This was a really good week - filled with a lot of running.  On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, I stayed under 10:00 per mile.  I did the cross training as well - more of my circuit and weightlifting - I increased some of the weights on the machines and free weight exercises.

I was anxious all week for Saturday - the 18 mile run - what was (and is) the longest distance I have ever run.  The weather could not have been better - at 7:30 am, when I woke up, it was 42 degrees!  Very similar to the temperatures I will be experiencing in London in April.  I made the short drive to Flatwoods and started the run.  I felt shaky for mile 1 - this always happens, just my body getting into a rhythm.  The next few miles felt great - I ran the first half of the loop and sidetracked out to the Bruce B. Downs lot, then turned around to finish the first loop.  At mile 11 (the end of the first loop), I still felt good.  I had been drinking water every mile and had my first energy gel at mile 9 (when they give you the same thing in all the half marathons I've done).  It wasn't until mile 14 that I started to have to push myself mentally.  I had another energy gel at mile 13, but it was not filling me with anything extra.  I had enough in my tank to finish - it was just a mental challenge.  I kept telling myself not to look at my Garmin because I would look at it in disbelief that I was not farther along...i.e. I seemed to run 0.2 miles in like 12 minutes.

Regardless of my troubles, I finished.  I ran 18 miles in 3 hours, 9 minutes and 47 seconds (average of 10:33 per mile pace).  I also ran the half marathon in 2 hours, 15 minutes - a personal record!  Extrapolating from my time for 18 miles, my marathon time would be 4 hours, 35 minutes and 6 seconds.  However, my pace slowed the entire run (with the exception of a "surge" of speed at mile 11 and 12).  I'm aiming for under 5 hours as a tertiary goal.  Primarily, I want to finish.  Secondarily, have a blast.

Slightly less involved workouts next week.  :)

This week was tough.  I was immediately tired at the start due to the schedule shift of last week - my distance run was moved from Saturday to Sunday because it didn't fit the schedule for the Gasparilla Distance Classic weekend.  So...after running a half marathon on Sunday, I didn't want to change any more of the schedule, so I stuck with a 50 minute run on Monday, which was at a much slower pace than normal.  I guess this should have been expected, but I did take two dogs (Sherman and Stella) with me, so it wasn't all terrible.  They helped pull me a little bit.  :)

I was so tired on Tuesday after working 10 am to 6:30 pm and I was still dog-sitting, so I skipped my cross training for the day, headed to my apartment as dog-sitting had ended and went to bed early (in my bed!).  I think the not-my-bed part of dog-sitting maybe hurt me this time.  I usually sleep well at Kristin's, but I think with the race, I was just extra tired.  Wednesday came and I really tried to do the "Tempo A" workout - 20 minute run at a fast pace - but I didn't feel on top of my game, so I opted for a "Tempo B" - two 10 minute fast runs with a 2 minute brisk walk in between.  I was able to do that.  I rested on Thursday as prescribed and hit the weight circuit on Friday.

I headed to Flatwoods on Saturday morning and despite it being really sunny, it was a pleasant 8 miles at just over a 10:00 per mile pace.

My recovery period ended on Wednesday.  Unfortunately, thunderstorms ruined what would have been my first run outside in two weeks, so I ran on the treadmill at my apartment gym.  The first mile was easy; the second mile was hell; and the third mile was the last mile, so I powered through it.  My chest hurt a bit and I was staring at a wall.  Not the best return, but I did 3.09 miles and was happy to do that.

Better weather arrived on Thursday and I was thrilled to get back on the road - my loop.  I started jogging and one mile into it, I glanced at the pace - 9:06!  I really felt that I had been going so slow, but this was one of my fastest starts.  Weird.  I felt good, so I tried to keep that pace and finished with 9:21 per mile for 6.44 miles.  Score!  I did my normal weight circuit on Friday and was able to lift normally.  My incision site has healed and despite having a tight feeling there, I completed the workout.  It feels better every day.

Today, I was babysitting my "niece," Skylar - my friend's adorable daughter - and I had my 8 mile run.  I decided it was safer (for both of us) to go to Flatwoods.  I studied the map after I got lost the last time, and we found our way with no problems today.  It was a little tougher pushing a ~20 lb. baby in a ~30 lb. stroller...more of a workout than expected!  I should invent something to attach to my waist and the stroller so both arms are free to move (as opposed to one of them holding onto the stroller).  I was able to keep my endurance run pace - 10:00 per mile.  We saw a lot of vultures and two bucks - DEER!  Skylar pointed all the animals out to me.  We had a nice lunch at Panera afterward.

I'm looking forward to a full week next week - including the Gasparilla Half Marathon.

I got the week started off well with a 50 minute run at an average pace of 9:38 per mile - according to my Garmin Forerunner 110.  Very nice.  :)  I hit the gym the next day to do 40 minutes of my cardio circuit (30 seconds exercise, 10 seconds rest for 12 exercises, 2-3 times - already explained this, go read an earlier post.  My second "tempo c" workout of my training - I did 8.5 mph for the first 5 minutes and 8.0 mph for the second and third 5 minute sessions.  Pretty intense, but I remained upright on the treadmill.  I was able to rest on Thursday and I lifted weights on Friday.

Today, I got up "early" and was ready to run.  I neglected to look at a map of Flatwoods before I left - first mistake - well, pretty much my only mistake.  I asked people while I was running where to go - they told me the right answers, I just wasn't asking the right questions.  Argh.  Anyway, I ran onto what I thought was the main road, which it was - just not part of the loop.  I ran all the way to the Bruce B. Downs parking lot, realized where I was, turned around and headed toward the loop - I had run about 4 miles at this point.  I was feeling good, came to a crossroads and asked people if the Morris Bridge parking lot was down this way - yes.  Okay.  Well, I didn't know there are TWO Morris Bridge parking lots.  Oops.  I ended up finishing my 10 miles at a pace of 9:35 per mile.  Excellent.  But, I then had to walk about 5 miles back to my car.  A lengthy cool-down walk, for sure.  But, on the plus side, I now know how to properly navigate the park and look forward to 12 miles next Saturday.