When life hands you lemons...

...sign up for a marathon. 




^pretty much my reaction when my husband suggested it last night



Actually, I think my exact response was, "That seems kind of impulsive."





I plan everythIng out in advance, like, we're talking really far in advance. So, the idea of spontaneously adding a marathon to my six month plan sent me into a bit of an anxious spiral. I've had plans for another marathon for quite awhile now, but wasn't supposed to be until after we'd had another baby; I was going to use marathon training as a way to get back in shape. 

2018 has been the worst year of my life, full of struggles, losses, and challenges I'd never imagined I'd have... and they've all pretty much happened in startlingly rapid succession. 

Exhibit A: 150+ mile months for the past four months

(recall the longest thing I've been training for is a 10K)

basically, I've been running the crazy out

The more my husband and I talked about the idea of a marathon, and what I get out of training for one, the more I agreed with him. My body's been handling marathon mileage (minus the >13mi long runs) for the past four months. Our life has been handling the marathon mileage for the past four months. Running has been the biggest thing keeping me sane through all of this, and the challenge of committing so fully to something might just be the distraction I need to let go of everything else in my life that's out of control. 

I've run two marathons, each of them for different reasons. I ran Flying Pig (2014) to do something I once thought was impossible ('when pigs fly"). I learned so much about myself from that first bout of training, from pushing myself beyond my limits. That marathon was truly about just covering the distance, nothing more. I ran Chicago (2016) for redemption. I wanted to actually train for a marathon, and have my finish time be more indicative of my abilities. That marathon was a celebration of what my body and mind were capable of, as well as a way to prove to myself that I could be a mother without losing the athletic part of myself. 

If I do a Spring 2019 marathon, it would be for catharsis, a way to bury the challenges of 2018, and come out the other side stronger. Sure, I could just train for the distance and not have a race, but there's something really appealing about all of those miles and weeks of training culminating in a single event. I'm still searching for closure on so many things, and this seems like it might be an ideal path towards that. Whether it happens sooner or later, after an interruption, I think the next marathon line I cross will enable me to put a lot of this behind me.

Thanksgiving Half: Week 1/11

Week-beginning Thought:

I've got a new training plan. Goody, goody :) I took the half training plan (for the group I run lead for), and have modified it a bit to focus on my weaknesses. Each week, I've got:

• (1) double-digit+ run
• (1) long workout (tempo, out-and-back, or progression) where I'll focus on endurance and mental stamina
• (1) short interval workout (track repeats or hills) for strength and speed; might add in some 10min tempo before these occasionally, since I loved to hate that in Coach Nick's plan
• (2) easy mileage days
• (1) dedicated strength+yoga day, where I'll focus on myself and my intentions for the day... and also get a minimum of 15min lifting in
• (1) rest day, which might be another day of yoga, or walking, or absolutely nothing

Let's do this.

Monday

Scheduled: nada

Did: 4.69mi @ 9:04/mi avg, Big 5, 1.2mi walk
Didn't plan on running today, but it just kind of felt right. I miss the days of sleeping in until 5:30, getting up, having my coffee alone, having breakfast and daycare drop-off with my family, and then getting a nice, solo run at sunrise before a day of knocking out errands and to-do list items. It was nice to have that today.

Tuesday

Scheduled: 7 PRO

Did: 7.04mi @ 9:25/mi avg, Big 5
Awww, yeah. I've had my week off to recover from Sizzler, and now I'm ready for some endurance training. Even if it's 100% humidity...  



I started today's progression run super slowly, wanting to let my legs actually warm-up. It felt nice to run that slowly, for a bit. I had it in my head that I'd do a full 7mi progression, starting a little slower than 10, and ending at a sub-8. But I eventually realized that I probably wanted a cool-down mile... so I pushed through six and then let myself jog in the last mile. My last mile wasn't a sub-8, but I still like how this progression run turned out.

Mile Splits: 10:51, 9:58. 9:22, 9:00, 8:57, 8:11

Wednesday

Scheduled: rest

Did: yep
Another mentally grueling day.

Thursday

Scheduled: 6mi tempo (1WU, 4 tempo, 1CD)

Did: as scheduled, 6mi @ 8:42/mi avg, Big 5
Weeee, tempo miles. I was grateful to have a teammate plan out today's route so I didn't have to think for once. All I had to do was run. My training plan technically says "6 tempo", but Coach said that could be 1mi WU, 6mi tempo, 1mi CD, or 6mi total, with whatever WU/CD I needed. I still haven't figured out what my tempo pace ought to be right now, because I'm still unsure what my goal is. I'm technically following a training plan for the Thanksgiving Half, but also want to knock out a fast 5K on the way. Tempo pace for a half is definitely different than tempo pace for a 5K, as is the number of miles I'd be running that pace FOR. Considering I had a 10K "tempo" run at Sizzler last week, I opted to go in-between and run 1mi WU, 4mi tempo, 1mi CD. I'd hoped for around an 8:15/mi pace, which is more in-line with what I'm hoping to hit at the half.

