Plan Implement Revise Implement Revise

The plan keeps changing.  And that is okay, life is change.  I am really enjoying running. This morning I actually made it up at 5 am and went down to the hotel fitness center.  As much as I hate dreadmills, it was a good run.  3.0 miles - 42:58, pace 14:39.  I can live with that pace for now.

Goals: I would like my 3 and 4 mile pace to be less than 14 mins/mile by 9/21 and less than 13 mins/mile by 11/2.  I would like my pace at the race to be less than 15 mins/mile. That goal will be revised as we get closer to the race.

Schedule Edits: One of the edits I needed to make to the schedule was for my long run.  I had my long run planned for 10/12.  Happily, I am planning to be at the Carmel Valley Ranch Resort that weekend with some of my favorite girlfriends from law school.  I looked at the google earth map of the resort it was SUPER SUPER hilly.  So I moved the run to earlier in the week.  I changed the Saturday run to 4 miles.  If I have to do it on a treadmill, I'd rather do 4 on a treadmill than my first 13+ on a treadmill.  If I miss that run, I miss that run.  This picture is from the Carmel Valley Ranch web site.

I also added Women Run the Cities to 9/22.  That weekend was going to be my 9 mile weekend.  I changed Saturday's run to 5 miles and added Sunday's 10 miles.  I am still thinking about whether that is a good idea and whether I should make Saturday a rest day.

Lead Legs & Sleepy Feet

This morning's 4 miles was a challenge.  For the first 2 miles, my legs were so heavy it was hard to stay on task.  For the second 2 miles, my foot was falling asleep/numb on and off.  I failed to properly stretch yesterday after my run. I was so hot, tired, and thirsty that I just hopped in the car and headed home.  Today, I took the time to stretch out my legs.  Yesterday, I also failed to work out the soreness in my feet with the golf ball.  I knew when I got out of bed and my foot already hurt I was in for a rough run.  My overall time was slower than I liked.  But I got it done.  I walked more than I planned to but still less than half (I think). Tomorrow is the biggest run I have done so far - 6 miles.  I am thinking I will do it after work. If I try to squeeze it into my morning, I think I would have to leave the house at 5:15.  That does not sound like fun.  But then I would have it done and not need to worry about it. Another plus is that it will be cooler outside at 5:30 am than 7 pm.  I think I just talked myself into doing my 6 miles at 5:15 am. Time to shower & get my Sunday chores done!

Tactical Error

Apparently, taking 5 days in a row off was a tactical error.  This morning's three miles was rough.  I have my new Garmin Forerunner 10 which I really like.  Part of what made it a rough run was adjusting to the new measurements -- my iPhone was a touch inaccurate - which I knew.  But that just a touch adds up so that your 3/4 spot is a little bit farther than expected and your 1 mile is a little bit farther and then the 1 1/2 mile turn around spot is even further.  After a few runs, I will be adjusted.  I set the watch to beep with I was off pace.  That was annoying.  I will be turning that off.  Last time I ran, I ran with some of the Moms from Moms Run This Town.  They run in 5/1 intervals.  They run for 5 minutes and walk 1 minutes. I thought I would try that today instead of my usual 1 mile run, followed by 1/4 mile increments, and ending with a 3/4 mile run.  The 5/1 was much harder.  I think with my next run I am going to go back to my previous system with the ongoing goal of stretching out my run distances.  Tomorrow, I am going to go 4 miles.  I am going to update the schedule today and figure out how to catch back up. 

New Race: I just signed up for a  10 mile race on September 22 - Women Run the Cities!  It is a week before I should be at 10 miles so it will be a stretch.  I am excited about the race.  The night before I will be staying with a friend from college I haven't seen since about 1996 -- 13 years!

Here are today's stats: