Weekly run-down:

Thursday 1/21/10
-45:00 on the bike trainer
-5 minute intervals

Friday 1/22/10
-Distance: 3.35 miles
-Time: 29:21
-AP: 8:45

Saturday 1/23/10
-Distance: 9.41
-Time: 1:33:05
-AP: 9:52 per mile

We had a great group run in Wilmore this morning, finishing a 2.66 mile run in about 28 minutes. After this run, Kelly and I headed out for another 6 more around Wilmore. We ended up doing 6.75 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes, making it a total of 9.41 miles for the day. It was pretty cloudy out, but it was a blissful 45 degrees. I never thought I would be saying that 45 degrees feels warm! But it did - it was great! Unfortunately, I think we are going to be hitting the 20's again for lows this week, but it does kind of feel like winter is almost over.

I stopped at the store on the way home to restock our apples, bananas, chocolate milk and toilet paper...pretty much four essentials for a runner! I then took Emma for a long walk (she is loving the warmer weather, too!) and then got cleaned up for the day.

Chad and I went to Zaxby's for lunch and I pretty much inhaled their grilled chicken "zalad." I mean I was practically licking the bowl. After lunch we stopped by Bruster's for some ice cream (we are really living it up today!) and I got a sugar cone of "birthday cake." Pretty much inhaled that, too - it was so good.

After all of that eating, we came home to snuggle with Emma and watch "Julie & Julia." Now, that is a great movie! I've heard from several people that it is very cute, and I agree. A nice, feel good movie. I watched "Food, Inc." last week and it was both very convicting and very depressing. "Julie & Julia" made me feel good about food again - and made me think about how much love and life that can be with food that is made by hand.

Chad's mom recommended the movie to us over Christmas, so while we were watching it I texted her to say how much we were enjoying it. She asked me if I wanted Julia Child's cookbook, and I said that it might be better for me to start with an easy-bake oven cookbook! Luckily, Chad knows his way around the kitchen pretty well and I'm not too terrible.

This evening I'm pretty sore from the run this morning. I didn't take a rest day this week, and I think that has something to do with it. Which also got me to thinking, is it better to take Friday (the day before my long run) as a rest day, or Monday (two days after my long run) as a rest day? Looking back on past training plans, I've always used Friday as a rest day. For this plan, I'm using Monday. I'm going to do some experimenting over the next few weeks to see what works best, and then implement that into my plan.