Hills and Speed: Check!

Tonight I had and easy 4.5 mile run with 6x45 sec @ level 8. I ran the 4.5 miles between 1-5% inclines at at varying paces, starting at 11:29 min miles, and going up to 10:29 min miles. I did the hill sprints at an incline of 6, running at around an 8:29 min mile. The sprints were really tiring, and I did not quite manage 45 seconds for all of them, so I did a few extra to make up for it. Nothing more to add, except that this was a relatively satisfactory session, and I was really glad that I ran for more sustained distances on the hills, and at a faster pace. The funny thing is, I seem to have ended up with exactly the same time as my easy 5 mile run on Sunday! But I probably missed a few seconds somewhere, though not many, otherwise what would be the mathematical probability of that happening?

Dinner was a bit of a treat: an Ezekiel muffin with Icelandic butter. Now this is purposely meant to sound as exotic as I first found it. Living in the US has suddenly opened up a new vista of food choices. Topping the list is the Icelandic butter and yoghurt. Even in Europe we cannot buy this, as it is simply not to be found anywhere, and although Iceland is part of the European Economic Area, I have yet to see anything of theirs on the supermarket shelves. Anyway, I know it's not very green and I am probably creating some very bad juju with my girnormous carbon footprint, but my only justification is that much like eating reindeer steaks in the Arctic Circle, I just had to try this. She tried it all, and saw that it was good!

Currently there is a programme on the Food Network Channel entitled "The Best thing I ever Ate".  All these chefs are interviewed and they try and describe the best thing they ever ate, and the accompanying sensations. It is quite an interesting experience, because you immediately wonder if you can come up with something, realize that there are quite a few options, and then the fun part begins when you start paring it down.  Although this next item is not the Best Thing I Ever Ate, it is one of the most memorable.
I need a bit of a break from the Green Monsters, so this morning I had granola and yoghurt for breakfast.    The first time I ever tasted this particular combination, was last July, picking up my race packet at the Danskin Triathlon expo.  Walking past a stand, a bloke offered me a cup with some granola and yogi in it.  My surprise at the unexpected deliciousness is recreated everytime I have this:

Bear Naked granola and Banilla (yes it's banana and vanilla) yoghurt.  It is the best - EVER!  It is also a great post-run snack.  Finally I will leave you with one last image (and this one's for Christina).  A few posts ago I mentioned the straw that finally broke the camel's back, and led Stuart to refuse to eat anymore of my vegetarian offerings: red quinoa, green cauliflower and spinach - well maybe a picture really is worth a thousand words!  Happy Wednesday.

I am finally starting to feel the love.......

Given that I had to play a little catch up this week, after my hill training on Thursday, my legs were so tired on Friday, that I only managed 2 of my 4 miles, and decided to take my rest day then, did my long run yesterday, and did my 4 miles (+ 1 from those outstanding), to make it a 5 mile easy run today.
It was raining heavily all day, and I kept waiting for it to ease up, but no. So wimping out on a rainy run, I did 5 treadmill or "dreadmill" (as Stefano likes to call them) miles. It takes me a while to warm my core up, but I did it in 52:27. Not fabulous, considering that I did a 6 mile race last February in 57:33. BUT, it was pretty good for me, since I actually enjoyed it. I felt like I was having a good run, and had to put my back into it. Yesterday's long run seemed slow and very long. I do not have an exact time for that, since I forgot how to use the Garmin, and only managed to get it to work around mile 2! That just shows how long it's been since I've used it.
You may have noticed that I changed my workout log to the daily mile widget. I never quite got into the buckeye outdoors one, having abandoned my previous one, since this one offered more options. But it was just not right, and so I have only used it a few times.
My physical ailment seems to have passed, and I am finally feeling more in the zone, as I start week 6. My goals for this week are:

* sticking to the training schedule without switching the days around
* do 2 sessions of weights on cross-training days

OK, well off to try and sort out some dinner. Cheers, and Happy Monday!