Running is a means and never merely an end

Good to finally be back at Wofford!! I didn't want to leave home but now that I am here I am super glad to be back. Long run with my girls. They did like an hour, and then I added on till I got to 90 minutes, with the last 15 fast. 8:08 avg pace, with the last 2 miles at 7:21 and 7:15.

I went to Dick's to try and buy some new trainers for before I got back to Wofford, but the smallest size they had was a 6.5 and I wear a 5.5-6. I know that's not a big difference at all but I figured if I'm paying tons of money for a pair of shoes, they better fit perfectly. Plus who knows, maybe half a size is enough to give blisters or something. In any event, they'll be here in 3-6 business days. This is my first go-round at Nike's (and first time not getting Brooks in years) which I never really took seriously as distance running shoes. But the Zoom Structure 18's were fire, and have had really good reviews in the running world, so I'm giving them a shot. Hopefully the stability features will help with the way my arches make me want to cry every day after I run...

2.5 out and back nice and easy with the girls. Weights afterwards, which kinda killed me honestly. I can feel that I am going to be super sore tomorrow.

Did the Oregon 10 Miler today, except modified to be 8 miles haha. 2mi, 1600, 2mi, 1200, 2mi, 800 (and there is usually another 2 miles here on the end, but thats what we took off to modify it for right now) with 30-60 seconds in between each. 2 mile sections were at 7:35ish pace, and we completed those on the trails next to the track. 1600 was at 10k race pace. I haven't competed a 10k yet but I guestimated about 7 minute pace? Hit 6:47. Then the 1200 was just supposed to be faster than 10k but not 5k, so I said maybe 6:40 pace? I can't remember my split but it was on target. The 800 was 5k race pace, which I guestimated to average out to 6:20-630, so I was shooting for 3:10-15. Hit 3:11. 

I could definitely feel the soreness from the jillion squat variations we did in weights yesterday. Coach Harris said that's the one thing he asked our strength coaches not to have us do, for that reason. My hammy's were about to give on that 800, even though it wasn't that fast. 

Short cool down (too short, admittedly) afterwards followed by a core session.

60 minute recovery run. 8:14 avg pace. Weights afterwards, which were much better today than Monday. It was absolutely freezing! I think it said 20 degrees with the windchill...I don't know what I'm gonna do when its like -5 with the windchill tomorrow morning at practice.

Oh! And my new shoes finally came in ahhh!!! I love them SO much. Cushion for days. Plus my arches weren't absolutely killing me afterwards - progress! I'm gonna add the shoe mileage thing on here now too. Yay!

AM- 45 minutes reccovery/maintainance. 8:28 pace. 12 degrees outside...that was something, alright.

PM- 30 minutes easy. 8:23 pace. "Warmed up" to the 20's, yay. Getting nice and loose in preparation for our tempo tomorrow.

Amaaaazing workout today!!! Honestly probably the best, meaning most well executed and simultaneously enjoyable, tempo of my running career.

2 mile warm up & cool down with a 10k tempo between. Core later. Target pace was 7:15. Mile splits: 7:04/7:11/7:16/7:09/7:06/7:02, averaging out to 7:07 per mile. Ran with Mell, she was also target pace 7:15 but for 5 miles instead of 6. We worked really well together and pushed and eachother at all the right places. I felt like I was working hard but at no point did I feel like I was suffering or unable to hold the pace I was going. It was fantastic.

It's cool because I was actually dreading this workout all last night and during class and the day today. I just thought it would be awful for some reason. Right before I left, I prayed that God would bless me with a better attitude and a capable body to be able to have a good workout and at least be encouraging to my teammates. I asked for this workout to not suck as much as I feel like it will (haha). But he went above and beyond and gave all of us an amazing workout with fantastic splits and a fun time with eachother. Awesome to see that goodness and continuous faithfulness play out right before my eyes.

Recovery. 8:18 avg.