felt like) I was rockin' 12 min miles; I kept telling myself, "Just keep running, just keep running, it doesn't matter how slow you are, just keep running. DON'T WALK!!!! DON'T STOP!!!! Just keep running." I told myself some other stuff, but I don't want to scare you all with the machinations of my internal processes. <.< >.>

Finally, if I thought 78 was hot, then 83 is scorching! I am really hoping for a nice spring here - 60's, low 70's - so far, I'm not seeing that. Last year it seemed like we went from winter straight to summer, and I hope that's not the case this year. Now, for non-running weather, it has been, as my late Nana used to say, GORGEOUS!