Nurse on the Run

For my past two runs, I’ve felt kind of like a Speed Racer…except I wasn’t racing!  I don’t know what has gotten into my legs (pure hate for work?), but I like it.  I didn’t end up running in Laredo (although I did pack my running SHORTS), but that’s okay.  Last Thursday I decided I was going to run eight miles…except I somehow missed a turn and ended up running ten miles…oops!  I looked at the map again when I got home and I still have no clue where the turn is.  Anyway, I’ve decided that I really like running in 40 degree weather (although 50 would be better…shorts!  Or 75…I like my shirtless runs…anyway.) because it’s cool so I don’t overheat but I can still feel like I’m sweating.  Especially when I peel off my Under Armour and feel gross!

The run on Thursday didn’t go as planned, as my goal was to take it easy in preparation for the start of marathon training this week.  Well, nothing ever goes as planned, and soon enough I was running 7:30-7:40 miles…which I suppose I’ve become used to at this point.  They don’t feel easy, but I’m not huffing and puffing or anything.  I was still cruising along when I realized I missed the turn, so I just kept going since I didn’t really have much of a choice!  Mile 9 came in at 7:05, to which I told myself I could totally go sub-7!  Well, that I did…mile 10 clocked in at 6:20.  6:20!!!  I don’t think I’ve run that fast since high school.  (I can actually remember the first time I ran a 6:20 mile…I know exactly where it was at and I was so excited!)  Let’s just say it wasn’t a walk in the park…but it felt great to run fast!  Maybe I should run races shorter than marathons…

Thursday, January 21
10.03 miles in 1:13:49, avg pace of 7:22

I think that’s a new ten mile PR as well…does that count?

Lots of rest (except for DANCING all night!) this weekend…I was exhausted yesterday so I took the day off, and today officially started my marathon training for Boston!  Woohoo!  I’m doing a 12 week program by Pete Pfitzinger…I attempted to use his 18 week program to train for Philly, but I missed the meat of the program due to my little injury.  I wasn’t in the mood to start marathon training right after Philly, so I built up my mileage (somewhat…nothing huge) to do a 12 week program for Boston.  We’ll see how it goes!  Anyway, the first run was just eight miles…nothing fancy.  I headed out with the plan to run easy…but, uh, that didn’t happen.  The first two miles hung aorund 7:30 and then I randomly sped up…I couldn’t really tell since I have ZERO sense of pace, but whatever.  It felt fine.  I got super speedy at the end with the final two miles clocking in at 6:56.  I don’t know what’s gotten into me but I hope it sticks around!

Tuesday, January 26
8.06 miles in 57:58, avg pace of 7:12 

Whoa, Susan, whoa.  12 weeks to go!  THAT’S CRAZY.  Boston, here I come.