Pool Running is Fun

It was a humid, windy and rough one out there. at 4:00 am it was 71 degrees and humid. A Cold front began coming through which caused the wind to kick up. I went into the race feeling fine but it soon became apparent that it was going to be a hard day.

I went out with the pack in 5:40--really slow stuff and then started getting to work. However, the mile markers were way off. after 3 miles I let the pack go since we were running straight into the wind and slightly uphill. I was afraid that if I went with the pack I would ot have enough left. That was a mistake because I proceded to run the entire rest of the race completely alone in the wind, and my nemesis the humidity. On top of that I had too many shot Bloks and my stomach was rebelling and I had to pee. 

Unlike the beautiful and cool workout last week which truly showed my current fitness, I feel this race was a sad reflection of where I am at which is mentally draining. The most solid training in my life the past four weeks and I'm off my PR by two+ minutes. It's frustrating. I wasn't the only one. The winning time was two minutes slower than last year, my buddy Greg also ran two minutes slower than last year. It seems the only people who had great times on my team were those whose marathon training is basically over since they are racing Chicago.

I also feel my mental state has a large affect on my ability to believe in myself and thus results in shitty performances. I should have stayed with the pack. They weren't even running that fast but I was afraid and backed off early. I should have just hung on.

I know I'm doing everything correctly but yet another disappointing race performance is enough to really piss you off. I also need new flats. Rome wasn't built in a day and once the weather cooperates and I have a few more monster long runs in me, I'll have my day*. You better believe it.

*That still doesn't mean I'm not kind of ticked at my race today

PM: 1 hr. pool run. I haven't given up yet.

AM: 9 easy + standard core routine, stretch, foam rolling

cooler this morning (of course). Not even that sore/tired which tells me I could have run harder. Spent the run thinking about how I could have run better yesterday and the futility of the sport without insane amounts of genetic talent that 99% of us don't have.

PM: 5 easy in the rain. Actually a little chilly. the leaves are beginning to die

AM: 10 easy + alternate core routine, stretch, foam rolling.

PM: 5 easy

vey nice running weather this morning. My calf muscles are sore from the race. I really dug into them with the foam roller. 

AM: 2 WU 8x2min with 1 min off then about 4 easy

PM: 5.5 easy + alternate core routine, stretch, foam rolling

a light fartlek to stretch the legs this morning. Nothing too intense, didn't go any faster than marathon pace, just enough to get the remaining sluggishness out of my legs. Great weather. You can smell running in the air. check out this cool video: https://www.facebook.com/tracksmithrunning/videos/311088185681858/ 

AM: 9 easy + standard core routine, stretch, foam rolling.

PM: 5 easy + drills and strides

tired and hungry this morning. Although that's pretty much the state I'm in 70-80 percent of the time which is typical of higher mileage.

AM: 3 WU 5K tempo 2.5 CD  (5:26, 5:10, 5:06, 36 = 16:18)

a decent tempo but short due to the half marathon recovery protocol. I pushed the pace on the second mile and cruised in without going too far over tempo threshold before stopping.

PM: 5.5 recovery + standard core routine, stretch, foam rolling

AM: 10 easy

PM: 5 easy

Lovely fall day. A Lot of fast times at a local race in Clarendon. I would have loved to run it but being in a marathon cycle you've got to keep your eye on the real prize on November 22 in Philadelphia.