I only run on days that end in a "y."

7 easy/recovery miles - calves were a bit sore from Saturday's run. 

Blustery, cold (30's) and raining when I woke up.  I really wanted to go down to Town Lake trail to run some miles on a soft surface.  I looked at radar and it appearred that most of the showers had moved on.  I had contemplated going to the indoor track. I don't mind cold but wet cold is another story. Then I thought of Dan running out in the snow and cold.  So I said to myself, "what the heck - I will go!"  I put on a base layer, hoodie and shorts.  I wore a jacket for the first mile but had wrap it around my waist as it was too warm.

Fortunately, the rain had pretty much died off by the time I hit the trail - a little wind and cold but no biggie.  I had to jump over a few small branches which had fallen on the trail and dodge some mega puddles.  It all adds to the joy of running, IMO.

I ran 9 miles - 7.5 around 7:50 - 8:10's and the last 1.5 @ 7:30 pace.  Legs a bit sore from yesterday's strength training session.  I think that will be the last hard session until after the marathon.

17 degrees and wind chill of 0.  Three 3 base layer shirts, tights, and a hoodie - it actually was not too bad except for the wind at certain points.  The only thing uncomfortable was my cheeks.  I don't have a balaclava but if I did I could have run a long run and been quite comfortable.  6 miles at recovery pace - 8:40's over all average, though I did the last couple a bit faster -  I wanted to get home and have some hot coffee and a hot shower.  

Keeping my miles low this week - shooting for 45-50 for the week.

This morning I dropped my daughter off to her pre-school that had no power.  They were caught in the mandatory blackouts going on across the state.  I guess too many people woke up cold and decided to max out their heater.  The school did not call me back to come get her so the power must have been restored.

It was another cold one - 20 degrees with wind chill around 5 degrees or so.  It did not seem as bad as yesterday but it was still chilly. 

Three of us were going to meet up and run 7-8 miles with 4 miles tempo.  One runner dropped out due to family issues so that left me and another runner who had just run the 3M half marathon on Sunday.  So her legs were not up to a hard tempo.  At that point I knew I would be running the tempo miles on my own.  We ran a couple miles warm-up and then I took off. The first 1.5 miles consisted of rolling hills. At the end of 4 miles I felt so good I added on another mile.  Close to a mile cool down afterward.  I don't remember running as well as I have over the last couple of weeks at anytime during the last 3 years.  The miles came quite easily to me this morning.

Tempo splits:   6:40, 6:37, 6:30, 6:26, 6:27.

Snow and ice day in Austin - it pretty much shut down the city until around noon time.  I knew my daughter's pre-school was cancelled and my son's school had at least a 2 hour delay, so I was able to sleep in.  9 1/2 hours of great sleep!  I also took a quick nap this afternoon.  My body is thankful for the downtime.  Wow - I did not run and I survived.  LOL. 

16 miles with 6-8 @ MGP on the schedule for tomorrow.

Wonderful morning - a bit cool  to start - high 20's - but once the sun broke it warmed up nicely.

We did 16 miles with 9 @ MGP.  I tried to push the last 2 a bit.  Overall good run.  

Splits: 9:14, 7:56, 7:58, 7:44, 7:57, 7:45, 7:45, 7:36, 7:36, 7:29, 7:25, 7:29, 7:22, 7:08, 6:55, 7:03, last .4 @ 7:00.