Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured

Tuesday - December 22

Monday's plan on Tuesday due to travel.   60 min of easy running on the treadmill OR 60 min of mental strength practicing on the treadmill --take your pick :)   

60 min / 6.79 miles

Thursday, December 23

Plan:  20 min warm / cool down
         8-10 Yasso's

So much to say about this workout......

I get so excited for my mid-week speed workout  - that is until the day arrives and I dread the workout and doubt my abilities.  I try to come up with a million reasons as to why I shouldn't do it and it makes more sense to run easy.   This has been my MO since I moved to Texas and left the comfort of my training group.   

Yasso's are even worse, in complete disclosure, I have never completed an entire Yasso workout - even going back to my group on SLC.  I would start and then find an excuse and go run easy on the road.   

Today started out the exact same way.  My husband drove me to the track and dropped me off, saving my legs the 2 miles of uphill running to the middle school.   I did a two mile warm up and started right in.  Normally after the warm up, I do some drills and focus, not today...all in right away.   The first 800 wasn't so bad, either was the second and then the third the mental wheels started to fall off.  I don't feel good, maybe I should just quit.  I told my self to get half-way through and if I still want to throw in the towel, I could have the option.   Fourth actually felt good and from there on out it wasn't too bad.  The last couple were tough, but that is how it should be.  

As I have with the past speed days, I have really focused on effort, not on time/pace and that really seems to help.   I was beyond pleased with the workout and  - I FINISHED!!   I walked of the track pretty dang happy.

Splits:  3:41, 3:37, 3:38, 3:37, 3:33 (not sure how that happened), 3:37, 3:36, 3:36  Exactly where I would like to be.

1:31:26 / 11 miles  / 8:19 avg pace

Friday, December 25 Plan 30-45 min easy run

I love running on Christmas and something I have done for the past 10 or so years.   Such a great morning and I headed out around 11:00 am - 60 degrees, sun shinning, light breeze - perfect!   I ended up finishing at just over 40 min and needed a bathroom.  My poor diet the past few days is catching up with me.   

40:17 / 4.69 / 8:35

Saturday, December 26 - Plan 18-22 miles

We sent our daughter off to college this morning, she and my husband left about 4:00 am - way to early for me to be out pounding the pavement by myself.   I went back to bed, with every intention of heading out between 6-7.  I woke up with a headache and dehydrated and decided against heading out early and I would head out/or hit the treadmill if necessary later in the day.

Finally got down to business around 6:00 pm and due to rain and tornado warnings, I was on the treadmill.  I have never done a 20 miler on the treadmill, I think the longest previously was around 16 miles.   I broke it into 3 mile segments for water and Gu'd at 6, 12, & 18 but was not overly efficient.  I ended up having to make a hotel reservation for my husband because they got stuck due to weather, way to many bathroom breaks to count and the last two miles were dang HARD.   I was trying to figure out why, but realized afterwards, my internal body temp had gotten way to high.  

So glad to have gotten it done...I don't know that I would do another 20 on the treadmill ( I feel like I have run a marathon), but I did it, when I could have given up.   

20 miles / 2:55:59 / 8:47 avg pace