Motivated to Succeed

10 AM Race Time

Weather was gorgeous today in the upper 40's and sunny at gun time.  Did a mile warm up and got to the starting line with about 150 or 200 others.  A very low key race - funny that instead of a t shirt they gave us Mudslinger 5 Keychains. [I would have preferred a t-shirt, but beggars can't be choosers!]  The gun went off and we were away.

Mile 1 - 7:00 Cruised with Jonn felt really good, tucked in behind the number one woman.  Mainly flat, some undulation, nothing major.

Mile 2 - 13:59 Stayed consistent and maintained my place.  Felt good and confident winding through the trails.

Mile 3 - 21:00 Couldn't believe it was this easy? 7:00 mile pace? me?!

Mile 4 - 29:02 Reality hit in that this was a hard course.  There was one hill where all five of us that had been running together had to walk up it.  Mile 4 was when I lost touch with Jonn.  Until then had been holding steady 20-30m behind him. 

Mile 5 - slogged it up to the finish line, finishing strong in 36:47.  Overall I can't say that I'm discouraged with my finish, as the best 5 mile I've done recently was a 37:30 on the treadmill.  So I felt pretty good.  Jonn finished better in 35:13, but I'm determined to get him in the 15k Stockadeathon next Sunday the 11th.

36:47 - 7:21 / mile pace overall - PHENOMENAL given the course.  So proud of myself!  Still room for improvement though!

one mile cool down.

 Overall place: 24th of 135 finishers. (side note: Jonn got 15th)

PM Ran on the treadmill around 9pm tonight just as a relaxer and study break.  Did 2.55 miles in 22:00 I think about 8:34-8:40 pace.  Legs aren't sore at all from the race. :)

Didn't know how to possibly classify this run, but I did a treadmill run after a very long day.  Every Monday and Wednesday I get up at 5:30 and drive an hour down to my college where I have 5 classes in a row. Usually I don't get home until about 5:00 PM although tonight my former high school alma mater had a sectional championship soccer game so I went with my family to that and got home around 8:00PM.  Well, as if the day couldn't be better already (I had received a 100 on a Midterm and a 100 on a term paper I had handed in for another class, and got my final recommendation needed for grad school application), I was coming off what I considered a breakthrough race yesterday as I have never felt so good on a xc course since high school...

Well I get a call as I'm on the way to the game.  It turns out that I received 1st in my age group yesterday.  At least, that's what my brother said.  And I'm thinking, okay Jonn. Funny trick. You got me haha. Like he was rubbing it in that he had beat me by a full minute plus, you know? Well it turns out that I HAD in fact received an award for first overall male in the 20-24 age group.  Only, I feel bad, as I had already left the race without even considering if I had won anything.  It wasn't entirely my fault - and I normally stay to cheer those that deservedly earned awards, but I can't help but feel weird accepting the award that the race director took it upon herself to drive personally to my father's work today.  What is your opininon on the matter? It's about the third medal/award in my career outside of xc and track meets, but I don't know whether to accept it or to give it to someone more deserving..  I would have rather they gave my award to the 2nd place 20-24 Male now.  I feel like a chump for ducking out before the post race celebration.  I mean granted I had wanted to see my sister back off to college (she had driven down to watch my brother and me run).  But now I'm on the fence :-

PM Run 4 miles in 31:10 = pushed a little too fast towards the end because I felt good.  Will back off the rest of the week to be fresh for the 15k on Sunday!

Didn't run today because I had a horribly long day and was wiped by the time I got home.  Dentist appointment at 9am where I got my mouth ripped apart, and he filled it with porcelain, but says I'll probably need a crown on my back molar.  Then straight over to work 11 to 8. I think "Ughhhh! " sums it up pretty much.  Was doing hw from second I got in until about 11 at which point I passed out since I had to get up at 5am to go back to school all day Wednesday.

5:00 PM - Determined to get a run in regardless of how I felt since I was kept from my run yesterday and was grumpy almost all day today, I did a nice 4 miles in 30:00 (7:30 / mile pace!!!) And then finished with a slower 8:03 5th mile because I have a lot of work to get done so that I can have Sunday for my race day and not have to worry about it after the fact.

I don't know when the last time I felt this good was but I am definitely feeling stronger and more confident (not to mention faster!) than I have since running my first marathon last October '06.  I mean granted I've gained 20 lbs since high school, but since I was only 5'11" in high school and now I'm 6'2", I think that my 166-168 weight range is okay.  I would still like to get below 160 one day though.

