Believe to Achieve

Beach day in California.  Ran along the beach barefoot.  I saw a pier I wanted to see Troy run to.  He said it is over a mile a way.   I said "no way,  a 1/2 mile".  So of course while my kids and Troy waded in the ocean waves I ran along the tide to really see.  Felt nice on my feet but sand hard and soft in places and tide causing slanted footing.  But who cares, I am at the beach and little did I know this was the last day I would see the blue sky for a while.  Took over 12 minutes to reach the pier so guestimate was 1.2 miles (10 min. pace) but  I really don't know.  It was a lovely cool beach run.  Bikers and joggers filled the beach path along Long Beach.

10 on next door hotels TM.  My hotels TMs were beaten up so badly, the belts were wrinkled up.  This TM was fair, good enough to get some good running in.  Ran 10 at just under 8 minute average.  Felt great.  Thermostat set at 69 degrees in a small room.  I was sweating like I was in a sauna.  Made me feel like I was burning away the calories I was going to take in this week.  Incline 1 %.

Tried running outside.  Raining ever since Sunday night.  Yes, Disneyland day two in the rain.  Running outside not as nice as I remembered with the cool air and shorts.  Lots of stopping at the lights.  And since I am in better shape this year the stops seem longer and bugged me more.  Average pace for 9.25 miles 8:38 per garmin with all the starts and stops.  Didn't enjoy the rain run so much. Memories of SGM 2008 still lingering.  Now if it were warm that would be different.

Back to the TM room with a nice TV at least.  Wore iPod with each run.  Ran a nice warm up of about 3 miles then ran 7 min miles x 2 miles, 1.5 miles at 8 min pace, then 7 min. miles x 2 miles again.  Brief cooldown.  Incline 1 %.  Avg pace for all of 9 miles 7:50.    Sweating like a pig.  Really, tons of sweat dripping from my entire being.  Springing on to the TM. Heartrate fine, just really warm indoors at 69 degrees.  Feels quite detoxifying.

Impromptu hill workout on TM in the sauna room : D.  Warm up at 9 to 9:10 pace then ran an incline run from 1 % to 6 % increasing it 1/2 % every minute to get to 6% for two minutes then ladder down to 2 %.  Pace at 8:41 for first ladder and 8:27 for second ladder.  Total of at least 40 minutes of good hill running.  Felt strong like I could have pushed it more on pace and incline but hey, I am on vacation and walking in the rain all day every day this week around Disneyland.  Walking, walking and walking IN THE RAIN, did I say that already?

A little speedwork impromptu.  None of these runs were planned.  I just get on the TM and see what my body and mind is up for.  Warmed up for a few miles then decided to do SW by running 1/2 mile x 5 and the last SW a mile repeat.  Paces were at 6:36, 6:36, 6:31, 6:31, 6:31 and the mile was at 6:27 avg.  Incline 0 for these to just let my legs go.  The last bit of the repeats I would increase the incline to 1%.  Recovery in between was at 8:27 minute miles for 90 seconds.  Felt really comfortable.  Could have done more but hey I am on vacation and I got to get out there in the rain and start our last day riding and walking around Disneyland. 

Easy run on TM before taking off for home at 8:15 am.  Ran at 5am California time for just over an hour at 1 to 2 % grade at 8:29 average pace.  Sweat sweat sweat.  Record time drive to home -- 8 hours 45 minutes. One 5 minute stop.  Work tonight.  Slept every night this past week for 8 hours each night.  Oh what a feelin'.  Back to the grindstone.  up all night trying to get the miles in wherever and whenever I can.