It felt good. Miles shook out at:
8:07
8:04
8:09 (mostly uphill)
7:43 (mostly downhill)

It was definitely a challenge to hold the pace, but much more of a mental challenge than a physical one. I found myself thinking, "Man, I'm bored" a lot more than "ohgodcanistopyet". Still, I definitely pushed myself enough physically to get into that happy place where I can't think about anything else or any life stress, because all my energy is going towards pushing my body. That is the biggest reason I run.

Friday

Scheduled: strength

Did: 15min weights, 10min core, 10min yoga
When I woke up this morning, I didn't feel like getting out of bed. Without the accountability of a group, I found myself entirely unmotivated to go workout. I didn't have miles on my training plan- just a strength training session, and it would be really easy to skip that... the same way I have for the past few weeks.

I've also realized that, if I don't make it happen, it won't happen. I can't wait around for time to lift/yoga/anything else to just magically appear, because it won't.

So, I got up, made myself a strength workout, and got going. I was a bit ambitious with the exercises, weights, and durations I chose considering I haven't done these things for several months. My original plan of 6x through my circuit was cut to 3, but 15min of solid weight lifting is better than none.

I did 50s on/10s rest of:
1) 10# dumbbell row
2) 10# dumbbell shoulder press
3) push-ups (could get through 2-3 before moving to knees)
4) 10# dumbbell chest press (the only activity I didn't start fatiguing out on)
5) 10# dumbbell fly

and then finished with 10min of core exercises.

...and then made time for 10min of yoga, which is something I really need in my life these days. Definitely glad I got up and out of bed before 5am. :)

Saturday

Scheduled: 10mi easy

Did: 10.62mi @ 8:48/mi avg, Big 5
Another fantastic run with Atlanta Track Club's In-Training Program. I got a chance to run early with a bunch of women, and felt fantastic to be part of this awesome pack of fast females doing extra mileage around the industrial park at 6:30am. For the actual training run, I found myself amongst a handful of other mother runners, and we ended up talking just as much about motherhood as we did about running. What a fantastic way to spend the morning. 

Since the full marathon program is also starting from the Club office this month, I got to hang with one of my other mother runner friends before her training run. Check out her blog about her first marathon training experience here: https://atlponytail.com/blog/ , and support her fundraising efforts for Kilometer Kids

Sunday

Scheduled: 5mi easy

Did: 5.04mi @ 9:36/mi avg, Big 5 (delayed)
Heavy rain threatened to deter our Running Mamas meet-up, but we ended up with just drizzle. Our normal route is only 4.25mi, and I was ready to take the easy way out and just stop at the cars today... but my teammate headed off those thoughts by saying, "I know you had wanted 5. Let's just go around the parking lot a few more times." Can't argue with that. :)

Total Weekly Mileage: 33.42

Week-ending Thoughts: 
I wish I'd been doing this sort of training all along. Sizzler probably would have ended up differently. Oh well. Live and learn. 

Recovery Week

Week-beginning Thoughts:
Yep. Definitely ready for some recovery running.

Monday
Did: Sizzler


Tuesday

Did: 6.43mi run/walk @ 12:37/mi avg, Big 5
The day after a hard race isn't ideal for #10KTuesday, but it's #notoptional. Easy, sporadic run/walk intervals.

Wednesday

Did: 3.48mi @ 9:37/mi avg, Big 5
Wanted a rest day, but this was my last chance to run with my teammates this week.

Thursday

Did: rest

Friday

Did: 8.11mi @ 8:57/mi avg, Big 5, core circuit
Traveling for a family wedding = family run morning. We were fortunate to find an amazing running trail (similar to Silver Comet or Swamp Rabbit) RIGHT next to our lodging. J and the kid went 5 with me, and then, since I was feeling amazing, I went another three solo. Really nice, fast morning.

totally thought this said "Sugarland RUM" trail at first glance

Saturday

Did: 5.02mi @ 9:27/mi avg, Big 5, 1.2mi walk, lots of dancing
Took the munchkin out for some "morning miles with mom" before the wedding day. Loved this run.

Sunday

Did: rest

Total Weekly Mileage: 30.28mi 

Week-ending Thoughts:
I love that, on a week where I have no scheduled miles or plan, and am running only when/how far I want, I'm still over 30mpw. 

