TITLE: What a Difference...
AUTHOR: Eugene Wallingford
DATE: August 30, 2009  6:28 PM
DESC: 
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BODY:
... two weeks can make.

<I>Then</I>:  I do the second week of 4x800m repeats.
My times are in the target range, but on the high end.
The recoveries are slow and hard.  I feel bad for
several days afterward.

<I>Now</I>:  I do a second week of 5x800m repeats.
My times are fast, even below the target range.  The
recoveries are steady, controlled, and in good time.
I am tired that day but otherwise feel good.

<I>Then</I>: I run a
<A HREF="http://www.cs.uni.edu/~wallingf/blog/archives/monthly/2009-08.html#e2009-08-17T13_48_44.htm">
   16-miler</A>
in rain, wind, and then steamy sun.  The run starts
badly and gets worse.  It is a challenge just to
finish.  My time is slow, and I feel bad for several
days afterward.

<I>Now</I>:  I run a 16-miler under a cool sun, with
a gentle northern breeze.  The run starts on stiff
legs but feels good within a mile or so.  I feel a
spring in my step at 8 miles.  I give my pace a
little bump at 12 miles.  For the last mile, I finish
strong and steady, even a little faster.  Overall, I
run 30 seconds per mile faster than last time.  I am
tired and stiff, but mentally I feeling good.

<I>Then</I>:  39 miles.  I am not sure I will be able
to go much higher in the coming weeks.

<I>Now</I>:  40 miles.  I'm feeling like I might want
to throw in an extra mile in the coming week, though
caution talks back.  The thought of 18 miles next
Sunday sounds like a challenge, not a punishment.

A couple of weeks ago, I must have had a cold or some
other bug that slowed me.  I've recovered.  Right now,
I am wondering how to get more sleep.  This good habit
is coming back more slowly than other training habits.
Mostly, though, I feel hope.
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