We-elll....
The new apartment is slowly coming together, but it's not as perfectly located for running as I thought. The trails along the river can be pretty hilly at points, and are frequently interrupted by stoplights. Plus, part of the West River trail is closed due to the bride construction. I've really been missing my lakes and my Kenilworth trail. At first, I thought I was missing my old apartment and that thought horrified me. But no, I've just been missing my old running routes.
So, last night, I decided that I would bike from the U to the Running Room, stash my bag, do my 7 mile tempo run and then bike home. OH MY GOD. I was thinking, hey, if this works, I can just do this! Well, yeah, it didn't work. I ended up biking 6 miles, running 6.5 and biking 7 miles. That was just a little too much. I pretty much passed out at 9 pm last night, which left poor Abe to finish the laundry. (Thanks Abe!)
So, my new tactic will be this, I think--I think that I will drive to Lake of the Isles to do speedwork, and then do my tempo runs from home. Yes, it's hilly, but since the FIRST program does not involve hill training (and the marathon involves MANY hills), this isn't such a bad thing. There really isn't a good space for speedwork around our new place, so I'll have to drive to a good spot. But I can justify once a week, especially since I bike or bus to work every day.
Anyway, that's the new plan. Last's night tempo was supposed to be a 7 mile tempo with 5 miles at my planned marathon pace of 9:39. I really, really struggled to keep that 9:39 at the end, which made me feel ashamed. And I cut my cool-down short, just walking a half mile for a cool down. Perhaps I struggled because I biked before I ran, or maybe it was those potato chips I had for lunch, but it was tough. I need to be more careful about what I eat on running days. And non-running days, really. It's marathon training time. It's deprivation time.
Addendum to previous post:
Our new neighbor does not like to blare death metal; he actually has a wide range of tastes. Last night, for example, he was blaring Weezer. I can't really argue with that, except for the volume I guess.
I made my first noise disturbance call to the office last night on this newbie. I cannot wait to get out of One Ten Grant. I didn't think it was possible to hate any place more than the bedbug-ridden Haverhill, and it's probably not, but OTG is a close second...
Back to it...
Well, I ended my brief post-race rest. Just an “easy” 5 miles, out to Cedar Lake Parkway and back. I am not capable of doing easy anything; I think I need to just admit that. I kept trying to slow myself down, but to no avail. Oh well. I averaged 9:22, which is great. I was hoping to keep it more like 9:42, but I just felt so good! I had to get my groove on.
Speaking of feeling good and grooving, my race last Sunday was f-ing a. It was AWESOME. AWESOME. I seriously can’t say it enough—AWESOME. Probably my best race ever. I was super nervous because I was running the race alone and without my iPod. First race I’ve ever done on my own, farthest I’ve gone without my iPod. But I was one fire—well, literally, because it was dang hot at 8am—but also figuratively. According to my trusty Garmin, I finished 10.12 miles in 1:34:44. I totally made my goal of 1:35:00 or less! Woohoo! Honestly, I’m a little surprised that my time wasn’t faster, because every time I checked my watch, I’d be running sub-9 minute miles. And this from a girl who was really hoping to average 9:30. I did walk up Team Ortho’s version of Heartbreak Hill on the second lap, though, and that probably dragged my time down. Although, maybe not. I doubt I could’ve ran up much faster! But anyway, I’m really pleased with my performance.
This week is just a “rest” week with easy 5 tonight, easy 5 tomorrow and then 11 on Saturday, with about a 9:48 average pace. I might re-examine my FIRST book, though, and see what some potential training paces are for a slightly faster race pace. Technically, I’ve been basing my training paces on a 27:00 5K time, when I have run a 26:00 5K. Maybe it’s time to try the real thing.
Anyway. That’s running. Engagement excitement has given way to moving anxiety. We move next Friday, June 13th. Hardly anything is packed, and Abe is working really late every night. I have a feeling that starting this weekend, all we’ll be doing is packing, and that next week will just plain suck. But I’m so happy to get out of this place. Our new neighbor moved in last weekend, and he apparently likes to blast death metal. GREAT. I have the best luck. I hope that the residents of Stonehouse Square will be a little more mature and respectful.
Abe, I love you!
