A lot of you probably already know that once Steve and I returned from the half in January, we fell ill. I think we truly had influenza. It really took both of us down. Steve had double pneumonia in the summer so his lungs are still super sensitive. So this new plague really hit him hard. He has ran very little since coming back. Me - I have probably pushed harder than I should have. I think Steve and I need to find a happy medium between the "I am feeling ill and absolutely no running" and "I am feeling ill but by God I will not miss a run"
We each had put a goal of 1000 miles ran in 2014. Seemed like a good one on January 1. I hit over 900 for 2013, so why not? Well, January left me with only having ran 32 miles. February has slowly improved, but I am still behind in my goal. (I have about 50 miles for February with one week left to go) I think this "being behind" is what has caused me to take my miles up maybe more than I need them to be at this point. Afterall, I am not training for a half just yet. I am only training for a 10k and a 5k.
So thinking about those two races in March. I wish the 5k would be first, but it is what it is and the 10 is two weeks from tomorrow with the 5k a week later. For those of you who are not as aware of what those distances are - a 10k is 6.2 miles making the 5k (half of the 10k
) 3.1.
In a normal week I try to run 4 times. Maybe that seems high, but I don't do anything else. My job is fairly physically demanding so I count that as my cross training.
So my plan for the March races is this (and I will post to let you know how I am doing)
2/22 - 6 miles. This will finish off this week a bit less than I like but I am trying to keep in mind my miles WILL get up high when training for the halfs and I really don't need them to be up that high just yet. Right?
2/24 - 2 miles. This should be for speed, but since getting back I have not been as speedy as I like. My best 2 mile run I sub'd and 8 min mile pace. I ultimately have a goal to get back down to that for my 2 mile runs. For now though I will take a sub 9.
2/25 - 4 miles. This should be a good pace, but not for speed.
2/27 - 5 miles. This can be at a slower pace, but should not be "too" slow.
3/1 - 6 miles. This can be as slow as I need it to be. It will count as my "long" run for the week.
3/3 - 2 miles, again for speed.
3/4 - 4 miles, again a good speed. I need to push a bit but not too much.
3/6 - 4 miles. I will take this easy since I hope to get a good time on 3/8 for the race.
3/8 - 6.2 miles. Foothills Dash RACE DAY!!! I doubt that I will PR this distance. I can hope, but I doubt I will. I would have to finish in less than 55:59 This is the first time running THIS race though, so I can count it as a PR for that.
This race will take place on a trail that Steve and I like to run. It is in the town that our daughter, Kira lives. It is also the same course as a race from last year that I ran and finished as the first female finisher and 2nd over all. So I am familiar with how I perform on this course. It shouldn't be too challenging. It will have more participants than race from last year. Last year's race (the double half) really was more about the fact that it included back to back half marathons. Most registrants ran one or both of the halfs so there really was not as many runners doing the 10k or 5k. It was a good race but it does not look as though that promoter is doing it again. Since I had finished the way I did, I had hoped to use it for a POT to RD (cause all my races ultimately are a way for me to run disney). RD has made new rules in 2014 requiring USATF certification on races. This double half race was sanctioned but not certified. When I contacted the promoter to discuss it he told me that it was just too costly for him to have it certified. I suspect that maybe that has something to do with why it does not appear to be scheduled again for 2014.
3/10 - 2 miles for speed.
3/11 - 4 miles at a good pace
3/13 - 6 miles easy pace.
3/15 - 3.1 miles St. Paddy's Day Run RACE DAY!!! I still need to register for this. Aside from the RunDisney events I also like to try and do all of the RunSnoqualmie events. Last year I had wanted to run a 10k for St. Paddy's day and so we stayed closer to home. Problem is closer to home can be VERY hilly. The race was advertised as flat, but it had a pretty huge hill. Another thing I look for is what comes with registration. Do I get a tech tee a regular tee..nothing? I liked that last year's race offered taco trucks and doughnut booths. The course though was tricky and the shirt was one the promoter was last minute frantically using iron ons to apply the logo to...so despite the goodies in the end I decided to go with a shorter race from a promoter who knows how to put on a great race. (plus his courses are always TRULY flat) First time for this race will mean a PR for it, but again I doubt I will PR the distance. I would have to do better than 27:36. I suppose it is possible if I really push.
So now Alaska has a good direct flight there and back AND the cost is not bad.
Well of course that flight is even less. This led me to think "what if we just flew in and out of Tampa and rented a car for the entire trip rather than just the last week or so?"
