Motivated to Succeed

So I'm sure I'll here it how I wasn't dedicated enough to brave the blizzard to get out there and run, but treadmill is broken and busy day on Saturday with graduation... then went to see Emmy in Massachusetts on Sat- Monday but we had the huge snowstorm with frigid temps and blustery conditions that left us stranded inside.  Then today I had graduate orientation.. the big dance is about to commence.  Signed up for my classes today:

EPY 500 - Research Seminar & Methods

EPY 502 - Educational Psychology

EPY 523 - Adolescent Psychology

Will be a full courseload of 9 credits.  Total Degree is 40 credits, so I should be able to complete it in about 2 years. We shall see!  Going to unpack, wrap Christmas presents for the family, and then head off to bed.  Going to try to get up and out the door by 7a.m. for a run, seeing as how my boss has officially screwed me over for running this week.

Tues through Saturday scheduled either 10 to 7 or 11am to 8pm. GRRRR.  I will try not to be too mad though. 

Goal tomorrow:  To do the same loop I did on Friday.  Easy 10 miles.  Got to get back on track after celebrating.  Three days off is not acceptable!

7:15 AM - Got up and wanted to get a nice run in before I had to go to work 10am to 7pm today. Plus, looking at my logs, I am ashamed to have taken 4 days off in less than a week.  It was a frigid 9 degrees this morning when I headed out.  Was wearing two sport fast dry long sleeve shirts, a cotton long sleeve over those two, and a wind breaker.  Also long spandex, shorts, hat and gloves.  I thought I might be overdressed, but when my eyelids froze shut at about mile 2, I know if anything it was quite the opposite.  Felt pretty good during the run.  Ran a little fast the first half, so slowed down about :10 to :15 per mile on the way back.  Perhaps worst thing was hopping in the shower after I got home.  My legs will not stop itching and burning!!!

Total Mileage: 10 Miles   Total Time: 1:22:38   Average Pace: 8:15/Mile

7:30 AM - Woke up still tired, despite zonking out at the rebellious hour of 10:30ish last night. Oh boy how I live the party life, heh!  Headed out on the back roads.  Was a frigid 13 degrees, although today's high is finally expected to break 30 for the first time in a week, and as the low tonight will be warm (27), I should feel a lot better running tomorrow morning.  Ended up feeling nice on the run today.  Did 10k in 46:37.  Good for 7:31 pace.  Then finished with 100m striders and a cool down.  Overall, can't complain.

Overal Mileage:  7 Miles   Overal Time:  46:37 (10k) / 52:00ish overall  Pace:  7:31/mile for the 10k

7:45 AM - So I am really getting discouraged about working stupid hours.  All this week is either 10 to 7 or 11 to 8, except for today, and sometimes in the mornings I just can't get up early enough to get going and get out there for a run.  I hate working all the worthwhile part of the day so that when I come home and actually want to get stuff done, it's already dark, not to mention makes me stay up until 11 or 12.  I still haven't had a day to just rest up from all the drains of that last semester.  Oi.. so I woke up and decided to go out for a run.  I felt really good today considering I haven't had treadmill time in forever!  I think it's going to be really hard to even shoot for 40 mile weeks without the treadmill.  The treadmill really helps me get in needed miles on days where the weather doesn't allow a run outside, or the stupid schedule conflicts.  I mean I like snow sometimes, but when there's a whopping 9 hours of daylight out there's not much you can do, huh?

Ran out on the backroads the normal ~ 8 mile loop with Parkis Mills to Graves to Alexander and back on Parkis Mills.  Total elevation ranged from 966 ft to 674ft with equal ascent and descent, though with at least 6 rolling hills, I definitely felt the last 2 miles in my legs.  Overall though felt really well and wasn't breathing harder than normal, except for the last mile and a bit which is basically completely uphill.  Was nice to see I was really off in my calculations for where mile markers were.  Thought I hit the 4 mile mark at 31:45.  Was probably much closer to 30:00.  Same with 5 mile mark which I thought I hit in 39.  Probably closer to 37:30.

Total Mileage:  8.13  Total Time:  1:01:04   Average Pace: 7:30

SUPER HAPPY WITH THIS RUN.  I Mean about 2 months ago on a similar effort, it would have taken me about 1:08 or 1:10 to run this.  I think this is a sign of good things to come!!!

**TWO CONCERNS OF LATE:  (1) Jonn commented to me that my left leg is substantially less defined than my right leg.  Will this lead to injury down the road? It doesn't feel like I use my right leg as a crutch or anything, or perhaps I'll only be as good as my weakest leg?   Also (2)  I am struggling with miles it seems ever since the treadmill broke.  As long as I am getting in 25 or 30 miles a week will I still be able to at least maintain my current level of fitness?  Or am I going to be losing any of that "speed" I gained this fall?

I think it was in the Dec. Issue of Running Times that they talked about the McMillan predictor and someone said it's actually better to do sub-tempo runs.  I.e. you start with 3 miles one week with 2miles w/u and w/d, and then extend it until you do either an hour or 10 miles at sub-tempo pace.  I guess this is what Japanese runners do in prep for spring and summer racing during the winter.  What do you think?