Fab Friday

I am not sure when that "need" to run kicks in but I don't have it yet and am ever grateful I am so competitive with myself that I hold myself to a piece of paper on the fridge that says when to run and how far or how fast!

I would have packed it in long since were it not for that plan!

It was a gorgeous sunny afternoon and one of my only runs in double digit temps.  Felt warm.

I specifically wanted to run even splits on this run so I had to really apply the "brakes" in the first 5 mins.

Every split was in the low to mid 7 minutes.  I ran on the dyke which was crazy busy and I didn't have my usual split markers which I didn't like but realise I can't get to reliant on one route in the (seemingly unlikely) event I actually ever run a race.

I ran No 1 and Steveston to the Dyke and the Dyke to halfway between Williams and Blundell and then turned for home with the sun full in my eyes.

In the last 8-10 minutes (when I would usually want to walk) I was still happily running and I think I got a small taste of the elusive "zone" runners comment on......I ran the entire 30 minutes and felt good.

30 mins
3.87km
7.44min/km

Terrible Tempo Wednesday

Had a twingy knee after Jazzercise on Monday. Iced it.  Felt OK Tuesday but skipped Jazz to rest it.

Did not feel like running on Wednesday in the rain but that schedule was there on the fridge......I couldn't not go!

I decided to start slow and see how the knee felt and take it from there.  Knee hurt right away but after a block or two settled down and felt fine for the rest of the run and only slightly achy since then. Slight shin discomfort on the same leg.

Anyway there I was cruising along and just to prove I still and a horrible judge of how fast I am running....my first split at 5 minutes as 5:14min/km..... I gasped out loud......my first sub 6 min ever!

Managed to stay in the low 7's for the rest of the run.  Felt sluggish but kept running.

Was just in the home stretch in the back alley hoping there may be a PB in those stats (by a second or two) when my neighbour drove up and rolled down his window and clearly wanted to chat.  By the time I realised my run was done I had let RunKeeper run on 3 minutes thus killing my stats and time.....UGH.

So here are some skewed stats

2.87km
27:04 minutes
9:25min/km

Long Run in the sun!

I set off in the sun today although the wind was a bit chilly.  Does one run with sunglasses?  I didn't as I knew they would steam up.

Anyhoo.....It was fun to run trying to catch my shadow.

Went out well and my first 4 splits were all in the low 7's which felt good.

I ran around the houses again as I knew the dyke would be crazy on a sunny Sunday.  I go the distance just right and hit the 4km mark 2 houses before mine! More luck than planning.

It was a tough run.  My stomach wasn't feeling good and I had cramps around the 3.2km mark.  I just wanted to get home but I wasn't focused on the run anymore. The last 800m was a slog.


4km
31.08mins
7.47min/km

Average run....... could have been better.

Here beginneth the 2nd month!

I had to turn over the calendar to see what I was running today!

Amazing to think I have been running for almost 2 months and have completed the first 4 weeks of my 12 week training program.

Its been a horrible week and I took the day off to give myself a break.  So I stayed in bed until 10am!

And then I got up, got dressed and went for a run.  In the rain.

I was really not feeling it today and was consoling myself that at least I was out there pounding the pavement and I wasn't going to care what my splits were.

And they were slower....no 6 minute splits at all.

BUT

I ran the entire 25 minutes - absolutely no walking.  Does this mean I should just keep the tempo even and steady rather than go out fast?  I certainly felt better and had gas in the tank at the end and a pretty good run overall.

25 minutes
3.25km
7.43min/km

Long Run Sunday

Set out in the cold and wet and windy on Sunday to do my 3.5km long run which I wasn't feeling was very long at all.  Funny how quickly things change!

I ran a wierd round the houses route trying to keep the pace and get the distance right.  A lot of running around big puddles and hopping on and off the sidewalk which really messes with my rhythm.

First split at 5 min was 7:40min/km
Second was 6:04min/km at 10 minutes......

Ended 3.5km
26.53minutes

7:41min/km 

No PB but a good run - settling into a comfort zone around 7:40min/km which feels good and is ahead of the goal for this session of training.

Legs feeling great.

Legs Eleven

I didn't want to run.

Friday....end of a long week......changing into gear...UGH...

"Just go" I told myself.....so I went.

Into the teeth of a gale down Steveston Highway but watching a spectacular sunset.   My my the wind was strong and very cold.....nose and eyes running.

My first split was around 8minutes and I was actually pleased to have not gone out too fast - thanks Mr Wind.

I kicked it up a notch and my second split was 7:47min/km.
My third was 6:40 which caught me by surprise but I was in the groove and kept on running.

I had to run around the block a couple times to stay running for the required 25 minutes.

I ran 3.26km in 25 minutes
Average pace 7:39min/km - a new PB!  Surprised!!

Wow - Run 10

On one hand it seems crazy I have run 10 times...... on the other hand ....only 10??

It was my 3rd tempo run.....20 minutes

Raining and 4 degrees.....felt chilly.

First split a 7min/km (at 5 mins)
Second 7:07min/km (at 10 mins)

I ended up walking about 600m of the second half of the run....my legs were tired.

I ran 2.6km in 20 minutes and managed a PB of 7:42min/km