Run Fast!

Today’s run was fantastic. Significantly better start than last week, and I knew I didn’t have to ride after (although I don’t think that affected my running at all). Today I felt like a runner; it didn’t feel like I was out for just a Sunday run. Even Will said it looked like I was putting more of the pieces together. There’s so much to think about, and when I forgot to think I get sloppy. But when I remember, I look and feel good!

Here are the results from today and the last four times (Nov. 29, Nov. 21, Nov 14, and Nov 1):

• 12:56, 2.13 miles, 6:05 pace; 15:07, 2.33 miles, 6:30 pace, 153 HR (186 max); 10:52, 1.84 miles, 5:54 pace, 146 HR (185 max); 10:39, 1.79 miles, 5:58 pace, 137 HR (200 max); 8 minutes, 1.33 miles, 6:03 pace, 150 HR (197 max) HR
• Lap 1: 2:02, 5:45 pace (4:49 best), 0.36 miles; 2:16, 5:58 pace (5:09 best), 0.38 miles; 2:28, 5:55 pace (4:54 best), 0.42 miles; 1:48, 5:33 pace (4:57 best), 0.33 miles; 1:26, 6:00 pace (5:14 best), 0.25 miles
• Lap 2: 2:06, 6:01 pace (4:40 best), 0.35 miles; 1:02, 5:53 pace (4:53 best), 0.18 miles; 1:58, 5:59 pace (5:21 best), 0.33 miles; 1:56, 5:55 pace (4:55 best), 0.33 miles; 5:22 best pace
  
• Lap 3: 1:23, 5:50 pace (4:54 best), 0.24 miles; 2:02, 5:57 pace (5:12 best), 0.34 miles + 00:42, 7:33 pace (6:06 best), 500 feet; 1:33, 5:59 pace (5:24 best), 0.26 miles; 1:41, 5:48 pace (4:51 best), 0.29 miles; 5:22 best pace
• Lap 4: 1:57, 6:00 pace (5:21 best), 0.33 miles; 2:39, 6:27 pace (5:38 best), 0.41 miles; 1:37, 5:36 pace (4:22 best), 0.29 miles; 1:39, 5:39 pace (4:53 best), 0.29 miles; 1:27, 6:03 pace (5:25 best), 0.25 mi
• Lap 5: 2:36, 6:20 pace (5:38 best), 0.41 miles; 3:15, 6:44 pace (5:41 best), 0.48 miles; 1:56, 6:08 pace (5:18 best), 0.32 miles; 1:58, 7:16 pace (2:42 best!?!?), 0.27 miles; 1:28, 5:42 pace (5:03 best), 0.26 mi
• Lap 6: 2:50, 6:24 pace (5:16 best), 0.44 miles; 3:09, 7:11 pace (5:43 best), 0.44 miles; 1:19, 5:44 pace (5:16 best), 0.23 miles; 1:34, 5:45 pace (5:20 best), 0.27 miles; 1:10, 5:54 pace (5:08 best), 0.20 mi

For the last two, Will said to picture it as the Olympic trials. That really helped, because I just imagined I had people in front of me I had to catch and people behind me I had to keep away. The paces of those two weren't necessarily the best, but the distance was better than the previous ones. He asked if I was holding out on him. Hardly! I just slowed down the pace slightly because I wasn't supposed to stop. But once I got to a point where I realized I was slowing down, I tried to pick up the pace. I was especially successful when I thought about pushing into the ground--basically focusing on still moving my legs fast. Unfortunately I still have a tendency to collapse my chest, but I'm working on it and hopefully improving every week!

The team ride was canceled, and even though I'm sitting here with time to ride and my bike already set up on the trainer, I think I'd rather read the paper! Thanks to Nancy for making a great supper of sloppy joes and to Will for being born...hooray for not preparing dinner!