This week in running: week 10

I’m noticing a trend. This is only my third half marathon, but I see a pattern in my training. I start out optimistic. I don’t run as well as I want. I freak out. Shortly after freaking out, everything comes together. Thankfully, I’m in the everything-comes-together phase now.

Tuesday

I’m not hip to the speed work and track lingo, so there might be a spiffy name for this that I don’t know. I just know I enjoyed it, even though it was tough.

• Descend 5 minutes, 4 minutes, 3 minutes, 2 minutes and 1 minute with 1 minute rest in between
• 2 minutes rest
• 1 minute hard; descend rest 1 minute, 50 seconds, 40 seconds, 30 seconds, 20 seconds, 10 seconds

I had single-digit mile (yep, 9:59), which is a huge deal for me. I can see fast waaaayyy in my future.

Total: 3.67 miles

Thursday

Tempo runs are never really my thing. I’m not great about picking a faster pace and sticking with it. I’m not really sure what my faster pace is or how to maintain a faster pace (without feeling like death).

But, somehow I managed to make it work this day.

My faster pace was at least 15 seconds faster than my warm-up pace (at times 30 seconds faster), which is a start for me – I’ll take it. I maintained it for 40 minutes.

Since I ran for 60 minutes, maintained my faster pace and did not feel like death, I consider this a success.

Total: 5.10 miles

Sunday
 
We ran the same route as we did last week since we ran the same number of miles.

So how did it compare? It was really about the same, actually. Our group was a little bigger – there were seven us running together for most of the run. But, that’s about the only difference. I felt really, really, really great (sound familiar?) while running about the same pace (just 2 minutes faster this week).

Oh, one other difference: when we were running over a small bridge, we heard a snort. When we looked down, we saw manatees! I’ve loved manatees for as long as I can remember, and this was my first time seeing them in this area. I LOVED it.

After our run and stretching, a group walked two blocks to Starbucks. I had the deliciousness known as the pumpkin spice latte (less syrup and no whipped cream). It was the most delicious coffee drink I had in my life. Lately, coffee is all I crave after a run. .. strange.

Later in the day, my boyfriend, Chloe and I went to Sarasota, Florida (a town about 40 minutes south of where we live). We spent the rest of the day walking, shopping and eating dinner.

Chloe refuses to be photographed with us.

I was expecting to be sore on Monday. Nope, not sore. I’d never have known I ran 10 miles (well, if I didn’t run it myself).

I think I must do the same things after each long run to replicate this feeling: walk to Starbucks, drink delicious coffee and spend the afternoon walking and shopping and eating.

Total: 10 miles

**Edited to add questions.**

Do you like tempo runs? Are you good at picking your faster pace? Have you ever seen manatees while running? Or ever? What do you crave after running? Is it weird to crave a hot beverage? What are your best long run recovery methods?