Maria's Running Blog

With traveling and in-laws visit combined, I didn't run for 5 days. These are not good excuses, but I'm trying to get back on track now. My weakness is getting off the schedule easily when various distractions come up. Not having training partners doesn't help as I'm the only one who has to discipline myself.

I decided to follow Tinman's training system, following Paul and Cody. I want to try it for a few months and see if I improve. I'll focus on some 10Ks in the summer, maybe also 5Ks.

So today I did a Tinman tempo run, but I messed it up. Garmin was cutting in and out due to extremely cloudy and rainy skies, and I was feeling good after 5 days of rest. Without watching my pace, I ran too fast, 4.3mi in 33:10 (7:42 pace). The goal was 8:03 pace. The wind was ridiculous at times, up to 30 mph, then I got tired towards the end, and my legs may feel it tomorrow. It's been a while since I pushed the pace at all, so my legs kind of forgot how to move faster. Good workout overall, though, and I added 3x100m strides at the end. Total time 1:06:22 (8:37 pace).

Very late run today due to staying late at work. On top of that, it's a really nasty evening out here - rain and chilly, only low 50s. But I can't afford to take any more days off, so I got out almost at 9PM. As usual, the weather didn't feel nearly as bad as it looked out the window.

But Regents Park was about to close (it closes at 9) and I wasn't going to take chances going in and being locked up there for the night, so I ran to the track and did a mile there before heading back home. I was a little sore in the adductors, but better than I expected after yesterday. Total time 34:35 (9:36 pace). It was a short run, but better than skipping a day completely.

I'll try to have a better workout tomorrow, although my daughter's school runs an International Food event in the evening, where we somehow ended up in 2 categories, American and Russian. So we need to bring some "specialties". I'll try to sneak out of there in time for a workout (Lisa is leaving early too, since she has her swimming practice).

I did a variation of long run I've never really done before: 1.3 mi. warmup + 3x5km at moderate pace (supposed to be 8:30) with 3' recovery jog or walk + 1.2 mi. cool down.

The first 5K felt very easy, and I ran it in 25:43 (8:16 pace). I still felt good after, so I jogged 3 min. and started on the second one. Felt okay, but not so easy anymore, and ran it in 25:57 (8:21 pace). I felt the need to walk after this one, and after 3 min. started on the third one. Garmin cut out for a while, so the pace was skewed, but finished in 25:50 (8:19 pace). Last mile I was very tired, but was able to hold the pace. After that, just crawled home at 10:00 pace. Total time 1:43. It was a good workout, although my legs are pretty dead now. It was also very windy again, gusts of 20+ mph winds, and there were random strong showers. By the time I was done I was drenched twice.