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

Taking a recovery week this week to allow the legs to repair themselves a bit.  I will drop mileage to around 50 and reducing intensity a tad.  It's perfect timing as I have a 5k on Sunday that I want to be relatively fresh for.  

A bit chilly this morning - I actually had to wear a short sleeve shirt.   8 miles in 7:50's.  

Chilly morning - 48 degrees and windy - I upgraded to a long sleeve base shirt this morning.  I ran the Lost Horizon hilly route - I don't think I have run this since I used it for Austin Marathon training.  

I ran pretty easy this morning and my aerobic system never felt taxed - must be the cool weather.  7:50's - 8:00's for the majority of the run.

Gorgeous day - 78 degrees with a nice breeze. I ran close to 9 miles in the 7:50's with an errant mile @ 7:34.

My alarm went off at 4:50 but I was out of it.  I woke up again at 5:15.  Plan A of meeting a couple runners early at 5:30 went out the window, but I could still make the larger group at 5:45. I arrived at 5:40 and had enough time to squeak in .75 miles before the group let.  Today was a progression run but we ended up making it a tempo run.  Even though this week will be less miles overall I am feeling a bit sluggish.  I figured I would feel fresh on all my runs.  I guess it does not work that way.  

Anyway, we started picking up the pace with 4 miles to go and held it in the 6:20's.  I glanced at my watch a few times and at points we were running sub 6:00.  I decided that it probably was not super smart with a 5k on Saturday so I backed off a bit to tempo pace and kept it there.  One of the runners that was pushing the pace fell off with 1 mile to go so that left the leader and me, and he was too far ahead for me to think of catching him.  I might have tried if the race was not 2 days a way.  With about 1/4 left I heard footsteps so I picked it up - I wasn't going to let anyone pass me at that point.  Afterward we ran 2 miles cool down @ 7:50 pace.

Total of 10 miles for the day.  8:39, 7:58, 7:52, 7:38, [6:35, 6:20, 6:25, 6:20], 7:50, 7:52.

6 super easy miles this morning.  9:00 pace.

I gotta to go pick up my son so full report later.  Let's just say it was an awesome race - I almost PR'd by a full minute and beat my stretch goal of 18:30!

Report:  I met up with a running buddy, Kevin, at a Big Lot's close to where we live and we carpooled down to the race.  We got there plenty early and I picked up my bib.  I was number 12 - I registered a couple months back when I got the post card in the mail.   I guess was the twelth person to sign up.

Alex, another running buddy who has been running and training with me at the group workouts found us immediately.  There were 2 other runners that we hooked up with and we all did a 2 mile warm-up.  It was nice and relaxing. Alex talked about how he thought we could go sub 18 with the repeats we had been doing.  I thought he was dreaming but he planted a seed.  Kevin said I had a shot, too, but still, that would be way faster than I had thought possible.  I think much of this running thing has to do with what we believe we can do just as much as what we are physically capable of.  I then had to go my car to drop off my singlet - it was 66 degrees so I knew the shirt had to go.  I then ran a bit more to the start for another 3/4s mile.  I found Alex at the start and the plan was to stick together.  Right out of the gate I was running a 5:35 pace and slowed a bit down to 5:50's.  After the first half mile the course turns and it is probably close to a mile of gradual uphill.  I slowed a tad here on the second mile.  The course turns again and it is very flat to a slight decline - very fast here.  I glanced at my watch a few times but did not keep track of my mile splits or overall time.  I was trying to catch a guy I knew from the group and he finally began to fade with a mile left.  At this point I felt pretty strong and actually picked it up and ran my fastest mile here.  I lost Alex right around 2 - 2.5 miles according to him.  We finally turned a corner into a big parking lot where there is a Costco.  At first I cound not see the finish but a couple hundred feet brought it into view.  I saw the 3 mile marked and made a push.  Normally I sprint but I did not feel like killing myself for a few seconds.  I finally saw the finish line with the time at 18:07 or something like that - I pushed pretty hard at this point but still did not go over the edge.  If the clock would have been at 17:50 I would have run as fast I could have but I was very happy with the time I had and cruised in. 

It was not easy by any means but I did not run as hard as I think I am capable.  Could I break 18 at this point?  I think it is possible - for sure it is in the cards with continued training.  I have always thought of the 17:00s as glorified territory and out of my reach.  Now it is very close and I have the belief that I will do it.  The age group winner ran a 17:54 so that will be my goal for next year.  That time would place me in the top 10 as well.

I did not have time to run cool down miles because Kevin had to get back home.  I dropped him off and got home in time to help my wife get my son out the door for piano lessons and then she took my daughter to a BD party.  I had an hour before I had to pick up my son so I went out for 4.25 miles.  Legs felt pretty good. 

Anyway, I hope this translates into a good marathon time.  Of course, my marathon prediction time keeps dropping with every new PR.  I am just making it harder on myself.  :)

Splits:  5:56, 6:00, 5:52, .12 @ 5:03.