Marathon Training: Week 8

I know this is over a week late, but I am just getting around to posting.
I'll post week 9 later today.
Also, I promise this isn't turning into a running blog.
It's just all that's on my brain lately.

Monday: We met at our usual place and set off on a 6 mile progressive run.  1 mile warm-up, followed by a faster pace for each mile that follows.  Our last mile was right at 8 minutes.  It was hard, but not totally awful.  I can tell I'm getting stronger.

Wednesday: I woke up with an awful allergy headache, and just generally felt yucky.  I was in the bathroom getting dressed when I decided I just couldn't do it.  It was partially that I didn't feel great physically, but mentally I was wiped too.  So I texted the girls and went back to bed.

Saturday: The schedule called for 14 miles, but the Creek Classic 10K was that morning.  Carrie and I decided to meet early, run 6, then do the 10K.  This could also be called the time Carrie tried to kill me.  We woke up that morning to temps in the 30s with wind from the north at 30mph.  Just FYI, those are not ideal running conditions.

We drove out to deer creek and set off from the school parking lot.  The first 4 miles weren't too bad, just cold.  Then we turned and headed north... for 2 miles... straight UPHILL.  Seriously.  We turned around at the end and looked back to a complete incline.  It was literally the most awful 20 minutes of my life.  BUT... we did it.  And I know that runs like that are what make us stronger and better.

After our 6 miles, we went into the school and warmed up.  I changed my shirt into one that wasn't sweaty and ate my fuel.  I started feeling much better and was ready for the 10K.  I've only ran one other race that distance and that was several years ago.  I ended up with a 10K PR- 54:43.  I wanted so badly to come in under 54:00, but at mile 4 I had burned through all of my fuel and ended up bent over, praying I didn't pass out.  I still finished with great times, but it just wasn't what I was hoping for.

I messed up my garmin during the first half of the run, but I have the splits for the 10K.


Long Run #8: Creek Classic 10K, 6.2 Miles
Average Pace: 8:47
Total Time: 54:43:26

Mile #1:   9:02
Mile #2:   8:36
Mile #3:   8:26
Mile #4:   8:37
Mile #5:   8:49
Mile #6:   9:07