Wow this was quite a week and not necessarily in running terms.
Work has been very busy and has thrown a wrench into a couple of my plans and also my energy (and my blog reading/commenting if you haven’t noticed – sorry!). On top of work and my own training, I also had two commitments this week to some of the new things I will be involved with this year, so it’s been a busy week! Let’s just say I am definitely learning time management and how to balance all my priorities even more so than before. Everything is 100% worth it though and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel… but I still have a tunnel to find my way through.
Side note: I know I have posted a few of these runs already, but looking back at my CIM recaps I didn’t recap the full week each time and really wish I would have. It’s definitely the easiest way for me to look back at the week, so that’s what I am doing for this marathon!
Monday
rest
Tuesday
5.5 easy – lululemon trial run!
I am going to go about these runs a little bit differently from here on out to make sure I am giving what I want to give to those who join us for the group runs. I am going to incorporate my changes this coming week and see how it goes.
5.5 miles/51:27/9:25 avg pace
Wednesday
9.5 intervals – 3×2000 @ 10k pace
9:20 (7:30 avg, mile at 7:35)
9:11 (7:23 avg, mile at 7:31)
9:07 (7:20 avg, mile at 7:15)
Average: 9:13 (7:25 avg)
9.5 miles/1:21:24/8:32 avg pace
Thursday
6 easy
Another foggy morning in the bay area! My legs felt the track workout from the day before and I had no problem keeping the run at recovery pace.
6.0 miles/56:13/9:22 avg pace
Friday
11 with 5 tempo
I remember the days when I used to just sit and dread these runs and sometimes not even do them. I was so scared I wouldn’t be able to hit the paces that I wanted to hit and a lot of times I didn’t. Nowadays these runs don’t scare me anymore, I actually look forward to them! I don’t know if it’s having done them so much more (= confidence) or what, but it’s a good feeling.
I drove to work, did a long warm up (4 miles) on the streets until it was light enough to hop on the paved trail. I have done 4 tempo miles the last couple weeks and planned on upping it to 5 this week. I turned on my music and off I went onto the foggy trail.
7:51 – warming up
7:48 – getting warmer
7:45 – right where I want to be
7:38 – chasing a guy who keeps looking behind him, can’t pass him going slow!
7:36 – gotta be faster than the last mile!
Average: 7:43
I “cooled down” with another few miles to finish off the day. Tempo runs always make me laugh when I see my cool down miles. I feel like I am crawling and going so slow but my last few miles were all under 8:30. Oops.
11.0 miles/1:31:32/8:19 avg pace
I got ready for work at work and worked a very long day. Yes on Friday. Then I came home and enjoyed this view for the night.
Catching up on The Office and Emma cuddling on a Friday night?
Yes please. 
Saturday
3 easy
Saturday was the kick off for the 26 week SFM training program and Kristin and I needed to be in San Francisco at 7:30am. I had grand plans to get up and run a couple miles before we went, because I was really hoping to get at least 6 miles in for the day. When my alarm went off at 5am I decided otherwise, sleep seemed much more important at the moment.
6:20am and I woke up and looked at the clock and jumped out of bed! I rushed and got ready and went to Kristin’s house and we drove into the city, only a few minutes late.
We had our pacers meeting, got our gear and waited while all the trainees showed up.
In our “staff” hats 
I wonder if my ponytail is always this crooked? 
Alyssa came and found us too and I was so excited to finally get to meet her! We chatted with her for a while and she ran with us too. I can’t wait to run with her again.
After they had their meeting we were off to do the 3 mile run. We had a great time chatting with the trainees and hearing their stories. It got me even more excited to be a part of the training program and I was so happy we went.
It was such a beautiful morning in San Francisco.
This bridge never gets old. 
3.0 miles/26:43/8:54 avg pace
I had to go to work back in the east bay after (yes another Saturday), so I didn’t have time to add on a couple more miles like I hoped. I know what I would tell anyone else if they were discussing this situation with me, so I kept telling myself the same thing today.
“3 extra miles will not make any difference and will do more harm than good if you try to make them up later in the day. Rest and save that energy for tomorrow’s 20 miler.”
So that’s what I did. I came home after work and did my long run preparation and rested.
Sunday
20 long
The team had plans to do the long route of the Boston simulator course we run, so I decided to join them.
I was up at 5am, on the road just after 6, running at 7. It rained the whole way over, but stopped in time for us to start. I am getting pretty good at planning my clothing for these rainy runs since I have had quite a bit of experience this year. Today I wore capri tights, short sleeve shirt and a new rain jacket I got for my birthday over the top. The best part of this jacket is it has removable sleeves! Usually when it rains in the bay the temps hover in the low 50s so it’s not too cold and you actually get warm once you get going.
We got started and within a couple miles the sleeves on my jacket were off and I was now wearing a vest. I was perfect and very comfortable just cruising along with one of my teammates. It was a beautiful morning, in my opinion at least, and pretty soon the rain started falling. It got heavier as we went and the temperature was dropping a bit too. Around mile 11 my hands got cold so I put my gloves back on and I was perfect the rest of the run.
