Category: Running

I have had an infection in my body since last week. Antibiotics are finally winning. I had not felt at all like running this week, and should not have been. Yesterday the desire came back and I also felt that today was a safe day to start.

I had planned a 3 mile run for this morning. When I got up and on the road I decided I could do 5 without damage. I ran it in pretty good time, though not fast. I intentionally did not want to run fast.

It felt really good to be back on the road. It has destroyed my 80+ mile goal this month. I will try to make up as much as I can without putting my half marathon in jeopardy, but I am more than 10 miles behind. So there is not much chance of making it all up safely.

Ok, so today’s run was not quite 3 miles. 2.88. But then, I actually ran 5K the other days so…hmm, quick math says 9.3 miles plus the 2.88 of today is 12.18. Or, something pretty close to that.

I feel pretty good about having run even though I did not get my long run in this week. Maybe early next week I will drop my speed work in favor of a somewhat longish run. I need to make it early in the week so that I don’t make my next long run difficult.

I eavesdropped on a conversation early this week which told me that there was a 10K race this morning. That is assuming my Spanish eavesdropping skills are what I think they are. I did not go because of time constraints. I would have considered going to that and skipping my long run anyway. I have not run a race in a few months. I like races. Not because I am out there to beat anyone else, it just gives me an atmosphere to push myself.

3 miles X 4 days = ??

Not sure yet what that will come out to be. I ran 3 miles as prescribed in my training regimen on Wednesday. Today was supposed to be a 5 mile run, but I was pressed for time so just did 3 easy miles. Tomorrow (Friday) is supposed to be rest and Saturday a 10 mile long run. I will instead run 3 miles tomorrow and Saturday.

Today’s 3 miles were done in 34:04. I obviously was not running to set a record. I was running just to get the miles in. I feel a little bad that I am just running to run and it does not have anything to do with my training. On the other hand, running is good for you, so even if it does not fit the training plan, it is worth doing. Or, at least that is what I am trying to tell myself.

After Saturday I should know the answer to the question above. Does it just equal 12 miles, or is there much more to say about it?

Goal was 27:25 wasn’t it? Hmm, well, I did not make it. But it was a good run and I really felt like I gave it my all. On my previous best run I actually had to walk toward the end because I had pushed too hard at the beginning. Today I had a good strong push at the end. The last Km. was my fastest. I finished in a time of 29:15.

Tomorrow is supposed to be 5 miles, but I am crunched for time. I will probably run the 3 mile/5K again tomorrow. But it will be an easy run. Shooting for 31 minutes or so.

I sit here thinking about my 3 mile run tomorrow. I remember when that was considered a long run. Now it is a welcome short day in my training. It is supposed to be a tempo run. I am going to try and run it as a speed workout. I probably shouldn’t, but I am going for a PR tomorrow. That will be a time of 27:25 or better.

Saturday I had a great 9.7 mile run. I did something at the end of the run that I am going to try this weekend during my long run. I drank a Coke right at the end. I de-fizzed it and drank it slowly. It seemed to keep me perked up and I did not have any stomach problems. I am looking for a possible replacement for sport gel/gu/beans during my half marathon. I have tried some Sport Beans and PowerBar Gel, both of which seemed to help tremendously. But, neither are available here that I have found. Coke is everywhere though, so maybe that will be a better choice.

Monday I had a great 3 mile speed workout. I ran 200 meter intervals at an average pace of 56 seconds per interval. That is a speed of 7:30 per mile on those fast parts. I ran slowly for 200 meters between each speed section at a 10:13 pace, which is still pretty snappy for me. I ran a total of 3 miles.

My last 2 runs have been great runs. That is a nice thing to be able to say based on the fact that last week my runs were getting difficult.