8 miles

easy-peasy. I haven't run long in a while, certainly not since I got sick last week. and before then, with the travel, and wanting to maximize time home with the boys, I think it's been two or three weeks since I did anything longer than 5 miles. But today, i woke up early (ish, amazing how things change after sleeping in for a few months...) at hit the street by 6;30. I figured I could go for about 8 or 9 miles, depending on how hot it got toward the end. I set the garmin for intervals, so I could walk a bit after every mile. I'm figuring that's how I'll train for my marathon this fall, using Gallowalking, so I may as well do it now for the long runs. It helps break up the monotonoy of anything over an hour, too.

So, yeah, it was done, and I had mile splits under 10:00 for all but one mile. And that one had a loooong wait at a light. And my last mile clocked in at 9:22 -- wahoo!! so it was a good run. no problems, and it didn't even get really hard ever, so I was working, but not so much that I'm exhausted.

I'm figuring as we go into the summer and I start working on training plans for a fall marathon, along with at least two tris, that I need to dial the overall running mileage down some, but still maintain a good base for when 'thon training starts up full-force in July and August. So I'm thinking I did 8 today, and I'll work back up to 10-12 milers, and keep that as my Sunday long run distance until July. By then I'll know two things: 1) where I'll be working over the summer and 2) whether I got into the NYC lottery. And meanwhile, I'll run another two or three times during the week, for a total of about 20-25 miles weekly. And of course, keeping up with the cycling and the swimming.

Speaking of the cycling, I did a 9.5 miles on Friday (after I changed my tires to thinner Slickasaurus treads ALL by MYSELF!), in about 50 minutes, and then a shorter 6.5 -mile rider in about 35 minutes yesterday. I think I've gotten used to the higher seat position, and the smaller tread on the tires definitely helped me go faster. I actually saw mph readings of 15.X a few times out there, and that wasn't while I was coasting downhill, promise!! So that helps me think that I can actually do this.

I'm at the downtown hotel in Denver for one more week, with the itty-bitty pool, so I'll keep working on the stroke/breathing while tethered, but then next week i move to the Denver Tech Center area, and they have a heated outdoor pool and a real indoor pool. So I should be able to get more realistic work in that week. And Hub's new job offers him a discounted gym membership as part of the benefits package, so we'll be able to do a joint thing and get me into a pool on a regular basis during my "home" days.

So things are definitely coming together. For now, I have to tackle the laundry beast before an afternoon birthday party TDP DinoBoy is attending. And I fly out tonight (Wahhh!) so I want to get in some reading time with him and Elder Child this afternoon before I go, so I really should make sure they have clean clothes for the week before then.

Hope all are having a great day. I also want to give a shout out to my friend Shelly, who is doing her first organized charity ride today up in the Twin Cities. In the past year, she has gone (is going) through a divorce, quit smoking, and lost 60 pounds, and today she's out there riding 62 miles all on her own, the furthest she's ever gone on her own power. Go Shelly!! I can't wait to hear her ride report tomorrow!!