Week Runs (and running at altitude)

Sunday - 5 with my school mentee. Chai after. What a great morning!

Monday - Track workout by myself, at the end of the day. 5x1200. 5:00. 4:48. 4:56. 4:54. 5:53. Hot, hazy. Blech. 10

Tuesday - 7

Wednesday - Rushed to get to Runner's Roost Run. Not fun. I'm probably not going back. The girls were going too fast because they wanted to show off for the guys. I got stuck running too fast/by myself/too fast. I was just running the same old routes that I do anyway, so it wasn't worth the time. Also, no one that I could see having quality conversations. 9

Thursday/Friday - I think I was so bummed about the bad run last night that I just wanted a break. I was coughing up some blechy stuff, feeling a bit stiff and just not up for hot runs on the boring old routes. Yup. I am in the midst of marathon training. And, it was Rosh Hashana so I was trying to get to temple after work.

Saturday - 6 with Judy on a new part of Highline. Okay, didn't feel great running, but fun to see Judy.

TOTAL: 37. Crap week.

Some other thoughts...

1. Ugh. I really believe some people just aren't meant to run at altitude. That's me. Everyone I try to tell this to tells me they think I just haven't adjusted. But, I have been here over a year. And, I've been training hard! I really feel like I'm in decent shape right now, but my first race a few weeks ago was awful. My little race today was awful. I just feel like it's so hard for me to go, and then I hit a point where my muscles shut down (not getting enough oxygen?) and I just do the death march to the end. All this afternoon I haven't felt sore, just achy. My muscles just hurt from the inside. I took water a lot during the race and drank a ton after the race, so it's not dehydration. They feel twitchy and just ache. I am not racing at altitude again, though I'm of course keeping on with my training and weekly track workouts. Sigh, it's just frustrating and embarrassing. My training partner ran 10 (TEN!) minutes faster than I did today. Why? Why? Why? I can only hope the hard work will pay off at sea level in Philly Marathon in November.

2. I am sick of this hot weather. I'm still wearing my coolest outfits to run, come back completely sweaty and icky. Sick of it.

3. Maybe I need to just rethink some things. I want to start doing some longer but slower runs on trails. Change it up, see new scenery and just go for time, not distance. I've been feeling like my long runs with other people are too fast.

Here's to a new week and new-found motivation.