Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured

Week 7: Saturday:  90 min progression run in thirds.

I ended up sick on Saturday and had to move the workout to Monday.    The first third was easy, middle was moderate paced and last 30 min were hard.   It ended up being a pretty good workout based on effort.

Splits:  9:23, 9:16, 8:54, 8:28, 8:13, 8:03, 8:14, 7:43, 7:52, 7:42, 6:14 (.82 mile)

1:30:00 / 10.82 miles / avg pace 8:19

Week 8:  Monday - 30-45 min easy run

Due to the long run on Monday, Monday's run was pushed to Tuesday.

Easy run that was extra easy.   I was slow and never really tried to get out of first gear, which with the week I am having is probably okay.

36:01  / 3.85 / 9:22 avg pace

Week 8  - Wednesday:  20 min up/down with 2-4 mile tempo@LT pace

This is the type of workout  that I am mentally afraid of and will often find a "reason" as to why I cannot get it done and today was no exception.  I pushed the workout a day to Thursday due to work travel and was pretty close to bagging it this morning to help my daughter with her homework, citing that my husband had other things to due.  Not true and he all but kicked me out the door to get it done.   

20 min warm up 9:33, 9:09, +1:19

Tempo:  7:42, 7:28, 7:34 - I did not check my watch once, just focused on effort and was very pleased.   I had some pretty good hills during mile three and would have probably been close to the same pace as the second mile.   I have learned that I can managed these workouts better when  I focus on effort not trying to achieve a specific pace.   

20 min cool down 8:35, 8:38, +3:01

Week 8 Saturday:  16-20 mile log run

I slept in and finally headed out around 9:00 am which meant that the wind had picked up and whenever I headed south, it was straight into the wind.   The positive about heading out later is that I can run on the two lane farm roads and places I do not normally run during the week.     I ended up spending the first half exploring some of the roads out to the sw of where I live and then the second have was comprised of the same roads I run during the week.   I had some pretty good hills along the way ...most of them into the wind - that is the way it goes.   

Splits: 9:18, 8:38, 8:42, 8:46, 8:26, 8:28, 8:32, 8:32, 8:39, 8:36, 8:47 (had to walk in some grass to avoid traffic and falling), 8:35, 8:24, 8:19, 8:23, 8:31, 8:22

Gu's at 7 and 14 and water stops at 10 & 16

I have three major projects going on at work right now and one of my daughters graduated from high school on Friday and is leaving for college right after Christmas - so it has been a little crazy.  My diet has been less than stellar and I have missed strength training and doing the little things.   All of this made this run much harder than it needed to be.   At the half way point, I was tired and mentally worn out, but we persevere and get it done.   I ended up feeling better during the second half and I am very proud of mile 16 (8:23)..one mile into the wind the entire time and I felt like I was running in sludge and going nowhere.  I really expected to see into the 9's and was shocked by the 8:23.    

I cannot believe I am half-way done with this cycle, it has flown by.

2:34:06 / 18 miles / 8:34 avg. pace