How Much Discomfort Can I Tolerate?!

Weather - 55 degrees, sunny.

4 easy miles at the arboretum, 1 mile run barefoot. No soreness from the race, so I am guessing that my legs could have withstood a harder effort if I had the energy to give it. I got 10 hours of sleep yesterday and my energy has returned.

Next race is the Memorial Day 5k in Danville. It was this race that I had in mind for breaking 19:00, but my training and recent races give no indication that this is possible. I think I will end up running what I ran last week, which is 19:30. It may be that going below 19:00 is beyond what I am capable of. It is a good goal though because it is just out of my reach, so it will keep me motivated for years to come - ha!

#184

z.m. - #97

Weather - 51 degrees, cloudy, raining, windy.

7 easy miles in winter-like conditions. With the 15mph wind it felt about 40 degrees, and it rained during the entire run. When I got home my hands were numb, and it felt good to get into a hot bath.

#185

z.m. - #98

Weather - 61 degrees, sunny/cloudy.

It was nice to put in a big workout today. My confidence was ebbing due to my mediocre race last Saturday, and I was thinking maybe I had reached a mini peak in March, and had come down a bit. It probably has to do with racing almost every weekend, because I feel tired more often, take more easy days, and am not running long with any consistency. All of these things have probably contributed to a reduction in racing ability. I still feel very fit, however, and I enjoy racing a lot, so if it comes with a slight reduction in race times, then I can live with that.

Today I decided to do a hill workout, since I have not done one in at least 4 weeks. I did my usual routine of 100m at 5k pace to the base of the hill, 100M uphill at 5k pace, and then 150M sprinting all-out downhill. Recovery was a 300M jog back to the starting point. The last time I did this workout I did 18 reps. When I started today I did not feel great and decided to go as long as I felt comfortable. After 8 reps I started to feel better and I ended up doing 20 reps. Doing that many reps restores my confidence in my overall fitness level.

This Thursday I plan on doing some speed work at Busey Woods, 600M reps with a 300M recovery. This is my favorite workout.

#186

z.m. - #99

Weather - 66 degrees, sunny.

A pleasant day for an easy 3.5 mile run through the park and around the woods. Afterward strength exercises, stretching, and a 35 minute walk home.

#187

z.m. - #100

Weather - 70 degrees, sunny.

Great day, and I had an awesome workout. Did some intervals around the Busey Woods loop. I changed the usual route so that I was jogging the length of the boardwalk and running the dirt trails hard. I did not bring my watch and did not count how many loops I ran, so I based my run on feel. I am guessing it was 7 x 700M hard, with a 500m jogging recovery on the boardwalk. For a cool down I ran 800m barefoot in the grass.

I felt tremendous, it is my favorite workout because running hard in the woods is such a pleasure - the sights (saw the same 4 or 5 deer each time I ran a loop) and smells (honeysuckle was in bloom, inhaling that beautiful fragrance amid a hard 700M makes the experience bittersweet) make me forget any discomfort I am feeling.

Afterward 4 sets of strength exercises and stretching in the park, and 35 minute walk home.

The next 3 days will be easy, then I will run a 5k on Memorial Day in Danville.

#188

z.m. - #101

Weather - 53 degrees, raining.

A cold rainy day so I decided to be soft and run on the treadmill at Cardinal. Ran 4 easy miles and 1.5 miles at 5k pace. Afterward 3 sets of strength exercises, stretching, and 10 minute walk home.

#189

z.m. - #102

Weather - 57 degrees, sunny.

Easy 4 miles around the arboretum this morning.

#190

z.m. - #103