Speed work pays off at last

Well after doing this almost every week for over a year, I am finally beginning to see some benefit. Last week I did my fastest 400 ever at 1:34 and this week I skimed off another second to make 1:33. My goal is to get below 90 seconds before we leave on June 19. I also cut my 800 time down to 3:35.


When I get to Italy I will join the base running club, which I understand is focussed on trianing for the Army 10-miler, so it should be a good work out. Also I am looking forward to spending my days at work out classes - there is one called body combat which sounds fun.

Good News: Bad News

Good News - GBOF is being promoted to Colonel.

Bad News - I have to start behaving like a Colonle's wife!

Good News - we are no longer going to Fort Leavenworth in June, as original suggested.

Fantastic News - we are going to Vicenza, Italy for 3 years.

WOO-FRICKIN'-HOO!!!!

5 x 1000

#1 4:32
#2 4:38
#3 4:??
#4 4:52 (oops!)
#5 4:41

So the idea is to either run a steady pace or get gradually faster. I guess I screwed that up by going out too fast. I think it was because I felt so good in my new super cushiony ASICS shoes.

(pressed the wrong button on #3 and went into lap mode which messed up my timing, but based on my 800 split it was about the same as #2).

The speed work continues...

Back to it after 3 weeks off

Last week
3 x 1200
6:03
5:55
5:47
2 x 400
1:42
1:39

Last Night
2 x 1600
8:29 (I was running late so this was my warm-up!)
7:57
2 x 800
3:48
3:52
(My legs were so freakin' tired last night)

Lazik?

I am currently debating whether or not to have lazik eye surgery. I've been thinking about it since I was in Colorado Springs and even went for a consultation. The cost I was quoted was $900 per eye. I got a bad eye infection from my contacts in the summer which has made me rethink this option. Also I can get a flex spending account at work which means I can pay in pre-tax dollars. The deadline for signing up is Dec 17, so I have to decide soon. I went for a consultation with one guy last week. He said I would be a good candidate and the cost would be $5,000! The reason it is way more expensive then my original quote in CS is that it is a more advanced, bladeless, surgery and much safer. It seems all the eye surgeons around here use this method. On the radio at the weekend I heard another surgeon offering a $2,000 discount for the first 500 callers. So I called and I have a further consultation with them on Thursday. I guess I'll have to decide what to do over the weekend. I think I'll probably go for it. I have only heard good experiences of lazik. If anyone out there has heard of any bad experiences please let me know!!

update smupdate

I just had a great 2 week vacation in the UK. It was my Mum's 80th birthday, so two of my sisters were back home for the celebrations as well. It was a quiet family affair - my Mum didn't want much fuss, especially as my step-dad died in June and was sorely missed. Had a very relaxing time and caught up with a couple of old friends and work colleagues. Went out with my good buddy Gemma and the only time we could get together was 5pm on Saturday afternoon - not our usual time for going out and partying. Anywho, turns out that we missed a trick in the old days as the pub was packed with men either fresh from playing football (soccer)and/or watching the footy on the TV! Very entertaining!!

Got back in time for Thanksgiving. Did a 5 mile Turkey Trot which was very painful as I only ran a few times in the UK and was a little hungover from going out with friends (from CS) the night before. Managed a 43:26 which, given the fact I genuinely thought I was going to barf at about mile 3, was not such a bad performance.

Hashed with Mount Vernon on Saturday. Starting to get back into it. Boobs is haring a White House hash in Alexandria in a couple of weeks so we will probably go to that also.

At last a new post!

OK, so I have been a slacker on the blogging front!

A couple of things worthy of update...

1. I did the S.H.I.T Halloween Hash last Tuesday with ILYB. See pics below. Yes, the totally unoriginal pirates costume was resurrected. Had a great time and a horrendous hangover the next day.

2. I ran my first race in over a year on Saturday. It was only a 5k but I kicked ass. My previous PB was 25:37 and on Saturday I ran a 24:11!!!! Not only was it way faster than my previous PB, it was also sub 8 minute miles, which I had always aspired to but never thought I would achieve, AND I got 2nd place in my age group (it was a small race with few women - but the person who beat me was the fastest female there, running 17:38). GBOF also ran a great time of 21:32, which is the fastest 5k he has run since I've know him (although probably not his fastest ever), plus he was sick. All I can say is SPEED WORK ROCKS! Other then the speed training I have been doing every Tuesday for the last 6 months I have done very little running!