Weekly Running – In between CRAW Regions

Monday, 62 minutes, 7.57 miles, 10 minute ride, 3.03 miles (.99 miles walking)
Thanks to the shortening days of “winter” and the slight chill in the air (hence the quotes around “winter”), I ran a bit faster today. I also banished all of the excuses and got out there on the run. I felt strong and speedy but shortened the ride a little for two reasons. One, my team finished region 3 today and I did not need quite as many miles. Two, I did not want it to get too dark before I headed back. Overall I felt great and I’m so glad I got out there.

Tuesday, streak mile, 1.70 miles, (.56 miles walking)
Originally I planned to squeeze in a regular length run after school but before we celebrated my aunt’s birthday (just a meal with the 6 of us who normally hang out together) but then I decided since we finished CRAW region 3 yesterday and will not start region 4 until Friday that I would take it a little easier on the mileage until then. I also took advantage of the time to contact my treadmill manufacturer to get started on a repair. Turns out that I had a faulty motherboard. Fun. When I finally headed out, I did not have much time so I took off and logged an 8:01 minute mile! That felt really good.

Wednesday, streak mile, 2.33 miles
So…I went out a whole lot faster than I imagined. That felt fun.

Thursday, TreesGreenville Turkey Day Virtual 5k, 3.74 miles
I’m not a huge fan of virtual races (except for the challenges…obviously, I cannot get enough of those) but I had to do this one. I have run this race every single year since I started running. Of course, it feels like this edition will have a pandemic asterisk attached but Mom and I got out and ran easy-ish in the afternoon just before it started going dark.

Friday, 62 minutes, 7.56 miles, 20 minute ride, 6.35 miles (1.00 mile walking)
My team started Region 4 and since several of us, including myself, want to go for gold, we have upped the daily mileage goal. I have put my goal even higher both to get to 400 and also to help compensate for the fact that Mom will not get in as much. I planned to run this at easy-ish effort and it felt difficult at first. I happened to glance down at my Garmin at mile 2 and saw a sub 9 pace. Whoops. That combined with strength training Wednesday made my legs feel a little like jelly. I paused the run to get in some indoor bike miles at the gym before heading back.

Saturday, long run, 13.42 miles (2.51 miles walking)
We headed out to the Swamp Rabbit Trail today. Friday I convinced myself that the Paris Mountain Road Race would take place the next day. That’s next week. (I have decided not to run it thanks to most of the rest of Greenville/South Carolina being rather foolish about masks) We decided to head to the SRT anyway, thinking it would be easier. Well…we did not plan on a portion of it being torn up in advance of repaving with lots of mud that had gotten washed onto it. After a little more than 2 miles out, we headed back and then did the main portion heading towards downtown. If I had not already decided to forgo in-person races, the experience of navigating so many people in the downtown portion of the SRT acting like we are not dealing with a pandemic killing over a thousand Americans every day, I would have decided it then. This kept my mind distracted and my body moving forward.

Sunday, streak mile, 1.81 miles, 45 minute ride, 13.93 miles (.69 miles walking)
My legs felt a little bit tired today, my 200th day in a row of running. Aside from feeling the mileage put in Saturday, I felt pretty good. The ride went well too.