Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 41:36
Pace: 10:24 min/mi

Comments: I didn't eat well yesterday and, even though I slept super hard, I didn't feel really rested. But I figured I might as well get the run done since I wasn't going to feel any better despite it.

As I expected, it was a complete slog. I was slow and miserable the whole way. Not having the Garmin anymore was kind of a blessing since I wasn't tempted to see how awful my pace was during the debacle.

Anyhow, it is done. Now to rest and prepare for the long run on Sunday.

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 43:57
Pace: 10:59 min/mi

Comments: I had actually signed up for a 5K turkey trot today but the continuing soreness in my quads and hamstrings made me decide to skip it. I still wanted to get my run in so I finally got up enough motivation to get out the door.

My reticence made complete sense once I got started. My legs were achy and sore. I didn't feel like I had any energy whatsoever and my pace was abysmal. And today turned out the day that my Garmin up and died.

Still, I needed the distance and the effort should go a long way to getting me over the fatigue of adding these long miles.

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 40:11
Pace: 10:02 min/mi

Comments: I probably could have used an extra day off after the long run this weekend but, with the rain coming in, I wanted to get something under my belt early in the week. So a lunch run it was.

I felt about as bad over the course of this effort as one might expect; tired legs, soreness, ennui. The dour skies matched my mindset rather well. But, still, I got it done.

With this done, I now have the option of running tomorrow if I want or taking my rest day if my legs demand it. The 5K is going to be tricky given the long run goal this weekend.

Long Run

Distance: 14 miles
Time: 2:26:48
Pace: 10:29 min/mi

Comments: I'm seriously considering a marathon in February of next year. While the progressively longer runs is encouraging, I'm not sure if I've got the stamina to get the REAL long runs it will require.

So, the plan today was 12 miles but, since I felt pretty good after the halfway mark, I decided to take a stab at 14 miles. This puts me over the half-marathon distance and at the doorstep of the truely grueling long runs the marathon will require.

It went better than I expected. I completely ignored the pace and just tried to keep a steady strong rhythm. The cold snap certainly played in my favor as well. While I've done a few half-marathons in the last few years, this is the longest I've run since my debacle of a marathon in April 2013.