track fan

1:50:49 (56:55/55:08) ... ok, maybe I have been running faster than I knew of late.  Today we ran in our old neighborhood (because it was closer the marathon/half-marathon finish), it was nice to have mile markers again.  I am very surprised to have averaged 7:54 pace today, my last 3 miles were much faster than I had anticipated 7:17, 7:21, 7:03, but man I had no idea I was running 8 min pace on the way out and sub 8 for the other miles.  wow.  I am sure a lot of it has to do with the fact that it is not 100F out - it is much easier to run hard when it is cool. 

Andrew won the Tucson 1/2 today in 1:05:30 off of base!  His key race is the 3M 1/2 in Austin in February and with 6 more weeks of training and some competition in the race (the second person in this race ran 1:10 - the field will be much deeper in Austin) it is likely he can run a 1:03 there ... it will be an interesting Spring with many of the McMillan elite team racing in marathons and 1/2 marathons.  Good times.  I am very excited about the upcoming Olympics, with the Oregon group, the Mammoth group and strong developmental programs (Zap, Hansons, McMillan) bearing fruit, I am hoping USA distance will be much more competititve than have been for years!

I hope you are having a restful Sunday bloggers!

AM:(12 miles, 1:37:43).  32:05 wu  + strides/27:22 cd (ugh all uphill!).  3 x 2400 @ 1/2 marathon effort w/3` recovery.  This was my last stamina workout and Greg wanted it to be a marker workout, compare it with the same workout about a month ago now.  Since this is effort based I did not try to hit a specified time, but I did try to keep the first 800 meters at 7:20 pace to make sure I did not start out too fast.  My splits were 10:47 (7:11), 3:01, 10:40 (7:06), 2:59, 10:46 (7:10).  Compared to November 12th: 7:12, 7:16, 7:20.  Pretty cool.  This is a great training pace for me, I will probably have a little more difficulty with my next phase of training ... but I a little excited to see how it goes.

Ok -- now I can write the COOLEST thing:  I saw a BOBCAT today!!  about 50 meters away!! It was so cool, "if I'm lyen` I'm dyen".  He/she looked just like my cat except it was about the size of my hound dog (~45-50 lbs).  At first I thought it was a dog, then I realized it was a "cat" -- but I thought it was so big it must be a mountain lion (and it was a color between asphalt and concrete -- it wasn't until I got a little closer that I realized it had spots and a bobtail).  WOWOW!!

PM: (4 miles easy).

Probably longer than 7 ... don't have a time today, my watch did not engage and I did not notice until way into the run.  Just ran a nice easy pace on the Yeatman trail ... beautiful day, beautiful scenery.  I am a lucky gal!

Take it easy bloggers!

AM: (10.5, 1:31:40).  9.5 miles + 8 x 100m strides.  Well, it has been a long time since I have run on my "ham hocks" -- my legs just felt huge, heavy, and slow.  I have put on 3 lbs in the past couple of weeks, it felt more like 10 today ... I have a month to get this extra weight off before the race or I won't even be close to my desired 10K race weight ... it is the extra serving I have been allowing myself at dinner I am sure because I have not been splurging on holiday treats at all.  Drat.  Anyway, nice run even though it was not the snappiest.

PM: (4 or 4.5 miles easy).

I hope I can make my grant deadline this week, I really don't want to work all weekend ...

Happy trails bloggers!

1:06:22.  Probably a little longer than 7.  Yeatman trail again today.  I was sort of uninspired to run this morning -- none of the routes seemed good.  But, as usual, once I got started I was so happy to be out and running.  This run is so great -- it is quite a climb (easy by hiking standards, harder by running standards), and a little trecherous in spots -- but not bad by any means.  The best thing about this trail is that once you get through the valley and climb up the next mountain the views are just stunning!  It is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.  It was interesting today, I saw a bow hunter (bows are allowed in this park for a month every winter for javelina and deer only). I said good morning but did not tell him that the big largest "group" of javelina were all in my backyard ;-).  I also ran into a lost hiker and gave him directions back to the resort on the other side of the mountain range ... pretty ironic really, me giving directions ... the only reason I knew how to go was because I have gotten lost twice and ended up where he wanted to go. 

I hope you all have a great Friday bloggers!

AM: (1:21:45, 9+ miles).  I ran a little over 8 miles and then did 8 x 100m strides.  Feeling really good today.  Nice weather, nice sleep last night.  I was a little tired yesterday, most likely due to the fact that I worked late on Thursday night and was out at the park at 8:45 PM finishing my second run -- it wasn't that bad, but a little late at night, even for me.  Anyway, after a bunch of meetings yesterday, Dean and I went to our Egoscue clinic visit and then dressed in the bathrooms there for a work holiday party.  We got home pretty early (about 10PM) and just fell into bed .... this morning we slept in until 7:30AM  -- can I hear an AMEN!!  Tonight is *my* work Christmas party -- and then tomorrow is ART and rest up for the short workweek.  We are heading to Gulf Shores, Alabama next week - all of Dean's brothers, his Mom and all the kids will be there (it will be uncontrolled chaos I have to tell you).  Luckily, this fun-and-games will only last 4 days and then we can come home and recouperate ;-).

PM (4 easy miles).

Have a great weekend!!