Week 4 and 5: First Test

Houston Marathon Training Week 4 finished with my first test, the Space City 10-Miler in Clear Lake. I failed.
The weather was decent: overcast, 63-61°F with the dewpoint at 61 to 59°F and a light North 7 to 8 mph wind. I started out easy, but even a 6:25 first mile felt hard. When I ran a 6:39 second mile, I knew I didn't have it. I don't know if it's the slow running because of the recent heat and humidity, or if I'm getting too old, or if it was just a bad day.

74 miles for Week 4 (October 5th to October 11th)

M AM - 6¼ miles recovery run at 8:55 pace, 82°F at 4AM
M PM - 4 miles recovery run at 8:17 pace on the treadmill at the power plant
Tu - 10 miles general aerobic at 7:47 pace, very warm and humid 84°F at 4AM
W AM - 8¾ miles general aerobic at 7:46 pace, 84°F at 4AM with the dewpoint inland at Angleton all the way up to 80°F
W PM - 6 miles on the track, average pace 7:15, 85°F and very humid at 7PM
Th - 6¾ miles recovery run at 8:41 pace, full Summer heat 85°F at 4AM
F - 8¾ miles general aerobic at 7:57 pace, another Summer morning, 85°F at 4AM
Sa - 7 miles recovery at 9:06 pace, 59°F at 9AM, so much better!
Su - 16½ miles with a 10-mile race averaging 6:47 pace, overcast 63-61°F from 7AM



66 miles for Week 5 (October 12th to October 18th)

M AM - 6¼ miles recovery run at 8:57 pace, 71°F at 4AM
M PM - 4 miles recovery run at 8:02 pace on the treadmill at the power plant
Tu - 10 miles general aerobic at 7:36 pace, very warm and humid 84°F at 4AM
W - had a very bad sore throat and took the entire day off, maybe that's my excuse for racing so poorly Sunday, 83°F at 4AM
Th - 6¾ miles recovery run at 8:28 pace, 82°F at 4AM
F - 10 miles general aerobic at 7:38 pace, 71°F at 4AM
Sa - 9 miles easy at 8:00 pace, 68°F at 11AM, sunny and nice dry air
Su - 20 miles averaging 7:36 pace, beautiful sunny day, 68°F from 11AM It's so much more fun to run in nice cool, dry air!

There just isn't enough time to prepare for the Houston Half Marathon this Sunday. I'm afraid that's going to be another disaster.