Week of Dec 30th - January 5th, 2014

Monday: 
0mi.  Feeling tired from 42mi in the previous 3 days.  A day off was in order.

Tuesday: 
8mi*/53min - Track workout at the Monadnock track with George and Thomas.
5 x 400 + 5 x 200 with full jogging recoveries - R pace
result:  (69, 65, 65, 64, 63, 34, 31, 30, 30, 29)
This was a pretty solid workout.  Thanks to George for snowblowing the track we had two full lanes that were snow and ice free.  It was cold out, 9 degrees, but nice and sunny. My legs felt good and I was able to stay smooth and relaxed for the most part. 

Wednesday: 
12mi/1:23 in Pisgah with George, Ferenc, Thomas, MacKnight, Lena and Ellie.  Nice easy run.  Had fun out there.  I lifted weights in the morning.  A good way to start 2014.

Thursday:
6mi/42min in Pisgah with Griffin.  Nice easy run during the snow storm.  I opted not to wear my snowshoes and I could have used the traction, but it was a good run nonetheless.

Friday:
8mi/57min on the Putney dirt roads with Ferenc.  Yikes.  It was cold out there!  The wind chill was somewhere around -15.  We started off into the wind and it was brutal.  With the wind at our backs, running in the sunshine, the run got much more pleasant.  Legs feeling good.

Saturday:
8mi*/56min - BU Mini Meet
mile - 4:29
800m - 2:06
The mile went well.  I moved up through the field and was able to negative split (2:15/2:14).  I was happy to break 4:30.  I really wasn't sure what I was capable of.  Boj and I joked after the race that a 4:29 is like a minute better than a 4:30. 
The 800 was tough.  I figured I could at least run 2:04 possibly faster.  I settled into the pack and moved up towards the front at the bell lap.  I was starting to feel the lactic acid build up.  I got my self into position for a big kick.  With 100m to go, instead of kicking, I rigged up.  I haven't rigged in an 800m like that since college.  It's a pretty terrible feeling, but it was a good workout and a nice little rust buster.  I'll have to jump into another 800m soon to run a faster time.  I'd like to be on another 4x800 relay team in March so I'll need a fast time in order for a team to pick me up. 
George had a good meet running 4:47/2:12.  It was fun watching him battle in his races.

Sunday:
7miSS/50min on the Saxton's River trails with Ferenc, Lena, and Ellie.  My legs were sore and tired from wearing spikes yesterday at the race and possibly from the 2hrs of shoveling I did on Friday.  I talked Ferenc into turning around and doing a short run.  We were planning on 2hrs or so, but there was no way that I could do that on this day.  I've learned long ago listen to my body.  Beautiful day in the woods with awesome snow conditions.  We saw a barred owl sunning itself in a tree.

Total for the week:  49miles.  I would have liked my mileage to be more like 60, but I'll take it.  The indoor races were ok, considering they were the first races of the season.  I have a lot of work to do in the 800m.  I'll get there.  Usually, I peak for indoors in December or January.  My big races are in March so this is probably a great place to start from.  I'm hungry to run more track races and get faster.  Next week's top priority is to do hill sprints.