It’s been a busy week. The weather has been a little better in the mornings, which has helped. And my replacement Aftershokz Trekz Air came on Friday (after my run, of course, but I had them for Monday).
Monday: 6 * hill repeats: ran up Gilbert Street several times, and then rounded it off to 5 miles in 43:41 (8:43 pace). All the hill splits were in the upper 7s except one in the low 8s.
Tuesday double day: morning ran 3 miles and 7 strides and rounded it off to 4 miles. Went across the Suspension Bridge and back across the Purple People Bridge. 4 miles in 34:12 (8:32 pace).
In the afternoon, raced at the NKU XC series race 1. I wore different shoes for this, I have a pair of New Balance trail runners that I haven’t worn in about a year after suddenly getting bad blisters during every run. I put Band-Aids on my heels and went for it. Before the race, I talked to NKU’s coach (who also coached my brother while he went there) who commented on my weight loss :-). Ran 3.2k in 14:29 (which doesn’t match the results because it’s a low-key not-chip-timed race). Garmin Connect has me at 7:41 pace for 1.89 miles (GPS + hairpins = my watch missed a spot or 40). This is a PR for me – the last PR on a 3.2k XC (at the same location, similar course) is 15:31, so a full minute PR!
Wednesday: normally this is a speed day for me, but since the race last night and (spoiler alert!) Saturday, I ran 3 miles + 7 strides and rounded it to 4 miles. Kept it in the park, down Friendship park and back, and then into Smale Park and back. 4 miles in 33:00 (8:14 pace).
Thursday: normally an easy day, Kept it in the flat area of the park and around the Bengal’s practice field (now with more homeless thanks to the City closing a homeless camp). Ran early with the RunLites because I had to go to Indianapolis for a meeting. Just ran 3 miles in 25:10 (8:16 pace).
Friday: was supposed to be a rest day, but decided to run since my step tracker wants 3,000 steps in 30 minutes to cover one of the three goals. Ran an EASY 3.2 miles in 27:50 (8:41 pace).
Saturday: Race Day! Ran the Bulldog Blast 5k, which is in a local park. Got there a half hour before start (parking is EASY), got my number (that’s all the SWAG I get, but for <$20 that is NOT a complaint!). Tried to keep up with the leaders, which didn’t really happen, but there was very few in front of me, the only one that wasn’t young was a guy pushing a stroller. That guy must have been at least 9 years younger than me (or a year older, but he didn’t look like 40), because I won my age group! 3.1 miles in 21:46 (7:03 pace). This is another PR (by 90 seconds!), this course is easier than the last 5k course (the Bockfest 5k).
That’s the week in training. 24.25 miles and two PRs!
In other stuff, I finished reading Once a Runner. I initially read the first chapter (or so) via the Kindle App, and wasn’t overly thrilled. Wanting another book that isn’t so ‘mentally heavy’ to read and seeing yet another thread on a running forum where people talked about books, this one is second to Born To Run (which I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed). I finished the book a few weeks ago, and I really enjoyed it (so much so, I’ll probably be ordering Again To Carthage soon).
Then, since I’ve felt like my 5k time wasn’t going down quick enough (which really isn’t a big deal AND it’s not even factually accurate) AND because I might do two marathons next year AND because I want that Boston Unicorn Medal, I decided to start reading Advanced Marathoning.
That’s it for this episode of the Running on Beer Running Blog. Tune in next week for another exciting episode!
Note: due to some bullshit law, I think I have to point out that the links to the books are affiliate links and I get a kickback if you click on them and even more if you buy them. Kickbacks to date are currently so low that Amazon is just keeping track of the handful of pennies they owe me.