I went to bed super early last night (I think I fell asleep around 7:30 or so), which made it a little easier to wake up this morning and get my butt out of bed. I've been looking over some different training plans to figure out what I want to do with my training for the Chicago Marathon. I was looking over Hal Higdon's training plans and thought I might try a 10 mile marathon pace run this morning on the treadmill at the gym. Or at least that was my plan last night. I got up and found it hard to get motivated for that run, and even when I was walking up to the gym I just wasn't feeling it.
So, I wound up doing a slow 1 mile warmup (around 11:00 mile) and then ran 5 miles at an average 8:56 pace. That's a little slower than what I'd like my marathon pace to be, but 1) I may be readjusting my goal marathon time a bit as I figure out what I'm going to be doing with the rest of my training, and 2) I ran my Yasso 800s yesterday, so my legs weren't completely fresh. I'm hoping for a cool day for the marathon, since I have a much easier time running when it's cool out. (My favorite running temperature is 40°F.) But, I definitely plan to change up my pace if it's hot, which I know is completely likely.
I was glad that I got up early enough to see this morning's sunrise. The sun was this gorgeous, big red-orange ball. Fantastic. I tried to get a good shot of it (the photo above), but the picture doesn't really do it justice.
My plans for this weekend are getting in some cross-training or a short, easy run on Saturday, a 20 miler on Sunday, and lots of working from home on dissertation stuff. I am a party animal. :)
What are your plans for the weekend?
How often do you change your running plans in the
middle of your run?
middle of your run?
I used to always push through and follow my training plan religiously,
but I'm trying to do a better job of listening to what I need to do.
but I'm trying to do a better job of listening to what I need to do.
Beautiful shot! I love waking that early and running...good luck on your 20-miler! And I readjust my runs depending on how my legs feel, breathing feels, and the weather.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Early mornings are definitely the best time to run, in my opinion, especially in the summer.
Delete40 degrees is my perfect running temerature too, and I'm from Florida!
ReplyDeleteOk, how were you able to fall asleep at 7:30? I go to bed around 9 and have been waking up early for years now but still probable never sleep more than 6-7 hours. I would love to fall asleep that early once a week or so, any tips?
I think I was just really, really super tired. I can't do that every day. :) I generally get around 7, too, although I wish I'd get more. I just try to listen to my body when it starts feeling sleepy and do something to try to turn my brain off (for me, generally watching a TV show or movie I've seen a billion times) as I'm trying to go to sleep.
DeleteI am always changing my plan during my run...I think I have runner's ADD. If I see a good hill, I decide it's a hill day, but then in the same run I could see a could flat stretch and decide it's a speed work day...hehe!
ReplyDeleteI hope you're having a great weekend!
Changing things up and doing what run you feel like doing that day sounds like fun! And I'd imagine it nver gets boring. :)
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