![\"\"](\"http:\/\/media.fukung.net\/images\/30526\/e9513cf94aba7af0a943d0d582e7e15d.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI run my third half marathon in 2.5 weeks.\u00a0 The first time, I had so many butterflies running around in my stomach.\u00a0 The second time, I felt determined, strong, confident, and powerful.\u00a0 This third time, I just feel tired.<\/p>\n
My body is holding up fine, for the most part.\u00a0 My brain is just fried.\u00a0 The only physical issue I’m finding is that my normal socks all of a sudden became inadequate and I can only run in the 12 dollar a pair nike dri fit socks.\u00a0 Which is fine – but I lost my only pair, so I had to do without until I got to the store, and ended up with blisters the size of quarters on my arches after my 11 mile run.\u00a0 No wonder I slowed down at the end!\u00a0 Anyhoo, I’ve rectified the sock thing and splurged on two more pairs, so I should be good.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The brain thing is more disturbing.\u00a0 Going into that second half earlier this year, I may have been sick as a dog physically, to the point where I PROBABLY shouldn’t have ran, but I was mentally tough and that’s what carried me through.\u00a0 I’m having the opposite problem now.\u00a0 My body is fine.\u00a0 I’m barely feeling the miles.\u00a0 I just can’t get my ass in gear to do them at a pace that I want.\u00a0 I’m only aiming for 10 minute miles this time.\u00a0 I want to PR, and I want to run a good strong race, but I also have to recognize that this is my fourth major distance race in 10 months.\u00a0 My last few long runs have been great starting out, but after the 10k mark I get mentally tired and start slipping.\u00a0 First my pace creeps into the 10+ mins regularly, then I start seeing 11’s occasionally, then I have a hard time breaking OUT of the 11’s.\u00a0 The last mile is always the fastest because I have tons of juice left, but I can’t quite make up my pace and end up with a 10:30+ pace.\u00a0 No bueno.<\/p>\n
I have hope though.\u00a0 First of all, I have had some of my best competitions after crappy, crappy practices.\u00a0 So maybe my dear ol’ bod is saving the mojo for the race.\u00a0 Second, I had a GREAT run yesterday, first “great” run since before the tri.\u00a0 I found 1 mile intervals to be the hardest last time, this time they were almost easy.\u00a0 Where I was struggling to keep an 8 min\/mi pace for a quarter mile, I had less trouble keeping an 8:30 for a mile.\u00a0 I may just operate my race like that – push the pace for a mile, take a break.\u00a0 I had one of my best run times\/paces in a while – about a 46 minute 5 miler, even with 1 mile of that being at 12 min\/mi pace.\u00a0 And I felt like I still had juice at the end.\u00a0 I may give that another try tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Regardless, I feel healthy and though work is crazypants and life is crazypants, I’m keeping things going a-ok.\u00a0 Sometimes, that means skipping cross training days if I’m at work ’til 9:30.\u00a0 Sometimes that means a fast 10k at 9pm after getting out of work late.\u00a0 Sometimes that means taking a half day Friday so I can get my long run out of the way that morning so I can Halloween party all weekend.\u00a0 It’s about balance.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/media.fukung.net\/images\/15319\/9d073adcc5a1c8fd0be3245784a09849..jpg\")
<\/p>\n
I am kind of over this whole mental fog thing though.\u00a0 I am totally and completely still sticking with the story that I love my life and everything I’m doing is just a big pile of awesome, but that pile has just become a mountain.\u00a0 I’m just not able to put 100% into anything lately.\u00a0 Hopefully I can pull it together on race day because… it’s the last push.\u00a0 Cross your fingers for me!<\/p>\n
That being said, here is the workout stats from last week:<\/p>\n
Monday: 6 x 800m sprints (6 miles, 60 mins)
\nTuesday: 30 min swim (1 mile), 30 mins weights
\nWednesday: off, worked until 9:30pm
\nThursday: 6 mile tempo (after working til 8:30) – just under 10 min\/mi pace
\nFriday: off
\nSaturday: 11 mile run @ about 10:30 min\/mi pace
\nSunday: off<\/p>\n
This is the last serious bidness pants training week:<\/p>\n
Monday: 4 x 1 mile sprints (8-8:30 pace) – 5.5 miles total, 53 mins
\nTuesday: 30 mins weights (had to work late)
\nWednesday: 7 mile tempo run
\nThursday: bike? swim? some sort of x train
\nFriday: 12 mile run (aiming for 10 min\/mi)
\nSaturday: off
\nSunday: off<\/p>\n
Yes, I am taking off a half day on Friday to do my long run before having a short day at work and get costumed up and party all weekend.\u00a0 I think after all the work I’ve put in, I deserve it.<\/p>\n
However, let’s not talk about food tracking or weight.\u00a0 I actually just can’t bring myself to track my food or get on the scale.\u00a0 I don’t think I’m doing horribly or anything, I just am not ready to face it.\u00a0 My clothes seem to be fitting ok – and I’m eating my normal mostly healthy (with maybe a few not-so-healthy things occasionally), so I think I’ll worry about it when I’m ready.\u00a0 Maybe that will be tomorrow.\u00a0 Maybe after Thanksgiving.\u00a0 Who knows.<\/p>\n