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.

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 39:14
Pace: 9:48 min/mi

Comments: This one was not fun at all. With a cold front coming through tonight, I thought it would be better to do a noon run today and not take the chance on rain messing up getting a run in tomorrow. Mistake.

First off it is pretty warm. Not hot, but enough to be significantly uncomfortable. Then there was the wind. It was brisk and constant and a complete pain in the ass. Lastly there was fatigue.

Three days in a row is not to be taken for granted with the constantly increasing long run mileage.  I got slower by almost half a minute every mile of this run. I expect to feel pretty wiped out tomorrow but, hopefully, two days off (and cooler temperatures) will give me a good shot at the 12 miler on Sunday.

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 38:26
Pace: 9:34 min/mi

Comments: No run this morning due to meetings but I decided to have a lunch workout because today is determined to be a complete asshole. I want to have at least one thing accomplished by the time night falls.

This one wasn't as easy as the last one, although my average pace was still in the same ballpark. The fact it was warmer was clearly a factor but I think I'm just off due to the stress of today.

Consistency was also not where it should be. My pace on the second half of the run was almost a half minute slower than the first. Still, I'm now strong enough to just gut it through these efforts.

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 38:06
Pace: 9:31 min/mi

Comments: The upshot of feeling absolutely horrid on Friday seems to have been a bit of an improvement in my baseline strength level. I wasn't particularly motivated in terms of today's run but, once I got out there, it wasn't much of a strain as these runs have been in the past.

Case in point. I hit almost exactly 9:34 pace on every mile of the run except the second which was 15 seconds faster. That's the kind of consistency I expect when I get strong enough to actually "run" these workouts instead of "hang on for dear life."

There's a lot of work left until my conditioning and stamina levels are where I would like but this is a very reassuring milestone.

Long Run

Distance: 10 miles
Time: 1:51:26
Pace: 11:08 min/mi

Comments: My plan, after last week, was to try and keep my work week the same and try to add two more miles to the long run today. I got worried about this on Friday when my body seemed to be telling me nada mas. I felt so bad all day that I was concerned it was actually the flu.

But I felt better yesterday although my quads and calves still had some sharp soreness. I didn't feel bad at all this morning so, even through I wasn't really motivated about it, I got out the door.

As I expected, it was rough. I made myself completely ignore my Garmin and just shoot for the distance. My pace fluctuated a lot but that wasn't really the main concern with this one. The second half was a slog as well as a tour de force of disassociative running. Still, I got it done.

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 37:51
Pace: 9:27 min/mi

Comments: The first three-days-in-a-row I've put in since at least spring. I could really feel it in the last mile. I did the circle route since I don't have to cross any major streets during rush hour and the urge to head in after the second one was strong.

But I kept with it and finished with a very nice pace overall. The splits were all over the map though. That's not a huge surprise given the fatigue I'm struggling with at this point.

Tomorrow is a must-rest day and I'll have to decide on which day of the weekend for the long run.

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 38:47
Pace: 9:41 min/mi

Comments: After the extra fast run yesterday, I deliberately took this one slow. It wasn't a slog though. I felt pretty strong the entire way and certainly could have increased the pace if I had wanted.

The improvement in performance is pretty obvious at this point. Although, obviously, the cooler temperatures is lending a bit of a hand as well. It's still way too early to make any kind of plans but I could be in good enough shape to run a race somewhere in a few weeks.

For now, though, the goal is just keep to the routine.