"By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail"

It was supposed to be mid-40's today -- but the temperature never got above 33. Reluctantly, I went for a recovery run with Ty. I ate too much at lunch time -- I think the salad with the vinegarette dressing didn't sit well with me (or maybe it was the pizza?). Anyways, from the start I really didn't feel like running today. At the 4-mile mark I told Ty (who was feeling great) to run to the 5 mile mark -- and I would walk for a little while. I walked a little toward the 5 mile mark, then started getting chilled, so I started walking back toward the car. Ty caught up with me 3 miles from the cars. I ran the remaining 3 miles in -- the walk did me some good (and gave my stomach a little more time to digest lunch). I was glad when this run was over! I know I complain about the heat -- but, I really think I prefer it over cold, dreary weather any day!

Calves are both a little sore from yesterday's half marathon. I'm glad I didn't go through with the "Goofy" challenge today. I probalby would have finished -- but it would not have been fun. And if it's not fun, why do it?

34F. 5 MPH wind. Cloudy.

What a difference a day of rest and 12 degrees makes! Ran in shorts today - it was 44 degrees. So much nicer than the 20s and 30s of this past weekend.

Ran w/ Darin our 6 mile course. Felt strong. Calves are all better.

AP: 7:24

44F, 5 MPH N

7:40, 7:40, 7:33, 7:25, 7:19, 6:50


 

Lunchtime run w/ Darin. We were both feeling pretty good, but I really shouldn't have eaten both a burrito and chocolate eclair for breakfast. Felt good.

22 days til Cowtown!

AP: 7:13

47F, 5-10 N wind

Today's plan was  dress rehearsal for the 8:23/mi pace that I'll need at Cowtown as a pace for th 3:40 marathon group. I had planned to do 22 miles and see how long I could hold the pace.

When I got to the turnaround on the trail at 11 miles, I felt pretty good -- the sun was shining, it was mid 40s, and I figured "why not just go for the full 26.2?". So I continued on until the 13.1 mark, then headed back. I maintained the 8:23 pace for about 17 miles until I started up the gradual incline which lasts for about 4 miles. By the top my AP was 8:29 with 4 miles to go. The last 4 miles are a gradual downhill, so I just picked it up a little. With 2 miles left, I needed to run 7:30s. With 1 mile left I needed a 7:15. Ran the last mile in 7:17 finished in 3:40:02. This was a fun experiment.

I also cut myself some slack. I stopped a few times along the route to refuel and hydrate (I was wearing a camelback which when I started had about 4 large glasses of water in it). While stopped I stopped my watch -- so I cheated a little.

I've been reading the book "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall -- and it's got me thinking a lot about running in general. Everything from nutrition, shoes (I'm really thinking of trying barefoot -- but only when the temperature and terrain are right), distance (are marathons long enough??, and running more trails. I'm sure the book swayed me a little to push to 26.2 on Saturday, instead of just 22.

I should be ready for Cowtown in 3 weeks -- now I just need to stay healthy and injury-free!