Ho-hum, nothing too exciting to post here (I’ve really reeled you with that lead, haven’t I???) Since last I wrote, I went out Monday night to my neighborhood bar, Wicker Park, and got pretty a little krunk. Totally not my fault– they had Post Road pumpkin ale and I was taking Tuesday morning off of running, since I have class on Tuesday nights. (This rationale makes perfect sense, does it not?) Anyhow, I met up with my buddy Jane (who I sometimes run with) and we enjoyed a non-sweaty time, marveling at the fact that we so very rarely see one another looking clean and normal. Haha. T came by, too. Good stuff.
I had a little more than a few of these
Yesterday was grey and murky all day — not that I was outside, but I could see from my office. All I wanted to do was go home and lie on the couch like a lazy sack of poo. But I had class, so that was not an option. On my way home from work, I passed the new Magnolia Bakery in Bloomingdales. I obviously had to stop, since fall is the one time of year I pretty much eat baked goodies with reckless abandon. I have two reasons for this: (1) PUMPKIN STUFF ABOUNDS! Gotta get it while it’s in season! and (2) I’m in peak training for marathon and burning tons of calories… right?
Anyhow, Magnolia had a pumpkin brownie that I bought and decided to use as a post-class treat. Fast forward to post-class: this brownie sucked. Totally dry and a waste of calories. Did I eat the whole thing? Well, obviously. But did I *really* enjoy it? No, I did not. Harumpf, f*ck you, Magnolia.
This is a pic that came up when I Googled "pumpkin brownie." The difference is that this one looks moist and delicious. Magnolia's was the opposite.
Anyhow, I went to class and it was pretty meh. We only had 3 coaches, which really annoys the crap out of me. Typically there are at LEAST 4, and sometimes more. I mean, it’s not like this class is breaking my bank or anything (It’s 10 sessons for $110– easy math) but still! I go here every week because it’s a speed workout I wouldn’t do on my own, and because there are pacers. However, when my pace group is, like, 25 people, it’s no bueno. They lumped the 8:00-9:00 min milers all in one group (typically, I run with the 8-8:30 group) and this was just annoying. The coach was running slower than I’d like, there were way too many people… and I basically gave up on getting any sort of speed work in whatsoever. Blah. (Good Lord, I sound like a jerk and a curmudgeon. Sorry.) Anyhow, I got 7 miles in, not fast, and called it a night.
This morning, I had 10 miles with some speedwork — “4 x 1200 m @ 5K race pace; jog 50 to 90% interval time between.” Once again, I opted to do 3/4 miles at sub 7:50 pace and then jog the final 1/4 of each mile very slowly. This morning’s speedwork was a bit tougher than it was on Sunday– I dipped above 8:00 a few times– but it’s done.
Left this week: an 11 miler, which I plan to do tomorrow morning, and then a 20 miler. The NYRR is doing an 18-mile tune-up race on Sunday, so I’m doing that +2 miles. I’m planning to do the 20 at a 9:00 pace, so it shouldn’t be too hateful.
Tonight: posse family dinner! Peace!
