Over the Hills and Far Away

I realize I haven't posted in awhile...not that anyone noticed:o)

As of last Tuesday we started hill repeats. Last week wasn't so bad, it was the shortest practice we've had and they were focused on making sure we get our form right. When going up a hill, you have to keep your arm swings low and your foot turnover close together to be "energy efficient." So the main focus was on that. So I thought hey, hills? not so bad. Wrooong.

Last night was our second week of hills and they pushed us. Hard. It wasn't as miserable as the "lampposts on" sprint training but it was close. We had to do 4 uphills, with recovery in between. So after my first one I said hmm this still isn't that bad. Then one of the coaches came over and said you aren't running fast enough. Then she took off. Oh, am I supposed to follow? Right. So I chased her up the hill. She said "and that's how you are supposed to run these hills." Oops. Hello, sprints. Literally. By the end of the fourth hill I was nauseous but it still felt good to do it. And, we did it on kind of a secret hill, thus avoiding horse stench and raging cyclists. Good stuff.

Each Tuesday the coaches host a post-workout bar thing which I've never been too because it's usually at a far away place on the east side. This week it was at a great bar in the Upper West Side called the Amsterdam Ale House. I had such a good time and got to meet some great new people!

This weekend I did my long run, clocking in at 10.3 miles. I broke double digits!! woohoo!! Mike and I were home for a family weekend (sorry Boston peeps but it was family only) and decided to run Saturday am. It was perfection. About 64 degrees, nice cool breeze...and I ran down past the marshes to Duxbury beach, over the Powder Point Bridge (beautiful, check it out) and into the super wealthy neighborhood of King Caesar's in Duxbury, then back. What a beautiful run. I was in such a good mood that I even waited four miles before begging Mike to run ahead of me so I didn't feel like I was holding him back. But honestly, I never appreciated how beautiful my hometown is until I left.

Note to self...strength training followed by hill repeats followed by spin the next morning equals stumbling down the stairs getting off the bus.