Run 2014: Week 12

Tuesday, May 27th: 4.93 miles in 52:54, average pace 10:44
     This was a fun run for a couple of reasons; one is that we just headed out to have a good time and the other is that I've always wanted to run the National Mall! We actually took the metro into town from our hotel room just to run the five miles. We certainly would have been easier to leave from our hotel and just run and come back. But this seemed more sporting.

Love all the dips from where we waited to cross streets.

There were tons of people out running like there always are around there. People in DC are crazy though. I only saw a couple of people, both men and women, who were running without a shirt on. Seriously people, it was at least 70 and humid every single morning by 8am. My general rule is that if it's sunny and warmer than 60 then I refuse to wear a shirt. So to be running at noon in 84F sunny weather is just nuts to me. Ranting aside, the run was alright. It was hot and humid so I was definitely ready to be done. But it was fun and novel and it goes the miles done.

Thursday, May 29th: 14.20 miles in 1:25:00ish, average pace 6:00
     Yay! I was flying!! Okay fine, I'm cheating. This was a bike ride not a run. We rode our bikes into downtown to a modern dance performance and skipped our run. Once every summer our local ballet puts on a outdoor, free, modern dance performance and we always go! This time is happened on our usual run night. We could have fit a short run in and still made it. But it was much more fun to have a leisurely night and enjoy ourselves for once. Besides we figured that we walked to much in DC our legs wouldn't mind a break. Tell you the truth though, that bike ride was a lot harder than the run would have been ;-)

Saturday, May 31st: 9.91 miles in 1:43:42, average pace 10:28
     This was a crappy run in that I did NOT want to be doing that. I'm not sure what happened this morning. I woke up feeling alright and in a decent mood but I just really did not want to go for a run. But I went anyway and was grumpy for almost 10 miles. I was pissy with Justin when he asked if there was anything he could do to make my run better and by the time I turned onto my street I was crying because I just wanted. to. be. home. I did not want to pass go; I did not want to collect $200.

I have no idea what my problem was. I was just being stupid. Because the run went fine. Actually it went better than fine; it went quite well. It wasn't particularly hot or humid. We carried our little hand helds and refilled them around mile six. My ankle only started aching in the 7th mile and was super mild. I only noticed it when I particularly paid attention to it. Really, as far as long building runs went it was a good one. I was just a bitch the whole time. Sorry, Justin!*

Overall thoughts:
   This week wasn't bad. We finished up our training plan in week 11 so we were kind of on our own this week. We ended up deciding to build mileage for an additional week which seemed to go fine. Neither of our runs were particularly difficult and my ankle has been very well behaved for the past couple of weeks. So nothing crazy to report.

We're planning on starting a different kind of running program in week 13 and it has some speed work and timed tempo runs. It'll be a very interesting experience. I've never done something like that so it'll be a novel experience for me. I'm rather looking forward to the change of pace (pun intended). So be on the look for that next week.

The other element of this new program is that you're supposed to include additional cross training. We're not particularly good at cross training at the moment. We do enjoy bike riding and swimming. It's just that we tend to prefer to stay home and relax or work on projects on our week nights off. So we'll see how we do adding that in. It'll be exciting!


Fort4Fitness: 20 weeks
Huff: 32 weeks


*In my defense, I was PMSing. Although that's not a valid excuse for bad behaviour.