2009-08-05

[66] Falling down

ORN:  Today, ignoring every admonition against doing speed work in the heat of the day, I ran 6x800 intervals on my lunch break.  Totaling 6.2 miles in 57'59", it wasn't a bad effort.  I was off my target pace [7'34"], but since it was 75° with 85% humidity, I am calling today's workout a win.  Hey, lately, if I get out and run at all, I am calling it a win.  I'm in a bad place, training-wise, and it has everything to do with my mental game.  But that's for another paragraph.  You're curious about my splits.  Check it.
  1. 03:47.0
  2. 03:50.0
  3. 03:49.0
  4. 04:06.0
  5. 04:04.0
  6. 04:01.0
You can see where the heat started wearing on me.  After the third effort, I started withering.  From the fourth through the sixth, I would start strong for the first 400 meters or so, but then I'd fade fast.  Perhaps I was starting off too hot.  I dunno.  I didn't have any aches or pains; I just lacked oomph.  Again, the problem was between my ears rather than anything physical.
 
I have to get my head on straight about this running business.  Whereas my training for the Derby Marathon was 100% from start to finish, without a single missed mile or workout, this time I am having a tough time staying focused and motivated.  Maybe it's because the Chicago Marathon wasn't my idea.  The Derby Marathon was such a bust, I had resigned myself not to do one ever again.  But then my buddy said he wanted to run his first marathon with me, and I couldn't say no to that.  Still, although I am committed, and I will run Chicago come hell or high water, I confess my heart isn't in it.  That's hard.  You can't run 18-20 miles in training if your heart isn't in it.  Consequently, I've blown off almost all of my long runs, and I've had to force myself into the mid-week workouts.  I don't know what's going on.  The thrill isn't there, I guess.
 
I'll get back into it.  I have to.  Race day will come whether my head is in it or not.  I have to find my mojo soon, though.  Finding it by Friday would be nice, since I have planned an eight-mile tempo run. 
 
Swimming tomorrow; swimming Saturday. 
 
Thirteen miles on Sunday.
 
Rinse and repeat.
 
*sigh*
 

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