Week-beginning Thoughts:
FOUR MORE WEEKS. I CAN TOTALLY DO THIS.
Monday
Scheduled: rest
Did: rest
Tuesday
Scheduled: 8mi
Did: 8.06mi @ 10:02mi/avg, Big 5
After almost a full week of blergh/struggle runs, today felt GRAND. Though my average pace was slow, that was mostly driven by my desire to stick with the group. I broke off on my own for the last mile and was happily running 9:30s. Yassssss. I needed this confidence boost going into this weekend's 20.
After almost a full week of blergh/struggle runs, today felt GRAND. Though my average pace was slow, that was mostly driven by my desire to stick with the group. I broke off on my own for the last mile and was happily running 9:30s. Yassssss. I needed this confidence boost going into this weekend's 20.
Wednesday
Scheduled:5mi easy
Did: 5.06mi @ 9:447/mi avg, Big 5
While I had to do this one solo due to work schedule stuff, I actually really enjoyed it. There's literally no one else around at 4:30 in the morning, just me, running alone under the stars, through the cool night air. Beautiful.
Plus, it was 31 with the 10mph winds. Such perfect running weather compared to last week's 60-something.
Note: had to use a foam pad under my right arch due to light soreness of that weird spot south of the ball of my foot. This seems to solve my problem, though.
While I had to do this one solo due to work schedule stuff, I actually really enjoyed it. There's literally no one else around at 4:30 in the morning, just me, running alone under the stars, through the cool night air. Beautiful.
Plus, it was 31 with the 10mph winds. Such perfect running weather compared to last week's 60-something.
Note: had to use a foam pad under my right arch due to light soreness of that weird spot south of the ball of my foot. This seems to solve my problem, though.
Thursday
Scheduled: 1mi WU, 4xmile/400, 1mi CD
Did: as scheduled, total = 8.13mi @ 8:59/mi avg, Big 5
During this week in Chicago training, we had six mile repeats for a total of 9.5mi of workout. Not wanting to near double digit weekday mileage so close to a big weekend run, I opted for four, thinking it was more reasonable, but still respectable After a few weeks away from the track (first for hill repeats and then for a long run schedule swap), I was pretty nervous about how this would shake out. Would I still be able to keep that 8:00/mi speedwork pace goal I'd had for this training cycle?
My first 800m was 4:03. I spent the next 800m thinking of how I was going to tell one of my training partners (who'd just moved a few states away) that I'd lost the pace without him around. Shockingly, I negative split, and finished with a 7:52 mile.
...and then another, and another.
7:52, 7:52, 7:52
Holy what. I had not expected to be this consistent, this fast, or this comfortable. My last mile was a 7:38 (I may have pushed this one), which is approaching my normal mile repeat pace. Awwww yeah.
Even better: I felt like I could've done the full six repeats today, no problem.
During this week in Chicago training, we had six mile repeats for a total of 9.5mi of workout. Not wanting to near double digit weekday mileage so close to a big weekend run, I opted for four, thinking it was more reasonable, but still respectable After a few weeks away from the track (first for hill repeats and then for a long run schedule swap), I was pretty nervous about how this would shake out. Would I still be able to keep that 8:00/mi speedwork pace goal I'd had for this training cycle?
My first 800m was 4:03. I spent the next 800m thinking of how I was going to tell one of my training partners (who'd just moved a few states away) that I'd lost the pace without him around. Shockingly, I negative split, and finished with a 7:52 mile.
...and then another, and another.
7:52, 7:52, 7:52
Holy what. I had not expected to be this consistent, this fast, or this comfortable. My last mile was a 7:38 (I may have pushed this one), which is approaching my normal mile repeat pace. Awwww yeah.
Even better: I felt like I could've done the full six repeats today, no problem.
