can I get a do-over?

Oh my word, where do I start?  Well lets do this, Happy Monday!  I had a pretty productive weekend.  We made good progress on our dining room project ( we are re-doing the walls and painting, new light fixture), so it felt good to get a big chunk of it done, got in a good long run on Saturday, and was able to sleep in and relax a bit too.  Aside from losing an hour from daylight savings time, I would say it was an all around good weekend :)  Hope it was for you guys too!

Here is where I get a little "woe-is-me".  Its been a tough week.  Coming into the week I had high expectations that my good fortune of successful running and feeling great would continue.  After my workout on Monday I had a funny feeling that it might be the complete opposite.  Tuesday was a rest day but I started to feel like I was coming down with something.  Scratchy throat, sinus pressure - now is NOT the time to be sick!  Wednesday I didn't feel much better.  In fact the whole week I just felt crummy - Thursday we decided I ditch the interval workout and just do 5 miles easy.  I did however come to the conclusion ( with help from Jake and Nichole),this is probably just a "tired" week and that given the fact that I've had really good weeks lately, that I'm most likely run down from all of it.  Makes sense, and Nichole did write me an encouraging email to take this as a good sign that my intensity and mileage are in a good place now. 

Unfortunately my motivation this week was probably at an all time low.  Deep down I know I still love running, and every time I got out for my run, I was better for it, but it was the fact of getting out the door that I struggled to find the motivation.  Its been a while since I've had one of these weeks, but I don't like it!  I feel like a broken record when I say this but I really need to work on my mental game when things get tough like this.  I get so down on myself, thinking I'll never be fast/get my speed back, that a 1:30-1:40 half is just not in the cards.

* I know this isn't true, I know I do have it in me, I just have a hard time reminding myself of that when things don't go as planned

Another thing that doesn't help is that I didn't eat very well this week.  It wasn't horrible ( good thing we keep healthy food in the house so I don't have much of a choice), but I did a lot of snacking.  This doesn't help my already sensitive stomach, so it made my workouts more uncomfortable than they needed to be. Why I do this to myself I'll never know, I had to split up my long run on Saturday because of a bathroom break, not an ideal situation.

I always say, weeks like these are learning experiences and I'll be better because of it, but I just wish I knew how to go with the flow and handle it better.  Take a "tired" week as a good opportunity for recovery and not a sign that I'm getting weak.  So if anyone has tips/tricks on how to change my brain, let me know :)

With that, here is whats in store for the week - I'm ready to start fresh!

Monday - 1.5 WU&CD
                2x10min. T pace (7:00-7:18), 3 miles easy, 10 min. T pace
                10 miles total
Tuesday - REST
Wednesday - 5 miles easy
                     strength
Thursday - 1.5 WU&CD
                  5x1000m @ 5k pace, 80% of time as recovery (jogging)
                  7 miles total
Friday - 5 miles easy
             strength, plyos
Saturday - 10 miles
                 last 3 miles in 7:50, 7:30, 7:10
Sunday - 4.5 miles easy
               strength


This week and next week are lower in mileage.  I'm gearing up for the first race of the season on Sunday the 24th.  I'll be running the St Paul Irish Run.  They have a 5k and an 8k and I'm signed up for the 5k.  I haven't done a 5k race since last August, so I'm hoping to beat that time (mid-21min.)  I'm excited to race though, its been awhile so I'm looking forward to being in that atmosphere again.