Running in the Wee hours of the morning

[caption id="attachment_613" align="alignleft" width="190" caption="I have had this image for a while - just waiting for the day my lazy butt got out of bed so I could run in the Morning!"][/caption]

I posted last week that I have begun weight training. The unfortunate scheduling aspect of working & lifting is that the timing only works if I get my lazy butt up and run in the morning. (This will mean getting up at ~4 am on some of the long Wednesday runs closer to the marathon.)

Now, understand. I hate getting out of bed. No - seriously. The best part of the day is the laying there with no concerns, cuddled up in the warm blankets, often with a warm kitty purring like a motor next to me. Sometimes one of the kids (and sometimes both thing 1 and thing 2 come in) will come cuddle up with dear-old-dad as well. So, you can see why I have problems leaving this Nirvana I face every morning.

Well, this morning I did indeed, leave this wonderful cuddly feeling. Maybe it was driven by the memory of lifting yesterday - encouraging me to get up and run so that I can lift tomorrow. Maybe it is due to the fact that I started watching may calories again - making me more aware of caloric burn. Or Just maybe, It is me growing a little more responsible (ok, ok.. I admit this one is unlikely.. Stop laughing and pick yourself up off the floor. I'll wait.)

Regardless of why - I was awake at five, and headed out into the bright early morning. I was fortunate enough to learn another new lesson today, running the day after a leg-workout is rough! "The Plan" had me written in for a 3 mile run today, so a 3 mile run it was! (See mom? I CAN follow directions!) Runners in the morning are much more friendly than afternoon/evening runners. Smiles, head nods - and even a brief yelled conversation (ok, this one was with a neighbor - but still a runner!) 

I started into the first mile, and as I headed up the slight hill I start most runs with - I noticed it seemed a bit harder than usual.  I rounded the top of it and continued on and noticed my legs were tired!  After some slight confusion (the ten mile run was 2 days ago!!!) I recalled that I did a leg workout on the weights last night.  That explained the feeling in my legs, so after the first mile I decided to slow down and just enjoy the run.  The crisp (and humid) morning air, is much different from the hot (and humid) evening air, definitely a nice change!  Far easier to breathe in and out and I wasn't immediately covered in sweat!  My splits weren't to bad:

Mile 1: 8:39
Mile 2: 8:40 (<-- see? I slowed down!)
Mile 3: 8:11

For Monday's week-in-review, this is what the plan should have looked like:

5

Rest

3 miles

5 miles

3 miles

Rest

10

cross

This is what it DID look like:

5

Rest

read a book

5 m run/wgt lift

3 m run

Rest

10

do nothing

Not to badly off, as I got the ten mile run in - but still didn't follow it as I should.  Maybe this week?

Sunday I was going to be doing the Kelly LaBare 5K Run/Walk this weekend, but it looks like I may be camping with my son and another child instead.

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