I am one with the levee and the levee with me

First day back into full swing. Easy 6 in the morning, 7:40 pace, shaking out the race. Easy 8 in the evening, out in 28:20, back in 27:30. Feeling good.

Found out today that Bloomsday accepted my entry into the elite seeding, which means I get to start in the first group ahead of the gigantic mass of humanity that turns out for the race. I figured I was borderline, so this is excellent news.

AM - 4 easy, 7:30ish pace

PM - 8 mile tempo. Wanted to see what it would feel like to hold 5:30 pace through 8 miles. I found out. It was difficult. 43:55 final time.

I've wheeled out 2 miles of river trail but really need to do more. I had to do 3 180s on this trip, that's just pushing it a bit for me. But a super awesome exciting fantastic run as it was. I feel pretty pumped. Tired but pumped.

Started feeling a little bit tired after about 2 miles, and the feeling remained steady through 7 miles or so. Just before that I had a little stomach cramp and my breathing became shallow, something I haven't felt in a really, really long time. Probably means I need to improve my diet and do some situps.

On a side note, I've been gradually improving my diet. This week I bought a bunch of Kool-aid packets to replace the huge amounts of Coke I've been ingesting. This is what I mean by gradual improvement.

Anyway, splits were as follows:

5:29
10:58	5:29
16:26	5:28
21:57	5:31
27:26	5:29
32:57	5:31
38:28	5:31
43:55	5:27

Very, very happy with this run. Followed up with 40 lunges and 25 pushups.

Ran out an hour, back in 1:00:26 for a long 16 mile run. I don't think I've ever done a 2 hour run, so this felt like an accomplishment. Very tiring to be on my feet that long.

Super-easy 8 at 7:40 pace. Feeling very tired.

AM - 7:40 pace 4 miles.

PM - 8 miles, 7:00 pace. Finally feeling a little rested.

PM 1 - After watching our guys dominate at the Hermiston Invite on a very, very windy day, I swung by Jump Off Joe hill on my way home for my run. It's been awhile and I've felt the need for some hill work, especially with Bloomsday and the Doomsday hill lingering on the horizon.

Wish I'd had a wind meter, but it felt like a steady 20mph wind in my face all the way to the base of the hill. The road takes me through a canyon that acts like a wind tunnel on windy days, so it doesn't matter which way the road turns, the wind is channeled directly down the road. Some gusts felt 30+ and fully stopped me in my tracks.

Running up the face of the hill was the easiest I've ever had it. I wish I could say it's just because I'm in better shape than ever, but I'm sure part of it had to do with the strong wind that was now at my back pushing me all the way. Regardless of the wind, it's a steep climb and my legs and lungs handled it 100% better than ever before; it can't all be because of the wind. I was worried a little about the race next week but this run eased my fears. I didn't spend too much time at the top as I felt like I was in danger of being pushed off the other side.

I tempoed from the base back to my car, which is about 3.7 miles. I forgot my watch at home, but I had the wind behind me and felt like I was literally flying. Which was perfect..... I wanted the hill climb to strengthen my legs and the downhill tempo to get some fast turnover stuff going. I must've been pushing 4:45 pace on the first-half downhill section and sub-5:00 on the rest and my halmstrings are punishing me now. It felt awesome. My stride was totally stretched out and open and there were moments I felt like I was flying. It was awesome.