Runnin Bubbas

Finally...

Lunch:  I did not hear my alarm this morning.  I was to run with Matt and Toni but just needed the sleep.  I decided to do a pace run today.  The first 13.5 miles were @ 7:10 pace(just over marathon pace was the strategy which right now I feel is 6:40 realistic).  I felt really comfortable considering the conditions were horrible.  It was snowing the whole time and the roads were covered and slippery.  Legs never really fatigued.  I purposely backed off to 7:30 pace for the last little over 2 miles to just do a shake out with my legs.  

I have been pleased with the base that I have built the last two months.  I have not logged this many miles in years.  I am excited to finally feel like I can start testing my hamstrings and do some speed work and more tempo now.  This next month is critical training for PHX.  I am learning how to connect body and mind.  Hope to be competitive by end of summer. 

Lunch:  I missed the morning group run again.  Went out and did my own workout.  First 7.5 miles were really comfortable and easy(7:40).  Conditions were snowy and slippery again.  Really pumped to be running in negative to teen weather conditions and not feel like its a big deal.  This training will be huge come spring/summer.  Just tried to get in some easy miles.  Did mile and half at HP.  Felt really good to test my hamstrings a little.  I need the confidence to start feeling lighter and try to push my mind and body to want to break down the pain barriers. Overall this was a good AM workout.  Legs felt no fatigue which is something I have been working towards building with body and mind connection.  Excited to see how this week turns out.  Lot of running to do.

PM:  Wanted to do 5 miles this evening easy, but felt really good so decided to do a progressive on the TM.  I cannot stand the TM, but the weather outside is more than frightful.  Started out at 8:20 pace and every half mile split got faster(7:50,7:20,6:58,6:30,6:05,5:53,5:30).  Then a cool down mile at 8:00 min/pace.  Good workout.  I feel like my legs are starting to benefit from the base mileage I have done over the last two months.  This is exactly what I wanted to achieve also.  I finally feel like I can start testing myself again on speed work and tempo runs and start pushing my body to do so.  My recoveries have been quicker also. 

AM:  I got up this morning.  Yeah me... Joined Matt, Toni, Reed and Mike for a good workout.  We warmed up for 3 miles at a pretty decent pace.  Did 2 mile tempo...I took last.  I did the workout knowing I just needed to stay positive and use the workout as experience and push myself to do what I could do.  My legs felt tired going fast, but it was my breathing that was tough this morning.  I am excited to feel the push though.  These guys are animals right now.  I tweaked my right hamstring.  We ran back 3 miles to cool down.  I took it very conservatively.  

Lunch:  Only had time for an easy 4.2 30 minute run.  Felt pretty good though all things considering.  I love where my endurance and stamina is at right now.  I am really focused on body and mind connection right now.  I always want running to be fun.  The better shape I am in, the more fun I am going to have.  I am too competitive to sit back any longer and not compete.  Enjoying the journey though... 

Lunch:  Very Comfortable and Easy Recovery Run today.  Kept it @7:30 pace chop stepping the whole time.  Two good inclines in the course I ran where I focused on incline fundamentals.  I still am not comfortable with incline and climbing like I want yet, but I think this will come easier with more weight loss.  I finally feel pretty normal as far as physically speaking.  If normal even exist, then this is as close to feeling pain free in a while now.  My right leg feels a lot better which has been killing me for two weeks now.  A little twinge at about mile 6 during the run today in my right hammy, but did not feel too bad or slow me down at all.  I never felt like my legs were tight or heavy during this recovery run which is a great sign since I have purposely tried to test my legs more now with some tempo and more miles this week.  May run 4 more this evening.  Excited to head south and play some golf.

PM:  4 miles very easy on TM.  Little twinge in my right hammy still.  Pretty tired, but overall good spirits.  Core workout also. 

AM:  4.25 miles at a snails pace.  Cold, boring and headed south.  

Really fun time with everyone today down south in St. George.  I got to experience another good day of WU, tempo and CD.  I need to create some better habits and today was a good practice run for exactly this.  I warmed up with Scott, Matt, Toni, Mike and Brandon for two miles.  These guys have been fun to train with.  A very good team with much more to come through 2013.  I did a another mile and some strides on my own after.  I took to long to get ready after the WU.  This is something I need to do better down the road.  

Got to pace the 1:25 group today.  It was really a good opportunity for me to just get a good tempo run in and experience a real race for MP tune up.  I want to average at least 6:30 pace in Phoenix.  That was our target goal for today.  At mile 11 though, my hamstring locked up and once it tightens it does not let go.  I had to back off and just jog myself into the finish.  Overall I was pleased with the workout.  I wanted to focus on pace fundamentals which I have not done a lot of this since the last two months has been focused primarily on base mileage.  I now feel ready to do more pace work, tempo and interval training.  Looking forward to training harder the next month and get my body ready for the marathon.  

After the race, I met up with Scott and Mike and we did a 4 mile CD.  Felt pretty good after words.

Really enjoyed the advice and experience from a lot of really cool and great runners this weekend.  It was like a mini running camp.  Hope to take what I learned this weekend and continue to stay consistent and steady with my training.  I feel ready to break out and do some fun things this year.  This race should be a tradition if possible as the first race of the year.  Next year I look forward to racing this course.  A very honest and tough course to say is this half marathon.  Loved the turn at about 8.5 miles coming back into the city on the high trail.  Unbelievable view and very surreal.