[X] Endurance Phase

en·dur·ance noun [en-doo r-uh ns]

1: permanence, duration <the endurance of the play's importance>

2: the ability to withstand hardship or adversity; especially : the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity <a marathon runner's endurance>

3: the act or an instance of enduring or suffering <endurance of many hardships>

No wonder I'm so happy to see that today was our last day in the endurance phase of our training program! Leave it to me to actually look up the formal definition of the word once our 10 mile run was complete. And yes, I completely understand definition 2.

Endurance is definitely a good way to sum up this week of training. First of all, I'd like to brag that it's probably the first week since week 1 (7 weeks ago) that I actually did all the trainings on the scheduled day and in the time allotted.  Second, with the reinstatement of the civilian wellness program at the office I've been using my 3 hours a week to sneak in a double workout if possible with the training schedule. As a result? My body is beginning to feel the impact of training, both the good (no carb needs to be left behind just yet) and the bad (ice packs are my best friend).  

Over all training is still on track. It's amazing to see the progress over the short 8 weeks we've been training. 

Last week our 16 x 400m sprints sounded like TORTURE, but this week? I actually tried to convince Lori we were 2 short because it just seemed too easy, but some simple math proved otherwise..although we were both ready to do 2 more just because we could. 

Today's 10 miler? Well, after last week's 17 (shudder) we felt like we were dragging, especially running into insane wind, but yet we were still running way faster than our pace should have been. 

Oops. Hey, I earned my SB name and didn't just dub her Speed Racer for anything. 

Of course these nicknames are going to be majorly tested this next week as we move into the Stamina Phase and we leave our my favorite sprint night for runs at an 8:40/mile pace. Uh hu. Let's just say my new mantra of PR or ER  is going to be alternated with Oprah did this so I can too. Oh and the fact that next Saturday I get to spend 4 hours running? *Sigh* Piano, piano. I've done this before and I can do it again. 

And yes, you did see that I registered for 2 half marathons over the summer this week.