(Down) Week in Review

55 miles 1 day off 1 double 1 run in Birmingham 4 AFDs Fortunately, it doesn't look like we're going to have to amputate. After a pitiful start to the week, during which I notched a whopping 10 miles over the course of three days, things improved dramatically and eventually culminated with two double-digit weekend days. The foot isn't 100% but is steadily improving. I'm confident I'll be able to resume relatively normal training next week...which is pretty much mandatory if I harbor any hopes of performing well at the US Half-Marathon Champs in...

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Week in Review

~60 miles 2 days off 14 laps on the Lowell track 1 unicorn pinata After dropping out of the 10k, I was understandably frustrated. Fortunately there was plenty of activity to divert my mind, namely the baby shower that I was helping Emily host for Carly the following day. You would think that by 12 hours before a party you're throwing for 19 people, preparations would be largely under control. Instead, Jordan and I headed straight back to Emily's...

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NB Twilight 10k Fail

3+ mile w/u + strides Target: 10k race @faster than 34:30 Actual: 5k in 17:22 + a few more laps, DNF 4 mile c/d Total: 10 miles On the one hand, I feel like I owe my tens of loyal readers a detailed and introspective recap of my (partial) race. On the other hand, we might as well just skip straight to the crux of the matter: I dropped out. To be more specific, I dropped out largely because of an increasingly sore foot. I noticed it in a vague, abstract sense early in the week, but it wasn't until Thursday when I realized that my level of discomfort...

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NB Twilight 10k Pre-Race Workout

3 mile w/u Target: 10 mins. @5:28-30 pace (3:25-30/k); jog to Village track; 3x400m @82 secs. w/45 sec. rest Actual: 10 mins. (3:24, 3:33 (incl. stop), 3:30); ~7 min. jog; 3x400m @79, 78, 81 2 mile c/d Total: 9 miles The goal this morning was simple: run 10k race pace as consistently and comfortably as possible. The former would likely be easy to attain given that Jordan "the metronome" Kinley was leading me along. The latter would prove to be more challenging since the 10-minute portion would take place on the dirt and gravel rail trail in Marblehead...

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Week in Review

86-87 miles 4 doubles 1 BAA workout 1 5k victory 4 AFDs A solid week of training, a successful 5k, glorious weekend weather and visits from both of Jordan's parents--what more could a girl ask for? I'm pleased with the solid block of training I've constructed in the recent weeks and months and am optimistic it will all come to fruition next weekend at the NB Twilight 10k. All the pieces are in place, now it's just time to execute. Interested in spending a few more minutes procrastinating whatever it is you're supposed to be doing right now? (Because,...

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Marblehead Beach to Beach 5k

3 mile w/u + strides Target: win, have fun Actual: 17:17, 1st female Results When Jordan and I found out that there was a 5k taking place in Marblehead this weekend--on the very streets we run almost every day, no less--it seemed only fitting that we both participate. For him, it would be a very relaxed, pressure-free way to ease back into racing after months of injury and resultant lack of fitness. For me, this would fulfill the requirement of...

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Harvard Track Mile Repeats

2.5 mile w/u + strides Target: 6xmile @5:20 avg. w/2 mins. rest Actual: 5:23, 5:24, 5:19, 5:19, 5:21, 5:21 2.5 mile c/d Total: 11-11.5 miles Just as Jordan and I were debating several undesirable options for our Wednesday track workout--Crack of dawn at the Village track? Push our limits with a two-hour lunch break? Wait until after work and race the sunset?--my inbox pinged with an email from Terry. Turns out one of the BAA workout groups would be doing 5xmile, which was almost identical to the 6xmile that Jordan had suggested for me. The decision...

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Week in Review

84 miles 4 doubles 14 miles in the Lincoln Trails 2 great workouts  On the heels of a craptastic race at Penn, it's extremely gratifying to move forward with such a positive week of training. I completed two difficult workouts within as many days of each other and felt strong and confident doing so. Then we finished out the weekend with a terrific BAA/NB Boston group run around Lincoln Woods and Walden Pond. I counted at least 12 of us in attendance, which is the largest contingent that most of us have been a part of for a long run in quite...

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Tempo and Track

2.5 mile w/u Target: 4 mile progression starting @5:55; jog to track then 8x400m @75-77 w/60 secs. rest Actual: 22:53/5:43.2 avg. (5:47, 5:45, 5:41, 5:40); ~5 min. rest/jog 8x400 @76, 75, 75, 75, 74, 74, 73, 72 2.5 mile c/d Total: 11-12 miles Another Saturday morning, another BAA workout at Harvard. Jordan and I were out the door early to make the 8am meeting time, arriving to the track with several minutes to spare. Our predominantly female group included Emily--fresh off a two-week vacation overseas and "fun run" at the London Marathon--Brett...

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12x800 Success

2.5 mile w/u Target: 10-12x800 @2:35-36 w/2:30 rest Actual: 2:36, 2:36, 2:36, 2:34, 2:36, 2:35, 2:35, 2:34, 2:36, 2:34, 2:35, 2:34 Average: 2:35.1 1.5 mile c/d Total: ~10.5 miles After several underwhelming race performances in a row, Coach Jordan and I decided to take an analytical look at my training and try to fill in the missing pieces. It's obvious that months of marathon and half-marathon training have made me strong, but what seems to be lacking is a comfort level with sustaining a quicker race pace. In Jordan's opinion, the best way to...

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