Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Saturday, 11/3--I wasn't sure whether I had it in me emotionally to run today, on account of the death of my beloved mother-in-law yesterday morning.  I won't blog about how loving, wonderful and impactful she was, particularly to my wife and her grandkids, but I will say that I am deeply saddened and will miss her. 

She weighed heavily on my mind as I tried to get through the workout.  Per my plan, I  continue to devote one day per week to 800m training.  I equivocated about which workout I'd do: Pick-up reps (8x 400m @ 70 w/90-sec Int and #s 2,5,8 @ 63) or Sit 'n Kick Reps (5x (400m @ 64 . . . rest 60-sec . . . 200m @ 28) jog 1200m btw sets).  I chose Sit 'n Kick Reps. 

My caveat: The workout as designed for a 2:00 800m high school runner is 5x (400m @ 64 . . . rest 30-sec . . . 200m @ 28), then jog 1200m between sets. Since I am not able to run 800 meters in 2:00, I modified the workout accordingly.  I wanted to hit the times I hit last Saturday, but decided it would likely be a pipe dream.  So I figured I'd run 66 for the 400s and 31 for the 200s.

Unlike the 65 degrees and slight winds I encountered last week, today was 45 degrees and flat-out windy.

The first 400 was in 68. Sucks!  It was so bad I decided to jog a 200 (2:00), then run a 200.  The wind was strong and my 200 was flaccid, a 36!  My goodness.  I jogged an 800. 

The second 400 would be better, I said.  And it was, a 66.  The 200 came in at 33.  I jogged 800m.  I said I'd continue to punish myself by not running the intended workout until I got my butt in gear.

I ran the third 400 in 66, jogged a 200 in 2:00, and followed it with a 30-second 200.  I was back in business.

I rewarded my efforts by allowing myself to re-enter the intended workout, beginning with the customary 1200 meter jog between sets.

My fourth 400 was a solid 65.  I rested 60 and then popped another 30-second 200.  I then jog-recovered 1200.

And then there was my final 400.  I wondered whether I had it in me to drop the 63-second 400, followed by the 28-second 200 I did last Saturday.  I came close: a 63, followed by a 29.

So this workout started poorly, but ended hopefully. 

I gave myself some props.
Friday, 10/26/12--Took off.

Friday, 11/2--took off.  Running late.

Thurs, 11/1--a sluggish 3.7M in 28:10, an awful run over downed branches and beds of leaves, the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Wed, 10/30--Y.   I decided to alternate between running and lifting.  Surprise, surprise!  I ranx  5.75M in 4:55, alternating between the 16-laps-to-the-mile track and the treadmill.  I lifted in-between runs, over a 3-minute period.