Monthly Archives: October 2009

Close but…

0, 08mi

Start time: 10/4/09, 8:00am
Location: W&OD Trail
Distance: 8 miles
Average pace: 9:53min/mile
Total Miles For October: 20 miles
Total Miles For 2009: 637 miles

Well, I’d hoped to get another 12-miler in today, but I had to make due with just eight. (I know, I know. Just eight!) Between having taken the time off (since my 20-miler on Sept 5th, I’d only run 20 miles in the course of a month) and the last remnants of the cold, it just wasn’t going to happen. I was feeling a little tight as I passed by the car (I was heading from 3.5 to 7.5 and back, and then the idea was to run down to marker 1.5 and back) and the last thing I wanted to do was re-injure myself. Plus, like I said yesterday, I can turn next week’s 16-miler into a 20-miler if I need to. Good enough!

(9:40, 10:06, 9:53, 10:03, 9:54, 9:41, 9:56, 9:51)

[I can’t help but notice the difference in my speeds from the start of the year versus now, mind you. This entry of two 12-milers on a weekend has me moving at a faster clip, certainly. There’s a part of me that gets wistful and sad when I look at the shift, and part of me that is relieved at not trying to hit that. I think having been perpetually in training for a marathon since May 2008 has taken its toll. It’ll be nice, come mid-January, to not have to worry about one for a good long while.]

Cold + humidity = lightheaded

0, 12mi, sick

Start time: 10/3/09, 6:15am
Location: East Potomac Park, Hains Point, Mt. Vernon Trail, M Street, Independence Ave
Distance: 12 miles
Average pace: 9:53min/mile
Total Miles For October: 12 miles
Total Miles For 2009: 629 miles

Oof! Originally I had a 20-miler scheduled for this weekend, but I knew that just wasn’t going to be an option after several weeks off. The plan is to hit two 12-milers instead, but a new wrinkle showed up in the form of a cold. Most of my running group is hitting the Army 10-miler tomorrow, so just Dave and I headed out for an early 12-miler (he’s got training the rest of the day). I’m glad Dave was there, he gave me the push I needed or I might’ve just wimped out. That said, between having a cold and the thick humidity, I was glad for the walk breaks because I felt a little light-headed at times. (Don’t worry, if that happened I gave myself extra recovery time.) From the neck down I felt great and ready for more, but my head just said otherwise. Still, I’m pleased. (I am also wondering if mile 8 was really that much more than the rest or if something glitched. Ah well!)

We’ll see if I hit another 12 tomorrow; it’ll depend on how I’m feeling. If not, I’ll turn next week’s 16-miler into a 20-miler. Since my race is a week later than the schedule I’m using is for, I’m ok with that too.

(9:52, 9:49, 9:44, 9:57, 9:43, 9:32, 9:41, 10:45, 10:05, 10:13, 9:34, 9:37)

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3235744