Week 2-
Monday (12/10)- My plan today was to go to the country club to run. but at 7:55 in the morning I found out my car would not move, putting a dent in my plans. I had to settle for the cemetery that is about a mile away from the school. The hills there are steep, and it barely goes downhill there making it a tough terrain. The problem with running there is that it is only half a mile long making it more of a boring run. I ran 5.5 miles out there and ran back to the school. Last year at this time, I was running 8:30 pace on the cemetery hills for four miles total, so I have seen a huge improvement in a year. When I got back to the school, I did 6 strides. I did core and to help with my soreness I did yoga.
Mileage: 7.48
Pace: 7:05
Tuesday (12/11)- I pretty much did the same thing I did last Tuesday. I ran two miles to warmup, 2.5 miles tempo, and 1.5 miles to cool down. My tempo miles felt extremely good. My first mile was 6:24, the second was 6:15 and the last half mile was also 6:15 pace. Again I love those negative splits :). I did hurdle drills right after along with core and lifting later.
Mileage: 6
Pace: 6:52
Wednesday (12/12)- Just like last week, I was sore and tired from the day before. I went to the country club to run, but I only got four miles in this time. I was planning on running five, but I was moving pretty slowly by the end of the fourth mile, so I decided to call it quits. I didn't do any strides either, but I finished the day with my daily core session.
Mileage: 4
Pace: 7:18
Thursday (12/13)- This run was a cold, rainy run at the country club. I got 6.25 miles in, and it felt tough. I contemplated doing a couple hill sprints once I was done, but that did not happen. I still got 8 strides in. Later in the evening, I did core and leg day.
Mileage: 6.25
Pace: 7:20
Friday (12/14)- The wind today was brutal. After my first mile, I have tired already with the wind in my face. I got in 6.6 miles at 7:04 pace. I wanted my pace to be under 7, but with the wind, it was not happening. I did six strides afterward.
Mileage: 7.1
Pace: 7:04
Saturday (12/15)- I did the exact same thing I did last Saturday. I volunteered at a rummage sale fundraiser at the school at 7:00 in the morning and came home pretty tired. I waited until I got my energy back then went to the track for my fartlek. When I do anything like that on the track, I usually try to visualize that I'm in an actual race and not all alone at the track. For this run, I got in the mindset that I was in a tough 3200, and it really helped keep me on pace. I did a core workout once I was done.
Mileage: 6.16
Pace: 6:54
Sunday (12/16)- I woke up with a bad cough and was having trouble breathing. My chest loosened up as the day went on. Once I finally felt good enough to run, I called up my friend Kyle, and we headed to the bike trail (Kyle rode his bike. As much as I try, he won't run with me). The goal was to shoot for nine miles. There was a strong headwind for the first half. Once we turned around, it was much easier. Anyone who saw (or, I guess, heard) we got to hear our great singing of Christmas songs. Apparently, after seven miles of running, singing Jingle Bells is tough. In the evening, I did some lifting and core.
Mileage: 9
Pace: 7:08
Week total: 46 miles