A blergh week that turned out pretty awesome

Week-beginning Thoughts
Blergh. Stressful week at work. Challenges this week include:
1) remembering to do calf stretches 3x day (I've set an alarm!)
2) keeping nutrition straight to round out a second month; might be a challenge with PMS nonsense + work stress


Monday
Did: 1hr treadmill walk = 3.35mi while blogging at 4:30am
Wanted to just be home this morning with my family instead of running off to my normal 2mim+bootcamp that leaves me with exactly 10min of rushed family time before jumping into the work day, but still wanted to blog since I'm not taking true lunch breaks these days... so I hopped on the treadmill at 4:30am and blogged on a makeshift "treadmill desk" while walking. 

It was a struggle of a day for nutrition. I ended up feeling SUPER hungry before lunch and binged on 8 flatbread crackers (they weren't small), but was able to curb the impulse by shoving spinach in my face and drinking so much water that I couldn't possibly fit anything else in my stomach. That whole "betcha can't have just one" advertising mentality is super true. Those things are addictive. I wasn't even hungry. I just wanted more of that flavor. 


Tuesday
Did: 6.33mi @ 9:33/mi avg, Big 5, 10min strength, foam rolling
Did a faster out and slowed down on the back half to stick with a new 10KTuesday-er. Did some circuit stuff when I got home because I was motivated.  Foam rolled/sticked my right IT band due to some serious aching up in my glute/hip area... seems to have helped. 


Wednesday
Did: 2mi @ 9:08/mi avg, Big 5, Bootcamp

 


Thursday
Did: 1mi WU, 3mi tempo, 1mi CD = 5.12 @ 8:49/mi avg (tempo miles = 8:18, 8:13, 8:00), Big 5
In lieu of a track day, we opted for a tempo run this morning. This is that only type of speedwork I'm comfortable with right now; since it's not as fast-paced, it doesn't stress my foot as much. 

Before the run, I get the same nerves/dread as I usually do before a race. I never rarely doubt my ability to hit splits in interval workouts, but tempos always have me wondering, "Can I keep that pace for such a LONG time/distance?" 

We did a one mile warm-up, then an out-and-back route for the tempo. I didn't have a specific pace in mind, just 8:30ish. That helped keep the pressure off. At the turnaround, I did think about taking a quick break, but realized I didnt NEED to, just wanted to... and so we continued.


The last bit was harder, but only because I unintentionally pushed the pace to more like what a true tempo would be for me. Guess there is a point where I'll adopt the B&B mindset of "I just want to be done" and cling to speed to make that happen sooner rather than later. 

Friday
Did: 20min yoga, 2.04mim run @ 9:17/mi avg, Big 5, 10min weights, 1mi walk
Slept in after a stressful Thursday at work, and that was totally the right call. Did a menagerie of lunchtime workouts, and a playground walk to finish off the day.


Saturday
Did: 13.12 @ 9:21/mi avg, last 4 with stroller 
I really, really wanted to run a half marathon with a stroller today... just to check it off my bucket list. Unfortunately, we had a crappy cold snap last night, and 2hrs in the stroller in 34 degrees was NOT going to work for the little potato. 



Instead, B&B met up with me for a 9mi run through the ML hills and then my husband brought the potato down to join us for the last four miles. 

Thoughts from the run:

• the ML hill was beastly, and I slowed to my predicted 10min/mi going up it, but I fought the urge to stop and walk... and won
• I'm loving sunrise being earlier and earlier these days
• honey waffles are SUPER crunchy when they're in your handheld for an hour and it's in the 30s... I worried about breaking a tooth. lol
• Miles 8 and 9 were sub-9... WHAT
• I love that, when we finished the first 9, I felt soooo confident that I could do the rest with a stroller
• ...but HAD to slow down from that sub-9 pace
• I was ready to be done at mile 11. Like, seriously ready to be done.
• my hamstrings got angry at mile 12-- just sore and kind of crampy-- could not wait to stop and streeeeeeeeeeeetch 
• finished strong (seriously, those last few miles were so much faster than I'd thought they could be) and proud

Also, my favorite part of distance running, besides the confidence I get from doing hard stuff, is being able to eat ALL THE FOOD the day I run long. Yesssssssssssssss <3 

Sunday
Did: 5.05mi @ 9:26/mi avg with stroller, Big 5
Another awesome SundayRunday! Surprisingly, I felt ZERO residual anything after yesterday's long run. I opted for a few "solo" stroller miles before the usual running mamas meet up, and found that I really enjoyed running alone, with just my kiddo for company. 

Met up with another running mama for another 5K, and enjoyed a great easy run by the river. We even had the pleasure of being joined by another running friend who nust happened to be starting his run at the same time.

Total Mileage for the Week: 33.72mi

Week-end Thoughts:

• Um, closing in on 35mpw and feeling like it's NBD feels pretty freaking awesome. 
• Despite still fighting some lingering muscle issues (left PF, right IT band, right glute), I am CRUSHING mileage, and don't seem any worse for wear. 
• The PF seems to have fizzled out (nothing after this weekend's 18mi = I'm gonna say it's healed). Still waiting to do any true speedwork until I've been 100% symptom-free for a week, though. 
• Right IT band seems to have been a random thing caused by some poor foam rolling/stretching techniques. Once I got through Tuesday night's stick-ing, all was better. 
• I'm not training for anything right now beyond life, but feel like all this running is definitely helping me deal with everything life is throwing at me. 
• Nutrition is still solid. I'm down 8lbs of the ten I wanted to lose this year. None of this matters, though, unless I can fit into this specific pair of shorts that sparked the whole nutrition/weight loss idea by being too tight/too small ALL last year. I'm planning on trying them in a few weeks. 
• I didn't stretch my calves 3x/day for the week, but did stretch at least 1x day. This is a win. 
• I love what running has brought me. The friends, the confidence, the happiness. Yay, running.