Stretching out the miles again today. I can't ask for anything better from the weather - it was actually a little chilly when I started at 6:15 (45), but once the sun started to rise it warmed up to around 50 or so by the end. I did 3 laps on my 3.2 mile course that I run around the neighborhood. I thought this would be helpful so I could check some splits. I've run it enough that I know about where each mile ends, and even 10ths of a mile (roughly), so here are my splits: 1st lap - 23:47 2nd lap - 24:13 3rd lap - 23:10 last 0.4 - 2:37 By mile: 1 - 7:11 2 - 7:31 3 - 7:36 4 - 7:23 5 - 7:32 6 - 7:28 7 - 7:47 8 - 7:26 9 - 7:02 10 - 6:49 It was a pretty steady effort all the way through. The variance in the first 8 miles is just due to either going up or down the hills on the route. I did kick it up a notch for the last mile and a half, so that's why the last 2 splits are quicker. I felt like I had plenty left in the tank when I was done. I think I'm ready for the 1/2 marathon right now. I will continue to train for the next month to optimize my performance, but I know I could have continued today's run for another 3.1 if the race was today.

I had to work today, so this worked out well as a rest day for the long run scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Daddy night at our house, as Anisa was at her girls' night out. This means run on the treadmill, or don't run. So, with the trend of the week, I ran hard on the treadmill. I started out at 9 MPH, and gradually worked my way up - 9.3, 9.5, 9.8, 10. Splits were 6:32, 6:27, 6:19, 6:09. My time at 5K was 19:55. But if I work backward for the last 5K, it was 19:34. I mention the 5K times because I'm considering doing the Beaverfest 5K next weekend instead of the Ankeny 10K. The Beaverfest Run is kind of a big deal (usually > 500 runners), while the 10K in Ankeny is usually only 30-40. There is also a 5K in Ankeny, which draws maybe 40-50 (the two runs in Ankeny are at the same time). I'm thinking I could do 19:30 with a warmup and competition, and only going 3.1 instead of 4 miles, but adding some time for the more difficult road running vs. treadmill. That would have been good for 24th place out of 522 last year.

Due to Tuesday's results, I decided to push it hard for a 10K today. I was really getting after it, and the results bore that out. I hadn't broken 44 for a 10K yet, and today I broke 43. I was running hard enough for the last 1.5 miles that I had a negative split: 21:36 and 21:02. Boy, was I spent when I was done, but that's OK. Another perfect day for a run - 55 degrees and light wind at 6:15 AM when I started.

I tried swapping out my uncomfortable seat for my comfy seat to see if that made the ride more pleasant. It didn't. I think it's just the posture of the bike. I switched the seat back after I was done. I was originally going to try to do about 35 miles today, but it was a struggle just to get to 24.8. Note to self for the future: I'm not sure that I had the seat positioned optimally. If I try this again, I need to lower the seat more, and slide it back farther. Perhaps this would make a difference.

Another great morning for a run - 55 degrees, light wind. I was pushing pretty hard today, but still under control. I didn't feel too tired at the end. This is the longest I've run at sub-7-minute pace, probably ever.

Rest day, recovering from yesterday's long run. I'll get up early tomorrow to do 6 miles or so.