Doing What I Can

Favorite race of the year today (except for maybe Boston). Local Hillbilly hike HM starting in a nearby town and running to my hometown on a trail I am really familiar with from growing up here. Goal was sub 1:16, but have been feeling a little overcooked lately, and after seeing the race-day forecast I figured it'd be a tough shot. Normal pre-race routine, got a 1.5 warmup and the kept moving to stay warm, 32 degrees and 23 windchill at the start, clear and sunny though, luckily the wind was a cross-wind for most of the race (almost tailwind for a 4 mile segment), so that helped. Got out and was all alone after 1 mile, was completely by myself until I caught some of the 10ker's near the end. Here are my splits:

1- 6:02

2- 5:57 (11:59)

3- 5:53 (17:52)

4- 5:50 (23:42)

5- 5:54 (29:36)

6- 5:58 (35:34), was about 36:43 or so at the 10k, was at like 38:53 at halfway, so goal at that point was to try to stay under 1:18

7- 6:03 (41:37)

8- 6:02 (47:39)

9 - 6:03 (53:42)

10 - 6:03 (59:45, 5:58.5 pace, a good split through 10 miles, not where I was hoping to be, but all things considered I was hanging on

11 - 6:03 (1:05:48)

12 - 6:03 (1:11:51, rattled off 6 extremely consistent miles! kind of crazy actually)

13 - 5:55 (1:17:46)

change - :35 - 1:18:21, 5:59 pace

Overall, I am happy with the effort, when things got tough at about 8 or 9 miles, I could have easily packed it in, after all, I was all alone and there was no chance of catching anyone or losing spots, but I'm proud that I kept fighting and my pace stayed really steady, 4th best half-marathon time of my life, and so also 4th time I've been able to run one under 6:00 pace, so always nice to do that, cooled down only for about 1.3. 3rd pace overall. Not sure what's next but would like to get some shorter races in the next month  before breaking before Boston cycle #4

easy paced 6.4 today, surprisingly sore

beautiful 50 degree morning run in Iowa today - 7:27 pace + strides

really cold this morning in iowa, did not feel very strong at all on top of that, 7.3 in 7:43 pace, tomorrow will probably be another rest day

9.3 in 7:25 avg pace this morning, felt okay for the most part + strides

treadmill tonight with at my wife's gym, had big time stomach issues so called it in after 5.7, did get a mile in 5:30 pace though, wanted at least one uptempo

freezing cold morning, 15 degrees in light snow, 7.6 easy paced - 7:25 pace

easy 6.7 tonight, sun went down early so a little cold by the end + strides

5 easy this morning, was kind of tight at the start, but felt better as it went on, 7:30 avg pace 

10k this year that I've done the last two years, so wanted to keep it alive and do it again. Really flat course and even in driving sleet last year I ran 36:3X, so with perfect weather forecast I was excited to see what I could do. However, the race did not pan out well. I woke up feeling tired and my legs just had nothing it seemed like, especially the 2nd half of the race. Did everything normal before the race, just think I'm a little overcooked this fall. Here are my splits:

1- 5:56

2- 5:56 (11:52)

3- 5:50 (17:42, was at 18:2Xish at the 5k)

4- 6:03 (23:45)

5- 6:09 (29:54, wind was up during the race and was in my face here, but was fading otherwise too)

6- 6:07 (36:01)

change - 1:35, it came out to .27 in my watch, so although it seems long, this course is notorious for lapped traffic, so I was weaving all day long and so I definitely ran longer than 10k, but the course is certainly accurate

total was 37:36, 6:00 pace according to my 6.27 on my watch, but for the 10k would be around 6:02-6:03 pace. Just really lost momentum in the 2nd half and had nothing in terms of turnover, cooled down for 3.1 to get to 12 on the day, will see what is next - probably should decide when to take the impending break to recharge

Gorgeous evening tonight, mid-50s and just beautiful as the sun went down, 8.7 in 7:13 avg pace + strides

treadmill 7.3 + ice bath

6 in the rain and cold

snowy morning 3.8 today

Local 5k today here in nearby Brighton. Wanted just to get a good speed day in and I think I got that. Weather was super cold this morning, mid-20s and snow still on the ground from yesterday, but once the sun came out it warmed up a little, decided to go with a long-sleeve shirt instead of singlet and arm warmers, it was just too cold when running into the wind still. warmed up for 2.3 miles probably 3 in total with strides and tempo bursts, splits of the race were 5:41, 5:50, 5:39, and :49 (for the last ".1" The course was probably about 10-12 seconds long. I ran pretty good tangents, and was still about 3.17 on the watch, so maybe just a touch long. Chip time was 17:57, which is 5:46 pace, my watch had me at the same time but for 3.17 which is 5:41 pace, I passed a ton of people from the half mile point to the first mile, going from the mass of quick starters into 5th, then I ran down two more in the second mile and was all alone for the last mile for a 3rd place overall finish. Overall, even though I was obviously hoping for a little faster, I felt good and was really happy with how well I ran the last mile of the race - 4.4 total cool down for 10.5 on the day

good treadmill run tonight, 9.6 miles in about 7:05 pace + strides on the mill

speedwork on the treadmill today, 1.5 warmup, mile repeats at 5:42, 5:39, 5:37, with .4 miles between 3:30-4:00 between, then did 2 400s at 80 and 78 seconds, felt like a challenging workout nonetheless, total was 9 miles

tough footing tonight, should have gone on the treadmill, over a foot of snow from monday to yesterday and still lots of slick spots and huge piles to jump through, not fun, plus it was super cold, 7.4 easy paced overall

treadmill this morning as the footing is still awful outside, 10.6 in about 1:20, 7:33 avg pace roughly, felt like a challenge, but probably just because I got after it right after waking up + strides (treadmill style)

treadmill again tonight, too cold and roads are still a mess so not risking it still, 9.6 in about 1:10, 7:17 avg for the run with 3.5 at 6:53 pace or low-end GMP