[JenRuns]

Good Morning!<br><br>
I haven't totally decided on what I'll do today. I should do my Sunday long run as the weather is great, but I have to see how the much zip there is in the legs once I get going. The weather here today is the best it's been all winter. 50's-60's...I hate to waste that!<br><br>
Have great runs today, everyone!

 

[JenRuns]

Okay, I had the best long run ever this morning! This is the first time I've had cool weather for a long run and I liked it. It was around 55 when I left and 65 when I was done, sunny and windy; but it was such a huge change from the sunny 80-90 degree humidity-fest I normally run in.<br><br>
23.5 miles, I know that sounds insanely long but Pfitz had 24 on the schedule. I was going to flip around after 11, but went a bit further just because it was so nice out. Today would have been a nice day for a marathon, that's for sure.<br><br>
I've got the two hardest runs for this week done, so now I can relax the next few days and we can have a nice supper out on Saturday.<br><br>
Nice runs everyone else!

 

[JenRuns]

Thanks, Prae! Honestly, I could have gone another 10 or so (might have needed some food at some point). I run these at a moderate pace, so I'm not pushing myself too hard. I have endurance, I just need to work on speed. I'm trying to get there. Today's run was sooo much easier than yesterday's tempo.<br><br><b>Biah</b>, I just ordered the orange tri top you showed me (thank you!) and some cheap arm warmers. The top was on closeout, $22--how cool is that? Thanks for finding it for me, I hope it looks okay on. I'm loving the idea of getting some orange going in the rotation!

 

[JenRuns]

It is far, don't get me wrong, I respect the distance! For whatever reason, when I set out for a long run, my brain just goes into a very happy, relaxed place and I don't think about how far I have to run. For example, I never think during a 20 miler "Oh, I'm only at mile 6--crap 14 more miles to go". I just think "hey, 4 more miles until I'm headed back home--that's nothing".<br><br>
Now, if I would jump in the car and drive what I just ran this morning, it seems way too far to run. It cracks me up to think about my routes when I'm driving around. No dumbass would try to run that far, would they? Oh, wait...<br><br>
I have had plenty of crappy medium long runs (14/15 milers) where I end up going out with the attitude of just getting it done. That doesn't work for me at all, staying relaxed and enjoying the journey is what this chick is all about. I guess that is why speedwork freaks me out--it's rushed and very structured--stressful!

 

[JenRuns]

It's varies with the weather. I'm no speedster while training, that's for sure!<br><br>
My easy runs are anywhere from 8:00 to 8:40ish...when it's really hot out I can't keep my HR under control and have to run towards that slow end. Long runs are about the same, I guess.<br><br>
Today was just under a 8:30 pace. I had to hold back, it was really nice out, but I knew this was a pretty long run so I kept reeling it back in. I have no desire to push too hard in training and then have nothing left for the goal--I could see myself falling into that trap, so I'm pretty careful about backing off. I think today felt so easy because my HR stayed low the entire time, I didn't get that normal mid morning So. Fla heat up.<br><br>
Recoveries are around 9ish--I just make sure to keep the HR really low, somewhere around 70%ish.<br><br>
I'll certainly welcome feedback about my paces, I question them a lot but feel like this easier stuff is allowing me to slowly enter speedworkville once a week or so.

 

[JenRuns]

Nah, I'm pretty spoiled, I don't have to work. DH works from home as a software developer (we spend way toooo much time together). Running is my chance to get out of the house for a couple of hours.<br><br>
Though, many eons ago, when I worked I still ran quite a bit--I just never raced back then. I either got up crazy early or ran on the TM late. If I missed my morning run, I used to figure if I'm going to watch TV in the evening, I might as well be running while doing that.

 

[JenRuns]

Great post, <b>PTom</b>!<br><br>
I spend a lot of time thinking about what will end up working best for me in the end. Right now, I'm pretty happy with the results coming from mileage, but I also know there is no way to know how additional speedwork will benefit me until I try. I'm pretty sure I can't add that in right now without getting burned out or injured so it'll have to wait a few months.<br><br>
That's the fun about all this, it just takes time to find what works for us as individuals. Next time around, I'm going to mix it up and add more speed-type runs and less volume and see what results that will produce.<br><br>
I realize that this is going to take YEARS to figure out, if it can ever even get figured out. My luck, I'll get it done and then age/injury or whatever will change that.

 

[JenRuns]

It's not like I'm one the low HR maniacs out there. I do speedwork, just not as much as the rest of you guys. I'm following Pftiz (I assume he knows what he's doing) pretty close and haven't cut the speedwork out/short...I've just blown up on some of those last time around and don't want to repeat that mistake. I'm also racing a least 2/3 times a month on top of that.<br><br>
I'm very intrigued with Daniels harder plan and might make a play for that next time I'm really focused on trying to hit a really fast marathon...I'm guessing this will be around a year from now.<br><br>
I've kind of been brainwashed that base-endurance is what solid marathoning is all about and that your true base takes a long time to develop--I'm sure it'll be a couple more years for me (?), so I've just been running basically for mileage this past year. I know that endurance lasts the longest and speed gains tend to peak and then drop off quicker, so I'm a little unsure at what point to focus on those more. I would hate to peak too soon.<br><br>
Like I said earlier, I truly believe we are all an experiment of one, so only time will tell what works best. I love this kind of dialog, there is so much for everyone to add and for everyone to learn at the same time!

 

[JenRuns]

Great run, <b>Maria</b>!<br><br>
I agree that mixing stuff up, either pace or incline during a TM run really helps the whole TM thing go by faster. It gives me something to think about other than just wondering when I'll be done.