Oxygen Deprived

I'm still not completely sure how time can slip away so fast. Not getting a chance to blog definitely affects my running motivation, though probably not quite as much as not getting to read other blogs I enjoy.

All in all things have still been going pretty well. I've been able to continue running a decent amount while focusing on everything else I have going on. Of course, when I say a decent amount it's still not as much as I would like but I suppose that's how "finding a balance" fits in.

With not always being able to get in all my runs or mileage in I’ve found myself sometimes feeling a bit hurried, running stronger and faster than normal. Yet, I always tried to focus on having a purpose for every run. One side affect and result of what I'd like to think is an overall fitness gain is that my easy pace has increased from around 10:11/mi to around 9:40/mi.

I've also been continuing to concentrate on my stride rate and find that after I have a faster run my pace stays fast for several days and that I actually have to focus on slowing it down. I'm not sure how I ever ran before without concentrating on a fast and steady stride rate, it's made such a difference in both my running and my overall fitness.

So, all though I wasn't able to follow an exact training plan I feel I adjusted, for the most part, pretty well to my time constraints. In the near future I'll have even more constraints to deal with but hope to transition to a stage of my running where I can still grow and learn while balancing life's other demands. It would be interesting to know how I could possibly have performed in next week's 1/2 marathon if I had never had any challenges in my training. Though I would rather be wondering that right now than how I’m going to complete a full marathon next week - there’ll be time for that in the future.

But honestly I'm just happy to be able to get up on a Saturday morning and head out for a 10+ mile run which a year and 40+ lbs. ago I wouldn't have (happily) dreamed about. I set out this morning with a good easy pace which then dropped to low 9s and even some mid and low 8s. Upon finishing my first 6 mile loop and starting on my second 4+ mile loop it started to rain (the hard straight down kind) so I changed plans and headed home, which for once was actually pretty close by. Once I got home it really started to lightening and thunder so I feel like I made a good choice. I was a little disappointed though since I wanted to go longer and my pace was feeling great. In my mind I was sort of trying to plan on what kind of paces I'd be doing during next week's race. A good run though!

My game plan for this last week is to just try and run as often as I can. Mostly easy, maybe once a little longer and a tad bit faster here and there, but overall just often. Even if most of the runs are shorter followed by a couple days of rest next weekend I think I'll feel ready to run come next Monday.