Day Seventeen

Miles: 5
Time: 41:17
Pace: 8:15
Splits: 8:00, 8:26, 8:21, 8:20, 8:08

Not going to complain about the splits. They were fairly consistent, and the second split was so slow because I had to run uphill, against the wind, for about .1 of a mile. At least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. :P

On a really really happy note: It is December 1, and it was 55 degrees outside. It was warm with sunshine and I was perfectly comfortable running in an Underarmor t-shirt and shorts. It was gorgeous. If this was a real fall-->winter time, there would be snow on the ground and it would be in the high 20s and low 30s by now. This is unusually warm, but I'm not complaining. :D

I felt like a total wimp today, though. I stopped probably 4-5 times in the first 2.5 miles because my right calf kept getting really tight. So I'd stop, stretch it out, shake it out, and keep going, only to have to get uncomfortable and tight and blegh all over again. It eventually stopped, though, which was a relief. My knee started getting sore around 3 miles. Not the same swollen feeling as Sunday (though would have been had I ran longer), but a pain/soreness across the top and along the bottom of my knee cap. I have no idea what it is, but I iced it and it feels okay now.

Another goal now: GET THE KNEE TO STOP HURTING. That would make my life. :P

Day Three

Miles: 4 3
Time: 23:49
Pace: 7:56
Splits: 7:53, 8:01, 7:53

I have a disease! It is called mobile leg pain. Saturday, it was my knee. Sunday, it was my knee/quad/hip. Today, it was my right calf/knee. Whaaaat is going on!? I cut my run short by a mile, but I don't feel like there's anything else I can do because my legs are just going to be sore somewhere else tomorrow. I think it's probably just because my legs are still recovering from the stresses I put them through during the last month of cross country, but it's really frustrating. I don't feel like I can actually do anything for them because they never hurt in the same place twice.

I was pretty happy with my pace though. I know it stayed so fast because I had to stop a few times because I was worried about my calf cramping, but it felt good to see a sub-8:00 pace on my watch the whole time.

Five miles tomorrow. I'm anxious to see how that goes/where my legs hurt next time.

Day 1

Miles: 3

Time: 25:01

Pace: 8:20

Splits: 7:58, 8:28, 8:33

First day back in a week, so my legs were a little out of it. The first mile I was super ready to go. My legs were excited to be hitting the road again, but by the second mile my legs were acting up and saying, "Wait! What are we doing? We don't remember this!" The side of my right calf felt really weird, a little like it did a week ago when I decided I need to take a week off to heal. So I iced it, as well as my left knee, because that knee is just weird and tempermental.

All in all, it was a good run. It is GORGEOUS outside. It is the 7th of November and it is over 60 degrees already. This is Eastern Iowa I'm talking about! This is crazy weather! Two weeks ago, I was bundled up awaiting snow! This was a nice change; I even had to run without a shirt on because I got hot. This is going to be an awesome weekend for running/being outside. Last one for months, I'm sure!

I'm really looking forward to my 7 miler with my dad tomorrow. Hopefully my legs behave themselves because today was way harder than it was meant to be.

Goal for before the marathon: Learn to go out at an EASY PACE and run MORE UNIFORM MILE TIMES.