Just work

This day went past me like a lightning without thunder. I got so hooked on work that there was no room for running or any other physical activity today. It sucks, but what you can do. I know that tomorrow is better. It is always better. In older days these days were the worst ever, but nowadays I kind of don't care so much. Wiser and older or lazier and older?

Thursday intervals

Total 6.5 miles (7.32/mile) including 5*3 min. (moderate/hard effort ~5.30-5.40) with 2 min. recovery runs.

Otherwise this felt just fine BUT a) HR shows me that everything is not yet set and b) hamstrings still need some serious work/stretching. May now they are ready to get familiar with "the Stick"... In the evening I met with my running buddies at the Greene Turtle. Some of us were celebrating their marathon success, some others did less that but couple of drinks or Pepsi Max (still waiting for that sponsorship...), some hamburgers and lots of running related chat don't hurt anybody.

Easy in the middle

Morning hours - or at least one of them - went on a bike. Easy ride instead of easy morning run. In the evening I'm thinking about joining other guys at the HCC or just do an easy 6-10 miles alone in the dark. I just watched the top 5 moment of Steve Cram on Runner's Tribe. Brits did dominate.

Well, if Brits did dominate, this Finn does not. Todays 6 miler sucked (6.50/mile). I tried our not-so-calibrated footpod, but should have ignore that. HR was bouncing and it hit here and there almost the anaerobic limit. On an easy run.

Tuesday hills

This morning I did only a half of the planned workout. Just to keep it cool. It was a time for hills and I did 5*1min. After the cool down I rolled some strides (5*100m). Honestly, it's been awhile since I've done any faster pace... In addition, running was painless. Even if I expect that to be temporary, I enjoyed it a lot. Total 6.2 miles (7.39 pace).

Grey Monday

I still have to take it easy,, and thus, I ran only 3.1 miler this morning. Some core training w/jumps in the evening and that's Monday. Next Sunday I'll try to accomplish my first and maybe the last Grapevine Run. It's the first race after Chicago. See then how it goes... The advance "advertising" has made me courious to see how brutal that course really is. I'll run for co-ed team.

MCM

Easy run with Jason, Randy, Mark and the others along the MCM course. I was taking some pictures about Tom, Seth and Stephen. Watching a marathon race is always exhausting and this morning was no exception. Total about 10 miles. Hamstring were as they have been.

Sort of...

10 miles (7.01 pace)

Bagel run (8.7 + 1.5 miles) with JT. Pace was moderate but still it felt heavy. Or maybe it was just yesterdays core that included the first series of jumps in ... many many years. Anyway from this point on I will start run slower long runs.

Progressing in the slow lane

Back to the biking. We did easy 60 minutes bike ride in the morning. Some core training in the afternoon/evening, but no running for me today. This is actually harder than tapering. And about tapering.. I just read the training schedule of one of my Finnish buddy. I had instant cold sweat. During the last 14 weeks before his PR in marathon (2.24) he had one 26.2 (2.31), HM (1.10), mountain 26.2 (3.12) and another mountain run, this time an ultra 78.5km (~49miles). And after this session he really did a PR...! Dude! His next stop is 100km World Champs in Italy. There he'll meet Mr. Wardian whose running records some of you know well.

And here I am just biking... after my sad, slow and still disappointing 2.55.

Getting old?

6 miles (7.05 pace)

Easy 6 miler w/ wooden hamstrings. Otherwise felt okay but the feeling in my hamstrings and calves is not so amusing. I'm on the verge of situation where even stretching does not help me anymore. I don't wanna grow up/old...

On and off

Yesterdays' hills felt just okay, but to be realistic it's waaaayyy to early to start pushing. It's only 1,5 weeks from marathon... and like it went on my behalf it's for sure that this week should remain easy effort-wise. Thus, instead of morning run we did again less-than-hour bike in a crispy morning. Easy of course. We bumped into T who is currently tapering for MCM (like do Steve-O and SG as well). Trust your training guys and let it go on Sunday!!!

Afternoon I might do some easy run just to warm-up for stretching and some circuiting. That's what I need. I assume.

[edit:] In the afternoon I did 3 miles (6.45 pace). On my way back I ran to the mall to buy teriyaki chicken. It was delicious due it's rarity.