Friday, January 24, 2014

Day 57: 4.0 miles

4.0 miles. 39:29. 9:52 pace.

As I mentioned in Day 56, this week has been super stressful.  All day I've been just completely exhausted.  My brain was out to lunch. 

I was scheduled to do a 5 mile tempo today (plus warmup).

I was thinking... no way is that going to happen.  I'll just do my one mile and then try again tomorrow.

But obviously, I ran more than a mile.

A couple reasons for this...

I had just finished lubing up my treadmill that I thought was broken forever.

The other reason...
Brooks PureConnect 3

These shoes.

Those my friends, are the Brooks Pure Connect 3.

I was bored on Tuesday and ordered two pairs of shoes from Zappos, just to try on.  Every once in awhile... I do things like that; just order something from Zappos because it ships overnight for free so I can see what the hype is. Honestly, I had every intention on sending both pairs back.  I like buying running shoes from a running store that has a return policy if they end up not working out for you.  I likely would never send shoes back, but I like the comfort knowing that I can.

I ordered the PureConnect 3 as well as the Pure Flow 3.

The PureFlow was the shoe I was most excited about getting.  My Pure Flow 1's were my favorite shoe.  The 2's were kind of a let down so I was hoping that the 3's would be closer to the original.

I tried the Connects on first.

Oh. Em. Gee.

It was like when Cinderella tries on the glass slipper.  I even said, "ohhhhh.... yyyyeeeeeaaaaahhhhhh" once it was on my foot.  I didn't want to take it off.  I wanted to go run an ultra in those shoes right then and there.

But of course, I didn't.  You don't get the luxury of really testing out shoes that you order from Zappos because they have to be returned in new condition.

But I couldn't stop thinking about them for 24 hours.

I spent a good chunk of that time looking up reviews for the connect and trying to find pictures of them on Instagram as well as videos on YouTube.

I tried to remember how my foot felt inside of them. 

I had to have them.

I went on RoadRunnerSports.com to order them since they are having the VIP appreciation event right now so everything is 20% off.  Who wouldn't want to save about $20 on a pair of shoes AND have the luxury of sending them back after running in them for 90 days if they just don't work out? The problem was... they were suddenly missing from their website when they had been on Tuesday.  It was like the universe was laughing at me and saying I couldn't have those shoes!

Screw you universe.

I'm taking my chances and keeping the Zappos pair. 

I love you, Pure Connect 3


I already ran in them.

And it was amazing.

Well, the shoes were amazing... the run.... kinda wasn't.

As I mentioned before... I have had a stressful week.  I haven't been eating a whole lot.  I haven't been sleeping a lot.  I was supposed to do a 5 mile tempo run (plus warm up).  During the day I had pretty much decided that I was just going to do 1 mile.  After I lubed up the treadmill, however, I got to thinking.  What if I'm sleep deprived and stressed out on race day? 

So I ran. 

I did a 1 mile warm up at 5.5 mph (10:54 pace).  I did 2 miles at tempo (race pace) at 6.5 mph (9:10 pace). The lack of proper fuel and sleep did me in after those miles.  I would have tried harder to keep it up but I started to feel a little dizzy. I slowed it down then for .75 mile at 6.0 mph (10:00 pace) and the last .25 mile back at 5.5mph.

Even though a 5 mile tempo ended up being only a 2 mile tempo I still felt very accomplished. 

On tap for tonight (Friday, Day 58), I have 4 easy miles scheduled.  I'm really hoping I can squeeze this in right before bed.  It's my night to help with admission tickets to the varsity girls basketball game so I likely won't be home before 9.  I've already cut 5 miles out of this week's training plan and I really don't want to cut out any more if I don't have to.

Saturday (Day 59) I have 6 easy miles and Sunday (Day 60!!!!) I have 8.

Hopefully my kids and anxiety allow me to get enough sleep to nail my runs this weekend!!

2 comments:

  1. Love your blog!!! Glad you commented on mine so that I could find yours! lol I kinda did the same thing with Brooks. Not with Zappos though. I was walking through Dicks to get some Honey Stingers (I know, they are right by the register, so I don't know how I ended up in the back of the store next to the shoes...) but regardless, I saw the Pure Connect 2's and I had never tried Brooks before, but everyone and their mother loves them, so I thought, I'm just gonna try them on to see how they feel. I went home with them. Nothing like expecting to walk out with a $20 purchase and it ends up being $120! haha But I had a shoe apparel coupon that was about to expire, so I was justified. I would LOVE to try the 3's and the Flows...

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    1. Lol. I'm a sucker for a coupon!!! If you get a pair of 3s, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how they compare to the 2s.

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