Day 199

• 5 miles
• 6:54 mins/mile pace
• 0710
• From/To home
• Ran hard this morning.   Started off thinking I needed to average sub 7:15/mi pace since I won't be doing a long run this weekend (traveling for work), I at least needed to make myself hurt a little bit.  Well, first mile was 7:10, so I figured I needed to hold onto that...then I relaxed a bit and sped up.  Legs felt fine, but the lungs weren't very strong, I was breathing pretty hard and was unable to push the pace on the last mile beyond what I settled into during miles 2-4...I take this to mean that I was pretty much done as I wasn't averse to making myself hurt the final mile, I just couldn't sustain an increased effort.   Anyway, I was very pleased with the overall pace considering I didn't believe I could hold sub-7 minute miles for more than about 2 miles, but then I started realizing things like:   I need to average 4 seconds per mile faster than that, for 5 times as long and then for 1.2 miles after that if I'm going to break 3 hours in a marathon.  Being unable to push the pace at the end means that I was done, so, while I stopped the run because I didn't have time to run anymore and still make Case's soccer game, it's just as well since I wouldn't have made it much farther anyway.  Not sure how I'm going to get the speed aspect of my sub-3 hour goal down, but at least I have some time [Still targeting Tucson marathon in early December, though I haven't signed up yet]...and at least I finally decided to pick up the pace a bit.    That is also good in relation to the effort Craig and I will make in a few weeks, which is really what I should continue thinking about instead of some race months away, I guess. 
• Current shoes now have 417+ miles on them, need to get a new pair...

Day 147

• 4+ miles
• Fast/hard (estimating 7:30/mi pace or better, ran for 30:52 hard)
• 0630
• San Juan, PRI
• Wasn't motivated to push it at all today, committed myself to just cruising for 30 minutes, decided while riding down the elevator that doing so was plenty, I am afterall in the taper stage of Becca's marathon plan, walked out the front door of my Holiday Inn Express, took two steps and saw a runner off in the distance that looked reasonably fit, but not running too fast and next thing I know I have decided that I must catch and pass them, but who knows when they may turn, so better do so quickly....it didn't take even half a mile, but once I start running fast I don't like to slow down and since I also don't like to run the same pace for very long that only leaves one option.   Glad I got a hard effort in this week, just wish I had a better idea of how far and how fast I went even though I know that knowing may be a disappointment.   Anyway, I will miss my ocean view runs and the teal water etc., but I am still very much looking forward to getting home.   Off to Miami, FL for next 2 days first, not out of the humidity yet.

Day 126

• 5 miles
• 7:12/mi pace
• 0740
• From/To home
• Pushed the pace today, had shortness of breath for pretty much the whole run...had a few moments where I felt relaxed and gliding at a good pace, but mostly just a struggle to keep up a pace I felt acceptable.   Tried to really push the last mile, ran out of gas resulting in a 6:39 mile -- not bad, but was hoping for better.   Can't believe I did an entire marathon at a faster pace than this and I've set a goal to do even better?  Perhaps I am really old now, depressing.   Need to start on the strength stuff and keep stacking the mileage before I give up I guess.   Also need to play more golf, not to help me run, but because I now suck and that isn't acceptable.  

Day 3

OCTOBER 8, 2011

• 5 Miles
  • 9+mins/mile pace
  • From/to home
• Felt Fine, went very slow, though training program said "Pace," I just wasn't up for it this early in the plan.  Hip ached in mid-afternoon, as if I had run 10+ miles...concerned about next days 8 miler planned.