MTD 22: Azalea Trail Run

Length -- 10k (6.2 mi)
Race time -- 1:19:35
Pace -- 12:49

I didn't do nearly as well as I'd hoped on this one, but also not as bad as my worst time (1:21), so I can't be disappointed. At least not now. I refuse to let myself be negative. I clocked a decent pace, considering.

If anything changes at all between now and Dublin, I think it has to be both the place I run and the type of running. I'm hoping to mix a little fartlek-type running in there as well (which is kind of what this race felt like -- short bursts of quick speed every once in a while).

My diet most definitely needs to change -- especially after going through the health expo and learning what I learned from it.

MTD 21: Jog/walk for 20-25 minutes

Time: 25 minutes
Speed: Brisk jog, some walking
Length: 2.25 miles
Pace -- 11:06

Went out to USA again. This time with new shoes.

I've come to the incontrovertible conclusion that the shoes are very important. My last pair (Asics) lasted several years, but these felt like I was running on clouds. AND they were Asics as well.

I'm not a big shoe person...so this was a huge revelation for me.

...the end.

...oh, and I've also come to the conclusion that one day I will turn into a giant foot. My new pair are size 14's.

MTD 20: Rest

Yep, that's about all I did.

MTD 19: Jog/walk 20-25 minutes

Time: 25 minutes
Speed: Brisk jog, some walking
Length: 2.4 miles
Pace -- 10:25

This was a decent time for a short run. I went to Cottage Hill Park this time around. The weather's picked up, it was basically 70 degrees all day, and we've lost our hour again, so the Mellow Mushroom runs will continue!

Starting tomorrow, in fact, right after I substitute for a few history classes!

More to come on that.

MTD 18: Rest

...but I walked 7 miles. I suppose that's not really resting, but I was dying to know my pace. I actually did it in just 2 hours, which is pretty impressive to me!

MTD 17: Jog/walk for 80-90 minutes

Time: 90 minutes
Speed: Brisk jog, some walking
Length: 7 miles
Pace -- 12:51

So I finally went for the big endurance run. I went out to USA as per usual.

Run wasn't too bad, though I must admit I'm more than a little tired now. I'm usually pretty winded even after 5k runs, and 10k's really knock me for a loop; but this is really the farthest distance I've ever run in one session. I severely need to look into getting an iPod too, because this run had me playing the same songs in my head over and over (a bad habit I tend to do when I'm in one place for a long time).

The weather was perfect today. I can't imagine spending days like these in crowded classrooms!

A victorious return!

....or something. It's been a couple of weeks, I know, but a hectic couple of weeks at that -- I'd gotten out of the whole blogging-every-day-as-a-habit kind of thing, something I hope to not repeat much as I head closer to October.

I need to finally do my 90-minute endurance run. I rested today, but yesterday I got back into running regularly by running the 5k "swamp route" at USA -- it was the same route as the Jaguar 5k I did last month -- and I landed a 39-minute time, which wasn't bad. That matches my time I made on the last 5k, except this one had the tricky hills that kept slowing me down! But I'm glad I've gotten back into a groove I'm comfortable with.

I have big plans ahead for this month, so it's best not to become lazy. After all, there are a bunch of races, and I'll be renewing my weekly 5k running habit every Tuesday at Mellow Mushroom. I also have certain other plans in my professional life which might threaten my spare time a little -- I'll be substitute teaching at my old high school in the near future -- but I won't be cutting the running habit off entirely. I'll always find some spare time here or there.