Me & My Shadow

from last week

Tuesday/ 35:55/ 4 miles/ treadmill

Thursday/ 57:55/ 6.2 miles/ treadmill

Saturday/ 2:32 (2 hrs, 32 min)/ 14.5 miles/ outside

Sunday/ 40:12/ 4.1 miles/ outside


One of the things I am able to do while training is really get to know my body and what i think it can do, what it can't, what makes it feel better, what doesn't, etc... I am my own experiment. The roads are my laboratory. There is always something to learn and then, of course, something I can't explain away by logic and reasoning. It becomes my best guess.
The treadmill runs were very good. I was aided by being lucky to catch Roger Federer one day & Serena Williams the other day as they competed at the Austrailian Open. Watching them helped me stay focused. I felt very solid both days on treamdill as I opted for the gym instead of the cold, windy conditions outside.

Friday I took a vacation day and did basically nothing except venture over to the famers market. Had not been grocery shopping in like forever so i got a few things...especially items i knew i'd want after the weekend runs. Other than that, I rested, read, napped, hung out at the coffee shop....read some more. A nice, stress free day. By the time Saturday AM rolled around, I felt good enough to tackle the long run instead of waiting for Sunday. I headed out and was able to run some of the real marathon course. I was solid and strong. I had my IPOD, water and a Powergel. I had a second-wind and then a third wind...it was definitely nice to feel good and not be in horrible pain. I was in a very focused and serene groove. It wasn't until the last 2 miles when i started to think, "Man, I have been running for a LONG time." And then, it was over. Another solid run under my belt.

The Birmingham Half-Marathon is in 14 days. Looking forward to the challenge!