Yep, only four and a half weeks to go. I really don’t want this fall season to end. After life pretty much sucking the first eight months of the year, I’ve really hit my stride and I’m in a great place. Everything just seems to be falling right into place.

All my tune up races are pointing to a PR at Houston. I’m actually not really that worried about a PR, just want that BQ. My legs and head are in the right place. It’s hard to explain, but there’s just a confidence that I have right now. It totally showed in last night’s speed work session.

The weather has been pretty awesome this fall too. Last year we were getting pounded with snow and cold, this year it’s actually raining and I’ve been running a lot in shorts. Can’t complain about that…

Houston Marathon Training – November 27th – December 3rd

Sunday

17.2 miles - 2:12:00 (7:42/mile)
Another windy run after a long day of travel the day before. Ran with Kori, Mike, Rob, and Jake so the pace was a little quicker that it probably should have. Legs felt fine, but the hamstrings are just a bit tight, pretty much the story of the fall, but I was running fine. Had to keep slowing myself down. Wish I would have wore the HRM to see how much effort I was really putting into the run.

Monday

8 miles – 1:05:09 (8:09/mile)
Little jog around the lakes tonight. Feeling the weekend workouts a bit or maybe too much food.

Tuesday

4 miles – 34:06 (8:32/mile)
Quick four to Harriet and back…Still not a fan of morning running, especially since this was the first day in full tights this year…grrr…Tough workout tonight at the dome…

11.51 miles – 1:25:04 (7:23/mile)
Eight mile progression run. Started at 7:30 and finished at 6:10. Took around :10 off each mile. Felt pretty decent until the last mile and then was working pretty good. Was really thankful that Jake and I were working together. Feet were burning pretty bad the last half with the combination of new shoes and the dome.

Wednesday

12.1 miles – 1:37:31 (8:05/mile)
Decent night for a run along the river. Legs were in pretty rough shape the first few miles. About six miles in they came around. Was going to stop at ten, but did the last two.

Thursday

10 miles – 1:17:30 (7:45/mile)
Easy dome run

Friday

3 miles – 29:00 (9:40/mile)
Chilly morning run with the girls.

5 miles – 24:00 (8:24/mile)

Saturday

10.1 miles – 1:14:12 (7:20/mile)
2 mile tempo, 2 mile MP, 2 mile tempo…pretty tough workout today. Thought I was in for a rough day after the first mile of tempo. Legs felt pretty good after that mile and was able to maintain pretty well. Hit the first tempo at 6:30 MP was at 7:05, then 6:25-:30ish for the last two miles.

Weekly Totals

• 80.9 miles
• Total time: 10:38:16
• 7:54/mile

Houston Marathon Training – December 4th – December 10th

Sunday

20 miles - 2:40:48 (8:03/mile)
Awesome run today. Did the first 14 with Rob, then the last bit with Jake. Trails were a bit slick, but the legs were there today.

Monday

8 miles – 1:08:33 (8:31/mile)
Little jog around the lakes tonight.

Tuesday

4 miles – 34:38 (8:40/mile)
Cold…

13 miles – 1:28:36 (6:48/mile)
Two mile tempo, into 8x600m, back into two mile at tempo. Got the goal lap pace screwed up so we ended up running pretty fast. First tempo was good, interval pace sucked (still hate running that fast), then the last tempo was pretty easy. Was really happy when I realized I had run too fast. Ha. Was doing the tempo at 6:25 and the interval at 5:30.

Wednesday

12 miles – 1:39:42 (8:19/mile)
Uneventful run tonight.

Thursday

10 miles – 1:17:29 (7:45/mile)
Easy dome run. Almost the exact same time as last week.

Friday

3 miles – 28:03 (9:22/mile)
Nobody showed up today…booo…

5.65 miles – 50:04 (8:52/mile)
Kept it nice and easy.

Saturday

4.25 miles
Warm up/Cool down

5km – 18:55 (6:07/mile)
Felt great today. Pretty chilly morning. Started out pretty good. Ended up being in the front with a CC guy and Regina. CC guy decided he had enough of us and dropped us pretty easily at mile 1. Held on to Regina until mile 2.25 where she got about :10 on me. Started pulling her back and just ran out of room. She beat me by :05. Easily a winter 5k PR. Decent race since I went in just expecting to beat 20:00. Full race report.

Weekly Totals

• 82.3 miles
• Total time: 10:58:58
• 7:54/mile