Attitude is Everything!

Got up at 4:45 and headed to the gym to run with their run club. They didn't head out until 5:30 so I did some upper body work and a .5 mile warm up. We then took off for the run. We ran JRP over to 126th then up to 13th W and back to the gym. Miles with the group 5.3 with an AP of 8:15. Splits: 8:34, 8:29, 8:50, 7:42, 7:48, and 7:53 (.3 mile). I then ran 1.7 slow miles (9:37 and 9:16 pace) by myself and walked .5 miles to cool down. Felt great to get outside and run. My knee felt pretty good while I was running although it is rather sore nice. Hopefully ice and ibuprofen will help.

Ran about 3 miles and then walked 2 with Jeff this morning. Felt great to get out. The air was cool. My legs were heavy though. Great coversation- an excellent start to the day.

Had hoped to get out and run this morning but the kids decided to get up early so I ended up taking them to the gym and running on the treadmill.  I started out really slow (6.0) and slowly increased the speed until I was running at a 6:37 pace (9.0).  I then slowly eased back to a 7:30 pace and ran two miles at this speed, then I slowed down to an 8:00 pace and ran 2 miles.  When all was said and done my AP for 8 miles was a 7:50.  I finished by walking a mile to cool down. 

It's amazing what a difference a day makes.  Yesterdays run was bordering on torture.  I only enjoyed it because I was with my husband.  Today's run on the other hand was easy.  Even the fast paces weren't a problem.  I debated running further because I was feeling good but decided to play it safe and not over do.  My right knee seems to be doing better.  The faster paces are less painful and the swelling seems to be slowly going away. 

Hadn't planned on running today.  Left the house with the plan of walking over to the gym and cross training but the construction traffic was so heavy on 114th I didn't dare walk down it so I thought I would jog over to the trail head (1 mile away).  I felt so good I continued to run a little loop therefore logging 4 miles.  The heat didn't even bother me and I started my run at 10:00.  No watch, no garmin... so I have no idea my pace.

Ran without a watch so I had no idea of pace during the race. From the start I counted 5 women ahead of me, I was able to pass one on a big hill but then I was passed by one. I didn't push too hard because I didn't want to aggravate the knee. On one hand I'm proud of myself for not pushing too hard therefore allowing me to continue training without injury, on the other hand I'm disappointed that I didn't finish with a better time and at least win my age division (the women who passed me was in my age group and only beat me by about 10 seconds- I could have easily caught her).

After I finished I jogged back and finished with my daughter. She did great.

When we got back to the cabin I took the kids for a walk down to the river (1 mile). I ended up carrying my two year old. At the river my two year old caught 3 fish and my daughter played in the river- floating down in her life jacket. It was a riot watching the kids experience new things.