I’ve been delinquent in blogging. Life…
I have NOT been delinquent in running. Holy cow, but I have been putting in the miles. Hit 1300 for the calendar year last week. That’s a heckofalot of miles.
I’ve been sticking to my training program for the Berlin Marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM). Right now I’m having to focus only on Berlin. I cannot look ahead to MCM, not quite yet.
Training, I’ll be honest, has been tough. Really tough!
We’ve had a very hot/humid summer in Mississippi this year. This has meant that I am getting up at midnight and starting my long runs at 1:00-1:30 am. It has taken its toll. #notaspringchickenanymore
My coach has been having me do Tempo Runs. I have been very discouraged with these. I have not been able, NOT ONCE, to hit my splits on these runs! Too slow. Waaaayyy too slow! It’s made me doubt my ability to accomplish my goals for Berlin.
In talking to my other running friends, they have admitted to doing their Tempo Runs on the Treadmill (TM). Well, we don’t’ have a TM at our house and I don’t have a gym membership. If I don’t run outdoors, it doesn’t happen. Well…
Something happened yesterday.
MFH (My Favorite Husband) was supposed to fly to Colorado yesterday for his last (YAY!) trip to Colorado. He has been flying out pretty much every other week since May to help train a new guy. This was/is his last trip and we are very happy about that. Anyway, his flight got messed up and he didn’t leave until this morning.
I was scheduled for another one of those dreadful Tempo Runs this morning and I was planning on getting started at 4:30-5:00~trying my best to beat the odds and hit my splits.
There was no way I could get MFH to the airport this morning AND run early. TBH, MFH comes waaaayyyy before any silly training run. I decided to scrap the run and see MFH off.
MFH talked with me last night and said I should check with our local “Y” to see about a day pass. I could to my Tempo Run on a TM! Now, that was a thought!
I pulled up the site online and discovered that our “Y” offered a free 3 day pass! Cool Beans!
So, I took MFH to the airport this morning and then headed off to the “Y.” I ran my Tempo Run on the TM. Now, my Tempo Runs have been averaging a 12:00 pace. It has KILLED me to get that pace. It’s been sooo hot/humid that’s the best I’ve been able to do. #Depressing
Today, I ran a 9 mile Tempo Run at an 8:52 pace with Negative Splits!!! BOOM!!!
In all honesty, I’ve been thinking that maybe my running days were nearing their end. I mean, if I was averaging a 12:30 pace on a long run, there was NO WAY I could think of getting a 4:45 in Berlin.
Today gave me hope. It proved to me that I COULD run well (for me) and that maybe I COULD do well in Berlin.
I have a 20 mile training run on Wednesday and that 3 day free membership will still be good. The thought of running 20 on a TM is not appealing but the thought of starting a run at 1:30 am on Wednesday sounds worse. HA! Anyway, I think I’m going to run my 20 at the “Y” on Wednesday…just to give myself a break. 🙂
After today’s Tempo Run, I came home and changed into mowing clothes. I mowed for 1.5 hours. I was getting super hungry! That’s when I realized it was noon and I had only had a slice of toast and a cup of coffee at 4:30 this morning. Go figure.
So, I took a break and had a little lunch. Went back out and finished mowing. So, 1:19 running and 3 hrs mowing. I’m toast. HA!
While I was out mowing, I noticed that we have an Armadillo. Grrr!!!
The further I got into the yard the more and more I saw the signs of that destructive thing. It had been going to town in the yard!
*I need to Google how to get rid of Armadillos.*
That’s it. It is 2:30 pm and I haven’t had a shower yet. I smell very, very bad. *hold your nose and don’t take a deep breath.*
I think, I’m going to go and clean up now.
You’re welcome. 🙂