Running and Frostbite Falls
Its been a good week for me. My legs felt really good today. I realized I haven’t really mentioned the running much this week on the blog (see? I’m reducing the obsessing thing).
I’m still following my plan for Around The Bay. This week was a lighter week and the long run today was only 5 miles. Here’s the nifty thing, Thursday was beautiful (50F!) so I ran at the park in shorts and long sleeve shirt. It was just beautiful. By the way, Michigan has had only 5 days with sunshine now. Five. That’s it. Thursday was sunny.
So I ran my three miles on Thursday in the sun. It was still chilly to start but nice by mile 2. I pushed it harder than I needed to. I just wanted to make it hurt a little, y’know? I ended up running a 7:54 pace, and it was nice to run that course hard again. I’ve run it so many times and hit a PR there a year ago, I just like running it faster. This wasn’t a race pace for me and it felt pretty hard to even get that pace, but for late-in-the-day running, I was happy with it (I’ll be happier when its 6:54 :) ).
With that harder run on Thursday, I was surprised with today’s long run. I had only 5 miles and I swore I was going to take them light and easy. I was trying to keep the concept of easy run in my head, a long slow distance. Get the miles and forget the time. I didn’t look at the Forerunner except once to make sure it was running, and once when I hit the lap button at the turn around. My normal pace is around 9:30 and it felt like I was there or close to 10:00.
Final pace? 8:49. Egads, it felt so easy. Better than that, it was 8:56 going out and 8:42 coming back. Just a real shocker. I really wonder if its the treadmill incline. Adding more incline and that little extra effort may be paying off. I’ll let ya know in February when it goes up another 1/2%.
I realized I never set my distance for Frostbite Falls. So, I figured it out and from here in Michigan it is 77 miles. And I’m bringing 100 of my dark chocolate truffles. I know Karen’s bringing chocolate already, but to be honest, I don’t know what else to bring!
So far this month, I am 33 miles along on my route, or 44 miles from Frostbite Falls. We’ve had very good weather down here. Warm temps for the past week or two, but there was a little snow last night and I was running around the freezing mark today. Still hanging in there. The shin have been silent. Shhhhhh.
January 14th, 2006 21:00
Excellent run, speedy! I’ve never really understood the pace thing. I just run. Am I putting one foor infront of the other? Okay, that’s good!
January 15th, 2006 00:54
hey, just catching up on your blog. If it helps, I think have a running obsessing problem too. It kind of sucks. The guy I was running with this week (who can run a marathon in about half the time as me) called me out on it which was embarrasing. But it’s true….Anyway, I like your goal to reduce the obsession and I totally want to strive for that too. And I definitely think you have the 7 min/mile pace 5K in you. Definitely.
January 15th, 2006 05:22
When i was training for my marathon, my plan was almost like yours. I always put a cross training day (2 hr bike ride) after a long run.
Do u run tempo run on Wed??
January 15th, 2006 09:53
5 sunny days in Michigan? Ever??
January 15th, 2006 12:04
Funny I just put a picture of winamp on my site and “Obsession” by animation was the song playing. Purely coincidental. I don’t obsess over anything :-)
Great job on the run. I may be late getting to the falls so save me some chocolate, eh.
January 15th, 2006 12:29
The truffles that I have always wanted to taste! We’ve had more great weather here in Alberta than I can ever remember.
January 15th, 2006 13:24
You run faster in training than I thought you could/should. Just don’t obssess and get too fast/ahead of yourself. Remember where you came from.
January 15th, 2006 14:04
There is no such thing as too much chocolate at a party. Especially at Frostbite Falls! Now I’m going to have to really make sure I’m there on time, so I don’t miss out on your truffles!
January 15th, 2006 22:54
Way to go!!! Great run, they’re only going to get easier from here.