Week 5

Week 5 of 5 is in the books!  I began my current training regimen exactly one month ago, January 13th, with a little 2-mile walk/run.  I finished it tonight with a 3-mile all-out run.  The goal of all of this, the Timberwolf 5K in Irvine, is in less than 2 days, and now I simply need to rest and wait.  I almost feel that the 5K is simply the icing on the cake, and these past few weeks have really been the accomplishment.  I never thought I'd be able to keep up a running regimen in the dead of winter like this, without missing a single workout, but somehow I did, and it feels great!  Running only 3 times a week I think was really the key.  It was nice always having a rest day after each run (with the exception of the last two runs).  I never overdid it, never had any grueling injuries (just slight pains).  Of course, the real test will be Saturday at the 5K, to see if I truly prepared myself properly.  I can certainly say, though, that over these past few weeks, each run has felt better and I have noticed a night and day difference in my performance from week 1 to now.  So here is a rundown of my final week's three runs:

Monday, February 10
Distance:  2.98
Time:  32:08
Location:  Yucca Loma to Kasanka to Ottawa to Sitting Bull loop

I made up a new route for tonight's run.  This week, all my runs needed to reach 3 miles, so that meant adding to existing routes.  One loop I used to do took me up to Yucca Loma, out to the river and down Kasanka Trail (parallel to the river), then across Ottawa and up Cuyamaca back home.  But this time I kept going along Ottawa, went down Apple Valley to Sitting Bull, then ran all the way up to Powhatan.  It was a good run, with favorable conditions (in the 50s).  The weather has been simply great these last few runs.  And Saturday, the day of the race, is supposed to be one of the warmest days of the year yet!

Wednesday, February 12
Distance:  2.96
Time:  32:01
Location:  Yucca Loma to Cronese

Wednesday is hill day.  I basically did the same run as last Wednesday, but instead of ending it up on Cronese, I ran all the way back to my house.  So I started by heading out to Rio Vista School, then straight across Yucca Loma, up the hill (which felt great tonight), turned around at Cronese and cruised all the way back to my neighborhood.  It was even warmer tonight!  And for the first time (except for some Saturday morning runs) I ran with shorts only and left my leg warmers at home.  It was in the low 60s!  And it's early February!  The warm air felt amazing to run in -- a welcome change.  One nice thing I've noticed is that the lower calf pain of last week seems to be going away.  I can only hope it stays away on race day.  Tonight's run almost didn't happen.  I was so tired upon coming home from work I crashed on the couch for almost an hour.  When I woke up it was almost 9pm, and I nearly concluded it was too late to run.  But, boy am I glad I resisted that temptation.  After shaking off the sleep, tonight's run felt great, and the little nap maybe even helped.

Thursday, February 13
Distance:  3.01
Time:  33:01
Location:  Apple Valley to power lines (just north of Carl's Jr.)

I've been trying to avoid back-to-back days of running, but I had no choice this week.  I needed Friday to be a rest day, so I had to run tonight.  Just like last night, I didn't get out till late.  This was one of my latest runs ever, actually.  I didn't begin until close to 10pm!  But the night was so warm (low 60s again) that I hardly noticed.  I ran my typical route down Apple Valley, but since I needed 3 full miles, I passed Sitting Bull for the first time and ran farther south than I'd ever run from my house.  I made it almost all the way to the Stater Bros. shopping center.  Everything was awesome on this run.  I felt great, my breathing was strong, and there was a full moon totally lighting up the trail.  I finished strong down my street and threw my arms up in victory when I reached my house, for my training (for now) is over!  After this 5K I'll begin searching for my next race, and coming up with a new training plan.  But I'm sure there'll be a few days of rest in there as well.