Yes, it’s that time of the week – time for my weekly running post. This has been a good week on the running front, especially considering it is the end of December. We had a cold December, which means that I have already done my share of cold-weather running. I was hoping that I didn’t have to go out early this morning, but things needed to be done this afternoon, so out into the briskness I went. I really think I am getting used to it, because 24 degrees doesn’t feel as cold as it used to. Today was my scheduled long run and my goal was 9 miles. In the weeks since Richmond, I have slowly been rebuilding my long run. One of the reasons I say rebuilding is because I am working on running faster. Last year’s Park to Park 1/2 marathon was run at about an 8:15 pace. If I want to beat that, I need to get my long runs to that pace – not the 9:00/miles that I was running for Richmond. My runs have been fast this week – even in the cold. Today’s was the slowest of the week, clocking in at an 8:30/mile pace, but that was for 9 miles. Yesterday I ran a short 3 miles. The first mile I went out way too fast and sabotaged the rest of the run. I’ve also been trying to take off the extra pounds from the Christmas feasting, so I think that slowed me down. All in all, I am very happy with my progress so far. The Park to Park 1/2 Marathon is sitting about 16 to 17 weeks out and my long run is already 9.5 miles. Next week, I would like to run for 90 minutes and then for the next several weeks, just try to make that faster. I am also concentrating on faster, shorter runs. This week my plan is a 6 miler on Monday, 5 miles on Tuesday, 5 miles Thursday, and then a 90 minute long run on Saturday. The weekday runs are all scheduled to be fast runs – pushing the 8:00/mile pace. I need to start getting those under 8 minutes.
Like I said, overall I am very happy with this week’s progress. I think the interesting thing that happened today was the middle miles. It was miles 4, 5, and 6 that were just tough – they were the middle miles and sometimes during those miles – it can just get funky – the mind gets muddled – you want to just quit. But today I persevered through those tough middle miles – even though the last two miles were slower than I wanted – they felt better – yet my legs were starting to feel the longer distances and the fact that I ran 24 miles this week – my longest weekly effort since Richmond.
It’s been good! Pressing On!
It’s always interesting to look back at the past year in running. So, how did I do? In 2012, I worked out 241, this year I added just one work out for a total of 242. I find this stat very interesting. Yet, with only one extra workout, I completed 1546 miles. Last year I completed 1355. So I completed 190 miles more than last year with only one extra workout. Most of that is due to the marathon training. It will be tough to beat 2013 in terms of miles, because I don’t plan on running another marathon this fall.
