So far so good!

Wednesday 9.0 miles/1:17:30/8:37 average pace

Fall has officially arrived here in the bay area, and that means absolutely perfect running weather. Yesterday I had a bit of a headache all afternoon, so I wasn't really looking forward to my run, but once I was out there I was in heaven. It was cool and cloudy- in the 60's and just really nice. I wore my new running skirt, a new top, and the socks Zach got me for my b-day, so I was feeling spiffy. It was also really nice to run without hat or sunglasses, as those things can seem so cumbersome and constricting. Feeling the freedom of the day, I also chose to run without my iPod. I brought it along, but I never felt like putting the headphones on. I really enjoyed listening to the sound of my steps and my breathing, along with the birds, the traffic, and the people. It was a great run! I also had a very good pace, which felt pretty easy the whole time.

9:09, 8:39, 8:30, 8:32, 8:41, 8:49, 8:45, 8:36, 7:49.

I looked back in my log and comparing this first week of training with my last training cycle for CIM (run #1, run #2), I have been running a lot faster, like 45 seconds+ per mile. I know a couple of training runs don't mean much, but I feel stronger and faster and more confident than last year (and I was feeling good last year, so that's saying something!). I guess we'll really see where I'm at when I start doing Speed Intervals and long runs. But so far (ha ha, halfway through week one!) I am feeling like my GOAL marathon time of 3:35 could really happen. :)

Also, you will notice my cross training entries are going to get kinda pushed to the bottom of running posts, like this:

Tuesday BIKE: 7 miles/35 minutes-ish/12 MPH
It was an unplanned ride, born of a confusing and totally my fault commute/drop-off/pick-up/who-has-the-keys type situation. Basically I could have stood around for 45 minutes or ride my bike around in my work clothes (jeans and a sweater. A SWEATER.) It was luckily cool out, but still, yuck. Oh well, got a ride in. :)

Thursday SWIM: 750 m in 14:51
YIPEE!!!!!!!!! I wish I could have made this a whole post on its own, because I DID IT! I finally got my goal of under 1 minute per lap. I was swimming very strong and felt comfortable, when who appears like an angel asking to share my lane? That's right, my swim crush. I finally talked to her, even if it was just to say "Oh ya, come on in!" or whatever I said. :) Ya, we're buddies now.

Giant shout out to Maritza who is making this Pfitz thing look way too easy. She's really motivating me since she's 4 weeks or so ahead of me in the schedule and has set the bar pretty high! You rock Maritza!!! :)