CTLR: 10 more weeks!!

Countdown to Little Rock

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Things I learned/realized this week:

-My cycling days have become more like active recovery days. When I plan my workouts, I have to consider my life schedule in addition to this gorgeous weather we are having. It seems like the past three weeks, my cycling days have fallen on days that my legs are toast or days that I don't get enough sleep to function.

-Flexibility is on a whole new level this time of year. Not only because of the weather, but because of the holidays. Last week, I did my long run after work on Friday because the weather was going to be crap all weekend. This week, I did my long run on Wednesday morning to avoid having to do it while visiting family in WV.

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• 12/19: 8 miles, 8:30/mile. Don't let that average fool you! This was my tempo run day. I opted for the treadmill because it was stupid cold outside and I don't like running fast when it's that cold. I did a 2 miles warm up [9:17/mile average], 5 mile tempo, and a 1 mile cool down [8:53]. My tempo portion began at 6.8 mph [8:49/mile] and increased every 0.4 miles until I reached 8.0 mph [7:30/mile]. That meant my last two tempo miles were sub 8. Those two miles were hard and initially made me want to quit. It made me realize that I have a long way to go!!
  

  

  I'm pretty sure it was in the teens that morning, but it was steamy in the gym.

• 12/20: 7.4 cycling miles, 30:01; strength workout. As mentioned above, I treated this as an active recovery workout. I kept the resistance on the lighter side and tried not to fall asleep.
• 12/21: 17 miles, 8:48/mile. WHAAAT?! I can't believe that happened! I'm so happy with this run. I wanted to get my long run out of the way since we'd be traveling to WV for the holiday. My friend Theresa wanted to get a later start on her run, so I got in a slow 3 mile warm up before meeting her [9:23/mi average]. T and I ran the next 5.5 miles together before separating [approx. 8:40/mile]. I explored Dublin and made my way back to T's for the rest of the run [approx.8:40/mile]. My goal for today, if I felt up to it, was to get a few race pace miles mixed in with some easier ones. Five of my miles were within my race pace range and three more were only 2-3 seconds from my goal range! Only two complaints: 1) There were still some areas of ice and snow on my route and 2) that dang hill about a mile from Theresa's house that I absolutely hate. I used to own that damn thing but it's the death of me right now.
  

  

  T was in the shower by the time I finished so I had to selfie with her snowman. I hope I didn't creep out her neighbors!

• 12/22: 6.01 miles, 9:06/mile. I intended to do my 10 mile run today, but I was tired from my long run and traveling. I checked out a bike trail about 15 minutes from my mom's house. I can't say it was nice scenery because winter is pretty ugly when there isn't snow on the ground. I can imagine it's pretty gorgeous in the fall. I did love the rolling hills. We just don't have that in Columbus.
  

  

  So much sun.

  
  

  

  One of my hills.

  
  
• 12/23: CORE. I thought about getting my 10 miler out of the way so that I didn't have to worry about any running over the weekend, but my leggies needed a break.
  

  

  Roop wanted to help me out.

• 12/24: 6.01 miles, 8:52/mile. So...about that 10 miler. I just couldn't do it. Two or three miles into my run, I needed a bathroom....BAD. The longer I ran, the worse it got. I had planned a 6 mile loop followed by an out and back to get 10 miles. When I finished my loop, I decided to use the restroom before finishing. It was bad...woman problems and all. UGH. At this point, I just wanted to get home to the family.
  

  

  The run might have sucked but we had a nice ugly sweater brunch for my mom's birthday that morning.

• 12/25: 4.01 miles, 8:31/mile. Went on a short, quick run to distress myself. Little did I know, the drama storm had not hit! LOL. Gotta love the holidays.
  

  

  Christmas miles.

 

Well, the running week didn't go exactly as planned, but I ran all of my miles. Nowadays, my running seems to go less my way and more with the flow of life. I will not get worked up over it.