Checking the Tank

Nice easy run on a beautiful morning! Today was just fun and relaxing as my legs needed that easy run after Saturday. No watch on these days :) Work was long and it is leftover night... gotta clear up all those meals. 

5 easy miles and then 6 30 sec strides follow by 3 solid base miles. Another beautiful day to run in the land of Ohio. Full day of work today and took the kids to Carriage Hill Metropark - it is beautiful and even more so with the leaves changing colors. We walked a few miles around the lakes and trails as it was getting dark. Lots to see with the oldest getting her fill of pictures with the digital slr - she wants to be a photographer.  

Today was the..... attack of the Hawaiian Bread!  So let me paint the picture. It is hours before dawn and I am looking for something to eat real fast before my run. I am still looking for that perfect food by the way. I found out yogurt was good, but upset my stomach so it is better after a run for me. I found that most energy bars did the same. Oatmeal works well enough, but one gets tired of that. Various fruits were good, but left me lacking in the late miles...

So back to today, yes hours before dawn and I am looking in the kitchen. Ah there is some Hawaiian bread (if you have never had this, it is yummy, slightly sweet and good with dinner.... yes dinner... not what I did) sitting out. Why I will just have that and some peanut butter. Sure sounded like a great idea and boy did it taste good this early morning. I eat, read and head out. I planned on running 10 miles with each mile being progressively faster and then doing some intervals and cool down today.  Start off fine, a nice easy 9 minute first mile. Great. Next mile 8:40, 8:30, 8:20, 8:00 and the... grumble, gurgle, rumble.... oh no.... the attack of Hawaiian Bread!!! Then I realized it was a BAD IDEA. Luckily for me I was running the neighborhood and was able to spring to the house for a pretty darn quick pit stop. Of course now my rhythm is all messed up and legs are tight (no, not the good kind of tight). Uck... back to 8:40 and I wanted to be around MGP (7:40) by this point. Oh well, it took a bit to get loose again and then to intervals. 6x800m w/400m recoveries. 6:45, 6:46, 6:38, 6:39, 6:48 (incline and head wind!), 6:34 pace - which I was happy with considering the situation. So I cool down and end my run. Yes I threw in the .01 for good measure to say I ran MORE than 16 miles :) . Okay now I get in and my left quad is killing me. Ugh took a few hours after my shower and at work where I did not have to limp anymore. I was worried for a bit, but I feel alright now, it is just a bit sore. I will be running very easy tomorrow. 

Easy run as I said I would. Thigh felt pretty good when I woke up and ran. It has been decent all day, but yet I know it is not 100% right, but should be fine as it felt so much better today. Long day of work, but night ended well.

I had to run the late afternoon/evening tonight. Blah. Give me my mornings. Any I figured out that I have strained my groin muscle. It is just minor and feels fine when I wake up and run. The problem is, like today, after I ran it is sore. Not unbearable, or sharp pain, but it does force a slight limp. So I am unsure what to do. Marathon is 3 weeks from tomorrow. I want to do my long run tomorrow and fully plan on it... but I do not want to make this worse. I read and read but all I see is it can be treated at home, should only last 1 to 2 weeks and you can exercise with it oh and of course they say rest in the same breath. 

Anyway my miles were pretty easy, progressively got faster and after 6 miles to did 8 strides or 20 secs to test the legs and all went well. Made some spicy stir fry and creamy potatoes! Stir Fry rocked, my 10 year old - Aly- said it was the best ever haha.  

Cool Sat morning run. 36 to start things off, but not to bad. I admit I was a little hesitate at the beginning because of this groin pull. Even though it is slight I do not want to make it worse and yet I do not want to give up my endurance 3 weeks from the race. I decided to take it slow and just run at basic base pace for most of it. I felt pretty decent even though every now and again the muscle let me know it was there. At mile 18 I decided to push it close to MGP and then mile 19 I pushed it to 7:20/mile (20 seconds faster than MGP). I felt very good and just slowed up for that last mile to cooldown. Since I did not push hard for the whole 20 I finished with plenty left in the tank and knew I could push it. That is a good feeling. No running tomorrow as it is my one day off each week (at least most weeks), hope to heal some.