Rest and sprints

Today was a good run. I was supposed to go yesterday, but took the day off because I got in the way of a slapshot on Monday night and took a puck to the calf. I was still a bit tender there (and overall really), so I got in an extra day of rest, and it really did me some good.

My task today was a 6 miler with a 2 mile warm up, followed by 5 x 2 minutes of sprints with one minute rest in between, and ending with a cool down for the remaining miles. For the first time in a while, I didn't feel like I was on the verge of a muscle strain. I felt stronger and that was a first. Like Agricola, I think the benefits of the mileage are starting to kick in to the point that I'm feeling them during the shorter runs. That's satisfying.

Here's to equal parts mileage and rest -- both are important if we're going to get there on Memorial Day Weekend, right A?

Run 19 and Rest

Run 19 was last Friday afternoon, and it was what now is a fairly typical 3 miler for me, from the aprtment, around the central park resevoir and back again, taking around 35 minutes. I dislike Friday afternoon runs. With an after-work run on Friday I can squeeze in my miles all during the work week and skip the weekends, which is convenient when the FreeArtists are upstate and the agenda is focused on other things. But by Fri afternoon I'm pooped out, and would rather lie on the couch and watch the news than run. The impulse to lie on the couch is what I'm fighting, of course, and so I run on Fridays.

I came down with a nasty head cold over the weekend and had to fly on Mon, Tues, and so haven't run since then. I feel good for the rest.

Mrs. FA and I are running the Susan G. Komen for the Cure 5K in September. As I'm running the distance now in ~35 minutes, I'm aiming to run it sub-30.

Resting

I put 30 minutes on the treadmill late Friday afternoon, minding the little FAs while Mrs. FA ran in the Park. The calf still feels tight, so am resting it until Monday night, when I plan to get out after work. Resting...hmm...so far I've swapped the storm windows for screens, cut the grass, ran an errand up to Charlotte, did the grocery shopping and cooked a BBQ dinner. Today we rowed across Lincoln Pond for an island picnic. It's been a great weekend, but it don't feel like resting. HUGE thunderstorms all last night blew out the heat and humidity, so it's a beautiful day in the Champlain Valley. Later, boys.

One hour

I got out for a one hour loop today at lunch and felt great. After running two 5K runs in the past 14 days, I finally felt ready to get back out there. The weather was perfect at about 75 - 80 degrees, with blue sky and a slight breeze. My legs felt fresh and my lungs felt fully recovered after the much needed time off.

Agricola, at the very beginning of my marathon training, you stressed the importance of listening to your body. I'd add that you need to listen to your psyche, too. You have to be ready to run, to want to do it at some level (even as you dread the first steps). Today was just one of those days when it all clicked. I'm savoring it now. Who's next?