Penance

I'm sitting here typing following an early morning run which pretty much tuckered me out. Thankfully Elliot is still sleeping, so I get a few more minutes to relax before the day starts. I've had breakfast, my coffee and after getting up at 4:45 to go on a 8.5 or 9 mi. run, I'm about ready for a nap.

It was a tough run this morning. It was dark and cool which was nice, but I had a hard time getting my body going. I was doing some tempo runs (1 mi. easy, 2 faster, 1 easy, 1 faster, 1 easy, 2 faster, 1 easy), but it added up to a pretty long run for me. I felt like I was doing penance for the sins I committed in my diet over the past several days. You see, we threw a baby shower (well, Violi did) for her sister at our house. It was a very successful event, but not as many people came as were expected due to various reasons so the trip to Costco which provided some really yummy food, turned out to by our weekly shopping trip. Only problem is a diet made up of croissant, wraps, cookies, crackers, dip and cake really isn't ideal. But, when faced with the choice of letting the food go to waste, I knew I needed to do my part. I know, I do make some large sacrifices, I don't like to toot my own horn or anything...

Anyway, this week in my training calls for two runs that total 9 miles each along with interval training. So, it's my toughest week yet and a good thing that it came this week. I was feeling yucky yesterday from the buildup of sugar and simple carbs, but I think my run today got me grounded again reminded me that I have to work off the excesses that I eat, so wouldn't it just be simpler to not eat that piece of cake? Hmm...

Faster...

It's been really busy lately. AFter a long weekend to Arizona, we're doing some work around the house in preparation for a baby shower for Violi's sister. Painting, yard work, cleaning... all that stuff make it difficult to be disciplined in eating and exercising. I'm not doing too bad, however. Since I did the 5K, I've really bumped up my pace in training runs. Today I did intervals and had to do 2x1600 at a 8:00 min/mi. pace with 400m rest interval between. Then I had to do an 800m at a 7:47 pace. It felt tough, but I felt like I really did well afterward.

I got in a really beautiful run out in Prescott. There was a great little trail through some woods. Lots of hills, perfect temps and no humidity. I did have to walk up one hill because it seemed like it would never end and then when I thought I was close to the end, it turned and just got steeper. Then, after I'd been running for about 45 min. one way, i decided I should think about going back. There was a trail that split off, so I thought I'd take it to see where it went, I thought it might go back toward town (at this point I hadn't seen a house or car in the last 20 min., for all I knew I was on a Javelina path). I told myself that I'd run on it for 15 min. and see where it went before I decided to maybe turn around. I was definitely getting closer to town, but I had no idea where it would come out once I got there, so I decided to just keep going and when I made it out to a road, I'd call Violi to have her give me directions. Another 15 min. and I see a path to a road, but amazingly, I came out about a block away from Violi's grandpa's house! What a relief.

One of my favorite things to do when I visit somewhere, is to go for a run and get acquainted with the area. I'm looking forward to a couple nice runs in Indiana in about a week. I might even have some company which is always nice.