26.2

Feel’n good this morning. Knees feel good, run felt good. The first mile stunk! I was running at a 12:50 pace. (Hey, its Monday!) At the two mile mark, I wasn’t much better hitting 25:15. However, the last mile only took 11 minutes!
What happened?
I noticed something on my three mile runs. At the end, I felt I could hustle to the finish line and I would run the last minute or so a lot faster than the rest of my run. I don’t like this. It is actually a pet peeve of mine to see amateur runners “sprint” to the finish line. To me, it shows that they didn’t know how much energy to expend for the distance they were running. It also makes me think that they left something out there. They didn’t run as hard as they could have. (It is different if you are a pro and are trying to “kick it” at the end to outrun someone… but why would an amateur need to “kick it” after 5 hours to come in 1,357th place?)
So, at the 2 mile mark, I turned up my pace just a hair. I wanted to end out of breath at the finish. I wanted to see the finish and have to struggle just to reach it. And I did. I rounded the corner, saw my stopping point and I couldn’t increase my pace a single step. I could maintain what I had going, but I couldn’t speed up.
Overall, it was a good run. I didn’t feel so amateurish!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/18/2008
• Time: 06:15:00
• Total Time: 00:36:12.00
• Distance: 3 miles
• Average Pace: 12:04.35/mile

2nd day of week 1 for the 100 challenge. Here were the numbers: 10, 10, 8, 6 with a max of 12.
I know, its puny… but I feel bowed up! LOL

Workout:

• Type: Strength Training
• Date: 08/16/2008
• Time: 14:41:04
• Total Time: 00:15:00.00

This run was “ok”. I planned to run 4 miles, but my body was really feeling sore and tight this morning (probably due to the millage increase this week). I didn’t want to hurt anything, so I turned it in to a short recovery run, just to keep my legs moving and to loosen everything up.

I’ll ice again tonight and tomorrow and will enjoy the Sunday off. I think I’m going to have to start more strength training during the week too keep the muscles strong around my knee and to keep my legs strong in general.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/16/2008
• Time: 10:30:00
• Total Time: 00:24:02.00
• Distance: 2 miles
• Average Pace: 12:01.44/mile

Well, I planned on taking a walk break after 2 miles, but I was so lost in thought, I forgot. Then, when I remembered, I was feeling so good, I just decided to finish. It went well. Just a slight twinge of knee funk near the very end of the run so I’m icing it and watching the Olympians do their Olympic thing. This may make me sound like a kid, but I really want to go swim.

Thanks for reading.

Here’s the stats:

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/15/2008
• Time: 18:15:00
• Total Time: 00:36:06.00
• Distance: 3 miles
• Average Pace: 12:01.44/mile

I’ve increased my millage for my midweek runs. Tonight was a very nice 4 mile run. I took it pretty easy, jogging with Katie for the first 2 miles and running just under my 2 mile pace on the last 2 miles. It was a beautiful night for a run that I didn’t want to do at first, but I’m SO glad I did!

My midweek runs will stay at 4 miles for about a month and then will start to ease up to the 10K Chile Pepper Run.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/13/2008
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 00:51:50.00
• Distance: 4 miles
• Average Pace: 12:57.54/mile

On my first test, I completed 18 push ups, so I started on level 2, on more than 10 push ups. Here is what the reps looked like:

• 10
• 10
• 8
• 6

I didn’t max out because I totally forgot I was supposed to do that, but I will next time.

Workout:

• Type: Strength Training
• Date: 08/12/2008
• Time: 21:30:00
• Total Time: 00:00:10.00

Got my bike back after being toned and went for a light ride to make sure it all works. Booty a little sore, but other than that, things feel great!

Workout:

• Type: Cycle
• Date: 08/12/2008
• Time: 20:15:00
• Total Time: 00:40:00.00
• Distance: 6.7 miles
• Average Speed: 10.05 mph
• Max Speed: 25 mph

Another major accomplishment today on my regular run: I didn’t stop, but this time, it was 3 miles!

My knee was feeling a little funny half way through (probably sore from the hill work Saturday). I really had to focus on lowering the impact and absorbing the shock in my entire body and not my legs. That was pretty tiring. Everything feels good right now. Tonight when I get home from work, I’m going to ice it a lot. It looks like I will be investing in a knee brace SOON.

Thanks for reading!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/11/2008
• Time: 06:40:00
• Total Time: 00:36:30.00
• Distance: 3 miles
• Average Pace: 12:10.22/mile

Ouch! Today, I ran 4 miles with one GIANT hill in the middle. It was one of those where you turn the corner and look up… and then actually bend your neck up to see the top! Yea… It hurt. I’m tired. It was right at the 1.5 mile mark that the hill started. The crest is near 1.75 and the bottom is at the 2 mile turn around… then I do it all again!
I had never run this route before, but now that I have, I will be saving it for my hill work and days that I want to completely punish myself!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/09/2008
• Time: 07:15:00
• Total Time: 00:57:27.00
• Distance: 4 miles
• Average Pace: 14:21.24/mile
• Ascent: 150 ft
• Descent: 150 ft

2 miles, non stop! I love that!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/08/2008
• Time: 07:15:00
• Total Time: 00:23:53.00
• Distance: 2 miles
• Average Pace: 11:57.13/mile