We can't run the same race twice, or that's what John Bingham's article Going with the Flow in the March issue of Runner's World discusses. I thought about it for my own circumstance. I ran Disney the past 2 years and was so pleased when I took 20 minutes off my time and set a Post Maggie PR this year. Reflecting on the day it was a lot colder this year, my husband was home from Iraq this year (which was less stress for me), I did more speedwork but less long runs this year, on and on I could think of the differences.
Last Monday I ran a 3 mile loop from my house, a route I've run so many times. I was all bundled up with YakTrax and all since it was the day after the blizzard the woods looked pretty, the fields were glistening. Four days later, I ran the same route wearing shorts and a long sleeve shirt, the weather was 50F (gotta love New England). The woods were not as pretty, the trees were naked, the snow in the field was dirty and the street was very sandy. Completely different runs on the same course in the same week.
I wrapped up my week with a 6 mile BRRR cold long run. It felt great! I am looking forward to see where I am going this week!