The Next Step

Sunday is normally my day off but I we are going to be going out of town later in the week and will miss at least one day so wanted to front load the training this week.  I went to the local cross country course to run today.  It had just rained so I got to run through some mud along the course which brought back some memories from high school cross races.  It was pretty fun.  I took it real easy as a recovery run from yesterday's long run.  I ran the 5k course twice then did some barefoot running in the grass after that.  Felt pretty good overall just a little stiff/tight from yesterday.

60:19

Very nice morning for running (58, sunny).  I felt pretty tired/stiff this morning so started off kind of easy.  I did start to feel better after 2 miles so gradually picked up the pace.  After 5 or 6 felt pretty much normal.  I have been noticing some pain in my right hip.  I have tired some extra stretching but not going away or getting worse.  Got some new shoes over the weekend so tired them out today and loved them (Saucony Wave).

64:23

Another great day (57, sunny) to run.  Today I planned on doing my medium long run but wanted to add a twist by doing the last 4 miles at marathon pace.  I want to practice running faster with tired legs.  I felt pretty good starting today just the normal stiffness.  It takes awhile to get the old body going.  After a couple of miles I was feeling pretty good and on a day like today you can't help but enjoy running.  After about 6 miles I started slowly picking up the pace and by mile 7 I was comfortably into marathon pace (7:10).  It felt comfortable running at this pace.  I didn't feel like I had to push very hard to maintain it but started to feel tiredness in my legs the last 1/2 mile to mile.  I ran the 4 MP miles in 7:12, 7:15, 7:13, 7:05.

85:04 (7:44 avg)

Nice morning (62, cloudy).  Just did an easy recovery run today.  Felt pretty good the whole way but wanted to make sure that I took it easy since I have had a few aches and pains lately.  Also, since we are going on vacation Fri I am planning on doing my long run tomorrow. 

65:36 (8:12 avg)

Since we are leaving on vacation tomorrow I decided to do my long run today since I know that I wouldn't be able to do it otherwise.  We have had some great days for running over the last couple of weeks.  Today was not one of them.  The heat and humidity is starting to come back.  I got out early but it was still 75 and humid when I finished.  The first 2/3 was not too bad but the last 4 or 5 miles felt pretty warm.  I still felt pretty good running today and the warmer weather didn't really slow my pace a whole lot.  I took it real easy the first 5 miles knowing that the humidity was up and that I should be conserative.  I actually picked up the pace some over that last 5 miles.  I am going to try to get in as much running as I can during vacation but it will probably still be a lower mileage week.  This actually comes at a pretty good time since I have had 4 weeks pretty solid weeks in a row and probably need a little recovery before taking the mileage higher.

2:12:56 (8:18 avg)

In Hershey, PA today and it was warm and humid this morning.  I did an easy run and felt pretty good the whole way. Got is a few hills along the route which was good.  Will spend the rest of the day touring Hershey.

57:40