Cool Runnings!

Ran 6.0 miles this morning using the Garmin.  I still love my Garmin!  I set a workout this morning to run 6 miles at 8:40 pace.  The run felt great.  I actually came in a bit faster than 8:40 pace.  Total workout time was 50:24, average pace was 8:24/mile.  The first mile was slow (warming up) in 8:51, then got into a groove.  The rest of the miles were between 8:19 and 8:24 (have to double-check that this afternoon when I get home from work).  It felt good to run in the morning, especially since I need to get used to morning runs for when I race.  Am planning on getting in at least 6 miles every day this week to hit a goal of 36 miles for the week.  Next week I will shoot for 40.  I am really excited about this.  I don't remember the last time I felt this good after running 34 miles in a week.  Sasha, I can't thank you enough for the advice about running every day - it has really paid off!

Ran 6.0 miles again this morning.  Have to get used to running in the morning - it feels a bit different than the evening.  I set a slower workout goal today to try to take it easier.  Goal was 8:45 pace.  Managed to stay within about 10 seconds of that pace, first 3 miles were at about 8:33.  4th mile was something like 8:19 (don't have the Garmin with me), 5th mile I spotted another runner up ahead and my competitive juices started flowing.  Passed the other runner just before I hit the end of the 5th mile.  Not sure about the mile split, but I think it was pretty fast - around 8:00 or so.  Tried to slow down on the 6th mile, but my body seemed to be in a faster gear and every time I intentionally slowed down, I found myself speeding back up again.  Will update later with splits.  Total time for the run was 50:24, average pace was 8:24/mile.

Ran 1.26 miles with the boys in the evening, for a total of 7.26 miles.

Green for go.  Ran 1.32 miles with the boys, then ran 5.0 miles later in the evening.  Took the first mile easy, 8:35.  Second mile decided to pick it up, ran a 7:21 mile.  Third mile slowed down again, ran 8:24.  Fourth mile was 8:37.  Last mile increased a bit, finished in 8:01.  Total time was 41:00, average pace of 8:12/mile (skewed by the second mile, of course).  The run felt good, I felt within myself.  Part of the reason for running the faster mile was to give myself an indication of what I would be able to do when I run the 5K at the end of May.  The rest of the runs this week will be nice and easy, I promise (I know Lybi checks my blog, so she will chew me out if I run too fast again . . . <grin>).

Ran 1.11 miles with the boys this evening, then ran 5.0 miles on the treadmill.  Ran the first 2 miles on the treadmill at 8:34 pace, then increased the pace to 8:00 pace for the next 3 miles.  Final quarter was at 7:30 pace.  Total time for the run was 41:04 (I'm not going to bother figuring out the average pace for the run today, it's late and I need to get to bed).  I wish I could have run outside tonight - it was actually pretty cool for a May evening in Arizona - cooler than it was in my room where the treadmill was, even with the ceiling fan running as well as the fan on the treadmill.  Oh well.

I am calling these easy miles, but they weren't all that easy because there was a strong wind blowing this evening.  Did not run with the boys as Sam was sick this afternoon.  Ran 5 miles with Adam in the jogging stroller.  Was a bit more difficult pushing a 20 lb stroller plus a 30 lb toddler, especially when the wind was factored in.  Total time was 42:48, average pace of 8:34/mile.  I feel good about that run.  I will probably run no more than 5 miles tomorrow.

Ran 0.35 miles with Joseph in the evening.  Samuel was still sick and did not run.  Afterwards, ran 4 miles.  It was a gorgeous evening.  Started off with a 8:21 mile, then 8:20.  Then decided to speed up.  3rd mile was 7:51.  Sped up even more - last mile was 6:57.  Total time of 31:31, average pace of 7:53/mile.