11/25 - 12/1

Mon: Eliptical (35min)
Tues: 6-miles
Wed: Treadmill Progression Workout
Thurs: 6-miles
Fri: off
Sat: off
Sun: 8-miles
Total: 26 miles

Training this week was pretty abysmal due to traveling. Matt and I woke up early on Monday and were pretty much packed, so we went down to the hotel gym for a little bit before breakfast. I didn't much feel like running on a treadmill, so I did the eliptical instead. I was still pretty tight from traveling on Tuesday when we did our 6-mile run. Thursday's run was cold and windy, and Sunday's run was just cold. My hamstring/hip/back felt tight both days. I don't know if it was from traveling, or shopping (in the case of Sunday), or what. But, I would have hoped that after all of this time of not running I would have felt better.

Wednesday's "treadmill progression workout" happened. I was somewhat relieved that I made it through because it means that I'm not in awful shape. Basically, this workout involves a warm-up mile, then a tempo section, then a half mile cooldown. The tempo section starts at marathon pace (for me, 7:30), and I increase the pace by 0.1mph every 1/2-mile until I reach half marathon pace (for me, 6:53). This takes about 4-miles. And, although it doesn't sound that hard written out, it's psychologically challenging to know you increased the pace when you're tired. I have always found this workout challenging, more so if I'm tired or not in shape. The first half of the workout isn't bad, but the last mile isn't fun. Then, for kicks, I did a half mile more (for a total of 4.5-miles), finishing the last 200yds at 10k pace (for me, 6:40; this involved increasing the pace by 0.3mph over the course of 1/2-mile). I have done this workout before where the tempo has lasted 4.5-miles, with a "for kicks" 1/2-mile to follow down to 10k pace (i.e., increasing by 0.2mph over the last 1/2-mile for a total distance of 5-miles).