Going Back To Cali, Cali, Cali

Monday, April 13
a.m. 45 min Road
6.7M (6.7)

p.m. 62 min Road incl 6xHill Sprints
9.5M (16.2)

Tuesday, April 14
a.m. 46 min Road
6.7M (22.9)

p.m. 6x1k w/ 2 min rec 3mi wu/3mi cd+4xstrides

3:04, 3:06, 3:07, 3:04, 3:01, 2:57 (3:03.2 avg)

10M (32.9)

Wednesday, April 15
a.m. 1:57 Road

18.5 (51.4)

Thursday, April 16
a.m. 68 min Road

10M (61.4)

Friday, April 17
a.m. 65 min Road + strides

10M (71.4)

Saturday, April 18
a.m. 10M race/workout 53:07, 1st Place

(Santa Barbara Chardonnay 10M, CA)

30min wu/30 min cd

18.8M (90.2)

Sunday, April 19

OFF/Travel

Total Miles: 90.2

Our time in California was a pleasant respite from "spring" in the UP. Now we've been in the midst of a snow/wind storm since Sunday.

Tuesday was my first interval workout in a long, long time. I would have to say that it went about as well as it could have. I was never in severe distress and I felt like I could have gone a couple more at the same pace (3:04-3:07).

Thursday and Friday I had good runs along the ocean in Oxnard, CA. It was surprisingly cool in the morning and I ended up wearing the one long sleeve I packed both days.

Saturday we headed up to Santa Barbara to go to the farmer's market and sight-see. When we were planning the trip I knew it would be hard to find a track (that I would be allowed on) or a safe road route to do a workout on, so I searched around for a road race nearby. The Santa Barbara Chardonnay 10M worked out perfectly as a marathon/tempo pace workout and the course was beautiful. We ran out and back along the ocean with a few hills in the middle miles. I ended up running most of the race with another runner, averaging around 5:22-5:24 for most of the miles - a little faster than the 5:30's I had planned on. But I felt really good and was able to run 5:11-5:20 over the last three miles. I ended up finishing first and winning a $100 gift certificate to Outfooters, a local running store, which I used to buy a new pair of trail running shoes (Adidas Adistar Trail), although I wonder when I'll actually be able wear them up here.

The only downside to the vacation was that I woke up with a sore throat Sunday morning as we were leaving. Its got progressively worse through Monday evening, but I seem to be on the downside now.