Runnin Bubbas

AM:  Fun run this morning in another balmy 8 degrees with Matt and Reed.  Tried to focus on pace and keeping my body relaxed.  Felt like I was able to do so the whole time.  Only felt like I labored for a half mile on the climb back.  Was able to stride out in a lot of the run.  This to me is a good sign that my body is ready to push to the next level.  I still need to get my right leg 100%.  Still not feeling normal.  I am loving the consistency thus far and another good workout this morning.  Will we ever see warmth again?!

 PM:  I wanted to do a steady progressive tonight.  I got on the TM with the intent to do 5 more miles.  I wanted to do get faster every 1/2 mile.  I got 2 miles into the pace of 6:30 and knew I was in trouble.  My right calf was tight and tender and it was not letting me relax like I needed.  At 2.25 I shut it down.  I decided to work on some core exercises.  Back at it in the morning. 

AM:  Did not feel good today when I woke up.  I know days like this unmotivated to want to do anything, but knew I had too much to do the whole day to not get this morning group run in.  So with that in mind and even at 6 degrees, I met Matt and Mike and off we went.  They were pretty tired too it seemed like so we went easy.  Problem was I was going to easy, but I felt really great yesterday.  I just told myself to go easy and get the miles in.  Good course even though it was easy miles.  I had not done this loop before and it has some good hills to it.  Some days are like this.  Hope to get in an evening workout too, we shall see how long everything takes today.  

AM:  Got to do 10 mile fun run with Scott, Matt and Mike this morning.  Pace felt good.  Just felt like cruise mode for a little over 8 miles and then CD the last bit.  Scott looks like he will break his HS 5k PR.  He is back.  Mike and Matt are only getting faster.  Should be scary the carnage they lay this year.  A very hot 22 degrees this morning.  Did not even need gloves.  

Lunch:  Went to the gym with my dad. Always a good time to run and do core with my former HS coach.  61 yrs old and he can still throw down for a little man.  I did 3.5 miles pretty easy with a 1200 surge in between at 5:57 pace.  Legs feel good.  Mind was pretty gone today. :)  Make It Happen... 

PM:  Did not get a chance to do this run in the AM like I would normally do, but I was glad I got to put in a few miles knowing I am going to do a LR in the morning.  I started the run at 7:20 pace and finished at 6:20 pace.  Felt easy actually.  Starting to feel like my base is really helping my legs feel better and more in shape.  We shall see how my LR goes tomorrow.  This will be a good sign to go on.  

AM to Afternoon:  Another weird night of sleeping.  For those of you that know me, my mental toughness has been challenged lately.  Thankful I run with some studs to support this mental toughness that also comes with consistent training.  Did not know if I was running on my own or with Mike.  I am glad that Mike waited for me to drag my way to his house to start the LR with him.  An LR is rough enough and I have done the last 4 on my own it seems like.  It was a good sign to me when at the 9 mile mark I wanted to pick it up a bit and start some pace work.  5:50 pace felt good for about a mile and there was no laboring, so I told Mike lets do that again at the 11 mile mark.  At a 11, Mike told me to set the pace and so for about a little over a 1/2 mile we did the same pace.  Felt like 70% which is an exciting sign.  At the mouth of AF Canyon we hit 13 miles and I wanted til mile 16 to run MP @ 6:30 which I felt fine and no signs of fatigue or laboring.  At mile 18 I started to feel the exhaustion from lack of nutrition on purpose.  The next 5 miles were a little tougher especially throwing in the "Mother" at mile 20.5  Not an ideal location for that hill in a course that was already rolling enough.  Avg. 7:20 pace for the whole run and even had a little at the end where I could stride out at 5:30 pace.  All in all a very good LR and sign that my training has gone well and I am starting to feel like my legs really do see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It was 39 degrees when we ran so in conversion winter terms it felt like a cool 65 degrees.  Cannot beat that.  Roads were pretty nice too.  Very enjoyable LR and look forward to a good next week...