Buttsweat Towel© season has begun

5:30am, 66F.  Easy 8, 8:17 avg.

They were running a satellite race of the Marine Corps Marathon here this morning.  Apparently I started my run 20-25 minutes after this race started and was unknowingly following its routing.  The first water station I saw offered me some water, but I said, "no thanks, I'm not in the race."  It was too dark to see I didn't have a bib.  Then around mile 3, there was a guy clapping for me and pointing me in the direction of the race.  I told him thanks, but that I wasn't in the race.  Finally around mile 4 there was an aid station with about a dozen people hanging out.  I overheard someone say something to the effect of "hey, here comes someone else, let's really cheer him on..."  I was running all by my lonesome and had to have still been at least 10 min behind everyone else, so they were definitely pity-cheering.  This time I just raised my hand up, gave a few fist pumps and a "woohoo" and kept going.  Someone told me (kinda like you would tell a 4-year-old) "YOU are doing a GREAT job!"  It made me feel good in a pitiful sort of way.  Shortly after that I must have split off from the race route because I didn't receive anymore ill-gotten cheers.

5:30am, 66F.  7 easy and the last 4 at MP.  8:13 avg overall.  The 4 MP miles (slightly fast - 7:49, 7:47, 7:51, 7:42) felt pretty good, I must say.  I'm starting to be able to at least settle into the pace, even if it's a little less comfortable than easy pace.  Felt tougher, but sustainable.

5:30am, 52F.  With the crazy temperature drop, my plans quickly changed from easy run to tempo run.  4 ez, followed by 4 tempo.

4 warmup miles, 8:16 avg.  4 tempo miles, 7:07 avg (7:15, 7:16, 7:08, 6:49).  Ahhh.  Went ahead and emptied the tank on the last mile.  At the end I was covered with snot and saliva and it felt great.  7:41 AP for all 8.  I knew temperature was important but this is my proof, I guess.

My reward for suffering through the summer should be absolutely perfect running weather for marathon training these next 2 months.  This really is the perfect winter running destination, low wind, temps should be 40s and 50s, flat terrain, only occasional mortar attacks.  Looking forward to starting official marathon training next week!

5:30am, 55F.  8:07 avg.  Tomorrow I go for a distance PR - 15 miles.

5am, 57F.  New distance-PR, 15 miles.  I did 10 easy, followed by 5 MGP.

10 easy averaged 8:29.  For the 5 MGP(ish) I averaged 7:48 (individually they were 8:05, 7:47, 7:40, 7:45, 7:43).  Overall 8:15 AP for all 15.

Nice and achy by the end, but my lungs/cardio felt great the whole time, even at the end.  Gotta get my legs/joints/tendons used to taking a pounding, though.  When I changed speeds to MP, the achiness actually went away for a few miles; guess different muscles were being used?  What do I know..

Day off tomorrow, then start week 1 of Houston training.  I've been doing 5 days a week this past month, but I'll be doing 6 runs starting next week.