Survival Mode

I managed to make it through another week in graduate school. Recent events have me questioning a lot of things. Things that I don't have the energy to type out at this time. Lucky for you, right?

In running news, this has been a rather speedy cutback week for me. Even when I was feeling crappy, I was able to push through and get my speedy on.

As mentioned, I didn't run on Wednesday, so I tried to stay on the upper end of the mileage for all of my runs for the rest of the week. The Hansons plan usually gives me some sort of a range in terms of what I should run. Thursday gave me a range of 5 to 7 miles, so I ran 7 miles, for instance.

Here's what the run looked like:

Mile 1 - 10:15

Mile 2 - 9:43

Mile 3 - 10:04

Mile 4 - 9:57

Mile 5 - 9:55

Mile 6 - 9:53

Mile 7 - 9:56

Mile 0.02 - 8:51

Friday was a little bit of a struggle, but I still ran a fairly speedy 6 miler:

Mile 1 - 10:00

Mile 2 - 9:53

Mile 3 - 9:47

Mile 4 - 9:59

Mile 5 - 10:01

Mile 6 - 9:39

The options for today ranged from 6 to 10 miles. I was hoping to do 10 miles, but the combination of a slight hangover, lack of adequate sleep, and a janky left IT band quickly quashed that notion. Instead, I ran just over seven miles AND spectated in a race! I ran around my 'hood and then ran to campus where the race was being held. It turned out to be a great race to watch because not only was the ever-so-delightful Mica running, but so was her boyfriend, as well as the amazing Jessica, Ryan, and Ryan's roommate Joe. The race, like so many of the local races, I've discovered, was two loops around the quad. The running folks in Champaign are very fond of races that are comprised of loops. There was also a terrible wind coming out of the West. Nevertheless, my friends ran very well! There were even some sizable PR's! So here is a photo journey of race day:

Ryan, happy before running.

The crowd starts to gather. I think the starting line was drawn on the ground. They're pretty low-tech here.

The real star of the day: Bodger.

It looks like the guy behind an unsure-looking Mica is about to elbow her in the head! Don't be fooled by the nonchalant looks of these ladies, they are both about to kick ass.

Bodger looks stunned. Mica looks ready to rumble.

Getting ready to start. Does anyone else see that freakishly tall man amidst the runners? I wonder how he did...

This face either says, "I'm cold" or "I just got dust in my eye."

Isengard...I mean, the bell tower.

Mica, powering through her first lap around the Quad.

The second person from the left, in the white top, is Mica's bf.

STILL rockin' it and looking good whilst doing so.

Mica's bf is actually very speedy. He's also on the right side of the picture.

Ryan is in the middle of the photo. This is lap #2

Jessica is doing three things here: Running fast, posing, and yelling, "This Sucks!!!"

Mica, still hanging on in lap #2.

The guy with the white shirt is the guy that won the race. 17:05 was his official time, I think.

Jessica is on her way to a second place finish in her age group!

Mica, powering through to the finish.

Bodger, taking advantage of my salty legs. Although I was probably sweating alcohol.

Ryan got a door prize after we waited around for over an hour...

I'm so jealous. Jessica's second place prize was a fossil!!!