Run Buffs Run!

Today was a good day for running. I got up pretty early to get a run in before the chaos of school began. It snowed a day ago, so ice was a large problem (at least for reckless people like myself). This made strides quite the adventure, but sometimes you do what you got to do. In all, a good workout today!

I ran later in the day today (about 5pm or so) and finished up the week with a good run. I did 8x150 meter strides at the end to keep sharp. This was my highest mileage week to date! I ran just over 70 miles and I feel good!

I ran the usual long Sunday run today, but felt pretty bad. I felt really thirsty the whole time, and when I finally got back to the appartment and drank close to three gatorades, I felt really bad (like I had far overtrained or over exterted myself). As the day went on I felt better, but I really didn't feel to good after this run. I don't think that I was properly hydrated, which could definitely explain all of the symptoms. 

Today was a nice and easy day to recoup from yesterday. I didn't feel bad on my run today, though. I think that I was well hydrated, and ate a good amount of food throughout the day before I ran. In all, a good and relaxing run.

I ran a fartlek workout today with 10x2min repeats at 4:40 mile pace with two minutes of rest between intervals. These had some sting to them, but the two minute rest between the intervals helped immensely. I am sure that as time progresses my coach is going to limit this recovery time. Definitely a good workout today! 

Today was supposed to be a nice and easy day, but I ended up running too far away from my appt. and is wasn't about to stop 3/4 of the way through my run. I ran 5x150 meter strides at the end. It was awesome running weather today, 60 degress and sunny!

I ran a small threshold run today on the CU time trial course. The original plan was to run a five mile threshold, but I can definitely feel the miles I have been doing slowing me down. I decided that it was a much better idea to run a shorter tempo and to let my body relax and familiarize itself with my current level of training. That being said, I ran the first mile in 5:39 (monster hill), second in 5:21 and last half in 2:42. I know that had I not done such hard workouts this week, I would have had the ability to run the full course in under 27 minutes (cutoff for the CU team). It was also muddy, and this was only my threshold pace (not race pace). With all summer to train, I know that I will be ready next fall. My body definitely feels tired, though. I think that my recent jump in miles has decreased my current ability to run fast. Currently, I am in the hardest block of training for my first "peak", the Bolder Boulder. Knowing this, it is not really as important to have the ability to go fast now, rather build a solid foundation to go fast when the time comes. My coach has me on a second peak season for the CU time trial, so over the summer my miles will do another "peak" about mid July, before tapering once again. I think that this strategy is very good. Rather than overwork yourself all the time, it is better to put in miles at strategic times to perform well at a specific time.

This weekend started out a bit chaotic, so working a run into the mix was a bit tough. I did, however, end up getting quite a good workout in. I ran in Colorado Springs at Garden of the Gods (elevation approx. 7,000 ft). I didn't really feel the altitude too much since Boulder is at approx. 5,500 ft, but some of the hills here definitely tore me apart. This was an awesome place to run, seeing as there are more than 50 trails throughout the park. I finsihed up with 8x150 meter strides. What a cool run!

I didn't run the typical long run today, mainly since I was not in Boulder. I did find a good place to get some miles in, though. This was not too eventful of a run (I pretty much zoned out and cruised through the miles). I have a race coming up this next weekend, and am a bit unsure of what to expect. I know that I am in better shape now, but I am also tires as a result of training hard. I don't really know how it will pan out, but I plan on going out hard and trying to set a good time down.

A very easy run today to recoup from yesterday. It felt good to relax, especially since the weather is so good.

Today was the dreaded economy run. I ran 20x200 meter intervals (32 seconds each) with 1:50 rest between efforts. I didn't even feel that good coming into the run today so digging up the willpower was tough, but now I am glad that I did. I saw coach Wetmore (the head CU cross coutry coach) on the track. He seemed to be preoccupied with the construction around the track (Potts Field), but allowed me to use it despite it not being open for public access. I decided that I couldn't just slouch my way through this workout now that he was there, so I pretty much ran some of the hardest and fastest repeats I ever have. I hit one of the 200 meter repeats in 29 seconds flat, which had some nice hurt to it. Later this week I have a threshold workout, followed by a race. Whew, two VO2 max workouts, a threshold workout and a long run all in one week. This is going to leave me torn apart.

Today was an "easy" day to recover for tommorrows workout. I felt pretty tired, and it is hard to imagine that I still have another workout before Saturday's race. Whew, I'm gasping for air.

