dedication, perseverance, self-discipline

Just a short run today to test out the knee after the issues I was having at the end of last week.  No pain during the run, but I felt like there was a degree of instability when I ran down steeper downhill grades.  I felt a mild ache in my knee after I finished, but no pain and the achy feeling went away after a few minutes.  Total time of 38:03 for 5 miles.

Seeing that today went fairly well I will probably try to run about 10 miles tomorrow.  Hopefully all goes well tomorrow, and I can get back to normal in a few days.

I ran an easy run this morning on the treadmill at school.  I wanted to be able to bail at any time if the knee flared up so I ran indoors today.  7 miles in 53:01.

PM: I ran 3 more miles as I had to collect video data for a class.  I wanted to do this on Saturday but as my knee was hurting I waited until today (I couldn't wait any longer because the assignment is due on Friday).  I was nervous because I had to run hard prior to taking the video, but I hoped that I would be fine.  The test consisted of running at a preferred speed (8.3mph for me) that was determined during a blind test, followed by increases of 15% every 2 minutes until failure.  I warmed up at 7-7.3mph for 2 minutes and then started the test.  I started at 8.3, then after 2 min I upped the pace to 9.5, then 10.8, then 12.0, followed by 13.3 (4:30ish pace) and finally 14.5 (4:08 pace).  I was not expecting to last the full two minutes at 14.5mph but somehow I did it.  I did know that there was no way I was going to be able to go up to 15.8 so I didn't up the pace after 2 min and instead maintained 14.5 for 11 seconds after the 2 min was up before stopping.  I honestly could have lasted a little longer, but for the purposes of my test I had done enough and my legs were dead.  I am not sure what to think of this, but based on the speeds I was running at I set a pr in the 800 (2:04) and in the mile (4:20) during this test.  It makes me wonder if I really have more speed than I have realized previously.  I also wonder if the treadmill moving underneath me might have provided a benefit that I can not duplicate when running on the track.  I guess that I can chalk these up as treadmill prs if that is worth anything 

I ran to school this morning.  I was actually sore after the test that I did yesterday, and my shins and quads were complaining just a little.  Overall the run was good.  1:01:53 for 8.6 miles.

PM:  I started to run home, and Kimia picked me up because I didn't want to run too much as I am still taking it easy after my knee scared me last week.  I only made it about 2.2 miles before Kimia got to where I was at.  I was planning on going a little farther, but it didn't bother me to keep the run short.

I ran to school this morning.  8.6 miles in 1:01:27

PM:  I ran part of the way home before Kimia picked me up.  3.8 miles. 

I stayed up really late last night finishing a project for school, so I ended up sleeping in this morning, and I cut my run a little short so that I could have enough time to get ready to go to Kimia's ceremony to become a citizen.  I ran a total of 9 miles in 1:07:58

I ran my long run this afternoon while Anita was taking a nap.  I have not gotten enough sleep lately because I have had a bunch of projects due at school and I could tell that I was not 100% today.  I ran out to Sunset park and took it easy until I had been running a little under 11 miles.  I then ran a hard loop of the park in 14:23 (just under 5:20 pace) followed by another easy loop of the park before I started running home.  I was originally planning on running 2 loops of the park hard, but I was tired so I decided to only run the one lap hard, followed by a little more speedwork on the way home from the park.  I ran 1.8 miles hard on the way home and averaged about 5:20-21 pace for 1.8 miles (9:37).  I finished 20.2 miles in 2:17:xx.  I was glad to be done.  Hopefully with spring break next week I will be able to rest and get a more normal running schedule in as my knee is not bothering me anymore.