better all around

Well, I ran 2:1 intervals again yesterday, and I'm happy to report that I can totally walk today! My shins are a just a little splinty this morning, nowhere near last week's 4-day trip to DOMSland. Part of this is that I was completely unable to minimize the heel-strike yesterday, so my bones and joints took more of a hit than last time. Still, it's not bad.

Performance was, eh...progressive is a nice way to put it. I made it all the way through the 2nd run interval (woo!), but lost my will to live about halfway through the final 5-minute interval (boo!). My 2-mile time was just over 25 minutes, which needs some improvement. My fastest 1/2-mile was 5:26, which was all jogging. I'd like to see a little better than 11-minute miles on fresh legs, because I can pretty much count on a slower 2nd run on event day. If I can't muster more than 5.5 mph fresh, what will it be like after a 12-mile bike leg?

Another option I've considered is just to plan for walk intervals on race day. Maybe shoot for a 5-minute run, 1-minute walk sort of thing? I'd feel like kind of a dork walking during a race, but it's not like I'm going out there to win or anything. And that might do a better job of keeping my HR under control (my biggest problem right now...though I haven't been wearing the monitor, I can feel it about to leap out of my chest). Also, better to walk some during the first run than be forced to walk the entire 2nd one because I have nothing left. We'll see how the next couple weeks go, though...if the runs get easier, I'll try to gut it out for the whole thing.

I'm telling you, though...I'm beginning to wish I had waited till next year to do the multi-sport thing and shot for a 5k this year instead. It's starting to depress me a little that instead of coming into these final weeks wondering if I will make a respectable showing, I'm wondering if I'll be able to do it at all. I mean, sure, there was the ankle injury to contend with and whatever, but there was also a lot of laziness and procrastination. Also, the injury was mostly due to the laziness, since it probably could have been avoided had I lost 10-20 lbs this year. Since I can't turn back time, however, there's not a whole lot I can do about that now. All I can do is keep plugging along with the training and hope I don't humiliate myself too thoroughly.

Hey Joy...I don't think you could ever humiliate yourself - I mean, to even just consider entering these races to me is amazing. To try do one no matter your showing, AMAZING. So chin up - no matter what happens you should be proud of yourself!