Sunday, November 18, 2007

Finally! A Great Training Week

Finished the week with a good 14 miler, bringing the weekly total to just under 49. Last time I got to this sort of mileage it all fell to pieces, but I'm feeling much better about things this time - Fingers crossed!

Today's long run was very good - Plan was to go 12-14 depending on how I felt, and if it was good at the end, throw in some faster miles for the last 2-3. Weather was absolutely perfect, not hot, no wind, and a little misty.

Did a couple easy miles to start at 8:00 pace, then started up the hills so slowed it down to 8:30 for the next 1.5 miles. Then 2.5 faster miles downhill at around 7:30. An easy 8:00 and then slow again up the next hill. Took a wrong turn about mile 9-9.5 and had a slow mile throw some bushes etc. but got back on track by 10ish.

Got thru 11 miles in 1:28, at 8:04 average pace. Didn't feel tired, so ran the next 2.5 miles at my half marathon PR pace (7:10). These fast finish runs are really good training, and I was happy to be feeling good enough to run it after elevn 8 minute miles. Jogged the final 1/2 mile home to total 14 miles in 1:50 - average pace 7:54.

That was my first run over half marathon distance for 6 months. Next week is pretty much the same thing. About 50 miles with a tempo Wednesday, pace run Friday and 14 miler on Sunday. Then it's an easy mini-taper week before the California International Marathon relay on December 3rd.

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