Buttsweat Towel© season has begun

Start weather: 65F, 93% humidity, wind S 17-25 mph.  End weather: 71F, 70% humidity, winds S 25-30 mph.  I never knew it could be hot, humid and windy all at the same time.  Obviously not a fun running day, so I took it easy and just put miles on legs.

8:06 AP.  Out and back, averaged 8:24 going out, 7:48 coming back due to the wind differential.  I like to get the headwind out of the way first!

Another Tempo Tuesday, another unofficial PR.  Weather was ideal (which apparently is critical for me) at 35F, 3-5 mph winds.  Plan was for 4 easy, 6 fast, but I decided to turn on the jets for another minute or so to see what the 10K would be.

4 warmup miles at about 8:02 AP.  Then a 10K in 42:07 (6:47 AP).  Splits were 7:09, 6:53, 6:45, 6:49, 6:43, 6:34, 1:14 for 0.21 (5:54 pace).  So a pretty fierce finish!

AP for the run 7:16.

So, a couple things this run helped me realize: 1) sub-43 is a dumb goal for my 10K in April.  2) a 1:35 (7:15 pace) should be pretty easily attainable in 2-1/2 weeks at the HM.  I mean I was on pace on this 10-mile run that included 4 warmup miles, and a couple of the tempo miles today were on dirt roads.  So I feel good about hitting that goal now unless it's hot at the race in Longview, in which case I will melt down as I usually do in the heat.

Now I'm all antsy to get out and do some racing.

8:25 AP in some great running weather, about 45F.  In fact the rest of this week (including the weekend) looks great.  Just had to complain about it enough.

No soreness at all from my 10K yesterday, which was just about race pace effort for most of it.  I think stabilizing my mileage here (upper 50s/week) since December has helped my legs get accustomed to that level of punishment, and recover fast.  This summer will be a good time to base build easy miles while very slowly working toward 70.  Right now, while the weather is nice, I will keep the intensity up and just hover around 60/week until OKC.  It took me awhile (and a few injuries) to learn not to increase mileage AND intensity at the same time but I think the message finally got through.

55F, ~15mph south wind.  Not feeling it today.  I tried to speed up a bit on the way home with the tailwind and managed a few 7:30s but felt really sluggish.  8:02 AP for the run.

I saw a lady who was plopped down in the grass at a bus stop today.  She was staring at me with a shocked and disgusted look.  I checked and did not have any boogers hanging out, so I said good morning and she just continued to stare at me in disgusted silence.  Then there was an older gentleman just standing still, right in the middle of the street, having a conversation with himself.  I didn't want to interrupt, so he did not get a "good morning."

6 @ 8:11 AP in racing flats.  I'm working my way up in distance with them; if there continues to be no pain or ill-effects, I think I will try to use them in the HM in a couple weeks.

40 degrees and windy (NNW 22-27 mph).  Tried to stay on crosswind roads, mostly.  Felt pretty good today, 7:49 AP.  20-miler tomorrow!