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August 12, 2007

Somebody please return my haul-ass.

Pfitz's 18-week, 70mpw program starts out with five weeks of increased mileage before he gives you a break. So I decided to give myself an early one - a somewhat awkwardly-timed one that spanned two training weeks, cutting the long run short at the end of last week and the weekly mileage during this week. I definitely needed it: last week morale was low and I had aches and pains that needed tending to. I'm very much a fan of the three weeks up and one week down schedule. This rest week does throw a slight wrench into the plan, though, since Pfitz has another rest week scheduled the week after next. Oh BOO HOO I'll have to take two rest weeks close together ...

And tonight I feel fine, despite having run a pretty hilly 18 this morning with a group of guys who are considerably faster than I am. I had no idea when we were planning this run that the group was going to turn out like it did, but when we started I just decided to hang on as long as I could. I didn't actually run with the pack; I seemed to have a designated babysitter for nearly the entire run - one or two of the guys would hang back and run with me. I don't think they felt they had to; running with me was kind of an opportunity to take a little break. It worked out well for me. I could see the group for almost the entire run and would manage to catch them at water stops, and I maintained a pace that felt strong but not too hard. There was none of the mental baggage that can come from being the constant caboose since the group was really out of my league and because I was running so much faster than I had in previous weeks (and for a longer run), so it was easy to stay positive. I had been averaging about 8:30s for my longer runs; this morning was 8:10.

I can't believe we're already running 20 next week, though.

I want to do some speeeeeeeed. I wanted to haul-ass into the finish this morning, but I have no haul-ass anymore. And I don't think trying to add some for the first time after an 18-miler is a great idea. Perhaps after the real cutback week.

Posted by jenandmats at August 12, 2007 9:06 PM

Comments

When you find your haul-ass, can you help me find mine? I cratered during a 3-mile run on Saturday - 3 miles! It was just pitiful.

Posted by: hokgardner at August 13, 2007 10:25 AM

Can I be a total dork and say, "If you build it, it will come." And, "Said woman take it slow, it'll work itself out fine, all we need is just a little patience." I know, this is the last thing you want to hear, and I'm the absolute wrong person to be writing this (I'm an impatient freak!). But oh well.

Take good care!

Posted by: Meghan at August 13, 2007 9:32 PM