Patience; the new endurance sport.

Monday Morning...A Screenplay by Luz

Brain:  Oh, look it's a beautiful day.

Body: Go back to bed.

Brain: Come on, you love going outside.

Body: My hamstrings hurt.  I'm tired.

Brain:  But running is fun!

Body:  You can say that because you're not doing the running.

Brain:  Wasn't Saturday great? Admit it, it was great.

Body:  You never appreciate anything I do for you.

Brain:  That is not true.  But if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't go anywhere.

ME:  Shut up the both of you or we're going back to teaching Yoga.

Body: Oh, I love Yoga.

Brain:  I hate Yoga.

Me:  Then SHUT UP both of you and by the end of this run you'd better be nice to each other.

2.5 miles later....

Body:  Are we there yet?

Brain:  This is fun!

TO BE CONTINUED....

Ok, I have read several blogs and communicated with several bloggers on the topic of finding that elusive balance between reaping the benefit of higher week-day mileage (6-8 mi)/cutting long run distances, while staying injury free. Lybi and Shauna and Maria have all commented on it.  I'd love a discussion/experiment among those of us trying Sasha's advice to to achieve higher weekday mileage/shorter long runs while training for our events. Also, this morning's question is:  on days after a race, or long run and you can feel your body is going to break down in some way if pushed too far-- is it better to cut your mileage and try to maintain speed, or is it better to maintain your mileage at a slower pace.  Also, Sasha you laughed at me last year when I told you I was using Hal Higdon's marathon racing guide-- have you ever mapped one out for us 7,8,9 mintue-mile runners?  I mapped one out on an excel spreadsheet last year for St. George and Ogden, but now the weekly mileage allocations seem inconsistent as I'm trying to acheive more consistent mileage (I hope by the middle of  July I'm doing 6x5 plus Sat. long run). Suggestions, schedules, directions to formerly blogged discussions is appreciated.

Without Amanda around, I've been sleeping to the indulgent hour of 6:15 a.m.-- everyone is away at basketball and summer camp this week-- no reason to stay up late or get up early I guess.  So, to all those parents of barfy, feaverish, middleofthenight waking children-- I'm on a tiny stay-at-home vacation at the moment and have an ounce of energy to give you my deepest sympathy  I was out the door only 20 minutes before sunrise, and had to endure 3/4 of a mile in direct sunlight.  I'm a baby, so it's time to get out the door earlier.  A cheer for all those Arizona runners!  I do not want to know how much water or how early one must run to have a comfortable summer run in Pheonix. 

It was a great pleasure to run with Sasha and Daniel (who did not speak one word by the way!)  AND Sarah! this morning.  When Sasha says "hey we don 't always run that fast, you should come with us a few miles so you can get over that mental block" what he means is "we'll track and pace you from behind, catch up and then shame you into running an 8:00 minute mile with us."  But I did it and it didn't kill me.(And then I ran 6 others at 9:00+....)   Here's what Sasha taught me today:  quicker, more powerful foot strikes (angry or hot pavement movements), more relax in the air, faster, tighter arms.  I do need better physical economy if I want to run further or faster.  So it's something to think about while I'm running.  Also, he suggested going all out for 1/16 between triangles at least 5 times during my run, or trying to get an 8:00 minute mile into the run.  Those were great suggestions for me. Muchisimas Gracias!---  Sarah!!!Finally we meet.  You are something else.  Come knock on my gate anytime you feel like a good 10-12 minute mile or want to eat Ice Cream (even without the cashews).  I have no doubt that when you are not 5 months along, you will kick by butt.  I have to tell you though, I wore my "pack-mule" Pearl-Izumi shorts so I could carry my phone/mace/chapstick with me--and around the time Sasha was catching up to me from behind-- I was realizing that the shorts were missing their drawstring.  Let's hear it for my pants not falling off while I was pushing an 8:00 minute mile!  Yay! Thanks you guys....Really, that was awesome for me.

First, condolences to all the Ragnar/Wasatch Back widows and widowers....Word up to my friends at KSL, Derek and Amanda, and Sasha and his group.  May the force be with you all.  Enjoy.

Today thought a lot about my foot strike and arm posture as I ran.  I did  (6) 1/16ths as fast as I could in the first 6 miles (one for every mile).  But I always felt like I was slowing down too much afterwards to recover-- it was kind of like when you save $10.00 at store, and then go spend $20.00 on something stupid.  But I will give myself two weeks to see if I can, not only do my 1/16th's, but also maintain regular speed in between.  Then I'll be getting somewhere.  Sarah met me about 5 1/2 miles into my run and gave me a chance to chit-chat about the blog and about running in general.  That girl is tough. I like her. I was musing about how I can not believe anyone can do a 6 minute mile. She told me that the fast runners she's asked have said --besides discipline and commitment--that they just like to go fast. It was a huge relief for me, to believe that they LIKE to go fast!  Oh, it's not all masochism and pain-- they LIKE it!    Well, I really like 9:00 minute miles. I guess that's why I keep doing them.  But I'm going to start liking 8:00 minute miles by October.  That will be a good accomplishement for me. 

Happy Summer Solstice! This is my first week to hit 40+ miles so far this year.  I'm feeling so much stronger than I did earlier in the year (surgery in Decmeber really socked it to me). I'd like to keep this up throughout the summer if my body will accept it.  But man, these 7-9 mile days have made me sleepy. I had a big week: the Riverwoods 10 miler (I came in 6th in my division, by the way), my first lame attempts at 'speed training,' plus pushing that 40 miles this week.  For me, those were some milestones.  The swimming for Ironman was going on down at the lake today, and by the time I was headed back, I was being passed by bikers.  It's going to be a HOT day today.  I'm glad not to be running Ragnar today.  My running is through for this weekend.  Is 9:08 a.m. too early for a nap?