We got into the big series of hills around mile 15 and I was feeling really strong up them. The rain was coming down pretty hard now and my arms were red from being cold, but I felt good and was having fun puddle hopping and splashing. I really like running in the rain! Once I hit 18 I was ready to be done and finished up the last few hills with a strong pace.
20.0 miles/2:57:03/8:51 avg pace
I immediately changed into dry clothes and rewarded myself with a hot latte. I got some laughs from my post-run ensemble, but hey I just ran 20 wet miles! Compression socks and uggs were a necessity.
Another week of training down. Although the mileage wasn’t quite where I hoped it would be, it was close enough and I had 3 strong quality workouts with track, my tempo run and my hilly 20 miler. Plus it’s only week 5, I still have 11 weeks of training to go!
Totals for week 5: 55.0 miles/8:04:22/8:48 avg pace
This coming week is going to be another busy one between work, the lululemon run club kick off, RRCA training, AND my first race of 2011 on Sunday! It’s going to be a bit of a challenge to get everything I want in, but I am not going to stress about it. I will do what I can and go from there!
11 weeks to go!
Great week!
I’m excited to hear about the coaches’ training that you go to….
You ran the same miles last week I ran in all January LOL Good job on getting all your runs in. I like your positive attitude towards next week
You had some awesome runs this week even with everything going on – I’m sure you’ll fly through this week too! Have fun!!!
My friend is an accountant and she is super busy this time of year too! Good job on your runs, love the pictures!
Wow, love seeing that elevation. Great 20 mile pace, especially with all the hills. I don’t know how you get all those miles in with work and everything! I was proud of myself for getting 40 in this week! I can’t believe we are 5 weeks into training already!
I love that track picture. It captures the moment, to be sure.
WOOOT!!!!
My grams is an accountant and is very busy this time of year too!!
Great job on your run!!!
Mad props your way!
ow ow ow!
That’s one crazy week! Sometimes I feel like work really gets in the way of my life. Props for fitting it all in! What race are you running on Sunday?
Davis Stampede half marathon!
love your post-run ensemble!
When describing your lulu group, what did you mean by “make sure I am giving what I want to give to those who join us for the group runs”? I am a team leader of a running group and I definitely struggle with balancing my own training vs. dropping back to run with beginners/slower runners.
I will talk about it more next week, but yes I don’t want to be worrying about my own workout during these things. I am not there for me, I am there for others so I have some ideas on figuring out that balance
Awesome pics of SF!
Great job on the 20 miler, with the hills and the rain. I love your outfit post-run! I do the same thing and then run errands…people must think I’m crazy!
Girl you are so going to be ready to rock Boston!!! Love the post run get-up! We used to go out for breakfast after our long runs when I was training for Boston….It was always interesting what I could find that was dry and warm!
I have no idea how you fit that much running in during this busy accounting season (my wife does accounting, and this is definitely her least favourite time of the year!). Your time management skills are inspiring!
seriously awesome training week. I love that you now look forward to the tempo pick ups during a longish run. I love them too. Even though they stay challenging, I relish the challenge! I know I said it before, but I’m so impressed by how involved you’re getting in the local running community. Awesome week, awesome runs, awesome job girlie!
once again, great week! i’m trying to not get too excited for boston reading your posts! got one to get through before that! must…stay…focused!
Nice job managing to juggle it all!
Like Greg said I love that track picture! Sounds like it was a good week!
And I know what you mean about tax season – it is upon us, haha
what a great week! I still feel that way about tempo runs – scared I won’t be able to hit the goal pace. nice job on yours!!
awesome week! its so good that you’re running in the rain and on hills. you’re going to be ready for any-and-everything that boston could possibly throw at you!
11 weeks!!!!!!!!
Yeah, work gets in the way of life a little too often for my taste
But it’s great that yout got all that running done despite crazy schedule. And plus you got to lead the running groups, which is just so cool, and very impressive 
That hill profile is impressive as well. Ouch!
What a great week Aron!!! A really strong 20 miler! You are going to rock this marathon.
Speaking of Boston, I am trying to organize an event for either the Sunday or Saturday before at a Boston restaurant…. we would love for you to come! Let me know if you are interested!
What a week!! Busy busy! I like your post 20 miler outfit. I wore my recovery socks all weekend, but I really should I have put them on last night after skiing so that my calves wouldn’t be so sore today.
That episode of The Office was great! One of the better ones I’ve seen in a while.
I love 20 milers…I think that’s my happy distance. Sometimes I wish Marathons were 20-22 miles. So perfect!
I’m an East Bayer/ lover of SF runs myself. I admire your training efforts, as I’m a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants marathoner and kind of just wing it. I need a plan!
I cannot believe that January is already over! Before we know it, summer will be here! Keep up the great work on your running!