TexasLindsey

8 miles at 6 am.  Slowest run in a while.  Avg pace 9:12   

Splits (9:32, 9:25, 9:09, 8:48, 9:12, 9:08, 9:15, 9:07)

32 degrees.  Even though I was going slow and I didn't have any aches or pains to complain of, the effort felt really difficult and I spent the whole run thinking about why it was hard.   I really need to stop complaining.

5.6 miles at 9:04 average pace at 6:30 am.  35 degrees. 

Splits (9:39, 9:13, 9:02, 8:42, 8:49, 8:58 pace for the last .6)

I didn't even look at my watch and I really didn't care how fast I went.  It was all I could do to drag myself outside to run in this cold.  I like the 100 degree summer weather better than this.  Ugh!  I've been trying positive thinking... telling myself to stop complaining and toughen up... but I just really, really hate the cold!  

I am determined to find a solution.  It's the coldest in the morning and the sun rises at 7:15 which is when I have to be back in order for my husband to leave for work.  It gets cold pretty fast after the sun sets at 5:30 which is when my husband gets home.  However, it has been in the 50's and 60's during the day and usually sunny.  I need to run during the day. 

My sister is my only hope.  I'll have to work out bartering and babysitting exchanges with her so I can get her to watch my kids during the daylight. 

AM Workout

8.6 miles at 10:30 am.  8:23 average pace.  45 degrees.  Sunny.  Very windy -20 to 25 mph according to weather site.  Some miles were difficult because I tried to maintain pace against the wind... but most of run I would consider easy effort.  It's so much better running at this time of day!!  My sister came over to babysit my kids so I could run.  Now she's leaving to do her errands and I'm babysitting her 3 year old.  It's win-win. 

Splits

Mile 1- 8:42

Mile 2- 8:21

Mile 3- 8:43

Mile 4- 8:27

Mile 5- 8:23

Mile 6- 8:30

Mile 7- 8:10

Mile 8- 8:18

Mile 8.6- 7:52

 -----------------------------

PM Workout

Decided to go to my running group's track workout tonight at 6pm.  We did 1 mile warm-up and five Yasso 800's.  We walked 100 yards and jogged 100 yards in between each 800.  I skipped the cool down mile because I had to get back to my kids.

I did the first two 800's in 3:25 and the next three at 3:21.  It was fun. 

Great run this morning with my group.  12 miles - 7:35 average pace

Mile 1	7:48
Mile 2	7:45
Mile 3	7:31
Mile 4	7:44
Mile 5	7:47
Mile 6	7:30
Mile 7	7:09
Mile 8	7:11
Mile 9	7:26
Mile 10	7:37
Mile 11	7:47
Mile 12	7:37

A new girl ran with the group this morning.  She's actually run one other time with us (the week before my marathon), but last time she ran with the 7 minute guys.  Today we were the fastest group so she ran with us.  Her name is Emily and she's 27.  She just ran a half marathon last weekend in 1:34:something... which is a 7:10 pace.

So today I started out trying to keep up with her...  She said I was driving the pace but I felt like she was... I guess that's what happens when competitive people run together.  Anyways, around mile 3 the 7 minute guys caught up to us (I think they started later than we did) and she started off with them.  I'll admit I got spooked going 7:30 in mile 3 with 9 more miles to go... so I let them go on.  Then the guys turned around at mile 4 because they ran a marathon last week and were taking it easy today.  So she ran alone and ahead of me until the turn around.  I made up my mind to keep up with her the second half - no matter what! 

I started running with her again at mile 6.  We went so fast!  It was challenging!  The water stop was at mile 9.5.  I had to slow down after that.  I stayed about 50 yards behind her until the finish.  Mentally, I just couldn't hold the pace.  I am disappointed with myself that I couldn't keep up the last 2 miles but also kinda excited that I have found a challenge. 

I hope she keeps running with us because she'll make me a better runner.  She told me that she has a group she does track workouts with at TCU campus on Monday mornings at 5:30 am.  She said it is very challenging!  Coming from her, I'm sure it is!   She invited me to join them.  She said they finish by 6:30 or 7 am, which works for me because I'd have to be home by 7:15 for my husband to leave for work.  I think I'm going to try it out!

Today's average was 7:35 pace.  If I ran that pace for 13.1 miles, that would be a sub 1:40 half marathon!  That's just crazy to think about!  Next week my running group is doing a half marathon race... so I guess I have a goal time now.  If Emily is there, I'm sure I can do it.  Maybe even better!