Sizzler Training: Week 2/8

Week-beginning Thoughts:
I'm shocked that anyone else with a family, full-time job, and 5-day-a-week commute ever works out  at all. The lengths I go to to maintain my running are bonkers.

Monday

Scheduled: 20min WU, 8x60s up hill jog/jog down, 20min CD

Did: as scheduled, 5.74mi @ 9:50/mi avg, Big 5
This run was a struggle-fest. Having to start at 4:30am solo wasn't very fun, but that's what you gotta do to get the miles in sometimes. Unlike past hill workouts, today's wasn't about pace, just running up and down a hill for muscle training. I thought it would be easy since I could go as slowly as I wanted. Noooooope. 

By the second time up this monster, I felt like I was walking up stairs instead of running up a hill. Fortunately, my new commute is excellent prep for this (I climb about 6-8 flights of stairs to access mass transit). I felt like I was totally slogging reps 3-8, especially at the grade change, but actually kept all but one split under 10:03/mi. Guess it just felt slow because of the incline.

prescribed grade was 8-12%, so I did a little bonus...

Tueday

Scheduled: 8 easy

Did: 8.17mi @ 9:35/mi avg, Big 5

Oh, hey there, more normal-looking pace. This run was moist: #10KTuesday, 100% humidity edition. Blergh. I do enjoy how I feel during the day after running 8 before work, though. Started before 5am again to get all the miles in, and was grateful for the company. Had another bit of right high hamstring issues, more post-run than during, so I need to focus some time on that guy.

Wedneday

Scheduled: rest

Did: 10min weights, 10min walk, 13min circuit training, 10min hamstring PT

This was a "fit-it-in-when-you-can" kind of day. I wanted to capitalize on my rest-from-running day to get in some prehab-type stuff. Did some weight lifting while having breakfast with the kiddo, half a round of bootcamp (legs+core) while playing cars and trucks (holding a plank = making a bridge for my little one to crawl under), and then some serious hamstring lovin' before bed. There is definitely something going on with my right glute/hamstring/hip flexor area. It's not bad yet, but I can tell it's happening. Hoping to stave it off with PT and getting a standing desk. 

Bonus workout: taking the stairs on my commute
It's about 150 steps up from the train station to the sidewalk

Thursday

Scheduled: 20min WU, 20min fartlek, 20min CD

Did: as scheduled, 6.97mi total @ 8:37/mi avg, Big 5

Opted to do this workout on the track, since fartleks are a hard workout to do "together", and some teammates had various reasons they might need to stop early. Coach said the fartlek was a collection of easy/medium/hard bursts for 30s to 5min-- whatever we felt. I can't do "random", so I used the track markings to make my own intervals as I went along. It turned out pretty good. I felt a lot slower than I was too, so bonus there. 

I could definitely tell there's something funky with my hamstring today. I was fine running, but noticed a decided difference in my muscle sensation between sides on my faster intervals. Lots to stretch out. 

wee, farlek

Friday

Scheduled: rest

Did: rest

Considered yoga this morning, but opted for sleep and cuddles instead. Also, got my standing desk setup at work. Yay. 

Saturday

Scheduled: 7 easy

Did: 7.3mi @ 9:39/mi avg, Big 5

Great run with the trio back together again. Narrowly avoided a huge thunderstorm too, so that was a nice bonus. We were dry the entire run, until a little drizzle in the last half mile. Once we were all in our cars and exiting the parking lot, the sky opened up and the thunder erupted. Win. Hamstring felt fine enough during the run (and after), though I noticed my right glute was definitely dead/numb/asleep. Improvement. :)

Sunday

Scheduled: 5mi easy

Did: 5.53mi @ 8:40/mi avg, Big 5

Zero hamstring/glute issues today-- SO glad that this was as quick/easy of a fix as it was. Just don't sit on my butt for 8+ hours a day, and I'm fine. I can work with that.

My husband and I got to run together this morning, which is a real rarity with my team's schedule and general life logistics (not to mention pace differential). He's a good 60-90s/mi faster than me on any given day, depending on what our workouts and weeks have been like. Every time we've run together in the past year, it's been a bit frustrating for him to slow down enough/me to run fast enough... and to just get used to running with someone "new", since I run with my teammates and he normally runs solo. Today, though, everything worked out swimmingly. 

My legs have felt super fresh with this five-days-a-week running, so I planned on running closer to 8:30s for him... but didn't say anything. I was so proud after the first few miles when he asked me if I was setting the pace or he was, because we were clocking 8:30s, and he wanted to make sure I could hold that pace for another four miles. Yep. Sure can. :) 

The run was awesome. Not only was the weather cooler (68 with a breeze!), but we also had a route that took us through sections we'd used as courses when we led the Peachtree training site together, three years ago when I was pregnant. It was fun to reminisce on the run about days past and ponder the future together. 

...and, of course, post-run brunch makes everything even better :)

Total Weekly Mileage: 33.73mi (another light mileage week, in my book)

Week-ending Thoughts:

• Super-relieved that my hamstring has gotten better, and that I'm now aware of what triggers that feeling and how to avoid it
• I'm not sure I like this training plan. Similar mileage, but having to cram in multiple runs over 6mi during the week is TOUGH since I do all my running before work. Also, I miss doing double-digit runs on the weekends... 
• I'm crushing this food prep thing. Clean eating just about all week long. :) It was much easier to fall back into this routine than it was to start it for the first time in January. Hooray, healthy habits