track fan

A little shorter than last week, but a much much more difficult run (terrain-wise) and I did speed up a little the second half of today's run (1:29:32).  

So, on my way out I notice there was water running through one of the washes (and across the street).  Given that there hasn't been any rain in the past couple of days I wanted to make sure it wasn't coming from one of the houses up the hill.  I followed the trail and saw that it was coming from under the ground.  So, I hiked the dirt road up to the closest house, and showed the owner. When I ran back past the house 1:17 mins later (I looked) there was already a Tucson City truck there ... and then after I did my mountain loop (2:29 mins later) I saw a huge truck carrying a back hoe up the hill (city truck) -- so it took only 2 1/2 hours for them to get a back hoe out ... I thought that was pretty good for a Sunday.   But, it is the desert - we care about our water!!

Happy Sunday bloggers! 

AM: (10 miles, ~1:30:xx), I accidentally hit my pause button mid-run, and did not notice it until there was only about 35 mins left ... oh well, it was an easy run.

PM: easy 4.

First running on the track in nearly a year on Thursday - nervous? who me? (you bet I am am ;-) ).

Happy Tuesday bloggers! 

1:07:32.  Easy run.

Busy busy busy, but I can't complain, well, I can complain very well, but I won't ;-)

Happy Hump Day bloggers! 

AM: (13 miles, 1:40:49).  28:32wu/28:47cd.  Cruise interval workout:  6 x 1000 w/2:30 recovery + 3 x 200 w/200 recovery.  Targets, based on my last race which was a whole year ago now, were 4:12-4:18/1000 (approximately 6:45 - 6:53 mile pace).  

Actual splits: 4:21, 4:15, 4:17, 4:14, 4:15, 4:15 (200s were a mind blowing, slow, 48 secs)

I was both disappointed, and relieved.  My pacing was all over the map, and I felt it was harder than it was supposed to be; but I got the first track workout out of the way, and I guess it wasn't horrible.  So, the targets for this workout were based on Greg's calculator last year (basically they were the paces I was doing in preparation for last year's unrun marathon).  After I finished the workout I went to the "new" calculator - and found out that the updated calculator had my target paces as 4:07-4:15 -- yowser, I don't think I could have done these, even if I had known before I hit the track.  Even adjusting for the wind (which was not insignificant since a storm is blowing in - weather underground has the wind at 10-13 mph) and my lack of speed work, I don't think a 4:07 would be in the cards for me right now.   hmmmm.  

Last year, about a week from my 1/2 marathon that the current workout was based (e.g., my PR) I ran this workout in: 4:19, 4:18, 4:19, 4:17, 4:16, 4:17 (recovery average: 1:20) + 3 x 200 at 46secs with 1:17 average recovery. 

Based on the newest calculator, and assuming I am in as good of shape as I was last year (or will be), Greg predicts a high 3:18, almost 3:19 marathon for me.  I am a little skeptical that I can do that ... but, man, I would love to run under 3:20. 

PM: easy 4.

Happy Thursday bloggers! 

I don't know exactly how far this was, I tried a new route and my watch got turned off I don't know how ... I was gone for a little over an hour, so I am calling it 7 miles.  A little on the sore side today, but not as bad as I feared.

Happy Friday bloggers!!! 

AM: (8.5 miles, 1:15:20).  Probably a little longer than 8.5 miles - it was 5 mins or so longer than what I usually call 8 ... but it really doesn't matter.

PM: easy 4.

whew.  A progression run tomorrow and then a rest day.  Between my work and getting back into training again I am super exhausted right now!  Not complaining,  just saying ;-)

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend, it is Spring weather by most of your standards here (28F low, 45F high), but chilly for us ;-)