Note: This is a delayed post!

After a much-needed stepback week, I got my sea legs back in Week 10. The miles were enjoyable; I didn’t dread that early alarm and I treated myself for accomplishing each run. Coach says I’m technically still in a base-building mode, so mileage still isn’t as high as I thought it would be at this point. He’s right when he says that I need to keep in mind how much I accomplished last year by running just three or four times a week—tops!

I took off on vacation to Montana with my mom and sisters on Saturday afternoon so I decided to move my long run to Friday morning. It was a hot, sticky morning but it was a great feeling to come back home, grab a humongous cup of coffee, and know that I didn’t have to worry about fitting the miles in on the weekend.

Monday: Shakeout

Tuesday: 6 miles, 1 mile repeats

Wednesday: REST

Thursday: Fartlek run 8 miles

Friday: 16.27 long run

Saturday: REST

Sunday: Shakeout 4 miles

It was so nice to have a fartlek run on the schedule this week instead of a tempo. A recovery run can only do so much to clear your mind and the regimented tempo runs of the previous weeks made me feel like a robot (I guess, a speedy robot!). It’s funny how the workout can totally change your state of mind. I likely challenged myself with the fartlek just as much as I do with a fast tempo run–it’s all in how your mind frames it, I guess.

I arrived home from vacation late last night and only managed to fit in one short progressive run on the hotel treadmill this week. I hope to find the rain showers this afternoon and get a run in to clear my head.

-J