Training Week 6/3 - 6/9

Mon: 7 mile trail run. After the debacle that was my long run sunday I thought I would try and take a few days off to get right....but then ended up going for a run Monday night anyway. What can I say I can't help myself. And the crazy thing was it was the best run I have had at Hobby Park in months. I was outrunning dark but still I felt good and ran hard and fast and just had a good run. The human body is a crazy thing.

Tues: 18 mile road bike. I finally got back on the road bike this week. It has been forever but it felt good to get on the bike and just crank for awhile. Whenever I get on the bike I realize how much I like it...just wish it didn't come with all the risks of cars and crashes and all that. But still there is no better way to work your muscles without the pounding I take on the trails.

Wed: 7 miles track workout. Did "lane 6 tempo runs" basically it is 6 miles of running in lane 6 with a 15 foot or so of running slow between each lap. Warmed up for 800 (half a mile) then ran the 6 miles. Ran each lap at 1:36 the whole time which is around 6:24 miles which is okay for holding that for 6 miles. Cooled down for 800. Good run...felt strong. Maybe biking and not running before my track workout is the key.

Wed night: Everyone was sleeping and I was restless so I decide to go to the gymn. Did a plyometrics/kettle ball full body functional workout.

Thurs: 8 miles road/trails mixed route. Did my usual run from the Y. Felt okay though the legs were a bit tired. 58 min.

Fri: Full body functional lift. Once again good to train without running. Lots of squats and dead lifts so hope the legs are good for my long run tomorrow.

Sat: 22 Mile Trail run. (3:06) Well after the terrible run I had last week at Salem Lake I felt like I needed to go back and try and redeem myself. I was supposed to start my run at 7 am but it was absolutely monsooning at 7 am. And it was Andrea's fault. No literally it was tropical storm Andrea pounding us. I sat in my car for awhile looking out at the rain and finally couldn't wait anymore so got out and hit the trail. It's always hard to get out in the rain/mud when you are looking at it from the car or house....but once I was running I actually enjoyed the rain and mud. At times the trail was just a river of water and mud but once I was wet I just got right in there. And I had a great run. There is nothing like just running through the water and mud and loving it. Just last week I felt so bad I thought i would never run again and this week I cranked out 22 and felt great which is a good sign. My first 11 were solid and then I met Matty for my second 11 mile loop. He was running strong like usual and we had a great run together. I think one of the things I will miss the most once I move to Roanoke is these Sat morning runs with my brother. Just the two of us cranking it out on the trail...deep in the woods and getting to talk about the things going on in our lives. Considering I had to jump up in miles so much to try and do my 6-26 project this run was a good sign. Hopefully I can keep it going.

Sun: 16 mile bike ride. What a day. It's weird now that I am not actively working to have Sunday's "open" and be able to hang out with my family. Usually on a Sunday I am gone all day...stressed and working...but here is my Sunday today. We went to Tanglewood Park which has a nice 2 mile paved path in the woods. Ike and Maya rode their bikes....I pushed Ezra James in the running stroller and Andrea and I ran. It was really nice. The rest of my day was this: Got home...went for a 16 mile bike ride....mowed my grass...climbed trees in the backyard with my kids....played a great soccer game with Ike and Maya....and then drank a few beers and grilled out. Now that's a good day! It felt like the day lasted forever....it was so nice.

So all in all a good week of training. I worked hard and the body responded pretty well. It was good to have a strong long run because my 6-26 project starts soon. And FYI my 6-26 project is that I am going to run a marathon (or longer) run for 6 straight months starting in July. Races aren't motivating me much anymore so I am hoping this 6-26 project will get me going. But I am upping things pretty quickly so I hope the body stays strong.

Totals:  Running 46 miles. Biking 34 miles