I Love It When a Plan Comes Together

After the disjointed start to training week 6, I felt it only right to dwell in the past and take a look back at last week’s efforts. Week 5 was my best training week so far in terms of sticking to the plan, not discovering any new and exotic ways to inflict pain upon myself, and generally feeling like the training is starting to click.

Highlights from the fifth training week:

*  Strong 16-mile run to start the week. My long runs so far haven’t been pretty, but this one went fully as planned, and I felt like there was still gas in the tank when I turned off the engine. HUGE difference getting underway before the heat got going.

*  Did some proactive research on hydration to try and figure out how to stay better fueled for the remainder of training. Still working on the right combination of beverage containers, but the Fuel Belt alone is not enough. Never bring a knife to a gunfight.

*  Joined the Hard CORE club and got through my first two workouts. Bicycle kicks are definitely the hardest thing for me right now. Would much rather just go in the garage and kick my bicycle.

*  First run with my new Nathan handheld. Not as obtrusive as I thought it would be. After a couple more runs with it I’ll put together a review.

*  Established my new unofficial PR for a mile during Thursday’s tempo run – 6:35. I’ll probably try an all-out mile every couple weeks to keep myself entertained and see if I can lower this. Pretty confident I can get this under 6 minutes if I continue to include speed work. I don’t want to get too fast as the sonic booms tend to make the neighbors mad. I’m thoughtful like that.

*  Quietly turned 39. One more year of the thirties before I become a masters runner. I don’t feel a day over 60. Now you kids get off my lawn.