It's all relative

AM: 15 miles with Anthony in the rain and cold.

AM: 5.2 miles

PM: 3.1 miles

AM: 9.1 miles, 2.25 of them fast (alternating 600s & 1000s) with the group pacing them.

PM: 7.4 miles, 2.5 of them fast (400s) trying out some old shoes I rarely wear to see if I liked them enough to use them this Saturday.  The pair I used on Saturday are just insanely thin- so although I'd definitely be faster in them, I'm not sure the return from the shoe weight will compensate enough for the increased impact of footfalls throughout the race.  

That being said I'm 90% certain I'll be running in my 11oz trainers for Saturday.  The math comes out to about a 5 seconds/mile loss with that choice, but it's better than an injury!

PM: Felt great, 180 cadence, easy pacing right where it should be.  I am excited for Saturday.

PM: 5 miles

So on Saturday I'll be racing the half marathon again.  My last attempt atthe half was an epic mess, however I am in great shape currently and will definitely try to PR.  I have the option however of shooting a bit for the stars on this one, and I'm not sure if it's a logical step.  I did just run a 15:33 in the 5k despite  the lack of speed work recently and felt like I had more in me for it and felt great during the race.  I'm torn: I have not done much tempo work, however my mileage, speed, weight, and nutrition has been very good.  It seems fair that I should definitely shoot to best my PR if the weather cooperates, however I am not sure by how much.  

Option 1- PR at sub 1:12:30 @5:32/mile pace.

Option 2- Shoot for sub 1:12 @5:30/mile pace.

Option 3- Sub 1:11 @5:25/mile pace.

Option 4- Sub 1:10 @ 5:21/mile pace.

Option 1 seems a waste of an opportunity.  Option 2 seems to also be a waste of an opportunity (although with the lack of preparation with specificity, is likely the most logical one).  Option 3 seems to be the most plausible.  Option 4 seems to be a bit of a dream scenario.  

I really want to shoot for option 4, but  the prospect of blowing up like last time is one that is resonating in my head.  I am definitely in better shape, but that pace would be difficult to recover and still PR from if things went south.

AM: 2.5 miles

Safety Harbor Half Marathon Race Report

Well, I'm going to keep this brief, as I am disappointed in the result.

Weather/Training/Course: Hilly course, but nothing that would deter a PR in my opinion.  Weather was a bit uncooperative (70s, humidity over 80%, high dew point), but I expect that by now.  I decided to shoot for sub 1:11 with a 5:24 pace (so 1:10:47), since  my mileage and speed have been great.  The only thing I've lacked was specificity for the half marathon and LT- man did that bite me in the behind.  Specificity, specificity, specificity.  I feel like if I say it enough times, I'll get the hint that I need to work on it.

The Race: I was all alone almost immediately in the race, which was too bad.  I started relaxed, but was working way too hard by mile three- I just wasn't smooth.  I didn't think that was a good read and assumed that I was just psyching myself out of it, but the wheels started coming off, and I was 13 seconds off by the 10k marker and falling and had only done one of the three main hills.  I was dejected at that point and clicked into cruise control in the right lane so to speak, my pacing rose to 5:58/mile for miles 10-12.  Mile 13 was okay (5:27), but that was only when I realized I was in danger of not even breaking 1:14. 

Fortunately, I rolled into the finish in 1:13:46 under that mark- however I will still have to grade this effort as a big, scarlet "F", having missed all four goals.  I appreciate the win in the race, but that is simply dependent on who shows up.  I do find some semblance of hope in that the second place guy was about 6 minutes behind me in 1:19, so maybe I lacked a bit of motivation later in the race because of that. 

As Drew would say, just  send this one into the wood-chipper and move on.  I can buy into that.