Modified Route - 10 miler

OBJECTIVE
10 mi. w/8 @ EZ (8:24-54/mi.) & last 2@ MP (7:55/mi.)

ACHIEVED
10.02 mi. w/8@8:20/mi. & 2@7:41/mi.

5:47 AM 71° 92% 0 mph

Good run this morning. I started from Spring Cypress a little late. Eased on down the bayou path. I was feeling pretty good. Pace was around 8:30/mi. Didn't make it all the way to the Y - 1 1/2 mile short - before meeting up with Bob Bond, Sean Easton, Sean's friend, and a guy named Seth. I met them on Jones Road and anytime Sean's in the group the pace is going to be hot ... at least for met. I wasn't with them for long before Sean had us under 8:00/mi.

We got back on the bayou trail and went to the 8-mile turn around for Bob. Bob and I turned back. The others continued on. I ran with Bob along the trail back to the end of the path. Bob continued back to the Y. I took a water break (thank you, ChampionsFit!) then headed back on the trail for the third time. With 2 miles remaining, I picked it back up looking for 7:55/mi. I was feeling good. I was pushing but it wasn't uncomfortable. I made each of the last two miles in 7:41/mi. which I was pleased with.

It seems I'm making slow, incremental progress. I need to decide on next week's training schedule. I start physical therapy on Tuesday and go back on Thursday. I have a hunch Dani is really going to "put it to me" and she'll be able to tell I've been running more and faster than she suggested. At this point, I'm willing to let those chips fall where they may ....

PRE RUN
Accelerade

POST RUN
SlimFast; potato, egg & cheese breakfast taco
Later, Life cereal w/skim milk

Summer Solstice

OBJECTIVE
4 - 6 mi. EZ (8:24-54/mi.)

ACHIEVED
≈6.12 mi.@ 8:37/mi. (52:47)

≈5:40 AM 72° 92% 0 mph

Nice 6-miler to celebrate the summer solstice. Early in the run I was thinking this must for a big week for pagans. I think yesterday was a full moon and today is summer solstice. It seems like I should be running a race at Stonehenge today!

My Garmin pulled the always-aggravating "LOW BATTERY" routine again this morning so I pulled out the trusty Timex IronMan to accompany me. I ran the Wimbledon Forest Loop so I have a good idea that the distance is 6.10 - 6.15 miles. I felt fine today. My IT band hasn't been a problem for a while now (knock on wood!). My legs seemed a little "tired" but not really a big deal.

I started about 30 minutes later than usual today since I'm taking the day off work. Which is really good at this point. However, Paige is having surgery this afternoon so that's not so exciting. Hopefully it's a smooth out-patient procedure with a quick recovery - as currently anticipated.

Tomorrow's run is 10 miles. I'm not sure who, if anyone, I'll be running with yet. It's somewhat dependent on how Paige is doing.

PRE RUN
Accelerade

POST RUN
SlimFast, multivitamin @ Kashi GoLean cereal w/skim milk

OBJECTIVE
3 mi. : SLOW (>8:54/mi.)

ACHIEVED
4.02 mi. @ 9:13/mi.

5:10 AM 73° 94% 0 mph

Took this one slow and easy as prescribed. Had a bit of muscle soreness in my legs from yesterday. Added a mile ... for good measure.

PRE RUN
nothing

POST RUN
SlimFast, multivitamin, 65 mg Iron, & oatmeal w/skim milk

Mid-week Big Workout

OBJECTIVE
8 mi. w/5x2 min. @ CV (6:40/mi.) & 2 min. jog

ACHIEVED
8.01 mi. @ 8:30/mi. broken down as follows:
2.42 mi. @ 8:55/mi.
2:00 min. @ 6:15/mi.
1:59 jog
2:00 min. @ 6:21/mi.
1:59 jog
2:00 min. @ 6:17/mi.
2:26 jog
2:00 min. @ 6:21/mi.
2:00 jog
2:00 min. @ 6:16/mi.
2:00 jog
2.99 mi. @ 8:43/mi.

