Pace Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 33:16
Pace: 8:18 min/mi

Comments: The rain arrived last night and, since then, it's been pretty constant. I missed the early morning window and had to wait until late in the afternoon to get another chance. The rain made it cooler so it worked out to be pretty much exactly the same temperature as my regular runs.

This was a pace effort and I basically concentrated on cadence the whole way. I really could tell how the effort would lag when I lost concentration. That lead to a slower third mile and faster fourth. Need to really work on that this month.

Training Run

Distance: 6 miles
Time: 57:07
Pace: 9:30 min/mi

Comments: The rain and exhaustion conspired to keep me from heading out at the usual time. I got myself together and headed out the door at 9:30 or so, plenty of time for the heat and humidity to get percolating really good.

All the up an down on the stairs the past few days -- approx 35 stories per day -- made themselves known today. My quads are not happy and I had a general stiffness to contend with as well. Weirdly, though. The first two miles felt the worst but I ran them the fastest.

The muggy morning took it's toll and this felt like a real slog but overall this went well.

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 36:05
Pace: 9:00 min/mi

Comments: The move has played real havoc with my running regimen. I'm exhausted so I get up late and I get out there but am having a tough time battling the stiffness and soreness from lugging boxes all day.

I staggered through half of this and then had an unpleasant incident with a jackass speeding down the service road. That prompted a much faster second half that I really was planning. Take the good and the bad, I guess.

I hope to get the rest of the moving done today so just one more day of it affecting my training.

Interval Run

Distance: 5.6 miles
Time: 43:49
Pace: n/a

Comments: After two weeks of putting it off, I finally got in my interval run. Not gonna lie, I had been dreading it and the ongoing delay had only made it worse. But it went far better than I expected and I'm very relieved to have it in the books.

I started extra early so the first mile was in the pitch dark. The heat wasn't impressed and it didn't dent the humidity either. The weather this morning was as stifling as I have come to expect over the course of this summer. Still, it only has minimal impact on a run like this.

WU	0.75	7:59
1	0.5	3:30
2	0.5	3:33
3	0.5	3:19
4	0.5	3:22
5	0.5	3:19
6	0.5	3:12
7	0.5	3:12
8	0.5	3:18
CD	0.75	7:27

The first mile was enormously slow but I got warmed up after that and just cranked out a couple of the later ones. My cadence was significantly faster on the last two miles as well. My Garmin and Strava are still giving me fits tracking these but I think the general trend is pretty spot on.

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 37:27
Pace: 9:21 min/mi

Comments: I had residual guilt today about not doing the long run and taking two days off. The performance on this run went a long way to justify those choices. My legs felt a lot more refreshed than they have in some time. And that's good with the big month ahead.

I also was out the door early and putting in the miles long before the heat really got started. The humidity today was pretty brutal though. I didn't do anything fancy with this one, just cranked it out.

Marathon Training Summary: Week 10

Distance: 36.03
Time: 5:50:46
Pace: 9:44 min/mi

Comments: Not the best week of training, to say the least. I haven't been focused at all. I've been getting up late, changing the planned runs and really having a hard time keeping my enthusiasm up. A big factor has been my personal and work schedules over the past two weeks but that's only part of the problem.

It's been more than two months of training now and that has involved getting up at 5 a.m. to go out and run in 80 degree heat and 80 degree humidity. Every damn day. There has been a ton of progress but I'm a bit weary of the grind at this point.

This next week will be a problem as well due to my planned move. I'll get the miles in but it won't be fancy at all. But there is just six weeks left. I need a strong September to get me ready.

Injury update: Lotta little sore spots but nothing major.

Pace Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 33:16
Pace: 8:19 min/mi

Comments: Out a little earlier but still not at the usual time. So it was a little cooler but not a lot. Wanted to push the pace the whole way but didn't look at the Garmin except at the end of each mile. Did the first one faster than I thought but then seemed to lock into that pace range the rest of the way.

This probably was a little closer to 10K race pace than HM or marathon. I could really tell on the third mile when my breathing got substantially more labored. Still, it was my first faster effort in a week or so. The key was holding the effort all the way through.

Training Run

Distance: 6 miles
Time: 56:30
Pace: 9:24 min/mi

Comments: Didn't get out the door as early as I wanted but still beat the rest of the runs this week. The temperature difference was substantial although the peak humidity with sun still posed a formidable challenge.

This was another 'no peeking' run in regards to the Garmin. I just focused on getting it done. That said, my heart rate was in the higher levels a lot for the course of this one. That's not optimal.

Tomorrow will be a pace effort. I'll definitely try and beat the sunrise for that.

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 37:59
Pace: 9:29 min/mi

Comments: Sloppy and unpleasant. Got out late so it was very hot and very humid. Add to that a dollop of dehydration and this was a challenge the whole way. I deliberately ignored the Garmin and just focused on getting this one over with.

The good news is that my legs seem to have recovered pretty well from the long run. There was a lot of discomfort on this run but no soreness in my legs at all. With luck, that's going to translate into strength for the next long attempt.

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 37:05
Pace: 9:15 min/mi

Comments: My intent was to put a short and slow recovery run in the day after the long run. I was still feeling sore when I got up the next day so I decided to err on the side of caution. I was still a little stiff going out today but felt much better than the morning prior.

This wasn't fancy at all, just trying to get a comfortable, easy pace. I ended up with a slightly faster pace than I was really aiming for though. But there weren't any major issues with the effort. Finished feeling pretty good, not worn out.