Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured

This is my big week, I am hoping to peak at 70 miles prior to SGM and this is the week.    I am traveling most the week so I am changing my normal routine up a little.  Mondays are usually recovery days but with the holiday I had a chance to get some mileage in.   The original plan was to warm up, do some tempo and then cool down, but with my hip I decided to do easy miles.   The hip is much better today do to plenty of massage yesterday but it took a few miles for the tightness to wear off.   I ran with Paula for the first 8 and we did a very nice job staying just around 9 min miles with the first mile slow because of the warm up.  Stopped back at my house for a gu and drink and then went to finish.  I was able to keep it slow for a few miles but it didn't last long and I started picking up the pace and my splits for the second half were 8:43 (1.25 miles up hill), 8:37, 8:14, 7:57, 8:05, 7:42, 8:06.  Not quite so good at taking it easy but the hip held up nicely.   We had started late, 7:00 am, so that I could get some "heat" training in and I seemed to do okay but after about 5 miles into the second half of the run I could have used some water.  

Ave Pace:  8:45

Happy Running!

Nice easy recovery run in San Diego.  Hip felt good.  

Ave Pace 9:23

Still in San Diego.  I warmed up for 2 miles and then was planning on doing a progressive run with some rolling hills, but at 2.5 miles I fell.   Scrapped my hands, shoulder and right knee (very badly).  Got up and collected myself and decided to continue with the run.  I was slow going until I got passed by a girl going up the hill.  Pick it up and ended up passing her and running 1.25 miles at a 7:45 pace.  She must have turned off because when I hit the turn around point she was gone.  Recovered and then did another fast mile.  Hip is getting tighter.

Ave Pace 8:4

Last morning in San Diego.  Nice easy paced run but I was very tentive due to yesterdays fall.  Hip worse.

Ave Pace 9:05

Good to be back home.  Ran with Paula and the hip hurt.  Had to stop and stretch a couple of times.  Lots of stretching and massage tonight.  Very tired, but glad it is done.  Still very tentative. 

Ave Pace 9:55

Happy Running!

Met Cheris, Julie, both Michelle's, Angela, Melanie and Annette at Dimple Dell and to run Wasatch Blvd.   I have been a little scared to do this run all week because I know how hilly it is.  

Good Things

It is over and I didn't die.  Today marks the start of the taper.

I ran with a great group of people today

I was stronger as the run went on with some of my fastest miles on the last couple, which were flat.

It is almost the same exact pace as last years 22 miler, however that was a much easier course

Met my goal for the week, even when I had plenty of reasons to not.

Bad Thing

I walked twice.  This is a first for me in a long training run.  Both were up steep hills - but booo!

Lessons Learned

My concerns on whether I was losing fitness or just extremely exhausted are no more.  I am completely exhausted.    I am not sore at all now, just so tired that all I want to do is lay down.   All the travel has taken it's toll along with all the eating out, my diet is terrible.    The good thing is I can fix this.  I have no scheduled travel between now and the SGM and I will be getting plenty of rest.

On race day I need to stick to my own plan and not get caught up in all the excitement.  

There you have it.   Glad I did it.  Actually want to do it again because I know that I am stronger than what I was today, but glad it will not be for a while.

Ave Pace:  8:54

Happy Running!