Step by step, mile by mile

7 miles in the hail/rain. Was supposed to be easy, and felt pretty easy, but I just started thinking about outdoor and got excited. Pace was right around 6 flat for the most part. According to my heart rate, it was more aerobic than easy.

4 mile WU. 20mph winds w/ 30(?)mph gusts today. 20x200 aiming for 32s. 200m recovery. Averaged 31.9, but that was only because I ran a 28.9 last 200 to mimic how tired I'll feel when finishing. Lots of lactic acid and tight muscles. Not trying to save the world on this workout, just trying to hit my paces, which I did pretty well. Those last 5 I was starting to feel it, but I prevailed. Hurdles after that, and CD for 13. Core/stretching and another sweet strength session after.

Normal easy run, with strides after. Ran on the fields for a few steps and my arches began to hurt. Realized that everytime my arches have hurt lately I've been on the fields, so probably gonna cut back on that. I went to bed at 8 last night so 12 hours of rest felt pretty nice.

4 mile WU. 2x(250.250,150,150,200) 800m pace. It was a hard workout and I've been super taxed with school the past two days so I wasn't as mentally strong as I should have been. Times went  36.7, 36.6, 21.0, 22.0, 29.0 for set one. I got really down on myself because I was running a little slower than I wanted to so I was just in a really negative headspace. Watched a little motivational video and that fired me up a little bit. Hit 35.1, 35.0, 22.0, 21.8, and 28.0 on set two. When you add everything together it's an average pace of 1:54 for the 800m so not as bad as I originally thought. Skipped strength bc I don't want to feel like I did today on my next workout. Windy 250's are pretty tough, by the way.

7 miles w/ a 1.5 mile pickup in the middle. Not intentional. For the first mile or two, I was reeling in this guy, despite not going too hard of a pace. As I got close to him I surged and passed him as to not cut him off. I hear his footsteps speed up, and realized he matching my pace! I wanted today to be easy, but my competitive edge got the best of me. It was pretty fun, he was a tough runner. He matched every surge I had, and I was going pretty quick, but on a steeper uphill he sprinted up it and I just kept the pace easier. I realized that if I wanted to maximize the mileage on the riverwalk loop I'd have to turn pretty soon. so I sped up again and got a few seconds ahead of him. As I turned we made eye-contact and waved at each other, so all's well that ends well.

Hard stuff today. My legs felt pretty tired and heavy since the 20x200 earlier this week, I think I still have junk in my legs or something. I wish I had ran yesterday, but schoolwork is the priority. Strength workout today was 3x200m in 30s. 5x2 minutes hard. Averaged 4:37 pace on the hard, but I think it's probably a few seconds quick. 3x200m in 28. First 2 of those were miserable but the last one felt good. Went and played racketball with Grant for a few hours after my run. Legs were on fire after.

Shakeout before dinner.

S/O to Ryan, Kedric, and my lone peak boys for killing it at the oval.