Run Buffs Run!

Ran 8.0 miles today at easy pace (7:00 min mile). Of course, I forgot about the temp. at mid-day and ran at 3:00 pm. It was nearly 90 degrees (F) and I ate lunch about an hour before, so the run did not feel so good. I don't know what comes over me sometimes, but I make some poor decisions when choosing a time to run. In hot weather, after eating lunch is definitely one such example. I completed the run on pace, but it felt much more forced than it should have.

Ran 3 miles of speed workouts consisting of 6x800 meters with a 400 meter jog at 7:30 mile pace in between intervals. I don't know what it is, but this workout killed me. I pushed as hard as I could, and still did not achieve any extraordinary times. My splits were as follows: 2:22, 2:30, 2:32, 2:34, 2:37, 2:37. This was dissapointing because I would have liked to break 5:00 min mile pace, but thats the way running is sometimes. I think that the lack of a good recovery before the following interval is what really did it. Previously, when I did speed workouts, I would only run 12x400 with a half lap walk, which gave me plenty of time to recover. Today, I felt tired even before beginning the next interval. Even though my times were dissapointing, I still felt like I got a good workout.

Ran 8.0 miles today. For the first four I ran about a 6:30 mile, and I picked it up for the last four, completing them at an average of a 6:10 mile. I am trying to pick up pace as the run goes on to build up more stamina. A little windy, but overall a good run. I am happy because I am starting to get back into the groove of things. After I outdid myself with the 15 miler last week, I felt bad the next couple of runs. I feel like I have powered through the "slump" that I have been in since that run, so I can tell that my body is becoming more familiar with working hard.

Ran 6.7 miles total today. The first 3.5 I ran at a 6:30 pace, when I found a good field to do some sprints. I was unsure of exact distance, so I decided to do five, ten second sprints (maybe a little less than 100 meters). I ran these at about the fastest that I possibly can. It felt good to really take mey legs to their maximum potential. Between intervals, I ran 50 seconds at about 8:00 min mile pace. After these, I continued the run for about 3 miles at 7:00 pace. In all, a good workout.

I moved back into the dorms in Boulder, CO today to begin the next school year. It feels great tobe back up in such an athletic town, filled with talented runners. I ran ten miles today, starting with three easy miles (at about 7:00 pace to get warmed up), followed by seven miles at six minute pace. I felt good throught the whole run, especially at the end. After eight miles, I began to feel that I had a good rhythmn going and cruised through the finish in 1:03:29. What felt particularly good was that I had the ability to really push at the end of the run. I don't really know why this occured. I like to think that it is "all my hard work and training paying off", but I think that it has to do more with the fact that I did not run yesterday and my legs were itching to be used. My tryout for the CU team is a week from tommorrow. I feel anxious, nervous and excited all at the same time. Most of all, I feel like I have the determination and desire, but now I have to prove that my abilities are up to par. I feel like I have a good pair of legs backing me up, and good heart and lung capacity to keep me going, but now I have to prove to the coaches that I am worthy of making their team, which is no easy task. On Monday, I am going to the coaches office to pick up a map of the trial race. I intend on running the course before next Saturday to get a good feel for it, and to know how hard to push. All I can do now is channel my anxiety into hard training and see where it might take me...

Ran 8.0 miles today in the morning. It was cool and overcast, which made it very good weather for running. I ran all eight miles at approx. 6:15 pace and felt good. I did not feel like I had to over-strain myself to keep up a good pace. In all, a good run.