Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Terrific Tuesday!

Over the weekend, hubs was helping me fine-tune my schedule for this week and ever since, I had been dreading anticipating today's run. It was a doozie - 23K (14.3mi) with 8K (5mi) tempo-ish (hubs suggested 10s/KM slower than actual tempo pace). I knew it was going to be a tough one and had a list of reasons in my head why it was not going to go well:

  • longest MWMLR to-date
  • longest run before work ever
  • needed to start running at 4AM
  • first time incorporating tempo miles in a longer run

As it turns out, I had nothing to worry about! What a great run!

Surprisingly, I felt pretty well-rested when the alarm went off at 3:30 (again). Hubs offered to join me for 10K, even though he didn't have to be up that early. It was nice to have company, especially in the pitch black "morning", and we were off and running just after 4.

We took the 10K on the easy side and I made a pit stop at the car to ditch the long sleeve (it was a gloriously cold morning!), swap my handheld for a smaller one and grab my iPod as hubs made his way home. It was time to get down to business!

Target pace for 8K tempo(ish): 5:10/KM

Splits:

5:10
5:11
5:08
5:08
5:06
5:04
4:58
4:55

Average tempo pace: 5:05/KM (8:11/mi)

I could not believe how good I felt and how easily the kilometres were ticking by. For the majority, it truly felt like a run-all-day pace. What a great feeling when everything just clicks. (Dear Running Gods: If this could happen on race day, I would greatly appreciate it. kthanksbye.)

I still had a few miles to go after the tempo portion, so I slowed it down a few notches to wrap things up. What a feel-good, confidence-boosting run!

23.0KM (14.3mi) - 2:07:40 - 5:33/KM (8:56/mi)


Happy Tuesday!

46 comments:

Stacey said...

I love it when everything just clicks! Sounds like a great start for your day!

TNTcoach Ken said...

3:30 AM???? What is that in American??? Woman if you don't win the race something is wrong..... great run

ShutUpandRun said...

You are perhaps the most disciplined runner out there. 3:30am to do a fast tempo run. It's 7:32 and I haven't even started yet. Still working on that first cup of coffee.

TMB @ RACING WITH BABES said...

OK, I have to draw the line somewhere. There is no way I am getting out of bed at 3:30 to run. Talk about commitment!

Anonymous said...

thats awesome marlene! sounds like u had an awesome run!
that is very early, but congrats on waking up and getting out there! yay!

Clarkie said...

Bless your little racing heart. You were up an hour and a half before me. And probably looked a lot more awake.

"I am not worthy, I am not worthy."

yumke said...

Awesome work. 5:05 pace tempos huh? The intrepid among us can figure out what marathon pace you're aiming at for race day :).

Unknown said...

3:30 in the morning? I've heard of such at time, but wasn't sure it really existed...

lish said...

You are just amazing...Super Early Morning...great run...You are going to ROCK your marathon!!!

Laura said...

Dear Marlene.
Great job.
You are nuts.
have a nice day.

Unknown said...

Wow, great job on your run!

RunKathyRun said...

Bless your heart for getting out there at the crack of dawn and for a tough workout to boot; you rock!

Being Robinson said...

ohhhh so jealous of your glorious cold mornings. it got stupid hot here again. just dumb. but congrats on such a great early morning long run! you're kicking ass and i like it :)

Runners Fuel said...

I love it when everything just clicks

Julie D. said...

wow. i'm jealous. what a great run!! great job getting up early and getting it done!

teacherwoman said...

4am run?! ROCKSTAR! Please tell me you're a coffee drinker ... so you can get through the work day?! If not, what's your secret? I love early morning workouts, but if I do too many during the week, I have a hard time getting through Thursday and Friday on a positive note! And... I don't think I can go to bed any earlier than I already do!

Denise said...

love it! there was nothing to be afraid of! great job.

amy said...

Great job!! Perhaps it was all of that R&R on Fri/Sat that prepped you to conquer anything!! Keep it up!!

Katie A. said...

