AM - 17.25 Industrial/CC. Up early, or late if you are a partier to get a run in before heading to Vegas for XC. Ran pretty well; could have been a touch, but I've seen it much worse. Ran what I am now calling a Marathon Michigan - alternating tempo paces, based on the idea of the Michigan we do for XC. Warmed up to the top of Highland and then kind of did a little Tinman down the other side for just over a half to get the legs moving - which they really didn't want to do since it was 3:30 in the morning. At the bottom of the hill I was going to hit 2 at MP (didn't have time for more, so I had to shorten up what the other guys were doing - also made it so I couldn't do the full Quail loop which would have fun for the stars, but heinous for the extra hills), then 6 at Tiinman and finish with 4 at MP. First MP section was a bit slow, but it was the hardest section and the effort was good and it got the legs woken up. The Tinman section was pretty good - I used to struggle at finding this pace, but now I seem to be able to lock that in pretty good - while struggling at MP. Then moved back into some MP for 2.75. Had to go up Gilbert and down into Coral Canyon. Ran pretty strong here, but a few seconds off where I wanted to be. Up Highland I just kind of chilled, but a decent pace and then pushed down the other side. I wasn't even close to my pace down it last week in the race, but again okay. So I decided to keep the effort going some more and it ended up being another 2.25 section of MP. (Kinvara3 795) morning - 2 Vegas. Giving myself 2 more miles at the meet. It was dang hot and I ran all over the place, so I earned it! (Zero 297.75) Week wasn't too shabby for a recovery week. Just not sharp like I would like it to be. Goals for next week: sharpen the saw. | 