Run 32 of 67: 2 miles easy

Distance: 2 miles
Time: 23:40
Course: Treadmill

I can't say it was fun, but it was over before I got too bored to keep moving. I've made arrangements with KV to run Thursday's 5K outside, so that one should be better. This is an easy week, and next week I run another 7 miles long. I'm actually looking forward to it!

Run 31 of 67: 7 miles long

Distance: 7 miles
Time: 1:25:00
Course: Loop from home

This is officially the longest distance I have ever run. Woo!

It always takes about 20 minutes to feel fully warmed up, and there were a few stretches where the running was effortless. I experimented with lengthening my stride a bit, and ran the sixth mile in about 11 minutes. Mostly I tried to concentrate on keeping my torso centered and relaxed, with a minimum of side to side movement. The big hill was easier than last week; I'm starting to use my big hams and quads rather than the calves to push up the hill, and it's making a difference in the level of effort.

I was a little apprehensive about this run, and I'm glad it turned out so well. The upcoming week is an easy one, and then the following week there is a 6 mile tempo run and another 7-mile long run. It's time to start experimenting with run nutrition.

Run 30 of 67: 2 miles easy

Distance: 2 miles
Time: 23:00
Course: Loop from home

It's been an odd week. I got about two hours of sleep on Monday night, and dragged through Tuesday, leaving work early and having an early evening nap. I completely forgot that I was supposed to run that day. That hasn't happened in awhile.

Today I left work early again, and decided to run from home. I've just been exhausted all week, and was thinking that I would do the missed Tuesday run today, and then do the tempo run tomorrow.

Edited to add: Nope, no Friday tempo run. Just too frickin' tired.

I hadn't eaten anything since lunch, and was feeling pretty sorry for myself when I headed out. Suck it up, buttercup. It's barely more than 20 minutes of running. I had no jam while running, but since things have gotten to the point that a 2-mile run is a warmup, I just slapped myself a little bit and cranked this one out.

Run 29 of 67: 6 miles long

Distance: 6 miles
Time: 1:15:00
Course: Loop from home

Rather than the usual late-afternoon run, we left at 11 AM to try a different time. I know that doing the weekend long run in the morning makes sense for a few reasons: most races are in the morning, you get the run out of the way and can spend the rest of your day doing whatever, etc.

I should have eaten oatmeal or cereal instead of a ham and cheese sandwich, I think, although the caffeine in the accompanying coffee probably helped a bit. I made it up the massive hill without stopping, and in fact ran the entire distance without having to resort to a walk. I lost steam, though, in the last two miles, and made it through the final mile at barely more than a geriatric jog.

And now I feel really, really tired. I'm supposed to spend the rest of the day studying, but my leg muscles are already stiffening up as I sit at this desk. I suspect I will be spending the next few nights trying to catch up. Ugh.

Run 28 of 67: 5 miles speed

Distance: 5 miles
Time: 55:00
Course: Loop from YWCA

Note to self: go for a run even if you feel tired and your eyes hurt from looking at spreadsheets all day. You're tired BECAUSE you've been looking at spreadsheets all day, dumbass. Sheesh.

Yep, I had to have some pep talked into me before I made it to the gym, but once I was out on the Seawall, no problem. The workout was:

1 mile warmup
2 x 1 mile hard in 11:15 w 800 m jog between
1 mile cooldown

11:15? Pfft. Try 10:00. OH YEAH. For both, even!

Run 27 of 67: 2 miles easy

Distance: 2 miles
Time: 24:00
Course: Treadmill

Met up with KV and did an easy treadmill run to get the blood moving. Completely forgot to up the pace on the machine, and watched the start of a Harlequin Presents movie while my legs went into auto mode. I can hardly call this a workout anymore!

Run 26 of 67: 6 miles long

Distance: 6 miles
Time: 1:11:00
Course: Loop from home

It's been a good day! Got my midterm assignment done two days ahead of deadline, finished off another chapter of required readings, and, oh yeah, ran 6 miles!

The run started out downhill, and I concentrated on moving my feet and keeping my torso properly centered. The first 3 kilometres went by really quickly. Then there's a long uphill pretty much exactly between the 3 km and 4 km marks, and wow, that was a slog. I did make it all the way up the hill before having to walk to get my breathing back under control. The remaining 6 km was practically a cake walk, I tell you.

The highlight of the run was the solid 10-minute mile on the rolling flat between the 4 and 5 mile marks. Awesome. I felt like I could have gone for at least another mile at that pace, but we slowed down for the last bit as a gentle wind-down. I think today's run has been the best one so far.

Run 25 of 67: 5 miles tempo

Distance: 5 miles
Time: 57:00
Course: Loop from YWCA

Wow, that was hard. My first tempo run was described as a 1 mile warmup, 3 mile tempo run at 11:55, and a 1 mile cooldown. The mile warmup went by very quickly, and then I started the 3 mile tempo run. I think I did pretty well, despite having forgotten to bring a watch. For the first half, I concentrated on leaning forward a bit and kicking my heel to the back a little more quickly. I got a bit of a cramp near the mile mark, but figured that since my breathing and legs were fine, I would be able to gut it out at least until the turnaround point. I definitely lost steam in the second half, and had to walk twice to get back to the starting point.

I surprised myself with my ability to run at a significantly faster pace than my easy runs, for an extended period of time. I'm getting used to the feeling of running being uncomfortable without being exhausting, if that makes any sense.

Run 24 of 67: 2 miles easy

Distance: 2 miles
Time: 19:00
Course: Elliptical machine

Oh, elliptical machine, how you LIE LIE LIE to me. As if I went the equivalent of 2 miles in 19 minutes while barely getting my heart rate above 160. I'm not quite sure how to properly discount this figure, but I'm not going to record it in my log as anything other than the usual.

The New Year's resolution crowd is still jamming up the treadmills in the evenings, so I had to make do with an alternate machine tonight. Anything is better than nothing, though. I was miserable all day, completely stressed out and freaking slightly about the volume of studying I still have to get through this month. I feel much better now.

Run 23 of 67: 5 miles easy

Distance: 5 miles
Time: 1:15:00
Course: Loop from home

I knew this good vibrations streak was too good to last. My fatal mistake was to change the start of the usual route, and begin the warmup with a couple of hills. My lower calves were aching pretty quickly, and I never managed to find a groove. I was starting to feel pretty sorry for myself before the 2 km mark. We stopped and walked between the 4 km and 5 km marks, and then again somewhere around the 7 km mark. Miserable.