Week 5 Recap

This week provided a real test in the training program. It wasn't necessarily the 7.0 mile run, but the time it takes to run it. At 74 minutes, plus travel and hot tub, I'm away from the family for 2.5 hours. Luckily the wife has been pretty supportive and sees that it really does have a positive influence on me. My 2 year old is going through a period where he only wants his mom to do things, so I'm sure he doesn't care if I'm gone...lol

I was able to get through the full 18.0 miles this week. Much like my other longer runs, the beginning of the 7.0 mile run was grueling, but after awhile, it was pretty relaxing. I am happy for the day off today, as I'm a little sore.

Next week is much like this week, with a distance of 18.5 miles. Only exception is a Sunday run of 7.5 miles. I have family coming over this weekend and possibly people staying over, so finding the time to run will be a challenge.

On a side note, I've always wondered why long distance runners that I see usually don't have headphones (iPod, etc). I always thought that it had something to do with the weight or the bother of the cord. I decided this week to try running without. Actually my dead batteries decided for me. I was surprised that it actually made the runs easier. It helped it two ways. First, I know that most of the songs are between 4 and 5 minutes long. This provides a sort of timer that tells me how far I have gone. I don't like this. It structures the run too much. This week I put a towel over the distance reader and set a goal for when I could check distance or drink water (ex: One full inning of baseball game). Some innings were long, and some were not.
Secondly, it was more relaxing. I was able to notice other things around me. I even got lost in a TV show in which I had to read the closed captioning. It took my mind off the run. I imagine when I run outside, it is much better.

Distance Run - 62.2 miles
Time Trained - 10 hours, 42 minutes
Calories Lost - 74.9 cans
Low Weekly Weight - 208.8
Average Weekly Weight - 210.1