Really?

2 July 2009

Stats:

4 miles

35:33

8:53/mile

Four miles today with second half faster than the first half.  I'm doing the training schedule Craig showed me from Nike.  It's the beginner program, and I'm supplementing that with the beginner program from my Runner's World book based on whatever works for my schedule.

So I started at about 6:30 PM and 85 degrees.  The humidity drops off in the afternoon.  It may be 85% in the AM but will only be 65% in the afternoon.  I try to check the weather to see if it will be better to run in the morning or evening.  We also have to contend with afternoon thunderstorms which happen almost everyday somewhere around the state. 

I usually feel better in the evening.  My muscles are already up and going, and it just feels more comfortable.  It takes me a while to get going in the morning.

So I headed out North along A1A even though there was a mild south wind.  Going south I have to go by the pier, and with the town gearing up for the 4th weekend, I didn't want to deal with the pedestrians.  I tried to keep it at 9:00/ mile or a little over, but every time I checked I was under 9.  I did finally manage to settle in over 9, but at the turnaround I looked up and saw that the sky had boiled over into a massing grey front.

The wind cooled me and felt great, but within thirty feet I realized the light wind was now a 15 mph wall I'd have to push all the way home.  I kicked it up and managed around 8:40 on the way home.  You know, it hurt.  But I did it.

Having a goal really helps these runs.  And I don't mean just the marathon.  The little goals help, too.  Like, "I'm going to stay under nine," or "Last half faster than the first."  The larger goals gives purpose to the smaller goals, and the smaller goals give purpose to the effort of the day.

Next up: Cardio then 8 mile.

Mike has not gone gentle into that good night.  But he has gone off-line.