This past week, I stuck to the schedule perfectly. I ran when I was supposed to (including the distance), and rested when I was supposed to. Yesterday was the challenge of a 3-mile run.

The ramp up in distance is huge (1 mile, then 2, then 3 over just two weeks), so the challenge was before me. The weekly distances were 2 miles Monday, 2.5 miles on Wednesday, walk / cross-train on Thursday, and then 3 miles on Saturday. 2 miles – not bad. 2.5 miles were mostly running (over 2 1/4 miles before walking then finishing with a run), but three?!? Personally, I thought they were nuts.

Our training location is very different from the real 10K course. The 10K consists of a flat course that may turn left or right or make a sweeping u-turn over a flat road. Our YMCA sits at the top of a hill. Turn left, you go downhill. Turn right, you go downhill. While downhill is good, it means that you have to end with a long uphill run. When you are also running the longest you have in almost 25 years, it is not the preferred way to finish.

Yesterday, it was a cold morning – just under 30 degrees at our 8:00 AM start. I started strong although felt like walking after less than a mile. Of course, I kept pushing through the distance since much of what was behind me at that point was downhill. This, of course, translates into an uphill return. After about 1.5 miles, I had to walk for a bit to blow my nose — as with most people, cold weather makes my nose run. I again started running. All in all, I walked a total of 3 or 4 times. One good thing is that I walk quickly so almost no one passed me on those walking stints. After walking part of the final hill, I finished strong and at about 15 in the pack of 75 or so. I was pleased overall, but know there is more work to do.

This week calls for 2 miles on Monday (we’re supposed to feel like this should be easy by now), and 2.5 miles on Wednesday. This duplicates the previous week and is supposed to help our endurance. Saturday is another 3 miles. Let’s hope that the cold weather continues since that is much easier to run in once my body “engine” warms up.

3 weekly runs down, 7 more prep runs to go before the 10K. I know that the 10K should be easier for me than in any year past due to my preparation, and am looking for a personal best time that blows away previous times. Preparation is the key. As a friend told me yesterday before we ran, passing the final exam is much easier if you actually attend class and do the homework!