Practice To Suffer So Racing Becomes Easy

Lunch:  9.09 miles at Dorothy Carnes East Park again perfect Temps 75/Humidity Low!!  Ran relaxed and controlled over the rolling grassy park Avg pace 7:46.  I thought about going to the Midwest course over at Parkside today, but just too many errands to run.  Maybe later this week after Andrea and I meet for a run.  I am super excited about my progress over the last month or two.  I can tell my fitness is increasing very fast.  I just have to be careful of injuries because just over a year ago I was sitting on the coach taking a 9 year break from running.  My o my I wish I had some more years in the 20's to do over, actually no I enjoyed my 9 year break.  Maybe I'll have a full decade of running in my 30's :)  Today and the next couple will be contin'd easy run days to make sure my legs are feeling good.  The past two weeks have done a number on the old IT bands - lots of ibuprofen, icy hot, ice, and stretching have held me together.  This week and the next will be maintenance weeks as I prepare for a huge challenge at the Midwest Open.  I hope I don't embarrass myself.  The course has two .75 mile hills at mile 1 and 3 (the 3rd mile feels ALOT harder!).  The pace alone will be foreign to my legs let alone the ups and downs.  Much different kind of race than your typical road race.  I think my best on this course in college was 25:45.  I have no idea what my time will be because my fitness is increasing two fold and I haven't tapered for a race yet.  I’m hoping my easy running days will allow me to bust a good workout on the course later this week to give me some kind of indication as to what I can run.  Then it’s a build up to the Monumental Marathon. 

PM:  6 miles of moderate running at Dorothy Carnes West Park with CC team + 5 hill surges - no watch + Lifts - Legs are officially recovered from last week.