Friday
Scheduled: yoga
Did: nada
I didn't even make time for yoga today. That should give you an indication on how my non-running life is going :P
I didn't even make time for yoga today. That should give you an indication on how my non-running life is going :P
Saturday
Scheduled: 20mi easy
Did: 22.02mi @ 10:10/mi avg, Big 5
Unsure of how my body is going to handle the long mileage this time around, I'd given myself options at the beginning of this training cycle for how LSDs would shake out. Going into this week, I knew I needed 20, but opened the door to hit 22 this week and begin a longer "taper" (though, real talk: is it actually a taper if I'm still planning to run 20mi next weekend?): if I got to 20mi and was still feeling good, then I'd go two more and knock it out.
I started with Teammate #1 at 4:40am, with a dismal forecast of rain and plenty of hills on the route. It was 48 degrees, and soon there was torrential downpour to accompany us up and down every hill. It actually felt kind of good... until they were pushed into our faces by 10mph winds. Then, the rain just hurt.
I dropped Teammate #1 off after 9mi, exchanging her for Teammate #2, who would accompany me along the rest of the route. I felt so grateful to have someone who would agree to run a half marathon with me at this hour, in conditions like these. Fortunately, the rain stopped within a few miles, and we had amazing conversation that took us through our next set of hills, until we were approaching the last bit of the route, which was all greenway. I remember telling her at the time, "Wow, it's amazing to not know how far we've run or how far we've got to go, but just have spent about an hour or so running and talking, enjoying it all the while."
As we arrived at the greenway for our last stretch, I decided I was feeling good. My upper legs and glutes had definitely been exhibiting signs of "marathon legs" (feeling tight and tired all over) since mile 11, but, otherwise, I felt great. The bottom of my right foot, near the ball, that had been bothering me off and on for the past two weeks wasn't. I wasn't feeling "over it" or tired like I had by mile 11 on last week's 18 miler. All signs were pointing to "go for it" in terms of knocking out 22.
We had a bathroom stop around 15, and another at 20 (could NOT be helped-- my 2-3 handhelds caught up with me), but the last out-1mi-back-1mi felt glorious. It was lightly sunny, low 50s, but still crisp, and I was feeling great. So great that we were hitting an 8:30 pace for most of the last mile, ending with a 9:06 split.
It's times like these that I wonder how much what I do for a career really matters to me in my life. If I can be this happy and this fulfilled by friends, family, and running, does having everything I want in a job really mean that much to me?
Post-run, my family took me out for a celebratory breakfast, and then I remained insanely awake and productive the rest of the day, with a brief 2-hr nap. Hooray, training.
Unsure of how my body is going to handle the long mileage this time around, I'd given myself options at the beginning of this training cycle for how LSDs would shake out. Going into this week, I knew I needed 20, but opened the door to hit 22 this week and begin a longer "taper" (though, real talk: is it actually a taper if I'm still planning to run 20mi next weekend?): if I got to 20mi and was still feeling good, then I'd go two more and knock it out.
I started with Teammate #1 at 4:40am, with a dismal forecast of rain and plenty of hills on the route. It was 48 degrees, and soon there was torrential downpour to accompany us up and down every hill. It actually felt kind of good... until they were pushed into our faces by 10mph winds. Then, the rain just hurt.
I dropped Teammate #1 off after 9mi, exchanging her for Teammate #2, who would accompany me along the rest of the route. I felt so grateful to have someone who would agree to run a half marathon with me at this hour, in conditions like these. Fortunately, the rain stopped within a few miles, and we had amazing conversation that took us through our next set of hills, until we were approaching the last bit of the route, which was all greenway. I remember telling her at the time, "Wow, it's amazing to not know how far we've run or how far we've got to go, but just have spent about an hour or so running and talking, enjoying it all the while."
As we arrived at the greenway for our last stretch, I decided I was feeling good. My upper legs and glutes had definitely been exhibiting signs of "marathon legs" (feeling tight and tired all over) since mile 11, but, otherwise, I felt great. The bottom of my right foot, near the ball, that had been bothering me off and on for the past two weeks wasn't. I wasn't feeling "over it" or tired like I had by mile 11 on last week's 18 miler. All signs were pointing to "go for it" in terms of knocking out 22.
