13.1Miami Pre-Race Workout

3 mile w/u + stridesTarget: 15 min. tempo @5:45 pace; 3 min. jog; 3x3 min. @5:35 pace w/2 min. jogActual: Above2.5 mile c/dTotal: 11 milesSince I'm flying to Miami later this afternoon, I was afforded the opportunity to work from home for most of the day. It was nice not to be forced out the door by 6am to get this workout done, but with a reported impending snowstorm on the way--which will likely be the first/last/only one this winter--I knew I couldn't postpone forever. By the time I took a break from the computer and headed for the Neck around...

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Week in Review

83 miles4 doubles5 runs in Charlotte1 failed workout10 bridesmaids dresses tried onWhat a terrific week! Not only did I put in some quality time on the feet with friends, but I spent the entire weekend in Charlotte and got to snuggle with Caitlin four nights in a row. I also had the honor of being the first Karhu employee to sell some of the new spring/summer 2012 Karhu shoes at retail, as they just debuted this week and were rushed to Charlotte...

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Return to the Track

3 mile w/uTarget: 2x200m strides @40; 1x400m @80; mile @5:20; 1k @3:20; 600m @2:00Actual: 37.7 (200m jog); 41.9 (200m jog); 79.3 (2:00 jog); 5:15.2 (4:00); 3:18.4 (3:00); 1:54.31 mile c/dTotal: ~7.5 milesAccording to Jordan, it was necessary for me to step on the track so I could wake my body up and kindly remind it that workouts below 6-minute pace do exist. Okay, fair enough. But it's been so incredibly long since I've done a track workout, even longer since I've done one without Jordan pacing me and longer still since I've touched 5:20 pace--take...

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Week in Review

83-84 miles3 doubles5 runs in Austin2 runs in NYCWhat a great week on all fronts! Training, travel, work, weather, time with friends--all went swimmingly, and I couldn't hope to feel better the week after a hard half-marathon effort. I had a blast working out with Allison in Austin and loved catching up with Jay, Heidi and Betsy on a very well-orchestrated run spanning the West Side bike path and Central Park. Jordan and I also spent some quality time at Paragon Sports, our partner for 13.1 NYC next month, educating both staff and customers on...

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Austin Fartlek With Allison

3 mile w/uTarget (in minutes): 5, 4, 3, 2, 2, 3, 4, 55-4-3 @MP, 2-2-3 @1/2 MP, 4-5 @10kActual: Above4 mile c/dTotal: 12-12.5 milesAfter spending most of the week working and running--in short sleeves, no less!--in the great city of Austin, I finally felt ready to attempt a workout on Friday morning. My good friend and Olympic Trials running partner Allison, who has gamely volunteered to pace the Rogue Running 3:15 group at Austin Marathon in just...

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Week in Review

66-67 miles2 doubles2 days in Atlanta3 days in Birmingham1 new PRA full month removed from the Trials, I finally feel as though I'm truly recovered and ready to kick my training back into gear. I aimed to hit 70 miles this week and fell a bit short, but that's okay. (It probably didn't help that I logged a measly three miles on Friday, but don't judge me! I had a 12 hour workday including travel.) Next week, however, my Karhu responsibilities will take me to two terrific but completely different running cities, Austin and NYC, and I should be able...

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Mercdes Half-Marathon Race Recap

2+ mile w/u + stridesTarget: 13.1 miles @1:16:xx-1:18:xxActual: 1:17:54 (1:17:56 gun time); 1st place femaleResults2.5 mile c/dTotal: 17-18 milesWhen my plane touched down in Atlanta on Wednesday afternoon, it was gorgeous and sunny and 62 degrees. Before going to bed on Saturday night before the race, I noted on Facebook that when I toed the line the following morning in Birmingham--which, let's be clear, is located a mere 150 miles away from Atlanta--it would be a frigid 24 degrees with a wind chill of 18. If anything, reality was slightly colder...

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Baby Steps

3 mile w/uTarget: 2x1 min., 2x4 mins., 3x2 mins. all w/1 min. restActual: Above + 2x30 secs.2 mile c/dTotal: 8-8.5 milesI must admit I was a little nervous for my first post-Trials workout, but fortunately Jordan prescribed something untimed and thus easily achievable. I took to the Neck for some hard running on familiar (albeit challenging) terrain, grateful for the opportunity to open up the legs and lungs without being pained by the knowledge of what pace or distance I was covering on each interval. I could've been running 5:40 pace or 6:40...

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Week in Review

65-66 miles1 double15 mile long run8 mile "uptempo" run1 hour yogaBy Tuesday of this week, I could tell that my body was finally starting to come around. My stride and cadence began to feel more natural, my breathing more controlled and my overall level of fatigue significantly reduced as compared to the previous week. On Friday I was feeling ambitious enough to attempt an 8.5ish mile uptempo effort--albeit with no real concept of splits or pace--and when I checked my watch at the end of the run I was pleased to see I'd covered the loop about three...

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