6 Miles on pavement!

Today marked my return to running as the snow is finally starting to melt and show signs of pavement.  The parking lot around my apartment complex is clear and is a half mile loop, so decided I'd take advantage of the warm weather today and go out on a 5 mile run...which turned into 6 because I was having so much fun.  The parking lot is a .5 mile loop and it has a slight incline on the first .2 miles which I never realized before.

I started off at a pretty quick pace for not being out running in 2 weeks, but I think part of that was just the excitement of getting to run again.  I ran with the iPod my sister gave me since mine broke a few weeks back and it helped me get through the run, and I was able to use the timer on it to keep checking my pace.  Overall I was happy with my splits, they were APPROXIMATELY:
Mile 1: 7:15
Mile 2: 7:45
Mile 3: 8:00
Mile 4: 8:00
Mile 5: 8:00
Mile 6: 7:20
Total: 46:20
Average: 7:44

After about mile 2 I was thinking to myself, well I haven't run in 2 weeks...maybe I'll do 3 miles and go home but then I decided I'd punish myself for thinking about giving up and add a mile at the end, and try to do it hard.  For miles 4 and 5 I decided let's just relax and enjoy the run and then go as hard as possible on mile 6...at that's unfortunately all I had left in me!

It's nothing that will qualify me for Boston, but it was a good run and I think I'll be able to get out running more often and bring down my pace quite a bit.

After the run I had a nice strawberry-chocolate protein shake...yumm

April 25th Pacers - Saturday Fun Run

Time: 1:15

Distance: 8.84
Weather: Warm and dry!
Temp: 61

Time: 8:15 AM
Terrain: Pretty flat all around
Route: http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/us/va/arlington/247124067470535475

Comments: I went at what I thought was a pretty comfortable pace but I didn't have anyone running in my pace group. I ran bout 9-9:30, I was supposed to run 10 miles but when I got lost I cut about a mile off of my run accidentally. I felt great all the way until the end, but I definitely was ready to stop at the end because it was a lot warmer then I've been used to lately. I'm looking forward to getting to the double digit miles soon!

Days until MCM: 183 days

April 21st Pacers - Greenberry Run

Time: 44:12
Distance: 5.31
Weather: Wet roads but dry weather
Temp: 51
Time: 5:00 AM
Terrain: Pretty flat, until the end
Route: http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/us/va/arlington/380123906652446749

Comments: I took a nice and easy pace throughout the run. As I got to the hills at the end I started to feel tired but someone trailing behind me came up and helped push me along to the finish which helped me finish pretty strong. It was the first day I could comfortably run in shorts and a t-shirt! woo hoo!

Days until MCM: 187 days

Weekday Run Elevation Charts

I just posted an elevation chart that I managed to get from todays bike ride and figured I would post the elevation chart from my weekday runs...Now you'll know why I hate the end of the runs...especially the Bagel Run









(Greenberry Run 5.31 miles)









(Brooklyn Bagel 5.87 miles)

April 18th - Bridgewater Bike Ride

Time: 45 Minutes
Distance: 11
Weather: Sunny and gorgeous!
Temp: 72
Time: 11:45 AM
Terrain: Pretty flat, until the end
Route: http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/us/nj/bridgewater/938124006823820115



Comments: So I decided yesterday to come to New Jersey since Erin had to come up for a Shower and I figured I could come and borrow her mom's bike and go for a ride. It has been a long time since I've really gone and rode a bike, and the first time that I was doing it to truly get a workout and cross train. After the first mile I had a brand new respect for people that ride bikes as my legs hurt more from just a short amount of time on the bike than when I run 5-6 miles...but I think that has to do with working a different muscle set. I kept on going though saying to myself, if I ran a marathon I can take a stupid bike 11 miles! In all Liz claimed it was a pretty flat route I was taking, but those hills seemed to be insane and I would definitely not say that was the case, but maybe if I rode more often and at a slightly lower intensity maybe I would've done better over the hills! After it was over I was happy to have the workout over with and a nice glass of Orange Juice...but I wish I had a bike to ride more often! OH and if I rode more often I would definitely need a way to get more butt padding...THAT HURTS!

Days until MCM: 190 days

(this isn't the actual bike I used...it was a black Sobe Cannondale)

April 16th Pacers - Bagel Run

Time: 51:20
Distance: 5.9
Weather: Wet roads but dry weather
Temp: 40
Time: 5:30 AM
Terrain: Pretty flat, until the end
Route: http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/us/va/arlington/790123945070498975

Comments: I took it pretty slow and had the end had plenty of energy and really killed the finishing hill. After the run I had some gatorade and a protein shake...tasty! During the day I started to get exhausted but I think that's mostly just because of stress from work, not so much from a long run. I also ran to and from the run...so add about 1.5 on top of my run!

Days until MCM: 192 days

April 14th Pacers - Greenberry Run

Time: 46:28
Distance: 5.31
Weather: Rainy/Misty...and a little wind
Temp: 45
Time: 5:00 AM
Terrain: Pretty flat, until the end
Route: http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/us/va/arlington/380123906652446749

Comments: I went at my own pace for most of the run, and it felt great to really feel like I'm in control of my pace and not how my knee feels or anything else. I had enough left in my body at the end to really go after the hills at the end...made me feel good

Days until MCM: 194 days

April 9th Pacers-Bagel Run

Time: 48 mins
Distance: 5.9
Weather: Dry, great running weather
Temp: 41Time: 5:30 AM
Terrain: Pretty flat, until the end
Route: http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/us/va/arlington/790123945070498975

Comments: I started at a comfortable pace but about half way through I started feeling so good I sped up a bit...big mistake by the time I got up Marine Corps Memorial Hill I was DEAD...overall I felt great though!

Days until MCM: 198 days

April 7th Pacers-Greenberry run

Time: 45 mins
Distance: 5.31
Weather: Dry but VERY windy
Temp: 41
Time: 5:00 AM
Terrain: Pretty flat, until the end
Route: http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/us/va/arlington/380123906652446749
Difficulty: Moderate

Comments: I started off a little fast but then the wind hit me hard so I just slowed up and left my group to run on my own pace. Went through the whole run with no pain in the knees. I also went at the Marine Corps hill hard, and felt great after!

Days until MCM: 200 days