Running in Circles

I just got done with this week's track workout, and I'll give you the rundown of that, but let me sum up this week first.

Last weekend, I had and intensive class called Worship: Word & Music.  It was a 2-hour class (2 credits), but it took up Thursday night, all day Friday, all day Saturday, all day Sunday, and a half day Monday.  It was INTENSE!  So, with my whole weekend jammed with class, I didn't have a break for a long run on Sunday.  Jenn and I are feeling really confident about the Holy Half in just a little over a week, so we decided to "adjust" our long run this week.  It was supposed to be 11 miles.

On Monday, we decided to change our long run to a quick 6 mile tempo run.  I knew that it was only 6 miles, so I started pretty quick, and at the turn around at 3 miles, I was averaging 7:57's.  I was stoked, and decided that my new goal for that run would be to run it under 8 min/miles.  Well, as soon as I turned around, I realized we were running straight into an awful headwind.  Man, the wind in Michigan sucks!  I kept grinding it out, but ended up with a 8:01min/mile avg.  I was bummed that I didn't quite get my goal, but I think that's still pretty good.  Of course, Jenn rocked her run as usual.  Her ankle was bothering her from a slip on snow and ice a couple months back, but she still beat her goal of 11:27's with a smoking 10:43min/mile average!  She's pretty awesome, and I know her Holy Half is going to be awesome.

Tuesday was a solid ride on the trainer.  I love just chillin' out and closing my eyes while I'm down in the aero position and enjoying the ride.  It's actually quite relaxing.

Last night was a slacker night, and Jenn and I ended up just watching three episodes of White Collar.  That's a great show.




But today, I was scheduled for a track workout.  Hal Higdon told me to do 10x400's at a 5k pace.  Well, my 5k pace is slow, so every track workout I do, I push the tempo pretty good.  I feel like that helps me get a better workout.  Sometimes I like track workouts, but others, I feel like I'm just running in circles.  Today's was pretty good though.  Here are my times for each 400:

#1:  1:37 @ 6:19min/mile
#2:  1:32 @ 5:49min/mile - There were some other    people walking on the track, and the adrenaline got to me.  I didn't want them to think that I was slow, so I picked it up a bit as I went by them.
#3:  1:36 @ 6:10min/mile
#4:  1:41 @ 6:44min/mile -This was a slow one!
#5:  1:39 @ 6:37min/mile
#6:  1:38 @ 6:30min/mile
#7:  1:40 @ 6:32min/mile
#8:  1:38 @ 6:20min/mile
#9:  1:43 @ 6:32min/mile
#10:  1:41 @ 6:26min/mile

I thought about getting on the bike afterwards, but I'm pretty wasted.  It's date night, so as soon as Jenn gets home from work, we're going out!