thirty-eighth

4miles. 31:30.
8x8sec steep hill sprints.

The sprints were not nearly as draining as they have been the last couple weeks. Perhaps that means I am getting in better shape. I am hoping so. I didn't want to be doing sprints, since tomorrow I am hoping to go for a 9 or 10 mile run. I need to stick with the goal workout order:
Sunday: Long run
Monday: short easy run and steep hill sprints
Tuesday: Moderate run
Wednesday: Moderate run w/hills
Thursday: Easy run
Friday: Tempo run
Sat. Off

Obviously I am no where near that.

I think that's the order. I was (again) trying to stick with Brad Hudson's Run Faster workout order. The idea is to have the right recovery time before key workouts. You have to have enough rest before a long run and tempo run, etc in order to get the most out of those workouts and in order to run hardest on those tough days.
Makes sense to me, but right now, I am glad to get the running in whenever I can.
Once June comes and the official 20 week training block begins, I will try and keep a little more structure to the week.



I have been taking multivitamins. I don't know if they help me stay healthy and avoid colds and all that. Hmmm. Not much else to say there. We'll see how much they help.

sixth

3 miles in 24min

I did 2 30sec strides at the end of the run. Just about ever running book I have read incorporates strides into easy run workouts. Usually after the run, but I just did mine over the last 2min of the run. I will try and fit in strides after my easy runs. It seems strange to me that I would know that strides are important and are emphasized in so many training guides, yet I would not take the extra 5 or 10 min after each run to fit them in. It's similar to stretching, I suppose. Knowing that one should, but often skipping it. Speaking of, I am writing in this blog instead of stretching. 

This run marks the beginning of my 4th official week of marathon training.

second

20 minutes. 2.5 miles.
normal route, outside the apartment, around the lake/ponds. 60% asphalt, 25% concrete, 15% dirt. Or so.


One of major pieces of my running plan (as it takes shape over the next weeks/months) is to keep my running spread over 5 days/week minimum. I think it will help reduce the risk of injury because as the milage increases, I am only adding a mile or half a mile to each workout, instead of 2 or 3 miles per workout. It takes some discipline because I get nervous going for only 2.5 miles today, wondering if I will get much running in this week. As long as I stay consistent, I have nothing to worry about and a few 3 or 4 mile runs will add up quickly.
Hopefully, after this week and next, I can look into adding another workout in the week, or upping the mileage to the low 20's. Everything is still up in the air. I am not getting impatient yet, so that is a good thing.