04/18: 8mi - MB Wk12

PLAN: 8mi
RAN: 8mi @ 11-9:15-9:25-9:40-?-?-9:00-9:10
LOC: Herrick Lake
EL: 7+

Good run. EL is up and I am not tempted to call this run "fun" like before, but that just means I was working my ass off. As I thought what my "EL" values mean, I understood that it is not only how hard I work but how long I can *sustain* that level of exertion. Therefore, training will 1) allow me to run faster at a lower intensity level 2) allow me to sustain a higher intensity level for a longer duration of time.
On longer runs my EL will be lower, but that doesn't necessarily make the run easier, while pushing the pace on shorter runs will help me train anaerobically.

I tracked the run via GPS (in my nifty travel wallet) but it was really off on miles 5-6, where I also made a water stop, so I don't have times for those miles, but I am very happy with my pace.

04/06: 4mi - MB Wk11

PLAN: 4mi
RAN: 4mi with a short walk
LOC: Hidden Lake
EL: (-)

Bleh. Today sucked. I felt weak, mentally drained; maybe the fact that I had a bug in my eye for half the run had something to do with it; maybe it's just the abundance of bugs in general - those little tiny white ones that will unavoidably enter once orifice or another; maybe the weather. Yuck. It was pre-rain, very warm, humid, with very little wind. I had to walk for ~2min at the start of mile 4 because I felt like I was getting extremely overheated.
Or maybe it is the pizza and other junk food I had for lunch. Time to start a Nutrition page.
I just hope this is not the result of Monday's extra credit and won't ruin the rest of my week.

Also, HL is getting to be a real drag. I need to find an alternative for my 4-5milers.

I've added "EL" = exertion level to my heading, theoretically a 0-10 scale with 10 being most difficult.
It's a very tough judgment call because it seems that most of the time it's the mental not the physical that gets me down; I think for now this will be more about how I feel about the run rather than how difficult it really was; or at least a (+) for "great" or (-) for "sucky".