Training, Week of 6/5

Week 3!  I ran every day this week for 45.4 miles in 5:20:22 (7:04/mile average).  This increases my weekly mileage by about 10 miles over last week and extends my run-every-day streak to 21 days.  I had originally planned on about 42 miles this week but a combination of slightly longer than originally intended runs and getting lost on two runs, extending their lengths, brought the mileage up more than anticipated.  The temperature also decreased slightly this week which was a factor in the reduction in pace.  I also think that I'm adapting to the hills around here, helping to bring the pace down.

This week's long run (11.28 miles) was a good example of getting lost.  Compare the following pictures to get an idea of what getting lost in Meriden is like:

Where I wanted to run...

Where I ended up running...

As you can see, not only did I end up adding about a mile to the run, from the elevation profile, I also added a gigantic hill.  Meriden is a very hilly town and I expect that all the uphill running will help me get a lot stronger.

I also had my first notable negative runner-driver interaction.  A woman in a beat-up red sedan drove up to the stop sign just after I arrived.  I looked in through her windshield and believing that we had made eye-contact, started to cross.  As I was right in front of the car, she started to move, so to alert her to my presence, I said "Whoa whoa whoa".  Then the following exchange happened:

Driver: "I didn't see you!"
Me: "Then you should do a better job of looking"
Driver: "You should be on the other side"

After this, I was a bit too far along to continue the conversation without stopping.  Who was at fault here?  Objectively, I should have done a better job making sure she knew where I was before crossing the road.  I also probably shouldn't have have replied to her.  On the other hand, it's my firm belief that drivers should be looking where they're going, not over their shoulders.  If she had been doing this (as she should have been) then she would have seen me and there would have been no problem.  Finally, in response to her final comment, I was running on the sidewalk on the left side of the road.  Pretty much 100% perfect on my part.

In any case, I'm happy about my progress towards getting back into shape.  In addition to the 4th of July Down-hill Mile Title Defense, I am also looking to do the Ocean Beach 11.6 Mile Road Race in the fall.

-Lane