Tough Run

I really had to force myself to run well today, but I think I succeeded. I did exactly the same route as last week, the paths at the DHY. The only difference today was that I could actually go down by the river where the path had previously been caked in mud. I don't have my Garmin with me right now, so this is what I remember of the 52-min w/32-min tempo run (last week):

• 50:32, 6 miles, 8:25 pace (5:22 best), 716 cal, 170 HR (186 max); 48:38, 6 mi, 8:07 pace (5:06 best), 719 cal, 175 HR (186 max)
• Warm up (from Y to fork in the path): 9:07, 1.05 mi, 8:41, 164 HR; 8:50, 1.06 mi, 8:22, 155 HR
• Out and back 1 (R to Percy Priest dam): 24 min, 3 mi, 8:04, 170 HR; 23:08, 3 mi, 7:43, 179 HR
• Out and back 2 (L to up hill, 2^nd poll down hill): 8:30 (4:30 out [it's 0.21 up the front side of the hill], 0.52 mi, 178 HR; 4:01 back [it's 0.17 up the back side of the hill], 0.51 mi, 179 HR; 7:53, 0.95 mi, 8:16, 181 HR
• Cool down (from fork in the path to Y): 8:52, 0.95 mi, 9:20, 173 HR; 8:46, 1 mi, 8:46, 180 HR

After work, I headed to Titan's Stadium for the first of the NashvilleCyclist.com criterium series races. It was so much fun to watch. Team Belladium had 6 riders out there, NashvilleCyclist had 5 riders, and 2 riders were unattached. There were a couple attacks at the beginning, but eventually Parri attacked and took Lisa S and Rachel with her. They stayed off the front the rest of the race and looked super strong. Lisa's goal was to win, and win she did! All the ladies did well, and even though I have nothing to do with their development, I was very proud and excited to be there to watch Team B dominate.

I'm eager to watch the series unfold. The races will have fun dynamics since there are two large teams with strong women and a few other unattached or solo women who will keep everyone on their toes. My money's on Lisa S, but we'll see what happens at the end!

Amazing rainbow (see to the East while leaving Titan's Stadium)--two in as many days, and evidently I missed an even more amazing one because I was at Publix and not at home.

After the race I stopped at Publix. There are some good sales this week and I won't be around during the weekend, so to take advantage of the penny item (donated right back to the store's flood relief bin), I stopped in without a plan and without even having looked at the paper ad. It's days like today that I'm so thankful for all the hard work Michelle at IHeartPublix puts in to let us know what deals are out there!

Saved a lot of money! (The lunchtime Kroger run was for the coconut water that Valerie recommended—I will try it during next week's training to decide whether it will be enough to fuel me and won't make me sick during races.)

Paid $23.26 for all this

Breakdown (two transactions):

• Chocolate almond milk (2.53, on sale for 2.23, –$1MQ): 1.23
• Coppertone sunscreen (8.49, on sale for 6.99, –$2PQ, –$2MQ): 2.99
• Lloyds beef BBQ ×2 (10.98, BOGO 5.49, –$1×2MQ): 3.49
• Simply Go-Gurt (2.79, BOGO 1.40, –$1.10MQ): 0.30
• Turkey Pepperoni ×2 (7.38, –$0.55×2MQ): 6.28
• Chobani yogurt ×3 (3.99, on sale for 3, –$1[B2G1MQ]): 2.00
• Clif Builders bars ×2 (3.18, –$1WholeFoodsQ): 2.18
• EAS Myoplex bars ×2 (4.98, –$3PQ): 1.98
• Dole fruit cups (not pictured) ×2 (5.06, –$5.04PQ): 0.02
  
• Full price: 49.38
  
• Paid: 20.47 (+ tax)
• Percentage saved: 59%

Probably not the best percentage saved, but I got some meat, sunscreen, and some good bars. I realized during last Sunday's race that I really like the chocolate mint EAS bars. Though they melt quickly and are messy, they filled me up and tasted good, so they will be a staple for my races for as long as I have them. Since Publix has store Qs out for them, I thought I'd get some more. Might have to make another trip there before this weekend to continue taking advantage of the deal.