it's been a good week.

i was lazy on sunday and didn't cross train. so i got out on my new bike (1997 giant kronos road bike) at lunch on monday and did 8.25 miles. i have no idea how long it took me.

i ran at lunch on tuesday and did 3.45 miles in 29:15 (8:27). it felt pretty good to push hard. my calves were feeling fine after last week's punishment in the fivefingers (or gloves, as my co-worker and friend, John, calls them). they were feeling so fine that i decided to run in the glvoes wednesday after work. but i wanted to be able to walk afterward, so i ran the first mile and a quarter, then walked a mile, and then ran the last mile. also, i picked up a pair of toe socks at REI to alleviate the blister issues i had the first time. problem solved.

i didn't realize i was feeling so good today, or maybe i turned a corner. people who use the fivefingers say they make you faster. i finished today's 3.25 mile run in conventional shoes in 26:54 (8:17). this is not monumental, obviously, but considering last week i was running over 8:30, i feel very pleased with my progress. i would like to continue using the fivefingers as much as possible in my training. if possible, i would like to run the race in them, but i won't push too hard for that. i have to work my legs and my feet into shape first, and i don't know if my strength will catch up to my distance training.

five miles on saturday. that's pretty manageable. next week will be a long run, and i'd like to do some interval training mid-week, too. we'll see how that goes.

robb.