Run that ye may Obtain

I have never been a high-mileage chick.  In high school I ran ran a 2:10 800M and 5:05 1600M with 25-30 miles a week in training.  My ability to race well on low mileage was one of the biggest reasons why my college Cross Country Coach, Patrick Shane was excited about my potential. He knew I hadn’t been over-trained or burned out and I could run fast on, well basically talent.   Even in college he didn’t feel the need to have me doing mass mileage.  I mostly hovered around the 45-50 miles per week range, hitting 55 miles per week maybe 3 times in four years while training for my specialty, the 3,000M Steeplechase.  Now that I’m training for a little bit longer of a race (only 24 miles longer, no big deal) I’ve gradually been building up my weekly mileage and today’s run concludes my first 70 mile week ever!  I have to admit that 70 miles did make me feel a bit more tired throughout the week but luckily I was able to sneak in a few naps and get pretty good sleep at night, which helped a lot.  My left achilles is feeling better than it has in weeks and my right shin was a little tight earlier in the week but after self-massaging it every day and trying to loosen up that calf, its actually feeling quite a bit better too.  I’m very pleased with how well it has responded to self massage and daily icing.

So for today’s workout, I met Running Republic at Tom Watson Park for some intervals around Boulder Res.

20 min warm up, stretching, strides

6X45second quick stride hills (5:15-5:40 pace, started off slower and got faster as I warmed up)

2.5 minutes easy

10 minutes at controlled tempo pace (6:00 pace)

3 minutes easy

3X3 minutes at 10k effort (6:17 pace; first one was uphill and I’m starting to overheat in the sun after the 10 minute tempo, 5:36 pace back down the hill, 5:53 pace on pretty flat mild uphill on the last one)

As soon as the intervals were over we were all super hot and the reservoir was right there calling our names so we jogged on over and took a swim.  Everyone had their shoes off and was at least waist deep in the lake, most of us fully submerged which felt SOOO nice.

Then we did a 12 minute cool down which felt great with the slight breeze and wet running clothes.

When I got back to my car I drank my 24 oz water bottle within seconds.  I also stopped at a gas station on the drive home to get another 30 oz of liquid.  Nothing like a good quench after a hot run.

Biked 15.82 miles in 1:07

It felt SO great to get out and exercise in the sunshine.  Sunshine has a healing effect on me.  The snow is melting everywhere and we have clear skies and 50 degree temps today!  How could I be in a bad mood?  I haven’t been feeling super cheery all weekend but today I’m feeling better.

My friend just dropped her son of to play at our house and she asked if I was okay because it looked like I had been crying when she saw me at church on Sunday.  I laughed and agreed that I was not in the best mood on Sunday, but reassured her that the freaky eyes was just the severe case of pink eye I’ve been having, not crying eyes.  Since Friday night, by eyes have been super pink and every morning when I wake up I have to pry them open and scrub the crust off before I start my day.  I haven’t been to the Dr. because from my experience, the drops they give you don’t help much anyway and I don’t want to bother spending the time and money for something that will go away on its own in a few days.

9 miles in  7:53 pace

Nice and warm outside today.  Supposed to get up into the mid-50s!

Last night around 7 pm I was SOOO tired.  I could have gone to bed and slept 12 hours.  Aaron and I got the kids to bed early and did some calendar sync and family planning and resolved to go to bed early.  After the kids were in bed I seemed to get a second wind though.  Something about the peace and quiet of no kid responsibility rejuvinates me.  I did not feel tired again until almost 11 pm and finally fell asleep around midnight.  Then I ran at 6 am today because Aaron has jury duty and had to leave early.  Neither of us have ever had jury duty, so I guess the government is finally catching up with us.

Ali just climbed up on the kitchen table to get an orange out of the fruit basket.  She is now dangling her legs off the edge of the table and I just sent my 3 year old over to help her down.  Not working.  Better go.