Today was a tough day. I woke up and it was foggy/raining (possibly a sign that I shouldn't venture out into the cold to do a hard workout?). Nonetheless I powered through the workout and got it done with minimal pain. I ran 5x1mile repeats at 5:20 pace (although all of my miles ended up being faster), and did 4x200 meter repeats at the end at 32-34 seconds pace. From there, I shuffled back to my appt. like a hurt puppy. In all, I am glad to have completed the workout. Although I may not feel perfect right now, I know that this training is going to really help me in the long run. Who knows how the race will go this weekend. I just run hard and hope for the best.

I ran the St. Pattys Day 5k today, and it was pretty bad. I started out hard (first mile in 4:45), only to find that the rest of the race was uphill. I was also very tired from the last few weeks of hard training, so after the first mile and a half I was completely spent. A combination of running uphill while your whole body feels terrible translates to a bad race. The pain level was tremendous, and when I finally did finish I felt light headed and dizzy. I am certain that it was the hard training that did this to me. This is the first time that I have fully trained through a race (very hard training at that), and it was not too fun. I do know, however, that with some recovery time, my ability now will be much greater than this past winter. In all relative terms this race was nothing big, and I shouldn't be dissapointed with my time. You can either train hard or race well, and I am definitely training hard. It is then logical that I will not race very well. Once again, this is time for me to build my fitness. The end game is what is important (BB 10k, CU time trials), and I need to put this race into perspective.

An easy run today after my race yesterday. I am a bit sore, and exhausted from the hard work I have done over the last few weeks. It was warm and sunny, and the run felt pretty good.

An easy run today, but it felt pretty bad. I had some severe stomach issues that left me runnin for the bushes midway through the run. That was unpleasant. I also was a bit sore, so I fiured that I should really keep it easy today.

I just started wearing the new Nike Triax's today and they felt very good. They are light, but provide some good support. Besides that, nothing too special today. I did 8x150 meter strides at the end of the run. I am definitely feeling better than the last few days.

Today was some great weather for running. I ran just over ten miles and threw in 8x150 meter strides at the end. Nothing too special, but definitely a good workout.

I ran a fartlek workout today. I did 6x3min intervals at 4:40 pace with three minutes of rest between intervals. Surprisingly, this was not too bad. I was expecting it to be torture after last weeks madness, but it didn't hurt too bad. The next stage of my training incorportates some structured VO2max workouts, and the mileage lowers a bit (approx. 60 miles a week). This next week is finally spring break, so I am definitely going to erase school from my mind for a week.

I decided to go out and run in the rain today, pretty bad choice. Within the first ten minutes I was soaked, but I couldn't turn back so kept on going. About half of the way through, I stopped caring. I did 8x150 meter strides at the end, too. I want to possibly test my mile time in the near future. I have never really gone all out on the mile, but if I were to guess, I think that I would be around 4:20. In races, if I run 4:45-4:50 pace the first mile it is not really too hard (after that it begins to really get you, though). Maybe I'll go out to the track and give it a go.

I began with the weekly long run. It was perfect temperature, so it was nice to get out and get a good run in. Overall, I felt pretty good.

Nice and easy today before my threshold workout tommorrow. I accidently keep doing more miles than I should. I am supposed to do only 50 this week with two two hard workouts and a long run, but I guess extra miles never hurt. I was just checking out my workouts last year (June/July time frame), and got a kick out of it. A long run now totals my weekly mileage back then. It is amazing how much of a difference one year can make in training; it is a night and day difference. Now looking back to my time trail, it is no wonder I didn't run all that well. I did very few workouts,and my mileage was nowhere where it needed to be to run with the CU team. Hopefully within the next five/six months I prepare well enough to make it this year. If I stay healthy and continue pushing, I have no doubt that it will happen.

Today was windy...terrible news for speedwork. I warmed up for three miles, then did 5x1200 meter repeats at 4:55 mile pace. The wind made the workout pretty much impossible, but I just persevered and got the workout done. In all, I am glad that I got the workout in, though. I am back home for spring break, and it feels good to just relax from school.

Today was an easy run, but still a bit windy. Aside from the wind, though, I felt very good. I finished with 8x150 meter strides. These Nike Triax's are quite the shoes. They feel very good, and they are a bit lighter than typical training shoes.

A good run today. The pace was nothing special, but hit a 6:30-6:40 mile for most of it. I did 8x150 meter strides at the end. Good day!

Today was a threshold workout. I did a three mile warmup and a couple of strides, stetched and hit up the five mile tempo. My coach set the goal pace between 5:32 and 5:37 per mile, which would not have been too bad if there was no wind. The wind ended up slowing me to a 5:40 mile, and I also missed the 2.5 mile mark (turn around point). Besides that, though, I got a good workout in. I run with the CU team tommorrow, so that should be pretty good!