THAT was a break?! Jan 24 - Jan 30

After an amazing three week string of 68-71-70.5, last week called for a down week.

SUN
8.5 miles along new route (Extended 7th) solo

MON
10.5 miles along random BLC route
*ran with a HUGE flippin' group: Ge-off, Steve-O, Hannah, Sean, Hot Carl
*stomach decided to hate big time

TUES
5 miles on Rancho trails AM; 7.5 miles on golf course with Ronnie PM
*felt great to finally return to soft running surfaces

WED
0 miles - scheduled day off
*Cal coach Magdalena Lewy (roommate's college coach and 2:30 marathoner) requires the higher mileage runners to take one day off every six weeks so that they keep from running themselves into a funk. This is week six. While arguements can be made for either side (streak vs. day off) I'm taking the day to see what happens and how the body reacts.

THUR
8 miles solo around UNR
*took a bit extra to kick my butt out the door

FRI
10 miles with Ronnie on Broken Micah (route goes on back roads where roommate was hit off his road bike by an SUV travelling at 35mph - a year and a half and about a dozen surgeries later, he is back to running! the sub 9:20 steepler did a mile while visiting friends at Cal)
*grouchy - wanted to run four miles...body finally warmed up halfway through

SAT
10 miles with Ronnie from Anderson Park to golf course
*so nice and warm I ran in a t-shirt!!! good, quicker pace on way back.

WEEK
Miles = 59.5. Logical progression of thought: run about ten less miles than normal, and even totally skip running one day, and the body will feel refreshed to the point of thanking you. Reality: for the first time in a month and a half the motivation and health dropped dramatically. I felt tired, and not 100% healthy, the entire week. Plus, after the day off it seemed to take both Thursday and Friday before my body remembered how to run. My theory: the body's systems know when you decide to take a break. Furthermore, if you decide to back off so will said systems. They know they do not need to produce at as high of a level. Thus the overall crappy feel of this "down" week. Interesting. Data logged. In another six weeks we will see if results confirm or debunk current experiences.

I'm excited to return to the higher miles for the next up cycle - back to 70-75 range. Plus it is time to begin adding dashes of flavoring (aka low-key workouts - hill repeats, timed segments, etc). I'm also pumped because a new roommate is arriving! And she is stoked on training! Nothing like having a brand new training partner right in the house. Very grateful for that blessing.

Thanks for reading.
Patience and miles.