36:57 minutes - 2.34 miles - 15:49 min/mile
Okay, that's better. Late getting my second midweek run done — not technically midweek any more! Geez, it's been hard to get out there and run in this weather. It's been so cold and so much rain! And I was sick as a dog on Wednesday with migraine/nausea that left me still weak and queasy on Thursday. I tried to go out and run in the afternoon when I was feeling a little stronger, but the driveway was so muddy I couldn't keep my footing, so I got in the truck to drive to the park and was halfway down the road when I noticed I was nearly out of gas, and of course had no money with me since I was in my running clothes. So I turned around and came home and said forget it. My plan then was to run Friday afternoon, either at the park or get a day pass at the gym and run on the treadmill. I packed my running clothes with me when I went out to do my usual Friday stuff, but I had so much other stuff to do that by the time I was finished and could have gone running, it was cold and I was tired and thought I'd try to do it at home but the road was still muddy and I blew it off for another day.
So I was lying in bed at 3 AM, thinking about what a trainwreck training for this half marathon has been, and should I even bother to try to run it, maybe I should just enjoy my trip to Disneyland and forget the race. But I really didn't want to do that! I want to at least try to run it. But there's only a week now and can I possibly get my speed back up to par in the limited time I have left? The thing is, I know I can do the distance—I've done my 14-mile run without any problems, I was just slow. And it occurred to me that what I need is aerobic work—doesn't necessarily have to be running, just has to get my heart rate up. I can do that at home, indoors, if I have to. Calisthenics or running in place or Zumba or whatever. Also, I remembered one of Jeff Galloway's pieces of advice for older runners, which is that it's better to do two exercise sessions in one day with a day off in between than to exercise every day, because your body needs the time off to recover. So I thought, for this last week, why not do 30 minutes of aerobics twice a day for my midweek run days? Run in the morning, if possible—if the weather's not too horrible and I can force myself to go out, or go to the gym, or something. If not, at least do some sort of exercise for 30 minutes at home.
Starting today. So, today's run counts as my second midweek run for this week. I'll fire up my WiiFit this evening for a second exercise session. Then do my 5-mile run tomorrow afternoon — wouldn't usually run two days in a row, but it's a short run and I'll have time to recover before the next run. It's supposed to be clear and sunny tomorrow, so I can run at the park. And then on Tuesday and Thursday do a morning run and an evening aerobics workout. And then I'll have Friday and Saturday to rest up (well, I'll be driving to Anaheim on Friday and walking all over Disneyland on Saturday, not exactly resting but I won't be running) for the race on Sunday. It's not ideal but it's the best I can do in the time I have left before the race.
Anyway, today's run! Fortunately, there was a bit of a break in the storm at around 9 AM, so I went outside to run. It was a bit drizzly, but not pouring down ran as it was earlier, and is now again. The driveway was still too muddy to run on, so I just ran around the house. There's road base around most of the pad—I had two loads put down, and they ran out before they got all the way around, so the back section isn't done, but most of the pad is firm and level enough to run on without problems, and I was able to find reasonably steady ground to run on as long as I was careful and watched where I was putting my feet. And I tried to push myself as much as I reasonably could. I did pretty well! Splits were 15:15, 15:41, and 15:34—all under 16 min/mile, and even increased my speed a little over the last third of a mile. I didn't time my intervals, but tried to run two loops, then walk one, as well as I remembered to do it. I'm encouraged that I was able to keep up that pace for two miles—now just need to do it for 13.1!
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