I can do it. I will do it NINE times!

Well, this morning I thought we were doing a long run this afternoon, so on our Arctic Circle run, I decided to make it a tempo after the first half mile of going reasonably fast. Avg. min/mi including the 7:20 pace half mile at first for the 3 miler was 6:45. It felt good and I liked running fast in the cool morning lots!! (DST 151.4)

So, after a harder morning run than usual, you can imagine my dismay when after warmup and stretches and such (33, 66 - I almost died doing them today) Holt sent us on the 1.5 mile warmup we do before speed workouts. Ouch. So we did 5x800m repeats on the grass loop. At first I thought, there's no way I can run these fast at all, I'm going to die. Then I decided, what the heck, let's see if I can run better this week than last with me being already tired. So I did! Times were 2:51, 2:47, 2:46, 2:46 and 2:42. My legs were very dead, but that just goes to show ya that when you think you're dead you can still run faster! Bwah ha ha ha ha.... I think I've gone over the edge. Then two more big grass loops for cool down, backwards again!!! (Alchemy 100)

Morning: Ran easy AP out-and-back 4-miler, 8:25/mi avg. Good recovery run, legs really worn out. (Alchemy 104)

Afternoon: Suckiest hill workout ever (x5) up Foremaster. Legs still out of juice and knee weak and achy the whole time. Forgot my watch, but tried pushing them, I think I gave all my guts on the last couple. Maybe I'm just a stupid ugly whiner. (DST 157.4)

Morning Arctic Circle, I did some yoga last night at YW and I feel much better (at least mentally) than I did yesterday (it was a crap day), so I just had a good relaxing run to loosen up some very tight spots (such as my right upper calf). Avg. 8:13/mi. (Alchemy 107.5)

Afternoon practice, (35, 70 - Jac will pay!), finally a pleasant surprise for our run, (no offense, Holt) expected an AT run, but instead we just went on a nice 4-miler! I think it was the yoga. :)  Legs still pretty dead and calf knotted, but I was surprised that the really hot weather didn't hurt so bad as usual - I think I'm acclimatizing to it finally! Tried picking up the pace a little on the easy spots, did ok... avg. 7:53/mi. (DST 162.1)

Asleep and slow this morning, right calf is still so tight it's hard to run with and left foot was hurting more than usual. Pretty frustrated. Avg. 8:36/mi. (DST 165.1)

Afternoon (36, 72) ran a 'long' run of 5 instead of 7 because it was so freaking hot outside. My legs finally started feeling like legs by about halfway through! I am so excited! The first half I was just trying not to plod and my calf was so knotted still, but the second half I started feeling pretty good and a lot looser than I have since Monday, so I picked it up a bit and ran 7:58/mi avg total for the run. Very happy to finally get in a solid run that actually felt good! (Alchemy 113)

Got to sleep in all the way 'til 6:15 this morning, ran with the 6:30 crew instead of the 5:30 crew which was a fun change, though it was odd for the sun to be coming up while we ran - I kinda like it more in the total dark. Ran with Holt, my legs are finally feeling mostly good so I got in a solid run, just talking about stuff w/Holt and letting the legs go with the flow. Avg. 7:20/mi. (DST 170.6)

Afternoon practice (37, 74), ran an easy Dogpound with Monty most of the way. I thought Holt said to do it backwards, so I did, but he didn't, so that sucked because I hate it that way. Oh, well. 7:50/mi avg. (Alchemy 117.6) 

Race up at Bicentennial park in Cedar, the course was basically 3 differently sized loops around a slightly sloped grass/dirt park. Last year it was really short and I got 17:52 there, but they changed it a titch to make it long enough. Wasn't really 'feeling it' during the race, legs pretty tired out, foot bugged me the whole race and knee wasn't all that happy either, especially with some of the sharp turns. Kierstin Blauer stuck on my shoulder almost the whole race which was frustrating, though I pretty thoroughly outkicked her at the end. Ran with spikes for my first time ever in a XC race, so that was interesting. Fun to win! (DST 171.2) (DD spike 6)

One thing I think I learned from this race is to not let someone being close to me freak me out - at first I was panicking over it, but I knew I could beat her so I held her off the whole race - I need to remember that, especially at big races where people will be near me.

Wanted to get in 4 this afternoon/evening to make it to a 50 mile week, but that idea kinda gave way to the idea of recovering more this weekend.