Sizzler Training: Week 6/8

Week-beginning Thoughts:
After 40mi last week, I'm starting to feel the marathon itch. I like the way I feel when I'm logging a ton of miles... Hahah. 

Monday

Scheduled: rest

Did: rest
Took the morning off from yoga to have a morning "to myself". Up at 4, shower, dress, and then plan for the week, indulge in some personal emails, and enjoy a hot mug of coffee... all before a great pre-work hour with my family. 

Tuesday

Scheduled: 5mi easy
Did: 6.34mi @ 9:20/mi avg, Big 5
I couldn't NOT do a 10K on Tuesday. This run felt good. I feel fresh, strong, and had to hold back the pace a bit, reminding myself I had a track workout tomorrow. Maybe I shouldn't be holding back, though? 

Wednesday

Scheduled: 15min WU, 10x400m/100m (start at 5K pace, increase pace every other), 15min CD

Did: as scheduled for a total of 6.8mi @ 8:43/mi avg, Big 5

This was an intimidating workout for a few reasons:

1) It's been awhile since I've been on the track

2) I can't remember the last time I had more than 8 repeats

3) This wasn't just a repeat workout it was a progression/track hybrid

4) 100m is a REALLY short rest period

Once I got out there, though, the workout actually went pretty well. My first repeat only needed to be around 1:50. Considering I'm usually doing these at 1:40 or faster, that's huge. The first interval felt easy, and incredibly manageable... to the point that I worried I was phoning it in for the workout. 

Nope. I wasn't. That measly 100m rest took its toll quickly, and, by the end, I was grateful to have started "so slowly". 

1&2 (Goal: 1:50): 1:50, 1:49 
3&4 (Goal: 1:45): 1:40 (forgot to start after only 100m, bolted, and then attempted to slow down-- oops), 1:47
5&6 (Goal: 1:40): 1:40, 1:38
7&8 (Goal: 1:35): 1:37, 1:34
9&10 (Goal: 1:30): 1:34, 1:32

Definitely struggled through the last four repeats, but am proud to have pushed through and made this workout count.

Wee, progression intervals!

Thursday

Scheduled: rest

Did: yep
Only got about 4 hours of sleep last night thanks to a business development thing. I really don't know how I ever did marathon training with a newborn a couple years ago. 

suite life

Friday

Scheduled: 15min WU, 20min tempo, 15min CD, 3xcircuits

Did: as scheduled, total = 5.66mi @ 8:57/mi, Big 5, 3xcircuits

I hate tempo workouts. They embody exactly what I don't like: extended discomfort. I'm great at pushing hard for short bursts on the track; I can always count on that recovery. I'm also great at long easy miles; there's no pressure-- just keep running. Tempo miles are something else. They're the only runs I do where I'm truly experiencing this:

I didn't want to do this workout, but I've been reminded myself that I'm in-training because I want a fast time at a race. If I don't put in the work, I can't expect a good performance. Last week was just about mileage, but now I'm back in workout mode. Every run has a purpose, and it's up to me to "make it count". 

I was fine for the first three minutes of my twenty minute tempo run. Then I started mentally counting down the minutes. 

"Okay, two more minutes, and then you'll be halfway to the turnaround point."

"Halfway there. Turn around, and don't mind that GIANT hill you just flew down and now have to climb back up."

"One more minute, and then you'll only have nine more to go."

"Three more minutes, and then you'll only have five minutes to go."

"Maybe you could slow down, and still push a little, but not as hard as you've been going... that would still kind of count.... and then you'd have to blog about how you could have gone faster but mentally crapped out."

It was a STRUGGLE, and it was a struggle of the worst kind: the ones where there's nothing you're combating but your own mind. There was no physical reason I couldn't run the pace. I just didn't like pushing myself like that. Except I liked pushing myself like that... when I was done. 

I didn't have a pace in mind, but was hoping to be strong enough to end up with an 8-8:05/mi average. 

That's a 7:46/mi average, folks.

I was so proud when I finished up. 7:46/mi was a TON faster than I'd hoped for. I'm so proud of myself for sticking with it. Especially because my current 10K PR pace is around that time. If I want to have a good showing at Sizzler, I'm going to have to run that for over twice the duration. No way that's happening for 6.2mi if I don't do more of that pace for shorter distances over the next few weeks. Each run has a purpose, and it's up to me to execute it. 

Saturday

Scheduled: 5mi easy

Did: 6mi @ 9:33/mi avg, Big 5

Comfortable run with ATC's In-Training crew this morning. Pace, again, varied with participant needs (high-8s to start, and nearing 10s by the end), but was super comfortable. Love being able to be part of this group again. 

water stop selfies <3

Sunday

Scheduled: 12mi easy

Did: 13.19mi @ 9:38/mi avg, Big 5

Today was all about being grateful for the ability to do things that used to seem impossible. I got up and out to start a stroller run in the dark with one of my best friends (and her kid), and then pushed a stroller for over two hours, covering just over a half marathon's worth of distance. 

When I'd mapped out 12 yesterday, I realized I'd either be doing parking lot laps to get me up to 12.0, or wind up with closer to 12.5 and a more reasonable route. If you're doing to do 12.5, you might as well do 13.1, right? 

The run felt good. I'm really proud of the fact that a 9:30 is now a comfortable long-distance pace for me... with a stroller. Back during Chicago training, it was a struggle to keep 10s without one. How far I've come. :) 

such a beautiful sight

The best part of this run was sharing the distance with my friend and our children. After the run, they even high-fived each other and congratulated one another on their half marathon. I don't think this is my first stroller half marathon, but maybe it is? Either way, I'm pretty proud of have been able to run it. 

Total Weekly Mileage: 37.97

Week-ending Thoughts:

• Grateful. That word sums up this week. Pushing myself in all kinds of ways reminds me of how far I've come.