Buttsweat Towel© season has begun

67F, S 22-31 mph.  Not exactly ideal conditions to crank out my first MP run of the cycle, but it went pretty well.  I set up the route to have the return portion (the MP miles) about half crosswind and half tailwind.  I figured that was the only way I could actually run MP for 10 miles with it being this warm.  67 degrees is no big deal at the end of the summer, but here in March, my body is not efficient at cooling itself off so it's pretty draining, at least for me.

11 easy, followed by 10 @ GMP (looking for 6:52 or better).

11 @ 7:43 AP.

10 @ 6:42 AP.  (6:46, 6:50, 6:40, 6:42, 6:38, 6:45, 6:43, 6:45, 6:47, 6:26)

Overall for 21 miles, 7:14 AP.

I had a solid tailwind for the last 5 MP miles.  Kinda needed it, or so I thought, but I was still able to crank out a good HMP mile to finish the run, despite about a 30-40' elevation gain on the last mile (albeit with a nice tailwind).  So, a successful run.  I still think I'm hosed if it's this warm for OKC, but my confidence is up right now.

It makes it sweeter that this run comes at the end of a weekly PR for mileage - 83 (I count Mon-Sun).  I gotta think that with a taper and cool weather that 6:40s is going to be a lot easier.

Today ends a 34-day running streak.  Never meant to go that many days without a day off, whoops.  It's a good time for one, with rain all day and a tough 21-miler yesterday.  Got over 8 hours of sleep last night for the first time in awhile - should be able to pick up where I left off tomorrow morning.

AM - 53F, ESE 15 mph. Nice and cool again. 10 @ 7:56 AP

PM - 58F, 4.07 @ 8:30 AP

42F, foggy.  7:32 AP.  Really dark out here in the sticks with fog and no moonlight.  For some reason I tried a new route and ended up on soggy dirt roads for the middle 10 miles of this run.  Got it done though, and felt pretty good overall.  15 miles completed before 7am, can't complain about that.

AM - 43F, 6 @ 8:39 AP.

PM - 58F, 4 @ 8:19 AP.

Time to hit the track tomorrow - I think all my excuses will be gone.  It'll be a great temperature, very little wind, legs recovered from Sunday.  Nothing crazy, maybe 6 x 800.  Can't do too much since it's a 3.5-4 mile run just to get to the track.  See, I knew I could come up with some kind of excuse.

49F, low wind.  Nice running weather, bad running.  Went down to the track to do 6 x 800 w/ 400m active recovery this morning.  McMillan says 2:48-2:55 for distance runners.  Figured I could probably do the 2:55, which should roughly be 5k pace.  I got to the track, did a few easy laps, putting off the inevitable, then got started.  I knew after the first lap came in slow that I was in trouble.  My repeats were 2:55, 2:56, 3:01 and 3:07.  When the last lap came in at 1:36 (half marathon pace?) I pulled the plug.  Yuck.  I jogged a few laps then did 4 x 200m (200m slog recovery) since I felt guilty.  Those averaged about 37.  Slogged slowly home and called it a day.

I think it was just an off day, but I can't discount 1) that I'm not used to 80 miles/week yet and 2) that I never do speedwork.  Probably a combination of everything.  Oh well, not too worried about it.

AM - 50F, 6 @ 8:27 AP.  My butt is sore from the 200s.  Man, I am getting soft.

PM - 74F, 3.32 @ 8:30 AP.  This little run came after about 4 hours of yard work, which included mowing an acre of tall grass and weeds with a standard lawnmower.  I don't really get seasonal allergies but I am wheezing a little; feels like there are lawn clippings in my lungs.  Let's see if dandelions will actually start growing inside me, I'm sure I inhaled plenty of seeds.