5:33 AM 72° 86% 2 mph

It was a good run this morning. This was my third mid-week Big Workout and, although they seem ominous as they approach, I ultimately enjoy the workout - especially when it's over!

I was supposed to hit 6:40/mi. on my 2 minute bursts but felt good from the first one so I just stayed with the faster pace. I was trying to get farther down the bayou path than I did last week. I thought this might present difficulty for me over the 3 miles back to the car. But, just like last week, after starting slowly I was able to pick up the pace the entire distance. Obviously, 8:43/mile isn't a fast pace but it's in the range I want to be at (8:24-54).

I'm going to strive to eat and drink properly throughout the day and get plenty of sleep tonight. Tomorrow's run is a slow 3-miler.

On fastrunningblog.com, Josse commented yesterday that I might have an iron deficiency. I plan to start supplementing to see if it helps with my overall fatigue.

PRE RUN
water & Accelerade

POST RUN
Accelerade & SlimFast
Later, GrapeNuts w/skim milk

Got it In

OBJECTIVE
4-6 mi. EZ (8:24-54/mi.)

ACHIEVED
6.20 mi. @ 8:45/mi.

5:16 AM 75° 91% 1 mph

Before getting out of bed this morning, I thought today's run would be 5 miles. During much of the first two miles I figured I'd turn around to make it 5. I know an additional mile isn't a big deal either way but this morning it seemed like it was! I passed the 5 mile turn around and just reminded myself to take it easy and finish. Even with the slow pace, I felt like I was working.

Last night, I sat down on the around 8:30. The next thing I knew I woke up and it was 1:30 AM! Falling asleep while relaxing in the evening isn't unusual but not waking up sooner is.

This reminds me. I haven't blogged about my visit to the physical therapist last Friday. She "evaluated" me similar to what Dr. Cianca did a week earlier. She arrived at the same diagnosis and expanded on it. She said I'm suffering from extreme muscle fatigue, my workouts are too hard, I shouldn't be attempting 3 marathons in a year, ... among other things. Of course, none of this is what I wanted to hear and it made me mad. We start therapy in a couple weeks when she's back from vacation (another frustration). I haven't decided if I'm going to follow her advice and scale back my workouts.

So this morning I was thinking about this while running. I do feel tired. You know that if you follow my blog. Another thing that really struck me was a comment I recall making to Jonathan leading up to the Ogden marathon. I said that I just wanted to feel "strong" on the starting line and that I really couldn't remember the last time I felt strong. I still feel that way so maybe there's something to this muscle fatigue diagnosis. My problem is that I want redemption for my Ogden performance when I run St. George. But if I'm dealing with this fatigue thing ... maybe that's going to be too much to hope for.

PRE RUN
apple juice

POST RUN
SlimFast, multivitamin & oatmeal w/skim milk

Tired

OBJECTIVE
3 mi. : slow

ACHIEVED
3.02 mi. @ 9:06/mi.

5:14 AM 75° 89% 4 mph

I was tired this morning. It wasn't a restful weekend. Cameron ended up playing 5 baseball games at a tournament in Katy. Typically this would be relaxing but I was coaching and on my feet in 90+ temperatures the whole time. They ended up losing in the championship after an extra inning semifinal game.

I eased myself over the 3 miles of the Kleinwood Loop. I pretty much zoned out and occassionally reminded myself to take it easy.

PRE RUN
nothing

POST RUN
SlimFast, multivitamin & oatmeal w/skim milk

June 15 - 21

SUN - rest
MON - 3 mi. SLOW
TUE - 4-6 mi. EZ (8:24-54/mi.)
WED - 8 mi. w/5x2 min. @ 6:40/mi. & 2 min. active recovery
THU - 3 mi. SLOW
FRI - 4-6 mi. EZ
SAT - 10 mi. w/8@EZ & last 2@MP (7:55)