What ever it takes!

Well, taking 2 days completely off from running and missing the all important 3 weeks away long run definitely wasn't my plan but it was probably the smartest thing I've done all year.  I woke up feeling really good this morning, and my hamstring almost didn't hurt at all, it makes me think that a good 2 week taper could actually heal it, at least well enough to run a marathon. 

6 mile progressive warm up, 5 X 800's with 1/4 mile jog in between each, 1/2 a mile cool down.  Plan was to do my 800's in 2:45, 5:30 pace I actually went in not sure I could even hold that pace, turns out I was able to exceed my goal on all 5 sets, so pretty happy with it.  The hamstring did start acting up on the 4th set but something about knowing there is only 1 more to go can get you through almost anything.

Distance	Split Time	Time	HR
1	7:52	7:52	146
2	7:32	15:24	154
3	7:22	22:46	157
4	7:11	29:58	160
5	7:01	36:59	161
6	6:50	43:49	165
6.5	2:39.7	46:29	179 Max
6.75	2:15.08	48:44	165
7.25	2:41.75	51:26	180 Max
7.5	2:20.25	53:46	167
8	2:40.61	56:27	182 Max
8.25	2:26.04	58:53	169
8.75	2:41.77	1:01:35	180 Max
9	2:25.93	1:04:01	168
9.5	2:40.98	1:06:42	180 Max
10	4:25.65	1:11:07	162
Total	7:06 avg pace	1:11:07	161

Almost positive that's not how the LR is suppose to feel, we felt guilty for missing Saturdays run (Ryan more than me) so we decided to do a make up run this morning.  I wanted to run to work but he forgot to pack a bag so we ended up just meeting at Maverik and running our normal West Lehi run.  I pretty much knew when I woke up this morning that it would be a train wreck, my legs were still pretty hammered from my 800's yesterday.  Anyway, we got through it, both of us were pretty slow, maybe the slowest run Ryan and I have ever done averaged just under 8:00 pace.  I think I'm going to start my taper early,  like right.....Now!

Nice relaxing swim today, at least for the first 20 laps.  I was planning on doing 1.5 miles but around lap 20 all the lanes were full and I had to start sharing with someone.  Usually I'm there early enough that I get a whole lane to myself, and frankly I'm not a good enough swimmer to share lanes, it's way to stressful wondering if I'm going to slam into someone on the turns, I might as well be sharing a treadmill.  So I got out and 32, and went to the weight room where I totally fit in.

5 miles on the track during soccer practice. 8 laps with my 9 year old in 18 minutes. I made him do track math every lap, kids are really good at track math, much better than us adults that can't count by 10's.

It was so nice this morning with the full moon and all I decided to not drive to the gym and just run my normal 10 mile home route.  Out along the Murdock trail on a perfect morning, almost didn't need a light the moon was so bright.  On the way back I ran in to Carina so I did a few back and forths with her, definitely my fastest portion of the run.

Same run as yesterday but about 1:30 faster per mile, still not fast enough.  I think today is the day I admit to you and myself that a PR is not going to happen in Boston.  I don't have a great excuse, training has been pretty good, I'm not really feeling bad, my hamstring has been a problem but I'm not sure that's the entire problem.  So I think I'm going to change my goal and just try to enjoy the experience more, maybe I'll shoot for a PR this Summer or fall but for some reason I just haven't gotten myself to the point where I can maintain 6:20 pace for 2:45.  I've definitely been more cautious this time around, I used to just go out and run every run at 6:30 pace, that worked for a while but eventually got to me.  So I'm not sure what the perfect combination is for me but for now I'm just going to be happy that I'm in pretty good shape, and for the most part can still enjoy running.

I listened to Depeche Modes new album on my run this morning, pretty good but there is a song on it called "Slow"  The lyrics go "Slow... Slow.... Slow as you can goooo"  Worst Tempo run song ever..

Good quality run with Ryan this morning, we met on the Murdock trail and ran down to Lehi and back and then up to Highland and back.  Averaged pretty close to 7:00 pace for most the run, I had to slow us down on uphills because of my stupid hamstring.  I told him to try and run the last 3 at marathon pace, he locked us in right at 6:30 for the last 3, now I am thinking it's my hamstring that's limiting me cause it's really the only thing that was holding me back.  15.4 miles with Ryan.

Last night I tried to organize a last minute group run of the Running of the Tigers 5K with the entire neighborhood so I came back to meet at the start line with my kids.  Well no one showed up except us and my 11 year old twisted his ankle at his soccer game Thursday so I ended up running it with Ethan my 9 year old just him and I.  He's looking really good, I only let him walk through where the aid stations will be.  We came in right around 30 minutes which was fine for a practice run, only the second time he has run that far.