Four What?

What! I knew it was coming. My minimum weekday run has been 5 miles for the past few weeks..tempo, speed, easy. The training plan has 6, 7, and 8 mile runs during the week in the upcoming weeks. Looking ahead, the timing works great cause my longer weekday runs may fall when I have day off from school. The 6 milers will be at least once a week from here on out, so you know what that means....4. Four am, 4 am. Once you have kids, no time of the day is sacred, right? Well, Savannah is almost 4 years old and middle-of-the-night callings are infrequent, so 4 something is early for me. I knew it would come (predicted in the summer). Ok, it was only 10 minutes earlier than my normal 5 am wake up, but my alarm clock started with a 4. When I set it last night, I laughed. It really wasn't bad. I actually woke up at 3 something excited about my 4:50 alarm. I just needed an extra 10 minutes to run an extra mile.

Long Run Report: This is the exciting time! Last weeks long run was 13 miles (supposed to be 14, but I picked up the pace to make it home on time, so that counts). It was great. I took one gel (orange hammer...goopy, not too sugary and no acid indigestion) and a l'arabar sample with me. I only took the gel and felt great. The 13 felt like maybe 7, so I am excited that my body has reached a new minimum of "feeling it." I felt great, almost forgot to do my normal routine cause I did not feel fatigued. Fatigue is good because it pushes you to take care of yourself. Memory kicked in though and I prepared a Hammer recovery drink. After I showered, I realized I did not have a suitable breakfast item, so I made french fries (Trader Joes ones are delicious) and put cheese and bacon bits on them with sour cream. PERFECT recovery food. I usually have a stash of roasted potatoes that I can top and eat at any time. This has fueled me for the weeks when the long runs are over 10. The next long run is 16 miles. I am looking forward to it.