Relentless

AM - 5x mile on Treadmill at 5:00 with 1/2 mile recovery jog. Started with 2 mile warmup at 7:30 and 1%. Then took off incline and started miles. First felt hard - knew it was going to be a long workout. 2nd and 3rd felt about the same as the first. 4th convinced myself I could make it through and last one would take care of itself. 5th Happy that I wouldn't let me talk myself into doing just a 1/2. Because I made it through and it was my best one. 1 mile cool down at 7:30. (Cumulus)

foot injury update: Plantar is feeling quite a bit better. Had been feeling great until the NB started to break down and now I am getting back into the Strassburg for the last few nights and the new shoes are helping it feel better. Left pinky toe is feeling a lot better. Still gives a little zing when it gets bumped. Finally, the weird bruising pain under my right outside ankle bone is back the last few days (it seems to corrolate with the PF pains).

PM - 4.5 Washington Loop. Started a bit tired, but I was excited to get out and run outside.  Even just a few runs on the treadmill makes you really appreciate the goodness of real running.  Run went okay, but form was off (because of fatigue).  (Glycerin)

RHR-40

AM - 10 on the Wendy's Loop. Not a good run this morning. Again good to get out, and I have been proud of myself for getting up and not allow the excuses that pop into my head to win. But I was fatigued and slow right from the start. No miles faster than 7:01 and the last few were about what I would call pathetic (7:45 +). But again this morning I was struggling with form. Legs were clompy and things just weren't smooth. Still the hangover from yesterday's repeats. I'll try to shake it out a little more with a four miler this afternoon. (Glycerin)

afternoon - 4 Dogpound from PVHS w/team. A perfect time to run with my "advanced" runners. Tried to smooth out the run a little with a recovery pace. Could have pushed it harder, but accomplished what I wanted to - run with the team and get in a few recovery miles. (Landreth)

RHR-44

AM - I was actually up, but I had to have a little more sleep. So I revised my schedule a little to go 6 and 8 instead of 10 and 4, so... 6 on Treadmill with no incline. Started out at 7:30 for a mile warmup and quickly decided that it is taking longer than planned to bounce back from my mile repeats (just not much there in the legs). So I decided on no inline today. Took miles 2 and 3 to 6:58, then miles 4 and 5 to 6:44, finally back to 6:58 for mile 6. I started to feel a little better with the quicker pace on mile 4 and 5. (Cumulus)

afternoon - 8 on River Run. 1.75 mile warm up at 6:50 pace. Then I was going to attempt a marathon + pace run for the next 4. 1-5:50 felt good, helped with a bit of a decline. 2-6:04 still a decline, thought I was actually moving harder than mile 1, but I guess not. Kind of disappointed. 3-6:03 leveled out along river, just a little incline. Felt good, but thought about slowing down pace after this one. 4-6:11 decided why should I let up and kept pushing like I had planned, a little uphill. 5-6:10 originally I didn't know if I would get this one or not and it was a good mental barrier for me to overcome and convince myself I could do it. uphill. Then 1 1/4 mile finish at 7:00 uphill. Although the times weren't quite what I wanted, I was pleased with the workout. At the start I felt a bit worn down (the times show that as I should have been 5:40 - 5:55 through the workout). But I am getting stronger mentally and not giving in to ending workouts early when I am tired. You're always tired when you're running. That's what it does. (Glycerin)

RHR - 41

AM - what a night, sick and injured kids, howling dogs ... no sleep. Thought about sleeping in and figured I would still hit my miles where I want to this week. But I remember something someone said on the blog about become a top level runner requires you to do the things that are tough. So I got up and hit the treadmill. 6 miles at 7:30 with 1%. Wasn't flying by any means today. But I got up. (cumulus).

afternoon - 6 GreenSprings (Glycerin)

RHR-41

AM - 18.5 Quail Creek Loop.  Got up very early and went out on the long run for the week.  Will write more when I have my watch in front of me and I have more time.  Run went pretty well, but it took awhile to get into it.  (Glycerin)

AM - 10 Wendy's with 11th extension at end.  Up early again (but not as early as yesterday) to do the workout before the track meet.  Ran well - all miles under 7, with an average of 6:34 and negative splits.  Good moderate workout.  (Glycerin)

A good solid week of training.  A lot of good things came out of it.

Goals for next week:  Let the miles add up.  Enjoy not having to wake up too early and try and avoid the treadmill at all costs.  I think it is adding to my Plantar pain - coming back stronger the last week.  Mileage 85 or a little more.