A little Speedwork and a Fussy Dog

I know speedwork is good for me. It's like strength training or going to the dentist. It's one of those things I just don't like, but I know I should do.

It was stupid cold outside again today so I dragged myself down to the basement to run some 800m repeats.

I did 6x800 with a 1 mile warm up, 400m jogs between intervals, and a 1200m cool down to make it an even 6 miles.

This is what my intervals looked like (pace in parentheses in case you hate math):

1. 4:00 (8:00)
2. 3:56 (7:52)
3. 3:54 (7:48)
4. 3:51 (7:42)
5. 3:49 (7:38)
6. 3:45 (7:30)

I wanted to stop after about 3, but I didn't, and of course I was glad that I didn't quit. Well, glad might be a bit of an overstatement. I would have been mad at myself if I stopped. That's more accurate.

I haven't deliberately done any speedwork since my last race in October, so it was good to do a little before my training officially starts for the West Point half next week. I have an 11 week training plan for whatever reason. It's already on my computer, so it works.

This is Buddy's new favorite thing:

It has been ridiculously cold out the last few days, and once Buddy was blanketed, he didn't move for over an hour. He loves it, and later burrowed his face into the blanket. He's a fair-weather pooch and does not like the cold (or the heat). Fussy dog.

Speedwork: love it, hate it, pretend it doesn't exist?