Runnin' in Mud...

Hwy 205, 1:00 p.m., cloudy, 65, and windy.  The winds were blowing from WSW @ 20 mph, but gusting up to 30 mph, which made for a fun run!  Post injury, this is my highest mileage.  3 more big weeks, a taper week, and then my goal race.  Things are feeling good again and I am motivated for some fast races at every distance this year.  I plan to hold 45-55 mpw for the rest of the year.  7 miles in 54:50 (7:50 pace).

I was off for President's Day and took full advantage of it - took daughter to see the Hannah Montana Movie/Concert.  It is a Disney production and I was shocked when I was charged $15.00 per ticket.  I inquired and the young lady at the ticket office said, "Disney sets the prices, not us!"  My daughter watches the show and me going from room to room, I tend to hear the songs, etc.  I even find myself humming the little tunes at times.  I actually like the 3D effects of the movie, despite the goofy glasses we had to wear.  We went to lunch before and had a good Daddy/Daughter day.  She still likes going places with me and "hanging out" and going on dates with me.  She is a bit over 5 years, but I'm sure the day will come that she gets embarrassed by Dad and his short running shorts, etc.

Prior to the day's activities, I tried to run an easy 5 miles.  I ran, but it was a bit quicker than I would have liked (7:33 avg/mile).  I guess my fitness is really coming around, which is good.  I have only 3 more weeks of solid training before the 1/2 marathon.  My left hip is still a little on the tight side, but it feels muscular.  My wife has a busy week with meetings, etc.  She works 95% of the time from home, so this week, I have to arrange my work schedule and juggle when to do my running.  I will attempt to top 50 mpw this week.    

AHS, 3:45 p.m., sunny, 52.  The plan was 4x2000m @ 6:20/mile pace.  I completed the workout (4x2000m in 7:48, 7:46, 7:51, 7:51).  I was a bit fast on the 2nd one and actually had to run out to lane 8 a few times due to the H.S. track practice.  It was probably closer to 7:44 or so.  I avg. 7:49 for the workout or 6:17/mile pace.  I felt sluggish from the first one, but I never felt any worse as the workout went on.  My first repeat usually start a bit rough and get better.  I wanted to have my recovery interval at 2:00, but did 2:07, 2:21, 2:37.  On a scale of 1-10, 10 being race effort - this was a 6.5 or so.  A confidence builder, for me.

An unplanned day off.  I took today off, because the left outside portion of my hip is sore.  Again, I am paranoid because my previous stress fracture began as deep buttock pain (felt muscular).  This ache does definitely feel muscular or similar to a hip flexor strain, extends some to the front of my hip, but also the side.  As I type this on Thursdy morning, I don't feel it at all when I walk.  I will attempt to run later in the day to "test" it.  Of course, I will probably be overly cautious, as the race is 24 days away (yes, I have a countdown timer on my computer)! 

Patriot Lake, 3:45 p.m., cloudy, 50.  After a day off yesterday, my left hip feels much better.  I felt twinges at times, but not what I would call pain.  It didn't affect my stride at all and it actually loosened up as I ran.  I stopped for ~:30 to stretch my left hamstring and it really seemed to help more.  I have a history with my left hamstring.  Everything seems to be a bit messed up on my left side.  I've been going to a chiro for a few years now and occassional massage.  5.1 miles in 39:57 (7:50 pace).  

Shelby Farms Random, 1:05 p.m., cloudy, 39.  I slowly and randomly ran around Shelby Farms.  I tried to stay on soft surfaces and tried to take it easy.  The left hip feels about 90%.  My legs still feel flat and I wasn't motivated for this.  The day was gray and cold and blah!  5 miles in 38:03 (7:37 pace).

I have been doing weekly CV reps on the track.  In the previous months, I had always done ~5-6k worth of repeats in the form of 5-6x1k.  I worked up to doing 1600m repeats and this week, I went up to 4x2k repeats.  For my previous half-marathons, I always found the longer repeats to be of great benefit.  In hindsight, perhaps the 8k (~5 miles) worth of repeats was a bit much.  Maybe that's why the hip is getting angry and my legs are flat.   

Hwy 205, 9:00 a.m., cloudy, 38.  I didn't know what to expect from the hip.  Initially, it felt a bit tight and it was all that I thought (obsessed) about.  Once, I relaxed and just ran, I forgot about it and everything was great.  I believe that I am sooooo paranoid about getting injured again.  I tried to hold back the pace, but it kept creeping faster and faster, but it was not intentional.  The legs are back and I contemplated doing an uptempo sort of run @ HM pace, but decided to wait another day.  I think that I need a shrink to help with the head case that I am.  8 miles in 59:11 (7:24 pace).