Motivated to Succeed

8:30 AM - Partly sunny and temperature in the mid 60s this morning. Had coffee and my mom made scrambled eggs for my dad and me so I couldn't turn that down, though I knew I was going for a jog before work. I got stuck with the 11-8 shift today and then an 8-5 tomorrow, so I won't be able to get a run in tonight. Decided to go to the track, but when I got there there were 5 other people there, so I hit the nature trails. Sometimes I just like running by myself without anyone else around. Actually I much prefer that! Allows me to get in the zone and just think about stuff, or just think about my running, being in the moment. Stretched and hit the big nature trail at the school. Did 6x loops. First lap I eased into it and then was pretty consistent. Lap times were : 4:40, 4:20, 4:20, 4:19, 4:18, 4:03. Felt good. Jogged to the car and stretched and then headed home. Time for a shower and then to work! Pleased with the run considering I had a long run only ten hours ago!

Total Time: 30:04  Total Distance: 3.10 miles Average Pace: 9:42

5:30 PM - After work I met my brother Jonny and also Jonathan and Jeremy from work. We carpooled up to Spa Park, stretched and then hit the 5k course. I felt good. Chatted with Jonn and Jonathan as we went, but after we got to about 1.25 miles in I looked back and couldn't find Jeremy. I back tracked and found him walking. He said his asthma was acting up so I went back and jogged/walked with him the rest of the way. We would do about 4-5 mins of jogging and then a couple of walking. He said he wanted to quit but I kept saying "Hang in there! We'll do it even if we have to drag you out of here." He hung in there. Was really proud of him. Splits were (8:56, 10:27, 10:12). Then we did a half mile cool down to the car. Was almost there and got stung in the right ankle by a bee as we ran through a field of clover. Doh! Poor bee. I looked down and its stinger was still in my ankle and pulsing! I ripped it out and kept running letting out a Howling Commando roar! Stretched and went back to the bookstore for an iced coffee with the guys. I am hoping to get a tempo run in tomorrow before coming back to watch the tour! Should be a great mountain stage! Was great to run with friends from work :).

Total Time: 34:56  Total Distance: 3.54 miles Average Pace: 9:45/ mi

5:15 AM - Overcast, humid. Temperature was 60 degrees at the start. I got up early and headed to the track. Took a bit for me to get warmed up. I ended up doing 2.21 miles of warm up in 19:54 (9:00/ mi) and then decided to give 800s a go. I am reading Yasso's book, so maybe that influenced it. I can't wait to start marathon training and do Yasso 800s! Did 4x 800 with 400m recovery in between. Splits were:

• 800 #1: 3:41 (7:26 pace)
• 800 #2: 3:31 (6:55 pace)
• 800 #3: 3:22 (6:34 pace)
• 800 #4: 3:06 (6:08 pace)

The intervals were slightly longer and most came up as .51 miles instead of .50. Recoveries were 2:16, 2:16, 2:24, 2:16. Cooled down slow around the track 1.4 miles in 13:17 (9:29 pace). Overall felt really good considering I ran last night. If only I could run every morning like this!

Total Time: 53:55 Total Distance: 6.4 miles Average Pace: 8:25 / mile

12:00 PM - It rained a lot yesterday and during the night. Partly sunny and mid 60s though. In Pittsfield with Emmy today because we are going to see the new Harry Potter movie tonight. I went with her to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and ran 3 miles in 29:40 with her just chatting and having a good time. I picked up a pair of Vibram Five Fingers KSO size 43 yesterday and wanted to try them out today. So we stopped at the car and I put them on. Fit like a glove! I did a 1 mile cool down in 9:30 with them on. Only problem: I was thinking to myself how awesome they felt and managed to stub my right big toe, and dragged it on the pavement, so I already have a pea-sized hole in the top of one of the shoes! Doh! I am sub a boob sometimes! I guess it adds character though? Hey, if any of the moms that deal with boys destroying stuff out there have any suggestions for how to fix my shoe it'd be appreciated. I was thinking of cutting a small square of fabric and then super gluing it to the outside of it? Or perhaps I should leave it how it is right now and see what happens. I just don't want to have the hole get bigger! Man I am so lucky Emmy puts up with my shananigans.

On a side note, the Schleck Brothers were absolutely AMAZING today in the tour! They were showing who was boss! I was so glad Contador let Frank get the win too! And way to ride across the gap to Andreas Kloden, Lance!

Total Time: 39:10Total Distance: 4 miles Average Pace: 9:47/ mile

8:45 AM - Rainy, drizzly, humid. Temperature around 65 at start and 70 at the finish. I normally like rain while I run but this was like running through a humidifier and a mister. My sunglasses kept fogging up, but if I took them off to wipe them off I had to slow down so I didn't fall, as I am near sighted and can't see more than two feet in front of me! Got home late from the Harry Potter #6 movie. What a fantastic movie. My favorite so far! I liked the movie theater too. It was new and the armrest could be put down so I could sit right next to Emmy!

Went to the track today at the school. I went on the nature trails and felt good. As tomorrow will be a rest day, I went harder than normal, tempo pace, probably about 7:30 pace for effort, although times don't reflect that as the Garmin has poor signals through the woods. Cooled down with 1.15 miles in the Vibrams. They held up really well on the wet grass. I loved the feel. I figured out a new way to pick flowers too, as I kept getting little clovers stuck between my toes as I ran through the grass! So much fun :). Now time for a shower and watching the individual time trial in the Tour de France. Splits were:

• Mile 1: 9:33
• Mile 2: 9:08
• Mile 3: 8:39
• Mile 4: 8:15
• .15: 1:15 (8:12)

Total Time: 36:51  Total Distance: 4.15 miles Average Pace: 8:52/ mi

10:50 AM - After watching the last major stage of the tour I went to the school for a run. Andy Schleck is absolutely amazing. I think he has a great shot at winning the tour next year. Frank and Brad Wiggins put up a fight too. Way to go Brad for holding onto fourth place by seconds! Temp was 75 at the start, sunny, 81 at the end. Hot and humid! Ick! Absolutely drenched in sweat at the end. I tried to keep it even and smooth, and did circuits running on the track and both nature trails. I had an incident about halfway through, I cruised up the hill and around the side of the school and there was a jeep sitting behind the building there with two teenagers in it. I think I scared them, and rightly so. I mean who wouldn't be scared by a 6'2" bearded sweaty man lumbering towards them?! Well I think they realized that they weren't exactly supposed to be loitering behind the school because they weren't there when I came back out of the nature trail. Did stretching and a cool down afterwards. Felt good. Just want to ice my legs though. Going to take tomorrow off and then a 5k race on Monday! I felt good, and I feel my fitness coming back. Splits were:

• Mile 1: 8:53
• Mile 2: 9:43
• Mile 3: 9:41
• Mile 4: 9:25
• Mile 5: 9:41
• Mile 6: 9:35

Total Time: 57:25 Total Distance: 6.05 miles Average Pace: 9:29