Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured

Yasso 800's were on the plan for today.....I tried really hard not to be to afraid of the work out.   Annette and I met at CMS to run them on their track.  Their track runs east/west vs. the high school and other middle school with both run north/south.  This is important because we had 15 mph winds today.   We warmed up for two miles and then lined up on the track.  My goal for today was to run strong and push through and if I was lucky, be were I needed to be - 3:30.  

The splits ended up being 3:25, 3:30, 3:27, 3:30.   I went out to fast, but actually felt really good on the first one.  The next two I used mantra's to get me through and was very pleased.  I stop during the recovery before the last repeat and got a drink and this was a mistake, my legs thought we were done.   I took off and 150 meters in, my legs felt like they were going to fall off. At 200 meters I was trying to decide if I was going to throw up or pass out... not sure which was going to happen...neither did.   I just kept trying to push through and focus and ended up with a 3:30.

This is the first time I have run these on the track and actually hit my paces, previously I was always 10 - 15 seconds off.   I do not want to do them again anytime soon, but very glad with how they turned out.   I then cooled down for 2 miles and had 1 MP mile on a gradual up hill road, thinking of MCM and the first two miles up hill. One recovery mile where I ran into Jenny and Saskia, so I stopped and visited with them and then one more tempo-ish mile to finish.

My legs are tired and I love that feeling.  I am going to try to hibernate in my office as much as possible until the lunch run.

Avg Pace 8:27

I let Jenny talk me into going to spin class this morning.   I really want to like spin, but I go about every six months to remember I really don't.  You get a great work out, but I would rather be running.  A friend of her's was teaching the class and did a really good job, but I was a clock watcher and on count down the entire time.  

We ran 4 miles on the treadmill and they were slow and painful.  My calves were dying and I was struggling.  

Annette and I planned this run last week.  We were going to run the trails from Oakmont Park and invited quite a few to tag along.  We ended up with Jenny and Saskia, so a good crew.  We started out and ran 3.5 miles to the best water stop ever at the country club golf course - nice, ice-cold water and cups to drink it out of  - SWEET!  We continued on another .5 and then turned around.   On the way back we ran into Rene Villalobos and his friend and they shared the goodness out of their cooler.   He is an ultra marathoner in the area and just a truly nice guy.  He runs a marathon distance training run every Saturday and Sunday.   He gave us  a gatorade and water and we were on our way.   We ended up back at the park to make a pit stop and ended up having to move our car due to a party at the park, so a longer than normal stop.  We then headed the other direction on the trail and it was the first time I had ever been there and I loved it.   Lots and lots of people out the entire time, which was great to see and a ton of cyclists - most were extremely polite, which was nice.

I really struggled the first 8 miles, my legs were heavy and tired and my calves were tight.  I felt much better the last 4 and really enjoyed this part.  The best part of the run - we stopped at McDonald's afterwards for a chocolate dipped ice cream cone - YUM! 

Avg Pace 9:10

4 Easy miles on the treadmill at the Y, while my two younger girls swam.    Normal lunch time run and today POST NAP - How great is that!

Today's plan called for 4 MP miles and as I laid in bed gearing up to go run, I was rationalizing my way out of them - I ran long yesterday, I can do them tomorrow and on and on.  Once I got up and going, I knew I would get them in.   I ran a mile and then dropped my water bottle at CVS and then did another warm up mile.   About half way through the second warm up mile, I looked down and my pace was in the high 8's and the effort was hard and I was seriously considering backing down, but decided to give it a try.  

As usual, I cannot run MP - I am either too fast or too slow, so today's ended up being MP turned fast tempo.   Splits were:  7:34, 7:41, 7:23, 7:23.  I had to tie my show in the first mile and stop and cross a busy road in mile 2 and then I did have a longer than appropriate break in between miles 3 & 4 while I crossed a busy intersection and stopped and got a drink from my stashed water bottle.   

I then cooled down 2 miles to home and I was tired.  The last mile went on and on and on.  

The Good:  I rang strong and hard and pushed through.  I did a loop so route, so it was very honest.

The Bad:  I cannot stick to MP and I had too long of a break in between miles 3 & 4.  

The Interesting:  My pace for the entire run was 8:12, which was the pace for my first marathon - SG in 2008.   I never ran a training run at that pace during that training cycle, but I do not feel near ready to run a marathon at 8:00 pace either.

Lunch:  3 easy miles on the treadmill at the Y.  

Yoga.....

Easy miles this morning with Annette.  This has been a very good week, but my body is feeling it, so we took it very easy and enjoyed the morning.   

I am off and down near Houston watching my son play ball.   Good quality time with my 17 year old, who will be leaving home far, far too soon.  I do feel bad about my husband stuck at home with the three girls, but we all have to take our turns - right?

Avg Pace 8:58

I am down in Columbus, Texas with my son for baseball and I decided to sleep in until I woke up on my own.  Surprisingly that happened to be 6:45 - I was surprised it was that late.   I took my time getting ready and headed out around 7:20 and it was hot and humid - 78 degrees and 88% humidity.   I did an out and back enjoyed the small town scenery and an easy pace - nice running at sea level.   

Avg Pace: 8:22