It's a Run/Walk Party Over Here

I've been sucked away from blogland due to continuing social and work activities. I've managed to keep up a majority of my training, but have blissfully dropped swimming from the schedule. After complaining one too many times about it to my coach he told me to just forget about it until the New Year. Permission to blow off swimming... did Christmas come early? The funny thing is that I kind of want to go now that I don't have to. Maybe tomorrow.

I upped my run/walk interval to 3:00 run/1:00 walk this week and was greeted with more success. In fact, the only foot pain I've experienced is in my good foot so I'll need to keep an eye on that. I don't want 2010 to be the year of another (different) torn plantar fascia. My running for the week culminated with my first official running race since the Ironman, the annual New York Road Runners Club Holiday 4-Miler. I did this race hungover with a friend last year in frigid temps so we decided to do it again today.

I have a 4-6 mile walk with a 20-minute run/walk on the calendar each week so the race served as that workout. While I tried to minimize the running by stretching the walk intervals - 1:30 for the first two miles, 2:00 for the next few intervals and 4:00 for the final two intervals - I still ended up logging a little extra time on my feet. But I felt great and finished in just over 41 minutes, not terrible considering all the walking I did. My last 4-miler was back on Memorial Day and I took third in my age group with a 30:57 finish, yet today was just as fulfilling. If I do this right I think I can get back to my normal pace and normal confidence in no time.

A second truffle has arrived from Italy so I'll be enjoying that this evening. There seems to be no lull in the holiday indulgence but 'tis the season and I'm loving every moment of it!