Horns.

I took the bull by the horns tonight. Alison said we needed to run faster, I initially balked at the idea, but of course she is right about it. Not about our 10-11 mile runs, those are freaks of nature and should be handled any way possible, but we needed to just go out and RUN.

Tonight we did 3.7 miles in 30 minutes. Thats an 8:06 pace. I just took off, got into a great rythym and didn't stop. The last few minutes were hard, but thats honestly b/c I knew they were the last few minutes.

My next run is Sunday, 5 mile loop that I run is my target, and I really want to run it in 8:30 pace, which is very doable, around 42 minutes. Thats how it should be.

Booyah.

Commitment.

I am committing to this race - or I should say re-committing. I was very good about workouts in the beginning, and predictably I hit a rough patch where the running was coming pretty easy and I felt like I didn't need to be as focused on workouts, etc...

The 11 miler was a rude reminder that I did need to refocus on making sure my body was ready to make leaps, and I am sick of fighting my body through the last few long runs, I want to work with it, rather than against it.

Monday night I swam, as I am supposed to with my training. Alison and I went for 20 minutes, my hips hurt so badly I could barely walk all day, but it was good to get in the pool and it was like a magic medicine, they almost immediately stopped hurting, which was an awesome feeling.

We swam for 20 minutes, pretty much without stopping, I think I did 10-12 laps, i really didn't count, and it felt great to just get out.

Tuesday was my first day back at the YMCA with my new commitment to not hating (or at least vocaling my hatred for) treadmill running. Our plan was to run 35 minutes, and my plan was to do that at 6.5 mph pace...thats 9:13 pace for 3.5 miles, something I think I can easily do. I did 30 minutes at that pace, and 5 minutes at 7 mph. All told I ran 35 minutes and got 3.86 miles, which I am very happy with.

Wednesday night I am going to the Celtics game and barring any unforseen circumstances I plan on running 25 minutes at 6.5 mph pace and 10 minutes at 7 mph pace, getting me closer to 4 miles in 35 minutes.

I am refocused, this 1/2 marathon doesn't stand a chance.

Eleven.

I don't know how this run felt. It was epic. It lasted forever, it felt. It just kept going and going and going and going...When did it end? I don't remember the beginning, the end, or the middle, it felt like I was just running all day.

We ran 11 miles in just over 2 hours, we aren't sure of the exact time b/c something got screwy, we aren't really sure what. Alison and I traded off various times of discomfort, and we were both VERY stupid by not having abundant water with us. 11 miles is WAY too long to run to not have water, we were both really thirsty and feeling it by mile 7 or so...

We took a quick break at 6.5 to stretch, but it wasn't really a break - and we were back on our way. Alison hit a pretty big wall at around 8.5 or 9, I would say my wall was more gradual, I just felt really awkward the whole last 3 miles, and now my hips absolutely are killing me. I am not in love with this feeling, let me tell you.

We both want to do some lifting on our legs, nothing too crazy, to build up some strength - I gotta find a way to get my hips ready for this race...

I can do thirteen, but its scary, thats for sure.

Workout: 11 miles, 2+ hours

Fast.

I ran 5.15 miles in 46 minutes on Sunday. Thats faster than my pace coming back from the 10 mile run, which isn't saying much. However, it is important to note that I started strong, and finished REAL strong...i felt great throughout the run, the only thing that was annoying me was how bored I was. SO bored.

I am looking forward to getting this 1/2 marathon over with!!! not really, but sorta. I am just anticipating it so much. I have a long run this Sunday (i think 11 or 12 miles)...which is insanity, but whatever, I'll just do it.

Gonna swim tonight, gonna get surgery on my face tomorrow - so I don't know how that'll interrupt things. "Surgery" is an ambitious word for the procedure thats going to take place...but its something, so I'll have stitches.

Running has been fun. I can't wait for the spring when I want to start running again (not that I wont at all in Feb./March...but the friggen weather, and the treadmill, not so exciting)...but the thought of being in shape for the Bees is exciting to me, I want to be so much better than I was last summer, and its going to happen, primarily b/c I am in immensely better shape...not even comparable.

It's gonna be a good 2007...

Workout: 5.15 miles, 46 minutes.