Cursed Realm of the Faceless Ghost

As I think I mentioned over the weekend, my new emphasis is on consistency and quality, since quantity isn't the priority I'd like it to be anymore. With that in mind, I headed over to the gym for a short treadmill run. Basically, I cruised at a super-easy 9:00 pace, with every fifth minute at 5:30. After five sets I cooled down and called it a night.

Four miles on the treadmill in 30 minutes. The first 10 and the last 5 were at about 8:30, while the middle 15 were at 6:30-6:45. Big Bang Theory was on one of the TVs, but I couldn't figure out which channel it was on and watch it on the little TV at my treadmill. Too bad.

We're running a 5K tomorrow, so I took it easy with a quick run on the short loop. I still haven't decided if I'm going to push Elliott in the stroller tomorrow and help her score a 5K, or if I'm going to put in an honest effort and use that as a benchmark going forward. Check back later to find out, I guess.

That time could have been much better. But I suppose it could also have been much worse, so I'm not going to complain. 

Catherine and I entered this race because her mom and her brother were both planning on running. Otherwise, we probably wouldn't have chose to drive to Bountiful for a 9:00 AM 5K, especially when we could have run a race much closer to home.

The race got off to a rocky start: first, the organizers made us sit and wait 15 minutes past the start time because some runners were still registering; second, the start was an absolute madhouse, and I eventually had to start throwing elbows. But we managed to make it out onto the road in one piece.

The course was a pretty basic rectangle: I gradual descent from south to north, followed by a relatively sharp decline from west to east, followed by a long, gradual climb from north to south, and finishing with a descent from east to west. 

I think I was in trouble from the start. On the first stretch I felt like I was going super slow and working way too hard for it. I felt better when I realized I was running at about 5:30, but that didn't help me feel any better about how hard I felt like I was working.

Anyway, my run was a perfect example of how not to race a 5K; splits were approximately 5:40, 6:00, and 6:20. At least I faded consistently :)

Despite my lackluster performance, it was a good race. Catherine and I found out exactly where our fitness is, we spent time with family, and I somehow won my age group (and with it, a pumpkin pie). 

Catherine and I went to run with RAD, Smooth, Steam8, Allie, and a whole bunch of other FRBers on the Jordan River Parkway this morning (sorry about all the names I forgot). It was fun to get out and meet our fellow bloggers, and the run was great, too. I think most of the crew ran 11 miles, but Catherine and I turned around after three for a six-mile round trip. It was a good way to start the morning, and it got even better when we stopped for donuts on the way home.

I got out for a longish road run this morning. I was forced off my planned route by a cyclocross race in Art Dye Park, which shortened my overall run by a little less than a mile. That's probably a good thing, as I wasn't feeling to hot from the start.

Anyway, it's been a pretty good week. Besides today's run, I had a couple of decent speed or tempo sessions and a race, too. I think my new plan to finish the school year focusing on quality over quantity (25-30 mile weeks) should help me maintain more fitness than what I've been doing for most of the semester.