I Can Do Hard Things

After 15 hours of traveling, I was definitely glad to be in the comforts of my own home.  Good bye West Indes....we will miss you!

Easy recovery run today.  My legs were a bit stiff, but not running for 2 days and sitting on a plane didn't help!

3x 30 LLL

3x60 plank

LONG stretching and LONG foam rolling (how I missed you roller)

.75 mile warm up at 6.4mph.  I wanted to keep on the quarter mile, hence the shorter warm up.  I check the McMillan calculations as to what my 400 speed should be.  I tried to convert that to the TM speed.  I was a bit off...I needed to be a notch faster.  Now I know.

 After each 400, I did a 400 rest (I'm not super good at math and didn't want to keep up with the various rest paces.).

8.7 - 1:42

8.8-1:40

8.8-1:42

8.8-1:42

8.9-1:41

8.9-1:40

8.9-1:40

9.1-1:38

.5 cooldown

I timed these 400's on my Timex.  I need to consistently start and stop my watch at the same time (a bit tricky when you are trying to adjust the speed button on the TM).  Learning curve today. 

But regardless, I felt strong during the 400's and felt like I should have started with an 8.9 and finished the last 4 at a 9.1/9.2. 

I got a pair of Saucony Kinvara.  I'm going to wear them every other day with my regular Asics.  They are a size 10.5 and my Asics are a 10.  So I kind of felt "floppy" today..there was so much room up by the toes.  I'm hoping they help strengthen my lower legs.

4:24am, my alarm went off.  But I was already awake because I kept thinking I would miss my alarm.  

Chomped on a banana on the way to the gym.  I decided to do 2x5 mile runs.  I had grabbed a GU on the way out the door, not knowing if I would need it.

I set the speed at 6.4mph and ran the first 5 miles in 47:00-ish.  I decided to take the GU to see if it would give me a pick up.  Glad I did.

Second 5 mile run, I felt really strong.  I picked up the speed during the last mile and was very surprised at how good I felt.  46:00ish.

Total time 1:33:00. 

1/2 LLL

This is my longest weekday run ever.  My hips and shins were a bit achy today.  I didn't get to stretch a lot after the workout...needed to hurry home so hubby could get off to work. 

Tomorrow is a rest day.  Hopefully I will get in a few LLL and yoga.

I slept SO horrible last night.  I decided to sleep in and run while my youngest is at preschool.  I definitely felt more "refreshed" rather than zombie like!

1 mile warm up - 6.4 mph

3 mile temp run at HMP (or a bit faster) (no breaks, no slowing down)

25:18

6.9 mph - 8:40

7.0mph - 8:34

7.1-8.5mph - 8:02

1 mile cool down 6.6-6.8mph

Total time 43:40

I was SO darn surprised at how great I felt.  Wowzer!  I could have definitely gone faster.  My breathing was very controlled and my legs felt fresh and bouncy. 

2x LLL

stretch and foam roll

Rest week is coming to an end. 

1:54:56

AP:  8:53

9:18, 9:14, 9:08, 9:25(BIG hill), 9:01, 9:06, 9:03/, 8:48, 8:44, 8:16(down hill), 8:35, 8:31, 7:40

To end my rest week, I planned on doing an EASY 13 miles.  My hubby asked me how far I was going to run Saturday morning....I responded by 13 miles.  He responded kinda smart-alecky...."only a half marathon for a Saturday morning".  It wasn't that long ago when 13 miles WAS a long ways! 

I somehow got nominated to have Easter at my house on Saturday last minute.  AND there's been a lot more family drama.  So my EASY miles turned into way FASTER miles.

I took a new route today and was pleased with the results - I ended up on my "preschool" route which really helped with pacing.

I was VERY cold when I first left the house and didn't get warmed up until 5/6 miles.  It was a beautiful morning and I saw lots of runners.

I felt so great on the first half.  I stopped at mile 5 and took a GU and some water.  When I hit my turn around point, I realized I had picked up the pace.  I was really starting to get warm.   I kept *trying* to slow, but always managed to pick the pace back up.  Finally, I just gave up and tried to keep it going. 

I looked at my watched and thought maybe I could finish around 1:55:00 (I had run SG half at 1:55 and Dogtown at 1:52).  Took another GU at mile 10.  After that I tried to just book it home.  I had to stop at a light and didn't mind the 15 second rest as I was starting to get tired.. 

Crazy enough, I felt great.  I was breathing hard, but didn't hit puke zone and my legs felt good.  After the run, my shins started to bug.  I realized I've run 3 straight weeks on the TM.  I didn't get to stretch as long as I wanted as I had to get cookin'!

So I was pleasantly surprised with my half marathon Saturday.  Hope this "feeling good" lasts for next weeks 20 miler!!!!!