Of Mice and Marathons

PM: Treadmill - 8.25 miles with a set of 200s starting at 5k pace and ending at mile pace

Lunch: Treadmill - 5 miles in a bit under 35 minutes w/ blown workout

Plan was mile repeats starting around 5:49 and cutting down. I overshot the first one but it felt fine, then toward the end the effort got high (10.4), jogged a quarter and did the next one at 10.3. Just could not concentrate. Started another one at 10 after deciding I was going to try to just get through the workout. By then my head wasn't in it (it really wasn't from the beginning).

Couple problems here

1. Too cocky from last week

2. My head was really not in it. Having a tough time getting out of bed with the weather and not knowing about full-time job prospects.

3. I am much faster on the roads from 200s to marathon effort

PM: Treadmill - 8.5 miles. Followed that up with two turkey burgers and some baked sweet potato fries. That was good.

Unplanned day off.

Got home a bit after 9:00 and could have jumped on the treadmill, but didn't. Went to a lecture on prisoners and voting rights. Intriguing stuff, but I think the level of discussion was a bit too much for college students. Taught my two classes and Megan and I went to a play called Mothers and Sons. To think most of my days used to get busy like this. Free time is nice but an over abundance can drive you crazy (but I guess the alternative does too).

Got into Broad Street, which most people do. I want to run it hard but it's two weeks before a potential marathon, and one week after my key half. If I change my half to the end of march I have fewer weeks to get fit and my key 5k is a week later. Trying to be judicious with my race fee money this spring.

AM: 8.5 miles easy + strides. Did core at the gym after.

PM: 5 miles + stretching

AM: Treadmill - 9 miles in 60 minutes. Did 2 x 15 minutes at 6:00 to a touch faster with 4 minute recovery jog. Strides after the last interval and a 3 minute recovery jog.

I was supposed to wait and do a 4-5 mile tempo tomorrow but wasn't sure about the route getting there due to recent weather. Still should have waited one more day given Monday. Supposed to be quite cold in the morning and I hate running fast in tights. Today's workout wasn't what I wanted (4-5 tempo) but the effort was there. I wanted to quit pretty much every minute in the last repeat. I much prefer the roads where I don't have a clock staring me in the face. Still need to settle down a little and let my 10k the weekend after next judge my fitness (too long a time without a race). I'm ready to get after it and if not win, get a podium spot. 

PM: no shakeout. Megan and I ended up not coming home for dinner, getting a light dinner and very rare early week early day beers (5:30 is early drinking for a night owl).. We went to a fiction reading, which I enjoyed (they had free wine and small ginger cookies). When I was a serious student I used to do academic and cultural things all the time. Pretty insular these days but I had a solid week attending lectures and cultural events. I have plenty to eat, I'm warm, I can run a ton, and Megan is amazing. The rest will fall into place.

PM: 8 miles easy

16 degrees with some biting winds. Snow tomorrow, which will mess up the tempo loop when in rains on Sunday and then freezes on Monday. Ho hum.

Lunch: 7.25 miles easy

PM: Treadmill - 5.25 miles + strides. Set of weights.