Run Buffs Run!

Today was an easy day for me. I only ran 8.5 miles at easy pace and really tried to relax. I feel a bit tired and sore, but in all, ok. I might take another easy day tommorrow to fully recoup before I hit the grindstone again.

Only ran approximately 8 miles today due to terrible weather. It rained drops the size of golf balls all day. I guess this would not be so bad if it was warm, but I was unlucky in this department too. It was just under 40 degrees (F) when I left to go, which might not seem cold, but when you are drenched and wearing those mini running shorts that provide no sort of insulation, it is frigid. Knowing that I would not be able to go too far or too long, I decided to make my time count. I ran with some good pace (6:10 min mile for 5 miles, ran a very steady but long uphill (one mile) at 7:00 min pace and then cranked through a downhill at 5:30 pace for just over two miles). In all, a bit dissapointed that I didn't have the ability to go for something a bit longer, but sometimes you do what you got to do.

Ran 12 easy miles today at about 6:40 pace. I felt very sluggish and never got into any real rythmn, which seemed to prolong the pain. In all, though, I am glad to have gotten a decent amount of miles in.

Ran two tempo runs today, one for 2.75 miles and one for 3.5 miles. I ran the first tempo run (2.75 miles) in 15:19 (the slightly uphill direction), which is a new record for me for that uphill route by nearly 40 seconds. I then ran 2.25 miles at easy pace, mentally preparing for the pain of the next tempo run to come. I ran the 3.5 tempo miles in 18:43, which averages to a 5:20 mile. I felt decent considering the pace I was averaging, but towards the end, I really had to pull from deep inside of me to keep on moving. This workout really hit my trouble area, fast tempo for a sustained amount of time. More of this and I think I will be able to fly through the 10k. In all, I feel very good about this workout.

Ran 10.5 miles today at easy pace. I felt comfortable at about 7:00 min/mile pace, so I knew that if I went any faster or slower, than I would break the "comfort barrier". In all, however, a decent run.

Ran 6.25 threshold miles again today (the same workout as on Thursday). My times for both the 2.75 mile and 3.5 mile were ten seconds off of my previous pace. I think that this has to do with my recovery. I really went all out on Thursday, and I think my body still needed recovery time, so when I ran today I was fighting an uphill battle. This run hurt terribly. I don't know what it was, but man did I struggle. I think that runs such as this (really pushing it when my body tells me enough) will really help out my times.