86K Week - Not Bad

Week of Jan 13 ~ 19

86 km / 53.4 mi.

Switched my Thursday and Sunday runs from two times (8k and 12k) to one time (16K with 400m walk in the middle). It's hard enough to run once in the cold and wind, much less twice. And by going out at 6:00/k pace and coming back at close to 5:00, it's almost like two runs.

Monday
12:30 - 6k in 37:13 @6:12/k
3:30 - 12k in 34:57/31:12 @ 5:49/5:12
Mileage was low the last two weeks, so did an extra run. And THEN decided not to do anymore two-a-day.
Weather: 9C/48F, 6C/43F
Weight: 58.5kg

Tuesday
Weights and core.

Wednesday
7:30pm - club track workout.
3k warmup, 1000, 1200, 1000, 1000, 800, 800, 200 x 2
4:10, 5:08, 4:00, 3:50, 2:58, 2:57 (200m walk in between)
1st one knee was very sore from 700m, so stopped at 1000 (shd hv bn 1200).
By 3rd, it was only slightly sore, from 4th it was ok. Felt good on the 200m pickups at the end!
Weather: very cold
Weight: 59kg, but 58.2 before running

Thursday
3:30 - 12k in 1:06:39 @5:33. 36:32/30:06 @6:05/5:01
Coming back I thought I was running about 5:30 pace, but it was 5:00, so that's good.
Weather: 7C/45F, 30%, sunny
Weight: 58.7kg

Friday
3:00 - 16k in 1:27:33 @5:28
46:02/41:31 @5:45/5:10 (400m walk and stretch in between)
Knee a bit sore, but felt ok.
Weather: 8C/46F, 30%, sunny
Weight: 58.6kg

Saturday
3:30 - 12k with 4k warmup, stretching, 8k in 35:29 @4:26.
Felt good, wanted to run faster, but couldn't, somehow. Too cold? Also, knee was sore, which doesn't prevent me from running this pace, but maybe sub-consciously causes me to take it easy.
Weather: 7C/45F, no wind.
Weight: 58kg

Sunday
3:00 - 16k in 1:25:48 @5:22
45:54/39:52 @ 5:44/4:59 (400m in middle).
With the wind coming back. Felt good coming back. Wore an elastic brace on my knee and it seemed to help.
Weather: 6C/43F, a bit windy
Weight: 58.5kg

Next week I'm off to Bangkok on Thursday for 10 days, to visit my daughter. Looking forward to running under a warm (ok, hot) sun. Probably won't post next week, so talk to you in two weeks.

Getting Back Into It

Week of Jan 6 ~ 12
68.2km / 42.4 mi.

This week I felt like I was still recovering from the holidays. Also the cold and wind and slightly sore knee are de-motivating. Finally had a decent run on Sunday.

Monday
3:00 - 12k in 1:06:56 @5:35/k.
About 6:00/k going out and 5:00/k coming back (with the wind).
Weather: 8C/46F, windy
Weight: 58.6kg

Tuesday
Gym workout (always includes about 30 minutes of core work)

Wednesday
7:30pm - Club track workout 1000m x 6, total 9.2km.
4:07/3:58/55/51/52/46 (walk 200m in between)
Chilly rain, slight wind, although not terrible for running.
Was not warmed up for the first one, knee was a bit sore for the first three, but fine the second three. Happy with the last one.
Weather: 7C/45F, rain
Weight: 58.4kg

Thursday
3:30 - 10k easy in 57:32 @5:45/k
Weather: 9C/48F, windy so felt colder.

Friday
11:30 - Gym workout and 5k on the treadmill.
Too damn cold (5C) and windy, also knee was sore.

Saturday
12:30 - 8k easy in 47:35 @5:56/k
3:30 - 12k in 1:07:17 @5:36/k.
Out @ 5:50, in @ 5:22, felt ok last 6k.
Weather: 5,7C, 30%, sunny, no wind.

Sunday
3:00 - 12k with 4k warmup, a bit of stretching, then 8k tempo.
34:57 @4:22/k.
4:24/35/18/19/20/24/25/12.
Felt good after I got warmed up on the first 2k.
Weather: 9C/48F, 40%, no wind.
Weight: 58.4kg

I Like 12Ks

Week of Dec. 30 ~ Jan. 5
65.5 km / 40.7 mi.

It seems like 12k has become my preferred distance. It's not too short, not too long, doesn't overly aggravate my knee, and doing 6 easy out and 6 faster back makes for a good workout.

Monday
4:30 - 11k with 2k warmup, 2k x 4 hard, 1k warmdown.
2ks in 8:52/49/32/02.
Felt a bit sluggish the first two, but felt good the last two.
Weather: 9C/48F
Weight: 58.5kg

Tuesday 31st
Out to dinner with wife's cousins and drinking til 12:00 together in a hotel in Tsukuba.

Wednesday - Track closed for New Year's holiday.
AM - watched corporate New Year Ekiden (won by Konica-Minolta).
Back home at 4:30pm.
5:00 - Easy 6.5k
Big dinner for New Year's.

Thursday
AM - watched Hakone collegiate ekiden
3:00 - 12k in 1:05:15 @5:28/k
35:07/30:08 @5:51/5:01
With wind coming back. Knee sore going out, which is usual, still a bit sore coming back, which is not good.
Weather: 10C/50F, windy
Weight: don't want to know

Friday
AM - watched Hakone collegiate ekiden
2:30 - 12k in 1:08:39 @5:43
36:23/32:16 @6:04/5:23
Weather: 8C/46F

Saturday
3:30 - 12k in 1:07:13 @5:36
37:07/30:06 @6:11/5:01
Back with wind, but planned to come back at a decent pace. Last 2k @4:35.
Knee quite sore going out, but ok coming back.
Weather: 10C/50F, 30%, windy
Weight: 59kg

Sunday
3:00 - 12k in 1:06:52 @5:34
36:06/30:46 @6:01/5:08
Planned easy 12k, but felt ok coming back so ran first 4k @ 5:15, then 2k @4:53.
Should have run twice, but it's hard enough to get out once when it's cold (I hate the cold). Also, there were two NFL playoff games on in the morning (that's American football, Aussies!).
Weather: 7C/45F, 20%, sunny
Weight: 58.3kg