Ugh...I'm SOOO SORE!

So last night's workout was a beast! I mean an absolute killer! But certainly one that reminds you why you work so hard. Around repeat 7 at 5:13 pace, fatigue really started to set in and it was a great humble to check to know that elite runners run 5:13's like it's nothing. That my definition of hard is someone's 'easy pace' is more than enough motivation to keep me going. I think the key to achieving high paces like that adaptation.

My heart rate is one of the metrics i have of adaptation. I'm constantly running in zone 1 of my heart rate around 170-180 which is essentially race pace. But I know I'm starting to adapt because my 5:13 pace is at 175 whereas my 5:50/5:40 pace is 155-160. I assure you, one month ago, my 5:50 pace was at the 170 range.

I woke up this morning energized however and went for a short, 10-mile bike ride. This afternoon will be a quick 3 mile run and then a chest workout. Tomorrow I'll run a half marathon. I've already envisioned the split times. I'm going to shoot for the following:
Mile 1) 6min
Mile 2) 6min
Mile 3) 6min
Mile 4) 6min
Mile 5) 6min
Mile 6) 6min <-------------(I want to hit 36 or there about on the race at the 6 minute mark)
Mile 7) 5:50
Mile 8) 5:50
Mile 9) 5:40
Mile 10) 5:40
Mile 11) 5:30
Mile 12) 5:25
Mile 13) 5:15

I think the workout begins in earnest around mile 9 yeah? MIle 12 and 13 I'm looking forward tot he most. I know my legs will fail me somewhere between these two miles.
So I got some raw vegan granola from one of my sponsors and it will be the death of me! It's so incredibly good! Pineapple,Cashew, Macadamia Nut rawnola. Wow. You could sprinkle this stuff on cardboard and I'd probably eat it! =)

I hope for those of us that have today off we take a moment and reflect on that which we are grateful for. I for one am extremely grateful for my family and their loving support. I'm only as good as you guys. Aloha!

My Love Relationships...

Okay, so Emily Tam is going to kill me if she ever reads this post (which I know she will) but in short, I'm in a three way love fest. I'm in love with my Specialized S-Works Roubaix bike, my Nike LunaRacer shoes and Ms. Tam Ka Yi. My dilemma is as an overprotective male, I know that when I'm with my bike, my running shoes are idle and vice versa.

Lately though, I've been waking up a bit later then when I'd like to so my bike riding time has been cut significantly short (!). But Saturday I'm looking forward to my ride. I'll probably go around25 miles easy and then turn around and ride bike. Sunday will be a 60 miler which I can't wait. And that's the weird part, I've really looked forward to my biking and my hard running workouts. However, the boring running workouts are definitely things I dread. Yuck.

Yesterday, my coach reminded me of my mortality and how young I am in the game of running. I know I want to be good and elite in running. I also want to be elite in cycling and right now, I'm on the fence about which one I like best. Ahhh, such a dilemma! Such is the case when you're young at heart! Tonite will be an intense run and these are the ones I love. Why? Because long about mile 5, my body says 'Stop' but my mind says 'Keep going, you can push harder'. This is when I really dig deep and ask questions. All runners know this. It's a point when you question your toughness and your ability to run through long bouts of pain. It's thankless because no one is cheering you on, no one really cares...except YOU. When I'm doing my track workout, no one can see me. No one gives a crap if I run a 5:10 or 5 minutes flat. To everyone else, I'm just some lunatic on a track running in spandex tights. To me, it's the world. It's carrying the load for many that look up to me for inspiration along the journey. I happily accept this responsibility and will continue to knock it out in my training.

'The man sees the mountain...the mountain sees the man.'
-Old proverb