Despite the power outage this week, I had a solid week of training.

Thoughts:

I felt good throughout the week. Last Sunday I took a rest day.  I felt great on Monday and ran longer than expected. It was the furthest I have run since the Shamrock Half Marathon!  That run was my favorite and most enjoyable of the training week. I felt good and everything went smoothly. My rest of the week felt good as well.

I also added a few fartleks and various 15 second speed bursts into each run. Last week I had informal speed work such as fartleks and fast finishes. Depending on my schedule, I might try and go to the track sometime soon!

On Saturday I ran the Independence Day 10k.  Cliff notes: I took the race out to fast and paid the price.  It was still fun and I had a great time with friends.

Next week:

I plan to add a few more fartleks and fast finishes. I feel my legs starting to get more comfortable with running and informal speed work. I haven’t felt this strong since January when I was in the depth of marathon training. It’s time to focus on more speed and get back into races.

Other then that it was an uneventful week!

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I haven’t filled out a running survey in a while and it made sense to add it to my Sunday training log! Instead of doing a lengthy training post for the week, I thought I would fill out a lengthy survey.  

Janae posted it last week and I found it fun. I’m nosy and like to learn more about people’s running life so feel free to answer any or all of the questions! 

Would you rather run along a beach path or on a mountain trail?

I would rather run on a mountain trail.  I enjoy hill work. Running on the beach or in the mountains will make you sore…so pick your poison.

secret trails…

If you could choose the flavor of gatorade at your next race’s aid stations, what would it be?

I like strawberry, raspberry or kiwi. 

If I gave you a $100 gift card to a running store, what would be the first thing that you would purchase with it?

I don’t know because I work at a local running store. I would probably donate it or give it away.

Do you prefer to follow a training plan or wake up and decide then how far and how fast you want to run?

As Beyonce says: I woke up like this.

I normally have a rough idea of what I want to do each week but I don’t follow an exact training plan.

Would you rather start your run with the uphill and end on the downhill or start your run with the downhill and end with the uphill?

I would rather start downhill and end uphill.  It takes me a few miles to warm up and my body is not ready to run uphill out the door.

When you can’t run, what type of cross-training do you choose to do?

Hashtag ellipical for life.  I can mindlessly creep on twitter and watch trashy TV.

What is your preference—>  Out and back, point to point or loop runs?

I feel like out and back runs go by faster!  That being said I don’t have a personal preference.

If you could recommend ANY running related item to a new runner, it would be a—>

A good pair of shoes. That’s all you need to run.

Do you ever see any wild animals while out on your runs?

Since I went to college in the Upstate, NY I have seen a lot of different animals.  I’ve seen bears, turkeys, turtles, dangerous dogs and cats, raccoons, geese (the worst). I’m sure I’ve seen more that I can’t remember.

Just hanging out…

Ever gotten lost while out on a run?

I have gotten lost several times.  If you haven’t gotten lost, I’m really impressed.

If you could have one meal waiting and ready for you each time you got home from a run for the next 30 days… what would that meal be?

I’m a morning runner. If the meal is magically waiting for me, than omelets.  Every time I try and cook eggs they become scrambled.

Capris or shorts… what do you run in most often?

Shorts!  I own one pair of capris but I normally just lounge in them.

At what mile (or how many minutes) into your run does your body start to feel like it is warming up and ready to go?

20-30 minutes

What do you do with your key when you run?

I leave it in my house or I hold it.

If you could relive any race that you have done in the past, which one what it be?

The Nike Women’s Half Marathon.

What type of run is your least favorite type of run?

The kind that I’m injured.

What has been your biggest motivation lately to get out the door to get your run on?

The motivation to try and stay consistent this summer.

When you go for a run, do you leave right from your front door or do you drive somewhere to start?

I like to leave from my front door.  In five out of six of my weekly runs, I leave from my front door.

When running in daylight—>  are sunglasses a must or an annoyance?

I think I have run with sunglasses a total of 5 times in my life.

When you get tired, what keeps you from quitting?

I’m normally not home.  So if I quit…I’m awkwardly standing there instead of being home.

Question for you: Answer any or all of the questions.