Training Summary: 5/25-5/31

Mon - 7.5 miles
Tue - 8.5 miles w/ 8X100m strides (in pouring rain) + weights
Wed - 10.5 miles (progression run)
Thu - 6 miles + weights
Fri - 10.5 miles steady
Sat - 6 miles w/ some on trails
Sun - 15 miles
Total: 64 miles

Great week! I’m really psyched with the way this one went, not only because I got in good volume with some quality to boot, but mainly because of the way it felt. I had very little in the way of aches, pains, soreness, etc., and while I know I have a long way to go, I finally felt some fitness coming around as well. I had people to run with pretty much all week, another big bonus and something I hope continues. Having company makes the runs go so much easier and the quality tends to be better too, so everyone benefits.

As for specifics, the strides on Tuesday will likely become somewhat of a fixture in my weekly routine, and they showed me that I have absolutely zero speed right now. Speed has always been a weakness for me, and for obvious reasons it’s particularly bad at the time being. Just gotta work on it and be patient. I already blogged about Wednesday’s run, which went great, so that takes me to Friday when Andrew and I put in a good 10+ miles on the greenway. Neither of us were particularly up for anything fast, so we just ran at a decent effort and left it at that. Saturday’s run was in Fayetteville, WV, and included a loop on the trails there. I like running over there and a change of scenery is always good. I finished the week out with a great long run on Sunday with Andy and Andrew. We ran the Wildcat Hollar (Hollow) loop, which just so happens to have over 3,100 feet of elevation change. We got as fast as a 6:27 mile, pushed the big hill back into town, and finished on the track, feeling solid the entire way. Good stuff!

Anyway, this week will be more of the same. I actually don't want to increase the volume any more for the time being, so all I have to do is start SLOWLY working on the quality. I'm just going to run within myself, keep a close eye on things, and let it happen. I’ve strung two good weeks together now, and the goal is to turn 2 into 20. If I can do that, I just might get back in shape. Regardless, I’m gonna have fun trying, just like I did this past week!