Since I never got around to posting Week 2 of my training for the Bremen 10K, and since Week 3’s training has basically been non-existent, I’m combining them for your reading pleasure into one post.

Let’s start with the good news.  I pretty much hit my second week of training right on the nail:

• Monday: rest.
• Tuesday, speed training: Plan was warm-up + 5 x 800m @ 4:22 + cool-down. I actually started out pretty well with 4:22, 4:21, and 4:20. But around the 4th repeat (4:33), I felt like my chest was going to explode, my legs were going to fall off, and that I was going to faint (all at the same time, of course). So I skipped the 5th repeat and called it a day.
• Wednesday: rest.
• Thursday, tempo run:The plan was 1-mile warm-up, 3 miles @ 9:34 pace, 1-mile cool-down. I ended up running 9:46, 9:48, and 9:36 for those three tempo miles. Not exactly on target pace, but I surprised myself by pulling through in that last mile, even when I started feeling tired halfway through. I guess that’s kind of the point of a tempo run, huh?
• Friday, cross-training: I combined Levels 2 and 3 of the Shred, for a 50-minute workout.
• Saturday, cross-training: Leg workout with Level 1 of Killer Buns and Thighs.
• Sunday, long run:  It was nice to just run without too much concern about pace, and I enjoyed cruising along the water in Treptower Park for just under 7 miles.

And like I said, I pretty much did nothing in terms of training this past week…

I had to travel to an out of town conference for most of this week, and prior to that, I was frantically working on my presentation for said conference.  Even though I could have made the running and cross-training happen (I even packed my workout gear and brought it with me!), I was really at my limit in terms of time, stress and exhaustion.  So I dropped the ball, and I’m ok with that, actually.  But after arriving home last night and getting to relax some, I did enjoy a nice leisurely run this morning…

• Sunday, long run: Got in 7 miles at a relaxed 10:56 pace, enjoy the sunny morning along the water.  It was easy to tell that it had been a week since my last run because it felt a lot harder than it should have.  But still, I managed to enjoy myself and have a good time.

So now I’m ready to start Week 4 with a fresh slate (and hopefully more sleep), and I look forward to the challenge!