So This Is Why We Do It

As I was running last week, I couldn't help but think, "why am I running again? It hurts, I am not having any fun, and I think I just heard something pop!!!" But I continued on anyway. Then when my toe spontaneously turned black I had to give it a rest and I kinda missed it. Then today as I was running, things just clicked. I was running a good pace, my breathing was good, legs felt strong, I really felt like a runner. So I remembered why we do this crazy thing called running. I just have to remember this after those tough days!

Tired Arms

So last week I ran 7.5 miles for my long run. After I was done I felt pretty good. My legs weren't tired, my heart and lungs felt great, but my arms were tired. What!!! I try to shake them out every once in awhile, but I guess I need to do a better job with that. Perhaps I should lift weights! My arms are wimpy. Is this just me? I wonder how my arms will do tomorrow on my next long run.

Longer, Slower Run

So I decided to follow expert advise and run my long run much slower than normal. Guess what, it was still hard. Hopefully it will help me build my endurance though. I'm going to need it! :)

Getting There

So I feel like I'm finally getting the miles that I need to feel like I'm doing anything. I actually ran 2 days in a row, which for me is super weird. I hopefully will get my run in tomorrow, but right now all I can think about is how good a sleep in would feel! It's hard to get my lazy out of bed early every morning but so far I've done it for 2 weeks in a row. Go Me!!

Steady-state... come on steady legs

Tonight I ran a steady-state run as a stamina workout prescribed by McMillan's six step training program. I've been developing a pretty good base (at least I think it is good) so I decided to throw in a different type of workout.

The run went very well. McMillan suggests in the beginning you only do the steady-state portion for 25 minutes to get used to running this way; however, thinking I was tougher than I am, I ran for 40 minutes. It was a great idea at the time but now my legs are feeling quite fatigued.

The good news is that now I get to enjoy a nice recovery run tomorrow without feeling like a slacker!

Distance PR of sorts

Today's long run signified both the last individual run and the most weekly miles I've had since breaking my foot last July. It was a 10 mile run giving me 33.5 miles for the week.

The run went well, I ran the first 9ish miles at a nice LSD type pace. I look forward to the excuse each week to run slow, but while doing I keep thinking that if I ran faster I would be done! :) Anyway, the last part of the run I gave into the temptation to pick it up and ran at a 7:30 pace.

Katie said her run felt so good she wanted to keep going. Mine only felt great when I was done!

As a side note, I agree with Vitamin.

Great run

I had a great run this morning. I ran 5 miles at a 8:35 pace. This is amazing for me. I felt so good and wanted to keep going. I only do yoga on Fridays before my longer runs on Saturday. I think this has something to do with it. I feel refreshed and ready to go!