Of Mice and Marathons

PM 10 miles easy. 5 with Megan then looped around here and there.

+ Rolling, stretching, and core (very late)

AM/Lunch: 8 miles easy.

PM: 6 miles. Did 6 x 200 on the track in 36.8 average to get the legs stretched out. Stride felt smooth and powerful.

+ Rolling, stretching, and core (very late)

AM: Off. Might take the afternoon off too and put my day off in earlier than planned (Friday). I took off Saturday before the marathon last year just before my last longer run and doing so sooner before I really start to taper seems to work best. I'm 32 days on, which means I usually take a day whether I want to or need to or not.

PM: off. Felt good to rest. Got a nap in. Grumpy, which generally happens when I don't run.

(Weight 173.3)

AM: 13 miles, averaged 7:05. 10 Day Out Workout, 3.5 up/3.3 down. Few strides cooling down.

Well, 11 days technically but Wednesday is my "midweek workout get nothing else done in the morning day." Like last fall and spring 2013 I did a 10k wave tempo alternating ks @ HMP/MP. It's a difficult workout at this point in a buildup. It was around 60 and humid for November 11 with a little wind. Felt okay to maybe "just kind meh" but this is very typical. A day off yesterday didn't help but have me some rest so it helped overall. Stride felt clunky and had no turnover.

Goal was roughly 3:35 per k (5:46 pace) and recover at 3:55 per k (6:18 pace). Usually I will not be able to get down to my recent HMP and my MP will be too fast and as HMP gets slower MP gets faster. Not today, but I was on the track too. HMP intervals were consistent but MP was all over the place! My body was getting confused between a straight tempo and kilometer repeats. I'd start too fast or too slow then try to get on pace.

10k in 37:34 (6:03 pace) (5:50 for HMP/6:16 for MP)

3:37/3:50

3:37/3:52

3:38/3:57

3:37/3:58

3:38/3:50

PM: 5 miles.

AM: Off.

PM: 6.25 miles easy.

+ Rolling, stretching, and core (very late)

AM/Lunch: 8.25 miles.

The price on a pair of ISO Triumphs came down enough finally for me to try a pair. I am very impressed. I wanted a high mileage shoe for recovery runs, long runs, whatever runs. I picked up a pair of Rides a few months ago and they are too firm for as much cushion as they have and they are too inflexible and for faster runner I think makes my achilles work harder (a completely untested theory). The ISO Triumphs were fantastic on this first run. Cushy but not squishy! I now want a closet of them.

PM: 5 miles.

Noon: 8.5 miles somewhat moderate. George Bush run.

PM: 5 miles with Megan. We ran on Forbidden Drive and it was very dark even with the street lights and my headlamp. Not super smart given that it's a perfect place to get attacked even in the very upper-middle class neighborhood of Chestnut Hill. Very clear and crisp.

This might be my last double. I am ready to run a marathon and yet I'm enjoying my fitness. Medium long tomorrow, 2-3 mile tempo on Wednesday, and descending singles up to race day. It's been an excellent buildup after a fairly crappy spring racing season.