track fan

1:32:32.  Thirds progression run.  First 30` easy, second 30` medium and 30` medium to hard.  My legs were SOOOO tight and unhappy at the beginning of this run.  But, I was committed to getting a good workout.  The defnition for a good workout was to get progressively faster without it being a struggle at all ... So, I decided to take a different tack from the last time I ran this workout ... I went by feel and just tried to increase the pace slowly from mile to mile.  It worked out pretty well!!  I did have to slow down my pace during the last third, I started speeding up more than I was supposed to (I was supposed to keep my hard portion no faster than 7:36 pace).  I did not have mile markers on all of the course, and some of these miles have an overlap between thirds.  1:50, 9:45 (slightly longer than a mile because I was running on the trail and the marker is on the bike path), 9:07, 8:50, 8:25, 22:00 (2 1/2 miles - ave 8:00), 7:58, 7:41, 7:51, 7:53, 1:46.

Felt really good at the end, could have run more!

One problem that I have had this week in particular, but it has been going on for a couple of weeks now, is related to caloric intake.  As my mileage has gone up I know I need to take in more calories, but when I sit down to eat I am just not that hungry.   It is not uncommon for me to not really want to eat on my hard workout days, but usually I make up for it the next day (when I am pretty hungry) - but the past two weeks have not been like that, I just don't really have an "appetite"  when I sit down to eat.  Even weirder, yesterday, for the first time in 17 years - 17 years!! - I thought about a hamburger! wow.  It freaked me out.  So much so I ate a huge bowl of spinach last night (thinking I was low on iron or something).  I do feel better today (and was hungry this morning, finally - I think it was because this was not really as hard of a run as most of my Sunday runs are) -- so I hope it was just a fluke occurence. Is anyone else out there a vegetarian that sometimes feels the need to increase either protein or vitamins in their diet?  has the need manifested itself in a lack of appetite? 

Happy Sunday bloggers.

AM:(9.5+ miles, 1:24:05). Probably a little closer to 10 but not quite. 15 x 1` @ 3-5K effort w/1` recovery. I know this workout looks easy - but it isn't when you do the first few too fast ;-). PM:(4 miles). nice and easy. This week is a sort of recovery week, I say sort of because I will have 3 'workouts' over the week so the intensity is about the same as most weeks with slightly less mileage.

PM: (4 miles, 36:24).  easy evening jog - it was very pleasant!

 Happy St. Patrick's Day bloggers!

(whoops ... how could I forget the Patron Saint of Ireland?)

1:07:01 (33:56/33:04).  Felt really good today, maybe I didn't run hard enough yesterday - although I was pretty tired last night when I ran ... I am sure a good night sleep (7 whole hours for the first time in a while) didn't hurt!

Things I love about running in Arizona:

1) I never have to run on concrete or even ashpalt

2) Mountainsides covered in sahuaro cacti - truly magnificent

3) Seeing a coyote sitting in a wash howling and barking (different one today)

4) Birds ... all kinds, everywhere, from little colorful ones to hawks (everyday I  see a new type)

5) weather in fall, winter, spring -- perfect

Hope you all are doing well today bloggers!

AM:(13 miles, 1:49:14). Tempo interval workout: 5 x 2000 w/400 recovery + 3 x 200 w/200 recovery. Goal pace (8:40 - 9:00/2000, which is 6:58-7:13/mile). These were actually faster than threshold pace, but not quite a speed workout - somewhere between 10K - 15K pace. 2.5 mile + 600 m of strides (24:21) 8:59 (7:13) 8:59 (7:13) 8:59 (7:13) 8:58 (7:11) 8:57 (7:10) recovery jogs were 2:30 average (:49, :50, :50) recovery was about 1:10 slightly less than 2.5 mile cd (20:30) I am very excited about this workout. This was a 10K workout at about 13 seconds slower than my estimated 10K race pace. There was a stiff headwind on the back stretch that I am telling got pretty tiring after 20 laps (mainly a problem on the fast laps) - I would estimate it cost me a couple seconds. I was pretty darn tired for the last 5 laps!

 PM:(4 miles, 37:04). I was a big baby when I first started this run ... my legs were so tired and tight. Once I got started I was glad I got out and ran, I loosened up immensely.

I am very excited -- tomorrow night we are going to go to the first U of Arizona outdoor track meet of the season! Should be fun, Abdi might be there (since he is an alum and I have heard he shows up to many of the meets held here in town).

1:09:22 (34:57/34:24). Ran a little further today than I meant to (I was planning on turning around at 33 mins - but I lost track of time).

I felt a lot better today than I thought I would. Yesterdays workout was much harder than I thought it was going to be. It was only 1.2 miles longer than the 8 x 1000 I did last week, but man I was beat. I guess doubling the length of the interval really does make it much harder (duh!) ... I felt a little better about my workout last week, but I am not sure why, I only did the ones yesterday 5 secs slower per 1000 ... so maybe yesterdays was actually a "better" workout. Or maybe I am overthinking this (duh again!).

Have a great weekend bloggers -- Good luck Carolyn and Sno - and everyone else who is racing this weekend!

AM: (8.5 miles, 1:16:09 (38:57/37:11).  Nice day today, I don't feel great, but I don't feel horrible -- my knee and adductor hurt a little, but not enough to really worry that much (I hope).

PM: (4.5 miles).  My favorite park run!

So last night was a blast.  We went to the track meet and as soon as we got into the stands I noticed a Utah State runner ... ah ha I thought, "I wonder if Ruth from the blog is here?" -- we looked in the program and sure enough she was running the 5K!  I saw her in the crowd of runners and called out to her.  She is such a nice young woman!  She had a great first track run of the season.  I will let her tell you about it on her blog -- basically she has an incredible kick!  Truly something to see.  She seemed to "fall asleep" during the middle part of the race (about laps 7-10) - but once she knew she was close to finishing she perked right up and simply made amazing ground!

There was quite the crowd there, Abdi was there (we talked to him because I am not shy - though I might be considered "weird" - I am truly a track groupie I can't help it), Bernard Lagat was there (I talked to him too), and there was a whole group of guys from the Oregon track club (the home to some of the best 800 meter runners in the USA right now) - we met Kevin Hicks (a very nice young man) and I think he was with Matt Scherer.  What a cool night.

Then, to top everything off, our cat must love us very much - this morning I went out the front door to get started on my run and I nearly stepped on a pile of dead lizards that had been laid there as an offering.  Either he loves us or he has a secret admirer (there is a pretty girl kitty next door, they might be in love, they fight a lot). 

Happy Saturday bloggers!