Have you ever and weekending recap!

(jacket, shirt, leggings, shoes)

It was the annual jingle run that Runner’s Corner puts on each year!

It’s always nice to catch up with friends I haven’t seen in months as we run up the canyon.

My body is so used to taking a day off from running after the long run, so that is one tricky part about doing long runs on Friday… I have to finish up my mileage for the week on Saturday.

We had a Christmas party at church.

Beck could currently live off of Core Power, banana, peanut butter smoothies.

The kids let us sleep in on Sunday morning until 8:30.  I hit 70.5 miles last week, and a solid night of sleep was necessary.

Just a normal Sunday.

These two have sure been bonding lately…

I finished Night Road.  Whenever I finish a book by Kristin Hannah, I think, ‘This is my new favorite one of hers.’  The story was heartbreaking but so beautiful.  I already want to reread it.  Which Kristin Hannah book should I read next?  So far, I have read Nightengale, Four Winds, The Great Alone, and Night Road.

Also, holiday candy > normal candy.

We lost count of how many movies we watched on Sunday.  Brooke wasn’t feeling well, so a Christmas movie marathon was the best medicine.

And now for today’s random topic of the day:

This article!  It talks about why doing speed work/running feels harder in the dark than in the light.  Last Friday, when we did our speed workout, the first set (at a 6:32 average) felt harder than the last few miles of the 2nd set (6:14 average) because the first set was in the dark (PITCH dark.. there weren’t even cars or street lights for the majority of it) and the last few miles (when my legs should have been more tired) felt easier because it was light out by then.  It’s not just you… it is proven!

Running in the dark makes it harder to judge your speed based on objects around you.   It’s also more challenging to get distracted in the darkness by your surroundings, so it’s just you and your brain, making your perceived effort seem harder than the same pace may feel in the light.

There is a reason the pros usually run in daylight; running in darkness does not aid in performance, but…

Doing speed in the dark will make race day feel so much easier:)

Do you find it harder to hit paces in the dark vs the light?

-Yes, but simultaneously, it’s nice to get some interval sets done before you have woken up fully;). Also, it’s part of fitting marathon training with parenthood/working/life!

How often do you run in the light vs the dark?

Does anyone want to tell me which of Kristin Hannah’s books to read next?

When is school out/work off for you and your people this winter break?