The Next Step

Nice morning for running (44, calm).  Somehow this week I strained a muscle in my left hamstring.  It bothered me all day Sunday.  I stretched it out good Sunday night and it felt better this morning.  It was tender when I started running but actually felt a lot better after I got warmed up.  I felt good running this morning.  After the long run on Sat it seems the legs recovered nicely.  I planned on just running easy this morning because of the hamstring issue and recovery from the long run.  A few times during the run I had to catch myself and slow down because I was naturally pushing the pace.  Seems like a good sign after the long run.  I want to get one more solid week of training in then start the taper.  Thanksgiving holidays will make that a little tough since we are going out of town to visit family.

8m in 61:40 (7:43 avg)

PM:  I was able to squeeze in a few more miles after work.  It was nice out (50, calm).  I felt really good and just ran by how I felt.  I wasn't really pushing or holding back just running what felt comfortable and trying not to look at the watch.  I felt like I picked it up as I went along and was a good run.

6.15m in 46:32 (7:34 avg)

Another nice morning (48, light wind).  Today I was planning on doing a tempo run but after warming up for a couple of miles I knew that it wouldn't be a good day so decided to just take it easy and see what tomorrow feels like.  I have been experimenting with running doubles and I don't think my body is used to it yet.  Yesterday I felt great but today I felt sluggish.  Maybe on my next training cycle I can run more doubles and get used to it.

1:12:52 (8:06 avg)

It was rainy, cool (45) and very windy this morning.  It looked like that rain was going to stop so I started out and got about a 1/4 of a mile into the run and it started raining again.  I didn't want to be out in the cool, windy weather and get wet.  Always seems a lot colder when it is wet.  I went back in and decided to run on the TM.  I would have perferred to go outside.  Anyway, wanted to do a MP run today so started off with some easy miles to warmup then got into the MP miles.  I ran 10 MP miles between 7:10 and 6:53 with most closer to 7:00.  I didn't feel the best today.  My legs were just heavy and a couple of times in the run I thought about cutting it short but I hung in to get in the 10 MP miles I was hoping for.  Now we are packing up and heading to KY to see the family for Thanksgiving.  That will make it more difficult to stay on schedule so I was glad to get today's run in.

1:41:55 (7:09 avg)

Somerset, KY:  Visited family all day yesterday so didn't get a chance to run.  Ran this afternoon.  It was mid 40's and pretty windy.  I felt good and ran easy.  I did add a few miles at MP toward the end.  It was a hilly route so was glad to get in some hill training.  Hoping I will be able to go longer tomorrow.

7:30 avg

Somerset, Ky:  It was a cool morning (mid-30's) but sunny and it warmed up quickly.  I ran on a very hilly route that was pretty much up and down the whole way.  Most of the hills were long but not too steep.  This was a good training run for Huntsville.  I felt good starting out but tried to run easy and relaxed.  I wasn't sure how I would do on the hills plus it was pretty windy and I ended up running the last 6 miles dead into a head wind.  I felt good the whole way and was glad to get this one down since we were visiting family and it is always hard to get a long run in while visiting.  Now it is tapering the next two weeks for the marathon.  

2:22:24 (7:54 avg)