Last 50 mile week in this training schedule

Despite my lack of blogging, this was a very interesting week for me. My hip pain subsided substantially. I can feel it slightly, but nothing hurts and it is clearly improving, albeit slowly. What can I expect when I continue to run through it?

Monday I rested and felt great.

Tuesday I was scheduled for 8 with 5x600 meters; 90 second rest. Well that didn't happen. Half way through my first interval, my hip flared up a bit. Not worth it, so I slowed way down and just logged the miles. Miles were also a bit short too because I wanted to make sure I had 10-15 minutes with the boys before the bus. SO - 6.19 miles, 9:31 pace.

Wednesday I was scheduled for 11. Ended up with 11.3 at 9:30 pace. I am sick of being slow, but I want that hip to get back to 100%. Slow feels best right now.

Thursday was a rest day and I greatly enjoyed sleeping in!

Friday I got up at 4:45 am for my run - this was a PR in earliest wake up call for a training run for me! I was scheduled for 12, but only logged 11.22 to make it back to spend some time with the kids - I knew I could easily make it up tomorrow. Pace: 8:59. Beautiful morning, nice run. Friday evening my five year old rammed right into me on his bike from behind. OUCH. Do not underestimate the power of an oblivious five year old on wheels! My right calf is still torn up!

Saturday I ran Race Judicata. It was at 11:00 am and it was HOT. Oh yeah, and the course was brutal. There was one section where the grade was so steep I literally felt like I was walking. I ran it more of a tempo run than a 5K because I knew I was racing Sunday. Ended up with a 22:28. The cool thing was I was the fastest lawyer there so I won a $50 gift card to a local running store - score! Plus it was fun to hang out with my racing buddies. I did a super slow 3.17 cooldown. Did I mention it was hot?

Sunday I was up for 15 miles with a 10K race. SO, I ran the Zoo Run Run. This is always a tough race for me as it is on a tough course and it starts relatively late, so temps can be a bit high. I logged a 3.8 warmup, then lined up to start. It was sunny, warm (75ish) and high humidity (85-90%). But I was excited and ready to go. My goal was to start no faster than 7:30s and try to increase as I went along. I stayed on or around 7:30s the entire race, except mile 3, which has a long hill - that mile was 7:52. The good news was that I passed a fair number of people that had slowed at the end - I was able to maintain pace (although it felt to me like I sped up). Ran the last .2 at a 6:45 pace and felt good finishing at 47:25. I was actually happy with it. Funny too because I finished the same race at 44:15 last year and was disappointed. Did a 5 mile cool down at a ridiculously slow pace (10:15ish). I placed in my AG, but they were not giving medals this year - only trophies to the top 3 in each gender.

Total: 50 miles and 2 races.

It was a fun week. I reflected some after today's race too how I probably should be disappointed with my time. But I'm not. In fact I feel so silly for being disappointed after so many really great runs last season. I am training hard and feeling good. I am proud to race and finish strong.

Oh yeah, and despite two races in a row (yes, I know that is probably stupid), my hip feels good! And even if stupid to run back to back races, it did wonders for me mentally and socially to get back out there!

One more hard week then it is taper time!

For now I am relaxing - off to buy a new computer this afternoon. I am sick of my ridiculously slow home computer.