Midweek update and 1 mile challenge

The next few weeks are just easy as-I-feel-like-it running with a few extra efforts in preparation for the Cabot Trail relay race on the weekend of May 27-28. They are also build up weeks in preparation for beginning the next marathon training cycle with the goal being Wineglass on Oct 1 with Andrew and Marc (hopefully).

This kind of in-between race training is some of the most enjoyable running there is, with no pressure of a schedule with time and distance goals for each run. However, it's still fun to make each run some sort of a challenge besides just running an easy 5-6 miles around town. And now that I've got the new Garmin toy, well it's that much easier to play ;-)

Monday was a day off (are you listening ANDREW?) after the 10k effort on Sunday. I was feeling good with only a bit of tighness in the legs and lower calves and was even thinking about how nice it would be to go for a little run, but resisted the temptation on a perfect sunny spring day.

On Tuesday the setup for the Virtual Partner was to go slow (9:00 pace) because I wanted to go real easy and not race the watch. However, it was a light rain and had to pick up the pace just to stay warm being underdressed in just shorts and t-shirt. Ended up doing 6 miles at 7:52 pace, feeling strong but holding back the entire run and whopped VP rather unfairly.

Today, Wedsday called for a tempo or hilly run on the pseudo schedule and setup VP for 1 hr at 8:30 pace or 7.1 miles. The run went entirely different as I felt decent for most of the way. After a quick stop at home for water and sunscreen it was out on the highway for this out and back run with some tempo. In the middle I did one faster mile in 6:40 which I'm going to submit to Karen's 100x1 mile challenge to all running bloggers. Here's the gory details and proof of that mile Karen! Check out her challenge and submit your mile for running glory and virtual prizes to be named!
The faster mile sorta did me in while on the out part of the out-and-back run. Thought at 1st that I'd do another fast mile in the opposite direction on the return but my body started sending signals to do otherwise. Rest of the run was still at a good pace and left old VP in the dust on this run once again. Beat him by about 1/2 mile and overall run was 8.2 miles in 62:20 at 7:36 pace overall. The funny thing is this would be my goal marathon pace and it didn't even feel like a hard run today except for that one mile in the middle. Running is weird some days...