Weather - 54 degrees, sunny. A perfect day for a long run. I felt a bit stiff for the first 30 minutes, then was able to loosen up. I decided I would get to the golf course about 2/3 through the session so that I could test my stamina and leg strength. 65 minutes into the run I hit the fairways hard, with a jogging rest between each. I completed the full loop, which is 8 fairways. Although my quads were fatigued, they responded nicely, and on the second fairway I experienced something which I had only felt in sleeping dreams - the sensation of pure running, the body strong and healthy, gravity seemingly absent. I can recall only one other time in which I was able to run with an effortless power. I believe I was running sub-6:00, and it felt easy. I was not huffing like I usually do, and my stride seemed different. I was powering through with each step, and my feet were not going out as far as usual, they seemed to be landing even with my body, and this allowed a stronger push-off, which created more speed with the same effort as the longer stride. It occurred to me that having my feet land a few inches ahead of my body created a breaking action, and that I cannot not push off with power from that position - thus, slow running. Perhaps it was practicing the downhill sprints 2 days ago which caused my stride to adjust, or maybe it was just dumb luck to discover a stride flaw. I was able to run fairways 2-8 at a speed I had not achieved before, and I imagined that I could keep that pace going for minutes at a time if I needed to. After the fairways I still had 25 minutes remaining, and I had no problem recovering from the hard fairway bursts, I was even able to throw in a 7:15 final mile. Afterward 4 sets of strength exercises at Crystal Lake park, stretching, and 60 minute walk home. This run completes the hardest week of training I have done in a while. I feel good, although my quads, and probably everything else, needs a break. Starting tomorrow I will have 7 consecutive easy days of running, distances in the 3-7 mile range, with a lot of short speed bursts to build sharpness in my legs. By next Saturday I hope to be fully recovered for the 15K. The weather is predicted to be in the low 40's, which would be just warm enough for me to feel comfortable in shorts and no jacket. #119 z.m. - #33
| 