Location: Memorial –> Spotts Park
Distance: 5.3 (?)
Temp: 78 (ahh)

• Tonight's workout kicked my ass.  First, we ran 2 miles to Spotts Park.  I had run this park during the Tour de Bayou series, and remembered that Spotts had some seriously steep hills.  eek
• One thing I've noticed is that it always takes me at least 10-15 minutes to really get into running - that first mile or so is always a little uncomfortable and difficult.  Maureen put it perfectly - it feels awkward, and a little difficult to get into your rhythm.  Tonight, it seemed to take a little longer to find my pace, and I even wondered if I'd be able to make it through the night's run.  
• Matt explained the workout - 20 minutes of hillwork, divided into 2 sets of 10 minutes each…with a twist.  Each of us had to define our own routes and make the hillwork as easy or difficult as we wanted.  This free-choice option definitely added a challenge, because we were responsible for creating our own workouts.  Surprisingly, it motivated me to really push myself.   I remembered Chip's advice about using my arms, so I swung my arms like a crazy person going up each hill, and it really helped.  At the top, my thighs were burning and chest felt like exploding, but it was great….in a crazy, masochistic way, I guess. 
• The drill for the run back to the Park was 180×180s…..3 minutes at 80%, 3 minutes at 20%.  I ran with Maureen - our first couple of 80% paces were good, which was a nice surprise.   Either I didn't work hard enough at hillwork, or my endurance has improved?  We were joined by Cassie and Randi, and by this time my 80% and 20% paces were pretty equal. bleh.  The others were chatting pretty easily, but all I was thinking was: must….not…..die….
• Matt kept running back and forth past us, making sure everyone was OK.  At one point, he sprinted past like it was nothing, and I yelled "show off!"  heh
• A guy sitting in a lawnchair on his driveway offered us some beer from his fridge as we ran past. ha!
• At the Park, we did some core work before leaving.  
• Felt nauseaus when I got home - I need to cool down better next time.