Walkin' on Sunshine

I had the long run, and maybe a week of running, that I had known I needed but didn't focus on trying to get. First off my speed work went really well and I hit my marks which is always good. There are shorter than my marathon training ones were (for obvious reasons) and so feel manageable. The time commitment to them is also something that is manageable with life. It's one of the reasons, but not the only reason, why I didn't feel ready for a marathon this fall. You have to have a type of focus to get through the workouts that I've had for a while (and really always tend to have) but I wasn't sure if I could find it in me to push as much as I needed to. SO, taking a step back while working hard is good for me. Not a break, but still... a break. And the second thing I needed was my long run today. I had been going to a trail that was modestly uphill, but still up hill, for the first 2.75 miles and then hits some BIG hills. I went there three times because I wanted to try and crush hills especially due to my last few races that I was disappointed in. So, while I brought all of those runs on myself, between the hills and the summer heat, I was not enjoying those runs. Today I went back to the tried-and-true Rutland rail trail and it was grand. Granted there were WAY TO MANY bugs but some random person gave me bug spray which definitely helped. But the run was just good. I kept a solid pace, I didn't have any issues and I felt like I could keep going. It was just a nice solid performance and, especially based on the last run I did there (UGHUGHUGH) it was just a nice thing to have today. As always days and weeks like this bring me back to why I run and I look forward to the next week. It also makes me think what I can conquer next. But sometimes you just need to hold steady. I also have to remember that next week could turn out difficult. Running can sure be fickle.

Ain't No Moutain High Enough

I've been in a little of a running rut. Not so much in terms of getting out there, but it terms of results. And, well, a little mental as summer is coming and it is warming up faster than I like and faster than my body will tolerate so I'm entering that stage of feeling burned out (literally?) with this season. But in terms of results, I've done three little races recently and in all three there were hills that conquered me and I walked at. I should say one was a race up Wachusetts so that one is to be expected, but the other two were road races and I just couldn't keep it together or push myself to run those hills. The results weren't terrible, but I didn't place in my age group and I didn't have a PR which I went into these hoping for at least one if not both of those things to happen. What I'm trying to take away from it is two things. 1) If you want the have the result you need to do the work. I've done some work but it's not enough for the result that I'm hoping for. I need to focus on those hills and focus on some speed. 2) Don't make excuses or feel sorry for yourself. Even if the performance was subpar in my mind, I was there and I can use it as a learning and growing experience. I had a year of good PRs and it's like I expected that to continue. So I'm aiming to use my workout betters. Don't half-ass OT - work on getting the speeds up even if they aren't what I can do on an open road I can still use that time to better myself. Start doing some outside speed-work as the weather and body allow. Find hills. Get back on those suckers even though they suck. And focus on nutrition and caring for my body. I can't do good work if I don't have a good base.