Tuesday Training Update: Less than a week

Last week started out rocky with a run cut short on Monday, but turned around quickly when I ran a great tempo run on Tuesday. For whatever reason, Monday just wasn't my day. I felt tired and grumpy and my IT band just didn't feel quite right. I ran four miles of a 5.75 mile loop and walked the rest. Any unplanned walking makes me irritable. Tuesday, however, was a completely different story. I had the opportunity to run without the stroller. Thinking my IT band woes might be caused from improper form, I made a conscientious effort to strike heal first and maintain good posture throughout the run. Apparently good posture makes me run fast. Odd, I know. Anyway, I ran my first mile at 7:20 pace and progressively ran faster throughout to run. I completed the 7.5 mile run at a pace of 7:11. And I wasn't even hobbling afterward!

I don't seem to have trouble running without the stroller. I'm not quite ready to give up on the old running stroller though (which is by far my favorite piece of baby/toddler hardware). Kaylee enjoys our runs and being able to run with her gives me enormous flexibility in regard to training. I do need to fix whatever I'm doing wrong. Time, patience, and good observation skills should eventually do the trick. Until then, I plan to stick with running only three days a week (two days with Kaylee and one day at work). The other days I'll be rowing or biking. I have come to love rowing for speed workouts. From a cardiovascular perspective, rowing hard really feels like running hard (at least for me). Rowing also does a nice job working completely different muscles than running, so I don't become lopsided. I'm joking! I don't really think running will make me lopsided!

Whenever I start feeling fast, I always have this yearning to increase mileage and run harder. Totally crazy! The hardest part of training for me, is being sane. Nick knows this all too well, which is why he's always nervous when I start my marathon banter. Deep breath...I'm getting better though. Learning from past mistakes, my goals now are to get faster while staying injury free. Step one, only run three days a week. Because last week went so well, I'm excited about the half marathon on Sunday! I think I can make my goal (1:37)!

Here's where I share last week's training:
Monday: 4 mile run 9:40 pace
Tuesday: 7.5 mile run 7:11 pace
Wednesday: 5K row 6:42 pace + 4 miles on the elliptical machine 8:00 pace
Thursday: 70 minute bike
Friday: 2 x 16oo meter row 6:38 pace + 1 x 3200 meter row 6:35 pace + 1 x 1600 meter row 6:24 pace + 30 minute bike
Saturday: 7.25 mile run 8:56 pace
Sunday: Off