Tempo 6 miles in 53m36s

The gritty details are 1 mile warm up at 10 m/mile pace 4 miles at 10k race pace 8:15 m/mile and then a cool down mile.

Oh but what the mind will do to you. I felt great on my warm up mile and I knew I was going to rip off the 4 miles at tempo pace with no problem. Mile 2, first mile at tempo pace went well. I was feeling fresh and just cruising. Then as soon as mile 2 hit my stomach started cramping and I had that mixed feeling like I was going to throw up and go to bathroom in my pants. This happens to me on both my long and tempo runs but normally it's not too severe and I know if I can get past it I will feel fine and finish the run well. Today it hit like a ton of brick and didn't subside very quickly. As I complete mile 3 I thought about just quitting. For the first time I asked myself why I was doing this to myself. I hurt, I mean, I hurt bad. Nothing was wrong except I was just running out of gas and feeling like crap.

Then I remembered why I run. I run because I like racing and I run because I love the sense of accomplishment when I'm finished. So I finished at tempo pace and actually after that conversation in my head I felt much better. It's weird how that wall work, many times its physical but sometimes, like today, it's mental.

Long Run 10 miles in 1h36m30s

The debate raged. Do I do my long run today with the chance of rain on on Wednesday when it should be better weather. I like to do my long run on Monday. It clears my head and just seems to give my week a better start. I also enjoy the time praying- seems like a great way to start the week.

So I opted for the run today and wouldn't you know it I wasn't a block from home and it started raining. Running in the rain can be fun, sure you get a little wet but I'm usually drenched in sweat anyway so it really doesn't matter to me. About a half mile from home the rain really starts coming down. There is a point where you worry about getting wet and then again realize it really doesn't matter. So I ran on. It was REALLY raining and I enjoyed the looks I got from drivers passing me. Most of which are kind enough to try to not splash me with puddles.

It was during this run today that I realized that this whole running thing I'm into is not normal. In fact as my vision was impaired because of the rain I realized that I might be a little crazy. A few miles later I had confirmed it in my head, I was crazy.

I was shooting for negative splits, that is to run my 2nd half of the 10 miler faster than the first half. I achieved that and also ran my fastest time for 10 miles.

My garmin couldn't get a connection at one point so I actually ran further than 10 miles but oh well. I would guess it was more like 10.21 miles so a 9:29 m/mile pace.

5 miles in 45m28s

Today was intervals and I my quads are pretty sore from riding the bike yesterday. I decided to go for it anyway. 5 miles total.

One mile warm up with .5 mile intervals and .25 mile recoveries. Ended with a .5 cool down.


Wednesday: 2 miles run in 20:17, 2 miles bike, 2 mile run in 18:15 and 2 miles biked

7 miles in 69 minutes

I actually did this run yesterday but didn't get to log it on the blog.

Nothing exceptional. It was cold, 45 degrees and overcast. I was TIGHT from my pace run on Saturday and seriously wanted to quit about 2 miles in. I tried to rationalize it in my mind that I would use this run as an easy run rather than a long run. Then I decided I was being a baby and needed to finish the run. At 3.5 I finally got comfortable and picked up my pace a little.

5 miles 45 minutes

I've been busy the last few days getting the house cleaned up and ready to put on the market to sell. It's time to find a cheaper house I can buy more running shoes. It looked like it was about to rain and I knew I didn't have much time so I laced up and went running. My goal was 5 miles in 45 minutes, 9 minute pace isn't crazy fast but it would be a new pr for me.

About a mile into my run the bottom dropped out of the sky. I'm not talking sprinkling I'm talking RAIN. I decided I'd just run in the rain and unless it started lightning I would just get wet. I was literally at the furthest point from home and the lightning started and so I picked up my pace to head home. I was assuming it'd be a 5k run and not a 5 mile run. I started to get worried about the lightning. I counted the time from the lightning to the thunder and it was getting closer together quickly.

Then the rain let up a little and the thunder stopped. So I ran on. I knew I would be close to my goal but wasn't quite sure I would make it. I even had to stop and tie my shoe twice.

Soaked and receiving several "is that man insane" glances I made it.

I'll be looking at the results of the london marathon tomorrow when I get up to see how Ryan Hall did. I'm actually hoping to catch the finish online; if I did my math right it should work out.

7 miles in 67 minutes

9:35 m/mile pace. 45 degrees with a 10 mph wind and a light drizzle. I'm sure people think I'm crazy when people run in weather like that, I used to. But the truth of the fact is that running in less than ideal weather is better than running on a climate controlled treadmill any day.

I'm starting to ramp up for the ERR on May 24. I haven't landed on a goal time yet we'll see how my training goes but so far so good. I think I might try for 48 minutes. I won't be breaking any speed records but it will be a time I'm proud of.

Saturday
2 miles in 21 minutes
10:30 m/mile pace

6 miles 54m09s

Maybe I'm just stupid but it seems like every run I do outside is with wind of strong than 10 mph. I guess I just like training for the just in case race with a strong wind... who knows.

Today was my tempo run.

1 mile warm up @ 10:00 m/mile
4 miles @ 8:30 m/mile
1 mile cool down @ 10:00 m/mile

10.21 miles in 1:37:48

After my cut back week I decided to reevaluate my training to make sure it was fitting my goals. My goals are to run respectable times in both the 5k and 10k races. I want to eventually break 22 minutes in the 5k and 50 minutes in the 10k. Maybe, Maybe one day I'd like to complete a half marathon. So with those goals I have little need to extend my long run day to more than 10-11 miles. However it would be helpful to my goals to increase my pace on all runs I do.

So yesterday I figured I should cut my distance back to 7 miles and I could increase my pace to 9:45 m/mile. This would give me enough time to increase my mileage by the end of May- my first 10k.

Yesterday was a great running day. Temps in the mid-50's and overcast, little to no wind.

At one point in the first mile my garmin must have had some problems with the satellites because it kept telling me I was running a 10 m/mile pace and I knew I was going slightly faster. But I didn't realize it was messing up so I picked up the pace. I didn't look at my garmin for about half mile and when I did I saw I was running a 8:30 m/mile pace which I know I can't hold for 7 miles. But the good thing about pushing too hard sometimes is that when I backed off to 9:30 m/mile I felt good. So after 5 miles I started on my second loop (5 miles) and I was feeling great and really moving well. I planned to cut the loop short so I could end between 7-8 miles. At 6.5 miles I figured I had already run this far I might as well do all 10 at this pace.

So I did. My hams have been tight ever since but I keep stretching and they keep feeling better.

My new ipod inspiration is The Dave Ramsey Show podcast.

March mileage: 82.3
YTD mileage: 205.6
Time: 34:24:45