must drink more water

After Sunday's race, I took yesterday off from running and opted for 30min on the bike and some weight lifting for my arms ( I will be selling tickets to the gun show in about 2 months!). I did my regular 3 miler today but in reverse order. When I used Google pedometer to look at the elevation going in the normal direction (down M from 5th to 21st and back up L to 10th to M and 5th), it said the whole thing was uphill. I knew the last bit on L was uphill b/c it always bums me out...it's at the end of the run, I am tired and or bored and the hill, however almost flat it may be, still slows me down. Running in reverse would have made all of today downhill right? Hmm maybe. The first part was a nice change up, but I still feel like the end was uphill. Oh well.

I definitely did not drink enough water at work today or yesterday. Actually yesterday perplexed me. I consider myself as well hydrated when my water looks the same going out as it did going in. Yesterday, knowing I wasn't going to run that afternoon, I drank 2 cups of coffee and a Sobe LifeWater and lo and behold....I looked hydrated. Weird. Today I drank my coffee and about a liter of water. (I usually drink like 3-4, then a Propel right before my run). I kept meaning to drink more but before I knew it, it was time to go home and run. Cue return of the dry throat!!!! I thought it might have something to do with the wind, but Sunday's race was wayyy more windy and I was definitely waaayyyy hydrated for that race and no dry throat. Now I know..... that was really the only thing that made me slow/walk for a bit. It sucks to not even have enough spit in your mouth to swallow.

I did some reading yesterday about training for a 10K. i signed up for the Stop the Silence 10K on 14APR2007. After all, what's another mile added onto what I ran Sunday. ( I've run 6.2 before ... in 70min ... ouch). Anyhow, it talked about speed work and how to incorporate it a little bit each run and how just that little bit can shave minutes off of your next race. So, after running one mile, I began to run fast for about 15 seconds and then at slightly slower than normal pace for about 45-50 seconds. I am also trying to consciously remember that I should pick up the cadence of my stride, taking smaller strides and more steps (quicker turnover). Anyhow, I ran today's 3 miler in 33 min ... my fastest yet ( I think...I don't remember).

I am still feeling like running is WORK, as much as I love it. When does it get easier? When will I start getting into a groove where I am running and not thinking about it? Do I need to run longer time-wise? Distance-wise?