Weekend Overload

My legs have that satisfactory twinge of overuse after a weekend full of 28 miles. Friday's two-a-day, Saturday's track and Sunday's long run took its toll. And tonight, I plan on three more miles as recovery. Finally, I'm feeling back on track with my training.

Post Happy Hour Four
Friday evening didn't go quite as I had described. After work, I ended up at local favorite The Winking Lizard for dinner, and I couldn't pass up a Franziskaner on draught. I also couldn't pass up the Bleu Shroom Burger, which made for a melodious four-miler afterward. I felt fast, but was woefully slow.

Making Up for Lost Time
Bless me, Johnnie, for I have sinned. My last track session was 16 days from Saturday. I had to get back out on the Oval of Doom. The schedule called for 11 repeats of 400 meters. Here is the statistical rundown:

• Intervals: 11 x 400 meters
  
• Goal pace: Sub-1:45 per interval (7:02 per mile)
  
• Fastest Lap (6): 1:37.37 (6:30 per mile)
  
• Slowest Lap (7): 1:43.9 (6:54 per mile)
• Average pace: 1:39.6 (6:38 per mile)
  
• Total distance: 7.2 miles

Technically, no failures, but I was secretly shooting for sub-1:40, which netted FAIL x2. I also had the track to myself for a few laps and ran four of those laps clockwise. Shh ... don't tell the Track Police.

Long Coast on E
By the time I got to the 10-mile mark of Sunday's 14-miler, my legs felt empty. I finished with a two-minute positive split on the second half, but averaged 10:07 per mile overall--right in my long run pace zone.

Hotel Hijinks and GI Googlies

Today is the day. I have to run at least six more miles today if I'm going to beat last month's total of 57 miles. Although rain is in the weather forecast, I won't let it keep me from finishing my self-imposed challenge.

And just to spice it up, I plan to run those six miles on the track in the form of 800-meter intervals.

I could have been done with these miles sooner had I not been traveling for business Tuesday and Wednesday, going where the only "local" beer to be had was a Shiner Bock. And not even on draft.

My arrival time on Tuesday was not conducive to running. Instead, I packed my stretchy bands and planned to do some cross training in my hotel room.

First, I did some of them twisty yoga moves I learned to warm up. Then I did three sets each of stretchy curls, push-ups, bicycle crunches, leg lifts, lunges and calf extensions.

The calf extensions were especially amusing because I didn't have a good raised ledge to hang my heels off of, so I climbed up on the hotel chest of draws for Viper-approved AIR calf extensions. Amazingly, my bare toes did not slip from the edge and I did not egregiously injure myself.

I finished up with some more yoga-ish moves to stretch and cool down. All said and done, a pretty good workout.

I returned home Wednesday right around dinner time. I wanted to run, but I needed to enjoy some quality time on the couch and a rare steak with Gorgonzola cheese melted on top. And enjoy I did.

However, you may not know this, but steak before a run does not make for a happy gastrointestinal tract during a run. For the first two miles I was farting up a storm and blaming it on the squirrels. But then I felt if I let go another one that I'd be breaking more than just wind.

The rest of the run was an exercise in bloated pacing. And clenching.

I finished my four miles with a decent pace (8:49 per mile), but my stomach needed the rest of the night to settle. So I had a La Fin du Monde and returned prostrate on the couch.

Home again, home again, twiddly diddly dee. Hiccup.