Double Wednesday, 2/21/2018

Yesterday, I just wimped out. It was cold and windy, and I didn’t want to run. I could give excuses, but that was what it came down to. I’m nine miles off for the week,  and I missed a hill training. I think I can live without the hills, because I did just race 13 miles of hills two days ago, but I’m making up the mileage today with a double.

Part I

I ran this morning (5 easy miles), and boy was it cold. My fingers were in pain.  I have Raynaud’s, which just means that my fingers and feet get colder than the average person’s.  It was fun, though, because I ran without my watch. No watch = no worries. I love running without a watch, but I rarely do it, because there is usually some goal to be reached, or I need to know my distance. The best thing about doing a double is that at least one of the runs is truly easy. I call an easy run one that I run at an easy pace. It doesn’t have to do with how I actually feel. When I do a double, however, I want to run one of the runs at a pace that feels easy. The only way I can truly do that is to either not wear my watch at all or hide it from myself in some way, so no watch this morning.

I didn't have time for breakfast, but I packed some extra sweet potatoes last night to go along with my regular lunch. I tend to generally not eat enough during the day to fuel afternoon workouts, so planning makes a world of difference.

lunch #2

Part 2

I ran 12.5 miles this afternoon. The weather was a bit cool and windy. I wore a pack loaded with tailwind and carried gloves. Overall, I felt good.

MP and Double Thursday 2/15/2018

I did get my MP run done this morning.  I did not feel as good, nor was it as fast as last week, but I ran almost 6.5 at 7:49. That is good enough.  This afternoon, I will do an easy double.  I'm not sure how long, but something short.  I'll let you know tomorrow what I actually ran.

Today, I have thoughts that are weighing on me. As a public school teacher, it hurts my heart to see how unsafe our schools have become. Another school shooting and people seem to have a complete unwillingness to compromise on gun control.

I am a gun owner. I support everyone’s right to protect their home, but we can’t bury our heads in the sand.  We have to pass rigorous tests to get a driver’s license, but you can buy a gun without the slightest knowledge of how to use, clean or properly store it. Can’t we  agree that gun ownership is a right protected by the 2nd  amendment, but that, in an orderly, civil society, gun ownership must be regulated by at the very least common sense laws. For examples, a thorough background check should be completed before someone is allowed to buy a gun, no matter how long it takes to complete. You wait two months for your passport, why can’t you wait to purchase a gun? Some guns should be illegal to own? The AR-15 should be outlawed for public use or ownership. If you want to protect your home, I guarantee you that a shotgun will do the trick.

It is so sad that this is what we have come to… If we can do nothing else, can we not ban the AR-15?

Double Tuesday, 2/13/2018

I ran a double today, starting with 3.25 easy this morning.  After work, I ran .75 on the TM before heading to the track where I ran (6) 800.  I wanted to run them all under 3:30. Most were on pace. The recoveries were all a little long, but all the recovery laps were under 4:00.

The intervals were difficult.  Saturday ended a 52 mile week, Sunday I ran 14, Monday 11, and today a double.  I think I'm just worn out.

Marathon Pace Double Thursday, 2/8/2018

I had a great run this morning.  Finally, a successful MP run!  The weather was perfect and no wind.  I was well rested, and the pace was perfect: 6.3 miles at 7:47. I had a scoop of Ucan, warmed up for 1/2 mile on the TM and did a .86 mile cool-down, after the MP run.  I need to do a double to catch up my mileage.  I'm hopeful that I can get it done.  I'll update this post if the double happens.

UPDATE:
I ran 7.25 at a recovery.  I'm still behind, but the double is complete!

Marathon Pace Thursday, 1/1/2018

After Tuesday’s great run, I was expecting another fabulous run, today. I felt good mentally, but my pace was slow.  My legs were heavy and not completely recovered.  I’m giving myself the month of January to get my marathon pace where it needs to be, or I will readjust the goal. I think that I can do it.  Last week my pace was good.  This route that I’m doing pretty harsh, but Mountains 2 the Beach starts with a climb for the first few miles.  I did a little over 10 altogether.  I warmed up on the TM for 1/2 mile.  The first 6 was at a 7:59.

I ran 1.3 easy, but I was going so slow that I figured it would take me too long to get home, so I did another mile interval at MP.  Again, I did not really get up to MP.  The pace was 7:58, but I was really working hard.  I had over a mile to go to get home and it was tough. 

I have a half on Saturday, so I'd like to take tomorrow off.  I need four more miles to make 50 for the week (including the half).  Maybe I'll run a double this evening.  That really sounds terrible, but I might do it.

TU, 6/30/2015 AFTERNOON RUN EASY

I really wanted to make 140 miles this month, and I knew that I had to run a couple of miles to pick up DH's car from the gas station, so if I could turn that into a longer run, I might be able to do reach my goal.  I did a .5 mile warm-up on the TM, then I did another 1 mile on the TM at an easy pace.  I think I started at 8:50 and ended around 8:30.  I think I it averaged 8:40, but I can't quite remember.

After, I went for a trail loop.  The weather was warm and clear.  I did much better today.  Of course, I did walk some, but I ran enough that could call this one a run.

Compared to yesterday:

I got a glass of water at home and Isaiah and I ran to get the car.  He wanted to go as fast as possible, so I tried to push the pace a little.  I didn't think I was capable of going faster than a 9 minute mile, but after I got going I surprised myself.

Total for the day:  11.3 miles