Race Report: Big Peach Sizzler

Previous PR: 47:53 (5/6/17)
90% Goal: 50:00
50% Goal: 47:45
10% Goal: 47:00
Result: 48:11
Weather: 72 degrees, partly sunny, 93% humidity

Training: 
Nick Wills' Miler Method Basecamp
Not the most intense training, but a good mix of stimuli: hills, tempo, track, etc. 
Had a lot of longer runs that were faster than expected, but only a single 20min tempo run that I can remember really pushing myself on.

Pre-Race: 
My head hasn't been in this race for the past two weeks, thanks to a lot of personal stress. Last night, I had a bit of a tight spot in my calf that feeling a bit anxious. I was glad to have my family coming along too (husband and kiddo ran the 5K with a stroller). We arrived at the 5K start, and then I took the train up to the 10K start (it's a one-way race with the 5K race being the second half of the 10K course and starting 30min earlier).

pretty sweet bib number, eh?

It's been awhile since I've been at a running event solo, and I was happy to find a few familiar, friendly faces before the race. Did a short warm-up, and then headed to the start, lining up about midway between the 7:00 and 8:00 flags. I was happy to run into a few other ATC runners and chat with them before the gun went off. 



Race: I had it in my head that this course was downhill and flat, with a couple small hills. As soon as we turned onto Peachtree (~1/4mi in), I was met with a giant hill. WTF. 

"Alright, just get to the top, and then it's downhill from there."

Nooooope. Mile after mile, I found myself climbing hill after hill. The course was definitely "Atlanta flat", but inclines that are NBD on an easy run seem like mountains when you're racing.

Those 50' climbs were so discouraging.

I had a hard time gauging what a good pace would be. Were there more hills? Should I be saving some energy? What pace could I reasonably keep for the last five miles? I had no idea.

Mile 1: 7:27 This felt fast, but manageable. If only the sun would go away... 

Mile 2: 7:38 I found myself pretty alone in the field except another woman, and we kind of held onto each other for a mile and a half, using each other as pacers, almost. Just keep going. Just keep going. 

Mile 3: 7:26 I remember thinking how great it would be to see my teammate (who was waiting at the 5K mark), and that I was actually doing pretty well. If I held this pace, I would hit mid 46-- a HUGE improvement. 

5K: 23:12 (PR = 22:48) I remember feeling awesome about this split. I still felt like I could have been carrying on a conversation the whole time up to this point, and it made me happy to think that, had this been a 5K, I could've been done much sooner without having to save so much for the next 5K.

Mile 4: 7:30 This is where it got hard. I kept thinking "alright, the flat/downhill part has to be around here SOMEWHERE, right?", but it never came. There was just one hill after another. I was singing in my head at this point, reminding myself of my teammate's words "make it count" and "give it your all", and just trying to start counting down the miles. That was harder now, because my watch GPS was off (and ahead) from the course. I was clicking up a solid tenth of a mile too early, and that was demoralizing. 

Mile 5: 8:02.Here's where the breakdown happened. I hated running in the sunlight. My entire body was feeling warm, and I found myself desperately wishing I wasn't wearing a shirt. Was I overheating? Was this heat stroke? Did I need to slow down? ...or was this just what running this fast for this long was supposed to feel like? I had another teammate waiting for me "around mile 5" that kept me going, but i was already wanting to slow down by time I saw her. As soon as I turned the corner, there was another hill. Out of her sightline, i let myself walk. "Just 100 paces", I told myself, "and then you're running again". I probably only needed 50, but the temptation to use the full allotment was too great. By the time I started running, I'd put myself out of contention for a PR. There was no way I could make up that much time.

Mile 6: 7:23/mi avg This stretch just didn't end. I kept frantically looking for the 5K's 3mi marker, and then, after that, the joint finish line. Telling myself "it's just one lap on the track" didn't help. The heat, humidity, hills, and, maybe more than anything, sunlight, got to me. 

Last 0.22mi
grey= pace, green= elevation
see how much that little bit of incline broke my heart and slowed my pace?

I struggled in across the line, so very thankful to be done.



Reflections:
I'm disappointed that I took that walk break. Without it, I'm sure I would have PRed. Especially now, looking back at my mile splits, I can't help but say, "seriously, did you actually NEED to walk? You were doing GREAT."

I knew it during my tempo training run, and I definitely thought a lot about it on today's run: I need more tempo runs in my life. I can perform really well in track workouts, but my level of execution for tempo mileage is lagging really far behind. While I might be able to eek out something good for a 5K, the middle and longer distance runs are still tough for me. I'd much rather "make it hurt" for a short duration than "make it uncomfortable" for a longer one. 

There have been very few times in this training cycle where I've really pushed myself very far out of my comfort zone. That's exactly why today shook out the way it did. Just following a training plan isn't enough, I need to find the right one for me that will train my weaknesses and preserve my strengths, and then I need to execute it. That's still something I'm learning.

