Spring Running.

4 solid workouts this week.  Sunday, did the 67 minute Bob Harper workout.  Felt pretty good for Monday's run - did a nice progressive run around the Charles: 8:28, 8:19, 7:17 and 7:10 (mild cooldown).  Felt great really - but the legs were real tight afterward.  Legs were still tight Tuesday so I attempted to bike in - had a flat half-way and had to backtrack.  Wednesday I did another, more mild progressive: 8:13, 8:02, 7:57 and 7:22 (mild cooldown).  Run felt less natural than on Monday.  Took Thursday off and did a long run today - 8.3 miles into work - took 1 hour and 10 minutes.  Skirted Mt. Auburn Cemetery - once again got lost - I was actually hoping for about 7 miles.  Worked out in the end.  total mileage for the week was 17.5, with another 2 hours or so of cross-training.

Winter-Spring

Another rough week weather wise.  Snowed a bit on Tuesday and I didn't make it out running until I did a spur-of-the-moment run home Thursday - covered 7 miles.  Only other run was about 6 miles worth of 400s (10x) on Monday at the MIT track.  Only two runs - but to runs with a good purpose.  Did a short pilates-strength Tuesday and the Bob Harper today.

An Odd Spring Week

An odd Spring week - partly because it felt an awful lot like Winter, partly because it was a little introspective.  I felt really good after last week's race, but the mood/motivation kinda soured as the week wore on.  I'm kinda in the spot of the year when I feel like I need to start crank'n out results at work - but it is work, and as such, results don't just crank by showing up.  Not much going on the fitness front either:  did a 4.7 mile run Tuesday, was out of town Wednesday, and it was too busy/cold Thursday and Friday to do anything more than some biking.  

I'm torn now as well.  Sunday afternoon - part of me wants to start crank'n on work, a bigger part of me wants to take a nap (long night last night).  I should probably try and relax...

me first Ras Na Heireann race.

I ran my first Ras Na Heireann race - and only my second race in my new 'home state'.  It turned out to be short and sweet.  My pre-race plans got snowed-on a little Friday - I was hoping to get my race packet and then just show-up a little before the race - but I ended up staying home Friday and never made it into Cambridge for packet pickup.  So today rolls around and I wasn't sure about parking near Davis sq., so I drove to my work near Alewife (~9:30) - biked over to the packet pickup (~9:50); then biked back (~10:15).  Then I did an easy warmup jog back over to Davis (~10:30).  Then I realized that I still had 1/2-our to kill so I stretched a lot.  

My goal with every 5k is to go out hard and hang on, and today was no different.  I clicked up the first mile just under 6:30 - kept it up for mile 2.  I thought I was giving back some time in mile 3; but I ended up a new PR 20:21 - a 6:34 min/mile pace - so I must've done better that last mile than it felt.  Great course.  The up-hill at the beginning is very gradual, mile two seemed mostly flat or downhill - maybe one or two little bumps. The finish was nice - you can kinda see it with a good 2 minutes left - so it keeps your brain from giving up on you.  Nice shirts and a finishers medal for everyone - which is nice since I finished 14th out about 220 40-49 year old men.  I think my days of hoping to finish in the top 3 got left behind in SE CT.

Bike'n In!

I biked into Kendall for the first time in months.  About 13 miles 'round trip.  Went ok.  about 35 in and 40 coming back.  Weather was cold - but I was a little too sweaty afterwards - need to plan a bit better if i'm to do that trip.  I really like going in - really hate coming home.  Some notes on the day:  ass was sore;tired most of the day; wife had a tough afternoon/week; kids enjoying 'edward tulane'; not looking forward to more snow.

Race Week.

Race Week.  Wanted to go pretty hard today - keep the legs moving quick.  Had the full crew out - and I ran'm hard.  First mile was the normal slow warmup (8:36), then 7:42 second; 7:28 third and 7:10 fourth mile. Last .8 mile was an 8:36 cool down.  Good for 7:53 overall and had a good 7:20ish middle 3 miles.  I really feel like I'm getting good at these pacing runs.

Also did about 50 minutes of strength yesterday and about 25 minutes of biking (~5 miles) today.  Piling on some workouts at the start of this week so I can back-off toward the end.

9 mile run

9 miles this morning.  I headed out at 8:20 toward Fresh Pond.  Managed to find Mount Auburn Cemetary soon after - saw a good bit of it.  It wasn't nice and green like in the picture, but partially covered in icy snow with still bare trees - giving it a eerie yet beautiful look.  8:45 pace - but that included many stops and pauses.  Legs are good and shot right now.