Week of 12/4

12/4/2007
5:30am
9 miles
1:21

Just what the doctor ordered. Was dreading this a bit – the 16 miler was rough and temps were in the mid-20′s this morning. I needed a run to get the mojo back and was worried this would not be it. But, after a slow, cold start, something clicked and all was well. 9 minute miles felt just fine for today. Good, these blog entries were getting a little depressing!

12/5/2007
6:15am
6x 800m
3:29, 3:40, 3.xx (interrupted), 3:40, 3:29, 3:35

Intervals this morning with the temps in the 30′s. I just started doing speedwork in the summer so this was one of the first cold ones I’ve done. It makes a difference!

I do my intervals on the street. I have a half mile stretch nearby that I use for 400m, 800m, and 1600m. It is about 50 ft higher on one end than the other so my times tend to vary a bit depending on which direction I’m headed.

I also seemed to get an extra helping of the urban experience this morning. CVS delivery truck blocking my 3rd interval, two homeless guys cussing each other out over a blanket, blown over trash cans on the sidewalk, the classic guy-and-dog-block-path-with-leash. Work has been strange too – must be some astrological weirdness going on today.

12/6/2007
5:30am
9 miles
1:21

In the 20′s again this morning. 9 went well. Tried a new route and had the pleasant sensation of the end of the run sneaking up on me.

12/8/2007
11am
12m miles
1:47
50 – 65 degrees

Still felt slow today but finished around race pace. I need to understand my pacing better. There is a good post on this topic on Hal Higdon’s message board that gave me a couple links on McMillan and Pfitzinger’s sites and a book to look up. Research material – excellent!