While I still believe a lack of tempo runs is what did me in today, I can't forget that I've had some serious life stress outside of my running reality. As much as I'd like to believe it doesn't affect my runs, I'm sure it did.

Another thing I probably need to consider is doing some running after sunrise. 4:30 and 5am runs are great... until you're racing in full sunlight. I struggled a little at Peachtree, and definitely today, due to weather conditions being so different than what I train in. Perhaps a single afternoon run is something I should add in for my next cycle?

It's been a long time since I've actually raced- just about a year, in fact, since the West End Mile. I've realized just how few people actually try to "race" races in my extended running friends group. A lot of us run races, and train for "PRs", but it's rare to find someone who seeks to push themselves outside of their comfort zone. I'm still learning how to do this myself, but I'm always intrigued by how many different things different people get out of running. Whatever you want running for in your life, there's a way to make that happen.  





What's Next:
Taking a week off from anything real, and then looking for a fast fall 5K while training up for an actual half marathon attempt on Thanksgiving (not mentally ready to say I'm racing it, but maybe I can make it more of tempo run than I've ever been able to do at that distance). Definitely need to find a way to incorporate more hill repeats and tempo runs into my "easy mileage" as I look for my next training plan too. 

Sizzler Training: Week 8/8

Week-beginning Thoughts:

"We start with stars in our eyes // We start believing that we belong // But every sun doesn't rise // And no one tells you where you went wrong" -Dear Evan Hansen

TGFRunning. Life has been kicking me a lot lately, and I'm grateful for the endorphins hit, camaraderie, and feelings of accomplishment and progress that my training affords me each and every day. 

Monday

Scheduled: rest

Did: rest

Today sucked.

Tuesday

Scheduled: 10mi easy, strength x 2

Did: 10.07mi @ 9:39/mi avg, Big 5

Monday sucked so much rhombus that I was actually eager to run double-digits this early, early morning. Couldn't sleep last night and was up at 3:50am ready to go. Despite it being 10KTuesday, I actually ended up running a lot of the miles "alone" today, hanging back from the group. I felt like taking my easy run easy, and that's just what I did. It was kind of nice to just run without talking, focusing on my breath, the same way I would if I ever made the time for yoga. 

I thought about trying to do the strength stuff when I finished, but, who am I kidding, if I plan on doing it after I come in from my run, it will not happen. I get too excited to see my family and too anxious about getting on with my shower/get-ready routine to be able to get out the door to work within 30min. 

Wednesday

Scheduled: rest

Did: rest

Today also sucked. I got a sports massage for my calves. That made it suck a little less. 

Thursday

Scheduled: 15min WU, drills, strides, 10x200m/60s (5@goal pace, 5 faster), 15min CD, circuit x 1

Did: as scheduled = 5.15mi @ 9:26/mi avg, Big 5, yoga

Couldn't sleep for stress last night again. Grateful for my teammates this morning. Had a bit of an adventure when we arrived at the track and found it was partially under construction. Did some creative 200m repeats, all of them felt SO easy at my goal pace, so I ended up quite a bit under.

Had some time to myself this evening so I took the opportunity to breathe, and spent five minutes on a very mindful yoga practice. Not much, but it's a start.

Friday

Scheduled: 4mi easy

Did: 4mi @ 9:50/mi avg, 3xcircuits, Big 5
Opted out of a group run this morning in favor of catching up on all the sleep I've missed due to stress this week. That was the right call. Still got my miles in solo on the treadmill, and treated myself to watching some trashy Netflix while doing it. Followed up with those strength and core circuits I've neglected to do during the first part of this week. 

Saturday

Scheduled: rest

Did: yoga

This was a great morning: no-alarm wake-up followed by 30min of yoga. 

Sunday

Scheduled: 2mi + strides 

Did: as scheduled = 2.46mi @ 9:33/mi avg, Big 5

Today I woke up nervous about running two miles because I "hadn't run in forever". Y'all, it had been about only 50 hours since my last run. lol. It's amazing how a single Saturday off can feel like a week without running.

Two miles felt easy, though I did have a small tight spot in my right calf that started off as a bit of a nuisance but let up a half mile in. Strides felt good and easy. 

..and that's a wrap for this training cycle

Total Weekly Mileage: 21.98

Week-ending Thoughts:

22mi/week? No wonder I feel like I haven't been running much. That's just a little over half of what I normally run. It's weird to be tapering for a 10K, but totally logical. 

I don't feel particularly confident about tomorrow, but I also don't feel particularly stressed. In so many ways, I still don't think about tomorrow as a goal race... which, considering my past performance when I do, is probably a good thing. I have no race plan. I have no goal splits. I'm just gonna start off the line, see what my pace shakes out to be, and hope I can hold it. 

8 Week of Training = Complete