Monday, Dec 30- interval day

6.21 m- 9:28 pace
45degrees, 7:50am start
new shoes

Today was bleh. Fatigued legs. No motivation. Delayed start. Intervals with a lesser pace differential then previous weeks- which was a result of all the aforementioned things, but didn't help. Somedays you feel like you are stuck within limits that are not of your making, but no matter what you do you can't break free of it. So instead of fighting it too hard and wasting energy that way. I did intervals for about 3 miles, then stopped and tried to just maintain a decent pace for the remaining portion.

At around mile 4- 4.5 I rolled my ankle- something I also did over the weekend- and wasn't sure if I had injured myself. I kept going and got home, but glad I stopped when I did. I doubt theres any lasting damage, but there was definitely a bit of a strain in some tendons, so I'll wrap it up today just to take some pressure off. I'm sure it'll be fine though. I've never been so nervous about injuries - I really want to be able to complete this challenge and any injuries or illness might ruin it all. That has made me a bit overly conservative I think, but it's hard to break the anxiety of those thoughts. I suppose at some point- very soon- I will just be too tired to worry about it. This is one of life's "break you down to build you back up" moments, and I have to welcome both parts of that in whatever form it comes or I'll never make it through to the other side.

Saturday, Dec 28- Long run- GP hill loop

12.23 miles, 10:02 pace
48 degree start (62 degree finish), 7:40am (ish)

This was a run I have been dreading. I planned it for myself a few weeks ago, with big dreams and crazy confidence. It was a double loop of one of the most challenging routes I have done in recent history. I have only done it once before, and it kicked my ass, but I walked away determined to do it again. Plus an extra. So, in the training plan, the distance was right this week, and I hit the griffith park hill loop again- but did it twice. Alone.

OK, so the moral of the story is- it sucked, but it was good. It's a LONG loop - approx 5.7 miles- with a 1.5 mile steady incline of a hill in it. The rest of the loop is either downhill, or rolling slight hills. It is not for the weak of spirit. My first go around went well, actually, I was faster then the last time, and I picked up a nice burst of speed in the second half. Then there was a brief potty break- which saw the end of my handkerchief (I bring for runny nose issues) as it hit the floor in the porto- john. Nope. Not touching that again.

The second go around started off odd- I picked an alternate path, and ended up running on sand so loose I might as well have been on beach- not counting on that extra effort- and circling me around a bit farther then I thought. Going up the hill required a walk break as well- my quads were just shot- so I gave them a break. Of course, that tells me I need to be doing more of this route- gotta get those quads up to monster levels. Coming back down, I took in food, but not enough water, and cramped for about 2.5 miles. This might sounds like the run was a total fail- but it wasn't, it just sucked.

That's the thing I've learned doing these challenging runs- sometimes you fail, sometimes it just sucks, sometimes you feel like a rockstar. Today was 2 of the 3- it sucked and I felt like a rockstar. I conquered a route that most people have to gird themselves to do once, and I did it twice. I passed people on their bikes doing the same route (in reverse) for the same distance, and I was RUNNING it.  It might have gotten ugly for a bit there, and I might not be able to walk much in a few hours, but I feel like I conquered it, regardless of all that. When I have to hit 17/18 miles in a couple of weeks, I might just do it again- but go for the three-peat.

Thursday Dec 26- maint run

5.6 miles, 9:46 pace
51 degrees, 8am start

I had high hopes of KILLING miles this week, but after so many hills, and such long runs, my legs were totally shot today. Every step was a struggle that felt like running thru a ball pit. Or what I assume that would feel like. That actually sounds kinda fun. I tried out new gear- a hydration pack (as opposed to the belt I normally use) and that went ok after a couple of stops to adjust it properly. The water tasted funny, but once I flush the bag out, hopefully that will right itself. Fortuntely, i didn't NEED the water- I was just testing out the pack, so it wasn't a big deal.

Starting at later times has been really nice. If only my regular work weeks happened like this. Giving myself more time to wake up before I'm out the door is definitely beneficial- it's just not normally possible. Its also helped since we're dog sitting this week, and the schedule in the mornings has had to adjust as a result. My dogs know the drill- if mom is spending forever in the bathroom and comes out in running shoes- just stay in bed. The new dog hasn't quite grasped it yet and thinks things are HAPPENING. Sorry dude. None for you.

Christmas day- Annual Run

7.12 miles, 9:27 pace
1:00pm start, 81 degrees
Hills, with partner

Every year the Hubs and I take some time out of the day for ourselves and go for a run. Its become something we really enjoy doing. In all the years past (mostly) we're been back east visiting family and the run has been anywhere from brisk to downright painfully cold. This year we're home in LA, and it was freaking HOT. Even in the summer I try not to run once it hits the 80 degree mark- I just end up too hot overall. Remember- whatever the air temp is, your body temp when running elevates about 10- 15 degrees from there. But today, we braved it. I got to do a bit of a route I never do, and I took the Hubs down some streets he doesn't often go down.

We took some time out to take a couple of pictures even- which was fun. The most important thing though was that we took the time to stop and steal water from spigots we found in front of apartment buildings. Never pulled that one before, but we kinda had to- we were both dying of thirst in the heat. This heat is a dry, crispy air, which makes breathing while running a chore- especially when you've become accustomed to the temps being about 30-40 degrees cooler on your runs.

Shorts, tank top, new xmas gift hat, the Hubs, a route that turned out to be over a mile longer then intended, the adventure of stealing water.... all in all, it was a great xmas run. Now I'm going to go drink everything we own and take a shower.

Monday, dec 23- interval/ hill run

7.12 miles, 9:17 pace
7;40am start, 47 degrees- fartleks and small hills

My goal for this week, since I'm not working, is to increase my maintenance run miles so I can get used to doing longer runs during the week. I'm still in the low enough totals to get away with this and stay within my current range of capability. A couple weeks from now, doing this would probably be pushing too hard and risking injury. I'll do it now, then back off a little and build back up- hopefully this will make my tolerance a little higher without screwing up my training program. I hope I don't regret it. The bonus of doing this now- I can nap every damn day this week, and recharge. I'm pretty stoked about that.

This run incorporated both fartlek intervals and some small hills. It was nice to be able to hard charge a manageable hill and feel like I had kicked its ass a little. Of course, ultimately it is only my ass that gets kicked once its all done. Intervals always take some convincing- usually after I'm already running I talk myself into it somehow. I'm not sure how, 'cause I always hate it. Today felt good- I ran strong and well, and did almost a mile more then I had intended on doing (all before any food or hydration for the day) and completed it strong. This gives me high hopes for the upcoming days of having to do this distance AND go to work for 10-11 hrs. (can I just say a pre-emptive EW to that?)

I also had time to reflect on my progress again. Some days, while running, I have moments of appreciating the fact that I have a healthy working body that allows me to do this thing I am doing. I am always filled with such gratitude and pride. There are so many people who would love to be able to run and can not- so I try to revel in every creak, ache, groan, stitch, chafe, stride. It is a great honor to be able to try and strive and achieve anything. Today I took time to know that I have worked very hard to strengthen this body. Not just in the fact that there no longer is a jiggle with every step (although SO glad about that) or that I don't ache for days after each run, but also that I can achieve much more then I ever thought possible. I never would have thought I would become the person I have because of running, but I'm so glad I did.

I found this online, and I can not express how many days almost identical thoughts have gotten me out the door-