We had a bathroom stop around 15, and another at 20 (could NOT be helped-- my 2-3 handhelds caught up with me), but the last out-1mi-back-1mi felt glorious. It was lightly sunny, low 50s, but still crisp, and I was feeling great. So great that we were hitting an 8:30 pace for most of the last mile, ending with a 9:06 split.
It's times like these that I wonder how much what I do for a career really matters to me in my life. If I can be this happy and this fulfilled by friends, family, and running, does having everything I want in a job really mean that much to me?
 |
| check out that kick :) |
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| hills and then relief |
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| Donesies! |
Post-run, my family took me out for a celebratory breakfast, and then I remained insanely awake and productive the rest of the day, with a brief 2-hr nap. Hooray, training.
Sunday
Scheduled: 5mi easy
Did: 6.87mi @ 10:42/mi avg, Big 5
Don't tell your training partner that you "only want 5, but.... coming closer to 7 would mean 50mi/week" if you don't want her to push you to hit 50mi.
While I recovered really well from yesterday, I still woke up with sore legs. This was definitely going to be a recovery run. The Running Mamas had agreed to meet at 8:30am due to a late night at all households, but a morning rain forecast had me worried that we'd have to cut it at 4mi if we wanted any dry playground time for the kids. When I woke up at 5:30am and couldn't go back to sleep, I decided I'd start running solo at 8 and just see what I could get.
OMG, was this ever a recovery run. I think my first mile was an 11:11, and it was all I could do. Running recovery miles solo is great, because I literally did not care about my pace. I went as slow as I wanted to, despite my munchkin telling me "I want to go faster, Mommy. Put on your jet engines and gooooooooooooooooooooo". I got a little over 2mi in before meeting up with the other mama. We went further than I had planned, and she pointed out that, by the time we were back at the cars, I'd only be about a mile short of my 50, so, really, we should just do another half mile ONB.
Okay...
So we did. And it was good. And now I've hit over 50 miles in the week, and I'm still feeling awesome. BOO. YAH.
Don't tell your training partner that you "only want 5, but.... coming closer to 7 would mean 50mi/week" if you don't want her to push you to hit 50mi.
While I recovered really well from yesterday, I still woke up with sore legs. This was definitely going to be a recovery run. The Running Mamas had agreed to meet at 8:30am due to a late night at all households, but a morning rain forecast had me worried that we'd have to cut it at 4mi if we wanted any dry playground time for the kids. When I woke up at 5:30am and couldn't go back to sleep, I decided I'd start running solo at 8 and just see what I could get.
OMG, was this ever a recovery run. I think my first mile was an 11:11, and it was all I could do. Running recovery miles solo is great, because I literally did not care about my pace. I went as slow as I wanted to, despite my munchkin telling me "I want to go faster, Mommy. Put on your jet engines and gooooooooooooooooooooo". I got a little over 2mi in before meeting up with the other mama. We went further than I had planned, and she pointed out that, by the time we were back at the cars, I'd only be about a mile short of my 50, so, really, we should just do another half mile ONB.
Okay...
So we did. And it was good. And now I've hit over 50 miles in the week, and I'm still feeling awesome. BOO. YAH.
Total Weekly Mileage: 50.07
Week-ending Thoughts:
- Unicorn.
- So proud that my body's held up so well this cycle.
- TGF Running. This has been another really trying week in my personal/professional life, and I'm so grateful for what running has done to get me through so many of these challenges in the past few years.
- It's all downhill from here. Hellooooooo, TaperVille. I'll still be hitting low-to-mid 40s for the next week, but it feels awesome to have gotten a peak mileage week out of the way, still feeling awesome and healthy and capable.
- There's a special moment in every marathon training cycle when you finish your longest run and know you've truly done the hardest part of things (including the race, because training is 10x harder than the actual race). You know you've accomplished what you wanted to, and the rest is truly just a victory lap. I'm there. :)
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