Time for a Hammer Gel?

Week 2 of Pfitz 18/55 is in the books. Yee Haw!

Today's 13 miler was much better than yesterday's 5 mile recovery run. My average pace was 10:55 which is a full minute faster than my recovery run pace. My average heartrate was 150. I tried to pick it up the last three miles, but it wasn't easy considering it was loaded with steep hills. It's one instance where I can tell more from my heartrate than from my actual pace. My heartrate in the last three was 159/157/156.

I took two Hammer Gels with me and used both of them. I think they really helped to keep me from feeling fatigued. I don't see the point, for myself, of depriving myself of carbs, glycogen, calories, whatever you want to call it, on my long runs if I'm just going to feel miserable.

This American Life provided me with an entertaining episode for the first hour of the run. I ate my first gel during David Sedaris' story about people who defacate in stores. Yes, that's right. While David Sedaris was describing how there are actually people who poop in the center of clothing racks, dressing rooms, and in the center of the toilet roll holder I was squeezing a packet of tropical flavored Hammer Gel into my mouth. I shudder to think of what that might say about me. Plenty of things gross me out, but when it's time for my gel, it's time for my gel!

Repeats

I started my day off with oatmeal. Guess what? It doesn't take any longer to open a pack of instant oatmeal, pour in some milk, and then POP it into the microwave. I added chopped walnuts and diced fresh peaches. It even tasted better than a poptart.

I ran my 9 (9.25 to be exact) on the treadmill today. If you had asked me a year ago if I could run 9 miles on a treadmill, I would have told you flat out that 6 was my limit and I really preferred no more than 3. I guess it's really a testament to how I have learned to steel my brain and focus my mind on the task that I am able to do 9 with no difficulty whatsoever. Ok, if I could just control the urge to pee (twice) I'd really be a champion.

I included 8x800 repeats at 4:17. The last two I sprinted out at 4:00 just for fun. I'm none the worse for wear and it was actually pretty easy. Tomorrow evening I'll do 4-5 recovery.

Everyone's in school now. Finally! The grind starts today: orthodontist, gym, ballet, guitar, guitar (back to back). Thank goodness I have a kid who can drive. I can't stand when I have to be at three places at one time. Now I can share the load with one of the three.

tsk, tsk

Well I managed 1.5 slow and easy on the treadmill before my workout. Lots of stretching before and after.

Woodchops (7.5 lb ball) 15x4
Single leg squats 10,10x4
Unilateral hip lifts (bosu) 15, 15x4
Pushups on inverted bosu 15x4

Aaron yelled at me today when I told him I had a poptart before both my weekend runs. THEY WERE GOOD RUNS!!! Apparently, my nutrition is not up to snuff anymore and he's disappointed. I just don't have time to make oatmeal when I'm trying to get out the door before it's 90 degrees! I promise I'll be better once cooler temps are here to stay. Last night's run was nice though. I could probably switch my Tuesday run to Monday night and my Thursday morning run to Thursday evening. I don't think I have any kid conflicts with those evenings.

I'm changing the schedule a little this week because of the Half I'm doing next week. Instead of 19 on Sunday, I'm going to go ahead and make it 20 -- hey what's one mile between friends? I just feel like completing three 20s is an integral part of the program, mentally, that I don't want to miss one. 19 is so close to 20 anyway. I was kind of feeling that it was taking forever to get to that part of the program. Then, next week I'll probably taper a little bit, and cut back Saturday's run significantly. I don't see much point in doing this race if I'm not going to give it what I've got.