Wondering what people think about 7:45 / mile pace for a goal.  I figured this out in my criminal justice class today because I got bored, but I think it'd put me at about a 1:12:15 or so for a 15k (which would be about a 3 minute PR I believe off my 8:12 last year!!! 

Finished with a slow last mile.

Total Mileage : 5 miles (38:03)

6:00 PM  Just read Sasha's message from the 5th and had just got out of the shower in my relaxing clothes ... I decided - Today's the day to get consistent Benn (as i know one of my biggest errors in the last 3 years of running has been my consistent inconsistent training, if that makes sense?).  So I went downstairs much to the amazement of my kid brother, Jonn who's also a runner (the same one that beat me in last weekend's race).  Hopped on the treadmill and did another 2 miles in a time of 15:20 (7:40 pace per mile).  I'm surprised I was able to cover the miles like that without being out of breath and also considering I had just devoured a sandwich and a seltzer.

Total Total Mileage for the day ends up being 7.0 milesat an average pace of 7:37/mile (53:23)- Arguably not accurate as I took about a 20 minute break between the first 5 and the last 2. 

7:00 AM - Hopped on the treadmill this morning before having to get some school stuff squared away and then work 10 to 7 today.  Wasn't sure if I could get in a 6-mile run after work, as I might be too tired, so I decided to give it a go this morning.  Felt fine, only complaint was that the basement was kind of hot.  I should really rig up a fan because running without any kind of wind really made me sweat a lot. (And I already sweat a lot more than normal people do!) Legs felt fresh though, and just cruised and read a book.  Looking forward to the next run!

Total Mileage: 6   Time:  47:56    Pace: ~8:00 / mile   Weight: 169(before) 166(after)

8:00 PM - Had a very stressful day at work today.  District Manager showed up so our General Manager was going crazy.  On top of that, just felt blah.  Luckily Emmy called me as I was finishing my evening run, so I got to talk to my cutie.  I'm so lucky to have her!!

Total Mileage: 2  Time: 14:04  Pace: 7:02 / mile    Weight: 167

Total Mileage for the Day: 8.0

7:00 AM - Decided to get a couple miles in before going to the doctor's office.  Was a little tired and groggy, but as I had to do a 12 hour fast, I couldn't have my morning coffee, so what better than endorphins to start the day off?!  Easy 3 in time of 24:35.

12:00 PM - Just got back from the doctor's office and was assured a clean bill of health  Everything looks to be normal. Blood pressure was 122/70 Weight was 170 (though that was fully clothed), and height was 73", 2 inches taller than checkup a year and a half ago!  Perhaps the only bad part of the morning was getting cholesterol taken - - the lady poked me, then was jabbing around with the needle exclaiming, "I don't get it! You definitely have a vein here, it just doesn't want to be poked!"  I replied it must be my inner runner wanting to hold onto every drop of competitive blood.  Needless to say she found another vein that was less willing to the glorified stoicism and gave up without a fight, much to the nurse's relief.  Stopped on the way home since I had done a 15 hour fast the night before and got a large coffee, 16 oz. Orange Juice (tasted like heaven!) and a small cinnamon roll.

Hopped on the treadmill almost immediately upon opening the door.  Did a nice relaxed run while reading Robert Harris' novel Pompeii.  Total mileage was 4.11 in 31:58. (~7:46 pace)

Total Mileage for the day:  7.11  Time: 56:33  Pace: ~7:57 overall

On a side note, I just want to say that I really have appreciated all of the super feedback that my fellow fastrunningbloggers have given me.  I can't remember when I had so much support and constructive criticism that at the same time governed my training and allowed such a sense of satisfaction and meaning.  I have already noticed the difference, if that's even possible! as I am able to run at a consistently faster pace over an extended period of time. I truly think that if I continue to listen and apply the comments and advice to my training, that I could yet set some Personal Records!  I am looking forward to Sunday's race and it was actually really neat because I found out my Doctor is actually going to be watching the race!!!  I'll have to show him how I've been making progress in my training!  I will keep with Sasha's advice and do another 6 miles tomorrow morning, and then treat Sunday's race like a training run and see how it goes!!

7:00 AM - A lot going on today. Helping with brother's Eagle Project at 9, then over to watch my former high school's boys soccer team in the state tournament! (farthest our team has gone in about 15 years!)  Felt good and did an easy 2.5 miles in 19:58.

Total mileage: 2.5  Time: 19:58

A little sore tonight. :- I hope things are okay for tomorrow.  I'm going to go to bed even though it's only 8 and hope for the best.