Fine Form Five

Today's 1/5mp/1 felt solid and good; I really concentrated on my running form, working on glute activation by way of POSE method - focusing hard on pressing off and back after each landing, keeping the leg and glute activated both at the forward and backward arcs of each step.  It makes me run faster! I was well under mp, with 6@8:22.  Oops.  It also made my brain a little tired, which makes me realize that mindless running probably leads to bad form.  Need to remember that, especially with easy miles.  

5 miles at mp

concentrating on my form,

running POSE method

feeling uninspired

I could not find any mojo today.  Bleh.  I started, but total fail attitude-wise, so I just quit.

Reluctant spinning

not even 15 minutes

and then I just quit.

Jiggly Intervals

Beautiful, sunny day, but only 1* outside, so on the treadmill for 4x800s @ 6:58.  Theoretically.  I took the first one slowish, starting at 7:13 and speeding up, then made it to 6:58 average for the final 800.  Not great, but good enough for me, and felt like I did some good work thinking about form - specifically, thinking POSE method with glute activation.  I also thought about how much jiggly belly fat I could see and feel, rolling over the top of my lululemon shorts....

Do you want to lose 

Belly Fat? Click Here! Or just 

Run as fast as fuck

Recovery Monday

Just an easy recovery Monday, but the pool isn't open yet, so an easy spin and then Body Shred, plus some glute work.  Bitter cold outside, so just as well to be an indoor, easy day.

Easy spin inside

watching crappy On Demand

makes the time fly by

1 down, 15 to go

Today was my first official 'long run' of my 16-week Boston training program.  It's been a long time since I ran 8 road miles -  no mileage to speak of (except the Philly marathon) since 10/31. Given that, it could have been a lot worse. The run was actually more mentally than physically tiring.  My brain was annoyingly busy during those miles.  I need to learn to clear it and just be in the miles, in the moments.  Good goal for the next 15 weeks. 8 @ 8:45 (1:09:54)

The first long run done

Just 8 miles, but still seemed long

15 weeks to go

Nanospike Trail Run

Steve and Mully and I ran from the backyard onto South Loop, then Caves Loop and back home. Cold, clear morning with about an inch or two of hardpacked snow/ice on the trails, making the nanospikes essential - and awesome.  I felt more comfortable running down the back hill on Caves trail in the snow with the spikes than I do when the trail is clear.  They are good and grabby. I got my right foot a little wet at the first river crossing - it was cooooold by the time we got back home.  4.3, 52 mins.

Cold, crackling morning

Hard snow crunches underfoot

but the light is soft

136 Streak

The streak is broken.

Ten days missed but that's okay

I'll just start over.

Winter Solstice

Cold, dark, grey and damp

The shortest day of the year

so it won't last long

Winter Trail Run View

Illuminating

spotlight on the high hilltops

Low winter sunshine.

Go Away

Counting down the days

until the guest invasion.

Dreading their presence

Testing, testing

A tentative run

just a few short miles, but hey

Feels good to be back

Mully Sniffer

Face into the wind

Nose tipped up, focused, twitching

Smelling mysteries

Warm

Warm wind in my face

damp, springlike, no sharp edges.

Must be from the south.

Mindful Swimming

Counting, not thinking

Just feeling the water with

No thoughts in my head