My Training So Far

This summer is the first summer I have really gotten into running mileage. In high school, I would not run an inch all summer, go to running camp the week before practice started, run 60 miles in six days, and be ready to go. Last summer I ran about 50-60 mpw, but took days off every week due to procrastinating (or I would go out with my friends and come home at 2am and struggle through a short run). This summer I have realized that getting out the door everyday at a set time is the best solution. Sitting at my house all day, procrastinating, only makes things worse. I start to hate the fact that I have to go run, and get psyched out. Once I get out the door, however, I realize why I like to run, and am happy to get it over with.
So far, my training has been going great. At the beginning of the summer, I went to Europe with a few of my high school buddies, and as a result did not run as much as I should have. Since then, I have been steadily building mileage, and I hope to get into the mid 80s if all goes well and I'm feeling good (though I desperately need to take a down week next week).
Workouts so far have gotten better and better. 2 weeks ago was my first tempo (two tuesdays ago). As mentioned before, I did it with Jragz, Brunx, and Jesse. The first 3 miles were completed in around 17:55, and though aerobically I felt perfectly relaxed, my legs were not used to running at the faster pace (though it was barely sub 6 pace). I felt pretty awful at this point of the tempo. During the next 2 miles, we overcompensated, and Brunx and I ended up going 10:50ish for the last 2 (we meant to go 11:20), for a 28:45 total time. What's funny is that the 5:25 pace felt just as easy as the 6:00 pace. Since getting the daunting first tempo out of the way, I have made an effort to do more strides, after realizing that my tempo felt difficult due to poor turnover.
This past Thursday, I went to Franklin Park (for those of you who don't know, it is an 8k course that we race every year) to do another tempo run. The day was hot and I felt tired, so I didn't expect much of myself. I purposely stayed relaxed the first mile, and was surprised to look down at my watch and see 5:40. I was surprise again at 2 miles which I hit in 11:22, despite tackling some significant hills. I went through 5k in 17:30, still feeling very relaxed and in control. Though I don't konw the 4 mile marker, I completed the 8k/5 mile course in 27:27. I recovered within a couple minutes, but the result was both exciting and worrysome. It made me wonder if I am hammering too hard too early during the summer, and risking burnout. Hopefully not, for I did not push myself much harder than I normally would on a tempo run.

p.s. Greg, Paul Norton acknowledges you as his rival, and Gihan Amirsersfsdsdeededena angrily remembers when I outkicked him high school