Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured

2.1 to meet the group

3.75 with the group

2.65 home

Felt off all day, slow and completely annoyed with everything - my shirt, my left knee was achy, needed to use the bathroom.....

Glad it is done and hopefully all the annoying stuff is done as well.

I had a hard time gearing up for this workout and it is usually one I like.  It is normally 4x1.15 mile repeats on a hilly road outside my neighborhood.  It is very similar to the BBK workout at Parkway Palisades.   Anyways, I was on my own and struggling.   I have also become far to aware of my time/pace and not focusing on the run.   Did the first repeat and was dissapointed with my time and did the second and was frustrated.  I should have made myself do the next two but decided I would do hill sprints - this is what the plan I am following called for but I normally like the long hilly repeats and in marathon training, they serve there purpose.  Ran and lectured myself for .75 to the bottom of the hill I was going to sprint and did the 4 repeats without timing them.   I ran them hard and have no idea pace or time but I did run each hard.   This is a valuable lesson for me to learn at this point in the training cycle....work out by feel and get it done, quit looking at the watch.   I never paid attention when I ran with the BBKs, it was fun and some days we pushed more than others, but lately I have become way to focused on the time, not what I am trying to accomplish.   

Avg Pace 8:37 - 3 warm up, 5 hilly & sprints, 2 recovery/cool down.

Nice recovery morning with the group - Avg Pace 9:09

I have been sick the past few days.   I woke up Thursday expecting to run but ended up right back in bed and fought a fever most the day.   I ended up taking Friday off but I was starting to feel better until I was driving back from Dallas during the peak traffic that afternoon.    About half way home I started to really not feel good and barely made it home  - I will spare the details from here, but I was not feeling well all evening.  Went to bed early and woke up to met the group and it only took about five minutes before I realized I would be in trouble if I ran.   Back to bed until 8:45 -  I haven't sleep in that late in years.   

I have felt pretty good most the day so I decided to get out this afternoon which was a mistake.   I head out at 4 pm with a temp of 83 and wind of 15-20 mph.     I headed into the wind for the first 3.25 and then turned around.   I pushed way to hard on the way out and when I hit the turn around it was rough.   I never could get in to a rhythm and I finally stopped and walked for a minute at the 5 mile mark and told myself pace didn't matter, just find a pace that works and try to enjoy the rest of the run.   It was rough!   I pushed way more than I should have, especially early on; my legs were extremely crampy the entire time.    All a combination of not feeling well this week, stress from work, weather and poor decision making.    Goal for next week is to get it done.   Next week was to be my recovery week, but that is now this week and next week is back to full mileage.

Splits: 9:02, 8:37, 7:59, 7:53, 7:58, 8:39, 8:27, 8;07

Avg Pace 8:21