Step by step, mile by mile

Conditions at McCoy today were awful, plain and simple. Could only get in 5 today, but I'll make up for it with some doubles later in the week 2 miles of fartlek at Liberty after dinner. Wanted 5 but hour wasn't enough recovery food-wise

Merry Christmas to anyone reading this.

Noon - 2 mile WU, 4x800 in 2:25, 2:24, 2:22, 2:21. 1:45 rest. Tougher workout than I thought, I really had to stay strong mentally. Felt much harder than Friday's workout, I woke up around 3AM this morning and felt super sick and I guess I haven't shaken it completely. I'll chalk that up to way too much Christmas dinner. Drove up to the Quailbrook church after and ran 2 miles up and down Gov. It was super packed with snow and ice. It was great. I was reading a letsrun forum yesterday about breaking 4 for the 1500, and someone said "make every workout a quality workout". That'll be my 2017 mantra. 

5 miles fartlek on Gov extended a couple hours later. Didn't save the run but it was either took just a bit more than 30:00 or just below. Looking at the shadows cast from the sunset my form looked and felt great.  Definitely my most solid double to date. Went and stretched, did core, and did strength at the rec after. Worked my hamstrings harder than the rest.

AM - Did an easy 6.5 in the morning with Kedric. I benched the bar many times yesterday and my arms were sore. I'm probably quitting running to chase a "mr.universe" title. Felt nice to just run real easy and have a long, semi-inappropriate conversation. I hate to say it but he's got a good future ahead of him in running.

PM - Ran laps at legacy. Did laps 4 and 8 fast(each lap is exactly one third of a mile). Ran the first one in 1:36 and the second in 1:28, but hit the lap button a few meters too early on lap 8. Stretch/core/strength after

9 mile fartlek, 6:21 pace. I set out at 1 and I hadn't eaten since breakfast and I was afraid I'd feel flat but in the end it was good. I felt really good today, effort wasn't crazy hard and switching gears on the dime was easy. I remember I felt a little lazy and unmotivated knowing I wasn't doing a workout today but I'm glad I set out because it was a solid run. Stretching after

4 miles fartlek a couple hours later. Core, drills, and strength after. Felt great, no watch.

AM - 5 mile fartlek to Bee's and back. I ate something yesterday that hasn't settled well, and my right knee felt a little tight the first 3, but besides that a very enjoyable run. I worked the final mile(all uphill) pretty hard.

PM - 4 miles fartlek. My knee hurt a little, but not an injury. I hit it on my car door getting out to run. Accidentally swore(I was in an LDS parking lot). Yikes.

Had a lot of pasta last night, and two bagels for breakfast, so I was carbed up. Drove up to 7,000ft for an 800m time trial. 3 mile WU. Ran on somewhat slick, hilly roads. Net downhill, but the uphill was brutal too. Gave it everything I had for 1:56.7. Drove back down to Gov and ran another 5 miles. I haven't done any speed in 2 or 3 weeks and I've been focused on 5k and 3k stuff so it's sweet to still run quick(in the preseason). I really have no idea how Conner Mantz did two of those back to back.

Noon - 5 mile fartlek. Pushed the pace a bit the first 2 miles, then felt tired for the next two, but I felt good again for the steep uphill mile so I kept a solid pace on that. 8 miles fartlek for 3000 for the year. Felt trash and threw up after. Felt better after that.

I'm grateful for being able to run 100+ mile weeks and to never have taken more than a few days off because something hurt. I'm grateful I didn't get injured this year. I'm grateful I'm smart enough to be educated at a pretty highly ranked engineering college for free. Im grateful I'm on the dean's list. I'm grateful for friends and family who love me. I'm grateful I'm healthy. 

2016 has definitely been a tough year for me, in running and in other aspects. I really hate the whole "new year, new me" juxtaposition. Come tomorrow, I'll still be Eugene. But 2017 is gonna be a great year. I'm only just getting started.