I'm making the actual running a priority, but too many other things are going on to be timely with my posts. This has replaced my pieces-of-scrap-paper "system" for tracking my progress, though, so if I have to keep catching up in batches, that's what I'll do...
 
Friday, July 16 Short run, 3 miles, 32:37; splits 10:57, 11:13, 10:27. Another gray morning with drizzle turning to rain. I didn't push myself on this one. Spotted a chicory plant, which I see from the car but haven't yet on my runs (normally they're everywhere, but it's been too wet).
 
Sunday, July 18 Long run, 8 miles, 1:29:20, average heart rate 144; splits 10:58, 11:10, 10:50, [got messed up], 12:07, 11:29, 10:36, 10:25. WEEK 4, total miles 19 (3/5/3/8). Weight about 116, haven't measured heart rate.
 
We were visiting my dad in Delaware, so it was another run on new ground. I ran all the way to Pennsylvania, which was my goal--pretty exciting conceptually even if it was only 3 1/2 miles to the border. Thank goodness again for the Forerunner--I had planned out a route which went into White Clay Creek Park and picked up the Mason-Dixon Trail, but the roads weren't marked, it was raining & muddy, and I ran a simpler route. There were tons of wild raspberries, much jucier & less seedy than the ones up here, so I took a few raspberry breaks (the splits got messed up because I manually stopped the timer, when I should remember just to let it auto-pause). I had been worried about proper hydration & bonking (sudden low blood sugar, which I've experienced a few times), but between the rain and the raspberries I had no trouble at all. The Delaware woods are so jungly--much more different from NE PA than Montreal was. Lots of loud birdcalls, mist, no cars, no people--very peaceful. I can't believe how smoothly the training is still going! My joints felt a little sore starting around mile 6, and I was certainly very glad to be done, but I'm not getting near my limits yet. I sped up for the last quarter of the run & felt like I had some juice left. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. A few tiny blisters on the tips of some toes, but again nothing that bothered me (or that I even noticed until I stopped).  And I'm 25% of the way to the marathon! Wow.... now if the rest of life would just calm down a bit!
- posted by Hilary @ 9:51 PM