Denouement

Ran on treadmill, just under 8 min pace

60 min elliptical 

Big snowstorm.  My computer fried with the power outages, but it's back up again!  Thankfully we had the option of running in the afternoon.

I met Tyler at 4pm.  Did 3.37 mile warm up in 7:51 pace.  Then did 20 x 25 sec on/off.  I fluctuated between feeling great and feeling foul because of stomach issues.  Went to the bathroom 2 times in the intervals and 2 times afterward.  I tell you, Christmas treats and training do not go well together.  Fast parts were in 5:19, pretty much crazy fast, and that includes one that was slow because we hit a slushy corner we were supposed to turn right when a garbage truck was coming at us.  Tyler drug me through this workout, like has been typical since my marathon.  We also did the slow parts faster than I would have on my own, some were sub 8:00 pace.  I did feel good for the last 5 intervals.  Tyler had about a 7 min cool down, but I did 2.25 in 20 min, so I got my slow miles in after all :D

Core workout in evening.  Still doing Stage 3, Level 1 of McMillan's dvd's, and my incision point doesn't hurt anymore, and that area is just slightly tender. 

Had early work meetings.  Ended up working from 7:15-12:30, then running.  Ran from Wills pit stop, to carterville, turning right, and ran to the Provo River trail, turning around half way.  It reminded me of my run with Melody and Julie E so many months ago.  It was snowy in some sections, raining almost the whole time.  My feet were sopping, the rest of me damp when I was done.  I had oatmeal at 6:15 and a fiber one bar and an apple at 9:30, so I was starving during the run. Ave pace 8:14

Tyler ended up needing to patch up I-15, so I did my long run with MacK, Aub and Beth, at least part of it with them.  I met Mack at Loafer.  I couldn't find my gloves (found out after the run that they were in my purse) so I was so glad MacK had fuzzy socks in her car.  It wasn't cold, just drizzly so I thought those would be fine.  We had no water planted, and I was on my own after 11 miles, and was planning to do 14-16 with a fast finish (last 2-4 miles at half marathon pace).  I took a gu at mile 12 w/o water (that didn't hurt my stomach), and I was starting to drag.  It was raining harder now and I was soaked through. My water resistant coat wasn't doing its job, and my easy pace was slowing to about 9 min pace.   To make matters worse, I was a mile further out than I wanted to be, so I was jumping from a 14 mile to a 17 mile long run on accident.  I had to crest Zephyr hill and then make a decision quickly about whether to try to jump my soggy self into a fast finish, which would end up being more than 2mm faster than current pace.  

I crested, then thought how if I tempoed, I would be back to my car in about 13 min, so that decided it.  I decided to do the fast finish but, to adjust expected pace to just under 7mm, since I was soggy and tired.  I did 6:33, then 6:27 (speeding up last 1/4 mile as much as I could, though I was beat).  I was so proud of myself to tell the truth.  I feel like I'm coming back, if I can find the spine to do these fast miles in these conditions.  Things are looking up!

Core workout in PM 

Slept in until 8:30, started my run around 9:15, did 32:30 out and back.  8.3 in 65 min.  Felt good.  Afterward went to the day spa in Salem and bought Paul a 12 tan pass for a stocking stuffer.  He's going to be my roasted Christmas goose!  Merry Christmas all!

Periwinkle shoes

Did 30 min steady state, after breakfast and presents.  Warmed up 20 min, then did tempo, averaged 6:32, wanted to hit 6:30 ave pace but sucked it up a hill.  I tried to be strong but the hill was stronger.  Happy in general to have clear roads and do better than last week's steady state.  Going on a three day two night ski trip now.  Fun!