Spring Time Runs: April Running

[katluvr]

Not much of an original thread title sorry.

Started April off with 8 miles. The first 5 come easy, always struggle around mile 6-7. It was a beautiful day. Runs longer than 5 miles take me to the downtown water front. Saw a dolphin today. Made it all worth the distance.

I have a bike ride in NC in less than 2 weeks. Not prepared at all as it will be a bit hilly (understatement) and I am undertrained (severely!).

Happy April miles to all!

K

[skhill]

I've run every day of April, so far, despite the pollen count. Outside in shorts, even! Yesterday was only 1.5 miles, as the pollen was especially bad on that route. Now I remember why I don't run in that neighborhood this time of year; the huge street trees are beautiful, but... Today was back to the treadmill due to thunderstorms in the area. Saturday is race day, 8k cross-country. Running amid pollen-producers, sigh. Wouldn't be doing it, but it's part of a 3-pack of races I signed up for.

The extra-low extra-early rates for our marathon in may 2015 ends in about a week, need to decide on the half or whole. Tough call. Need to see what provision they have for switching at a later date.

[OakLeaf]

Getting down to the wire.

I got back home on Tuesday and had an insanely hard interval workout scheduled for Wednesday. It was an epic fail. A combination of many different factors, but the emotional ones were the biggest. Transitioning from one place to another is always really hard on me, and this year so much of my emotional energy is devoted to the marathon training, that I'm even still completely unprepared to be here, and Wednesday I was pretty much in shock.

So today was my tempo run, which because it's the first time I've seen hills in four months, I'd negotiated down to 8 miles instead of 10 (plus warmup and drills as always). I was really glad of that, even though I kind of cheated and ran it on a somewhat flatter loop than I'd talked about with my coach, because my confidence was so wrecked from Wednesday. I spent most of this morning just freaking out about attempting it. And then I went and did it. Not only did I finish the 8 miles within goal pace, but I only even had one mile split that was over, and that one was basically all uphill.

I'm still too much of a mess mentally to be feeling any kind of boost from getting the workout done, but I know how badly it would've set me back if I hadn't been able to stay on pace, so I'll take that.

Sixteen days.

[katluvr]

You can and will do it Oak! You have worked so hard. I am very proud of you. Hang in there. Take the positive energy her at TE that support and admire your dedication!

K

[Catrin]

You can do this Oak! You are already doing so well, and you met your goal the other day by completing at your goal pace!

The Boston Marathon One Run hit downtown Indianapolis yesterday, they got a lot of good coverage.

[Crankin]

I imagine the switch to running on hills from the flatlands of Florida is enough to make anyone a doubter. But, you know you can do it. It's good you can be a little flexible with your training plan and still get it done. I keep thinking that if I had a coach, s/he would be yelling at me all of the time!

[Catrin]

Sounds great Oak! So glad you were able to participate. I know you will meet your goal for the next one! I don't know much about tapering yet, but with all of us rooting for you how can you not rock this?

[Crankin]

You can taper, Oak!
Looking forward to that dinner... and hearing about how all of your hard work paid off!

[OakLeaf]

Well, Coach swears this was my last hard run before race day. I nailed the pace, hills and all - pretty close to the same elevation gain for today's 10 miles at race pace as the entire Marathon has - and that does help my confidence.

I just hope my legs recover in the next 10 days, because they sure are cooked now.

[Catrin]

Sounds great Oakleaf! I think 10 days should be more than enough and I bet you will feel more than ready in 10 days time, how could you not with all of us rooting for you?

[katluvr]

Ran 8 miles on Saturday. There were slow but I have a 10 mile trail run this coming Sunday. Ran 3 today. It was cool, overcast and low humidity. Probably the last comfortable run for a while!

Good Luck Oak! Watching it on TV now!

K