You are such a rockstar for running at 4 am - but you're an even bigger rockstart for that run! Congrats on it all clicking - you are going to do awesome come race day, just hold on to this feeling ;)

Jill said...

YAY for great runs, especially at that crazy hour. You ROCK, girl!!

Indi said...

Your marathon does not stand a chance! You are going to totally kill this one! WTG on an awesome am run!

No Longer Using said...

yayyyy! i love great-feeling runs. everything just clicks. nice job!! i think you have earned it though, it's not just luck or the running gods :)

btw, LOVED the anniversary photos :)


ALSO, housekeeping request... i haven't received the compression socks i won from your giveaway!!! i emailed the contact person and she said the US rep was "working on it" but that was ages ago.. :( any chance you could send a word on my behalf?? :) thanks marlene!

Anonymous said...

YAY! I love it when a run just goes your way. And I am kind of digging the whole running in the dark thang. We did it this morning and it was peaceful!

Jess said...

Glad it went so well for you!

Mark said...

How can someone keep getting better and better? Take a look at Marlene and learn! You are really an amazing young lady, your husband is pretty cool, too, getting up that early to run with you.

Nicole said...

what time do you go to bed at night to wake up so early? i complain about my runless morning 6am wake up calls and you wake up at 3:30, run 14 miles THEN go to work. wow. your AWESOME! great job!

Teamarcia said...

Veeeery nice! I wish we could bottle days like those!

Gotta Run..... said...

MY GOODNESS... before you know it you will be cutting sleep out all together :)

You are doing SO awesome!!! WAY TO GO!

Heidi said...

I'm just smiling reading this. :)

Nicole @ Haute Runner said...

OMG you are fast! I can't believe you ran more than a half marathon before work today...

Lindsay said...

I'm not worthy! Awesome job, so inspirational. Now if only I could this :)

Badgergirl said...

Alarm blaring at 3:30 and running by 4 a.m.? Was it worth it to even go to bed? Kudos on getting out for the super early run!

Andrew Opala said...

As usual - knock out splits!

ajh said...

Sounds like an awesome run but I CANNOT IMAGINE getting up at 3:30. What time do you go to bed, girl?!?!

Boris T said...

Gotta love when a plan comes to together! :D

J said...

What an amazing run! So glad it went well for you this morning! It has been pitch black out in the mornings, which can be scary but also very cool!!

Runner Leana said...

You were running by 4 am? That's awesome! And even more awesome is that you had such a terrific run. Congratulations! :)

Unknown said...

I'm up at 3:30 but wishing that my youngest would fall back to sleep so that I can get up at 5:30 to run. Man, you run early!
Glad you had such a great run.

Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...

Holy Early Am run!! 3:30!! Wow oh wow, the Running Gods are bound to bless you with that kinds of dedication. I love love those days when the miles pass easily.. you are rocking the pace sister, I feel good good things for the next M Day.... I mean nothing can top running with me for 26.2, but I am sure you will rock out the time goal.

RunningLaur said...

You're a powerhouse! I'm going to be thinking of you when I'm feeling miserable talking myself out of a morning run, blaming the 3 hour time difference!

dawn @ running the dawn said...

good work! what an awesome run! i wish i could be more consistent with my early morning runs. i'll get them all in one week and then the next its impossible to get out of bed. way to stay committed, even when the training plan gets insane!

Heather said...

Wow, you really nailed it! Great job. My problem with early morning runs (and swims) is that I feel great during the workout, but then am shot the rest of the day and starving. :)

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

There are nights when I am just getting to bed (read: thank LBM!) at that hour. I wonder if I will ever see the day when I can get ALL my miles done in the morning. That.would.be.SO.nice!!

I am still waiting on those adoption papers! ;-)

Unknown said...

AWESOME run. It cracks me up when you say you were dreading this tough run. I look at mine schedule and try to forget the tough runs right up until I leave the house. They always turn out fine but it's the anticipation that gets to me! You rocked it, you're fast!

Johann said...

Now that is really impressive, well done!

Unknown said...

Great run! keep it up and have a happy run always!

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