Weekend at home

Saturday: RUN 7 miles in 60.5 mins
Sunday: RUN 4.5 miles in 38 mins

I had every intention of swimming. I was at first concerned to hear that the Y pool was closed for the drain law, then happy to hear it had just opened again. Then disappointed to learn at the Y Saturday morning that here was a swim meet...nuts.

Seems I somehow knew this could happen. Because I had also brought run gear to the gym. And as much as a hate the treadmill it was my best choice. So I planned out my first tater speedwork!! WU 10 mins then 4x1 miles at 8m/m pace with 2 min rest. Good thing about the treadmill is that you can really focus on form and refine it. Bad thing is that there isn't much else to focus on. There are TVs everywhere, but watching TV and running for me is to artificial.

Which brings me to my next observations. I like this Y for it's size, busy equipment, and variety of bodies and abilities. In STL the Y is smaller and busier but less variety. But at the same time, WTF with all the TVs?! Is that the only way people can work out? And no conversation anywhere! We are all doing the same thing but doing it in solitude. Ok sure I can't really compare this to a group run, people at the gym didn't come in together with common goals. But at the park I'm saying Hi to everyone, giving a little wave, making eye contact with a smile... In the gym you keep to yourself and block others out with headphones. Booooo.

Another difference is that a lot of peeps at the Y where exercising. In contrast, I'm training. They are burning calories with big arms swings, ankle weights, and low "fat burning" effort. I'm refining technique to save energy, and pushing at hard pace to make the hour worthwhile. Exercising vs training. Can't compare me to them. Or to the guy who looked like a gym regular but sat on a recumbent bike and surfed his phone for 30 mins at 40% effort. Boooooooo.

On Sunday I went outdoors up to the school road and back. I almost didn't run! But DH and mom seemed to expect I would, so I did. I almost took today as a rest day, but a 40 min run isn't exactly a really hard session. I skipped the 10k to visit with family. A worthwhile trade with no regrets.