#154 miles for February, another 16 mile long run and the retirement of my old running shoes after 451 miles...it was quite the week.....
Mon Feb 26th Once again the benefit of a rest day on Sunday was a brisk time on Monday on fresh legs 44.42.3 off 7.25 mile pace w/ splits of 7.31-7.46-7.47-7.35-7.39-6.23 out in 23.04 back in 21.38
My previous best time is 43.09.09 ran on Feb 7th I hadn't set out to trouble that when I set off this lunchtime but I was pleased w/ the fast time, w/ the clock ticking down to the Love Run half marathon on March 24th it's good to know there's speed to go w/ the strength and stamina I've been building the last few months
Tue Feb 27th Halfway to the four six milers I need to get me to #154 miles for February
Another respectable time 46.18.13 of 7.43 mile pace, when 8.09 is your slowest split you know you're doing something right!
Having plateaued at #148 mile in December and January I was now two 6 miles away from #154 but I didn't want top tempt fate work has a funny way of throwing a " spanner in the works" IF I miss 1 day it would be #148 miles again.....NOT the end of the world but to be this close to beating that total felt like being on a knife edge.......
Wed Feb 28th YES! Got this one in period and despite a forecast of rain, if it all goes " tits up" tomorrow at least I have #148 miles{ again!!} for the month
After two brisk 6 milers Monday and Tuesday I took it easy today 50.23.7 off 8.24 mile pace according to Accu Weather there was a 60% chance of rain between 2pm-3pm to that end I threw a rain jacket and baseball cap into my running bag on Tuesday evening but didn't really need them as the rain held off however at 60 degrees I did work up a good sweat out and back along the river
On Monday when it was unseasonably warm the trail was full of " fair weather runners" taking advantage of the sun and warm temps.......not so many of them today when it was overcast.......
Thur Feb 29th Nailed It!! 45.58.9 off 7.39 mile pace #154 miles for February
It wasn't lost on me that had this year NOT been a leap year I would have logged #148 miles for the month for the third month in a row, nor is it lost on me that these 6 miles on Feb 29th mean I'll just miss #200 for March provided I hit all my marks next month..... live by the Leap Year, Die by the Leap Year..... said nobody ever to my knowledge!
March will see a shift in the landscape for me, the clocks go forward on the 10th meaning a transition from lunchtime running back to evening running and potentially more miles per week and month it also signals the end of Winter {yea!} and brings the first of three races in March, April and May b4 a long block of 20 mile long runs till my next scheduled race at the end of August by which time the magical number till Dublin will be 9 weeks.......
Sun Mar 3rd So it pissed out of the heavens on Saturday morning to the point where a 16 mile run was pointless in those conditions, no point going out in those conditions are running the risk of getting sick so I waited it out till Sunday since I had that option
Out the door by 7.30am a gloriously sunny morning at 48 degrees ideal running conditions period but for those who favour the time honoured Sunday Long Run{ and as is my won't I counted the runners I saw while I was out there this morning and counted 22} this was ideal
Thankfully someone from the Philadelphia Parks Department either got the memo or read my blog from last week.........the former more so than the latter seems more likely and left the bottom gate unlocked this week so I was able to run my more traditional 16 mile route through Fairmount Park b4 hitting East Falls via West River Dr and Strawberry Mansion Bridge
I had a wry smile to myself when I passed the Japanese Cultural Center on the morning of the Tokyo Marathon and thought of my good running buddy Colin who completed the Abbott World Marathon Series by running Tokyo today, technically I have ran 4 of the 6 Marathons London, Chicago, New York and Boston but prior to the Abbot World Series so I'm not sure if they would count I wouldn't mind a crack at Berlin and Tokyo but let's get through Dublin in October first
Things were ticking along nicely w/ the first 9 miles all sub 9 b4 the always challenging mile 10 up the on ramp to Strawberry Mansion Bridge and up the twisty Strawberry Mansion Dr registered a 9.26 split, however I then threw in three sub 9s through East Falls as I crossed the Girard Avenue bridge w/ three miles to go and looked in control........
Somehow the wheels came off in those final 3 miles I had little to no kneelift or leg turnover and it was an effort to get home via 34th St and Powelton Ave but I did in 2.19.31 off 8.43 mile pace not quite the finish I was hoping for but somedays style points count for feck all and it's about grinding it out
At 451 mile these running shoe are now " out to pasture" having served me well, I forget when I first wore them but w/ increased mileage on the horizon I suspect I'll be going through the next few pairs rapidly
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