15 Weeks to Go

Tempo run today.  I'm definitely due for a rest day. 

I ran at midday after picking Bailey up from school (early release.)  It was warmer than when I usually run, but there was a bit of westerly breeze that helped knock down the heat.  I ran a version of my 4S Ranch 6 mile loop, adding a sidetrack around the 4 mile mark and cutting out the big hill on the Black Mountain fire road. 

I tried to go easy on the first two miles, but it's very hard for me in the early stages of a run to keep it below an 8:00 pace.  I thought I was crawling, but I hit the 2 mile mark at 15:52.  I picked it up a notch through the next 3 miles, trying to work a 7:45 or so pace.  I actually did 7:26 and 7:21 for the first two tempo miles, and was on that same pace for the final mile before I finally had to throttle back just a hundred meters from marker 5.  It was a little hill that tripped me up and my exertion level was well past "comfortably hard."  I wound up clocking 7:52 on mile 5, which actually is more like what my tempo pace should be.

I walked for about a minute to recover and then finished out the final cool down mile with a time of 9:11.

I think that was a good, if maybe little too stiff, tempo run.  Recalling Wednesday's 5 and half mile jaunt that was supposed to be a light run but which turned into something a little more brisk, that was much easier than today.  Maybe that was a "tempo light" and this was "tempo hard."  I don't know...but I'm ready for a rest.

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I finally registered for Carlsbad.  I've delayed long enough.  Not sure why.  I think I wanted to feel sure I had a solid foundation and there wouldn't be any more calf or ankle issues before I committed.  At this point, it's like any little trip up or stalling in the training plan will put me behind the 8 ball.  I'm already starting to get nervous about the time left and where I am in terms of mileage building.  My left ankle still feels weak, though it hasn't been a problem at the level of work I'm doing now.  But will it rear an ugly side as I move into 14+ run territory?  I just can't know, but I had to make a decision about the marathon because it'll probably sell out within the next few weeks. 

But the die is cast now.  At least Carlsbad lets registrants transfer entries within a certain window.  So if something should come up, there's always that possibility.  I was the beneficiary of that policy just that last year. 

I also just bought another pair of the K-Onas tonight at Road Runner's Clearance Outlet.  That gives me a second pair to start rotating in.  I would have liked to have gotten an alternate color to better tell them apart (and give me some fashion options...grin), but the red and blue will do and it's hard to beat the price.

Sometime before the new year I plan to try out the Sauconey Fastwitch 4.  If I like them, they'll be my racing shoe and the K-Ona's will be my trainers. 

It sure feels like my foot has gotten bigger over the past year or so.  I've moved up 2 shoe sizes over that time.  I still have that first pair of Sauconey Grid Storms which I use for knocking around or when I want to run muddy.  But they feel so small.  Have I pounded and squashed my feet enough so that the bones are more spread?  Is that even possible?