2 Weeks Until Peachtree

 Week-Beginning Thoughts:

Three weeks out, and I'm still in interval mode. Not sure whether I want to focus on improving distance, speed, or straight run duration. 

Monday
Planned: 30min core workout, 1mi with kid (if desired)

Did: 40min XT (lower body weight + HIIT), 5K walk, 2mi walk

Tuesday

Planned: easy 10K Tuesday

Did: 6.3mi @ 10:02/mi avg (3) one minute walk breaks included

Wednesday

Planned: 30-40min core/lifting or 3-4mi easy

Did: rest

I had such a patchwork day of conflicts that it was hard to find a solid 1.5 hours to do this. I suppose I could have made it happen if I really wanted... but I didn't. 

Thursday

Planned: 1mi WU, Ladder Down (mile, 800, 400) with 400m recoveries, 1mi CD

Did: as scheduled

This workout was such a joy to be able to do. It was great first track workout back from COVID for me in terms of both distance and execution. I started out too hot on the mile and realized it after a 53s split at the 200m mark (whoops), but got myself back to a sustainable pace quickly. I'd hoped for an 8:00 mile, 7:30-45/mi 800m, and "faster than that" for the 400m. 

I wound up with:

Mile 7:58

800m 3:51.8 (7:44/mi)

400m 1:45 (7:00/mi)

Solid. :D 

Friday

Planned: rest

Did: rest

Felt a little off this morning-- had a bit of a scratchy throat and the sort of fatigue I get when I'm sick. Damnit. Made it through work, but went to bed at 7pm exhausted.

Saturday

Planned: 7-8mi easy

Did: slept 10.5 hours overnight, and another 5 hour nap upon waking

I HATE THIS. Another bout of fatigue. Nothing else. I'm guessing this is just a result of Thursday's workout. I really thought I was over this crap.... It's such a mind ____ to feel totally fine in the moment and be struck down with fatigue a day and a half later. Guess I still have some work to do in finding my limits... 

Sunday

Planned: 3-4mi easy with stroller 

Did: 4.46mi @ 10:07/mi avg with stroller

Felt better by Saturday afternoon/evening, and opted for a slow run with friends today.

Weekly Mileage: 15.5

Week-Ending Thoughts:

Irritated and in a total MOOD about not being able to do such short workouts yet, but trying to find the bright side that I was able to have a "normal" week last week. Maybe I can't do sub-8 intervals yet (thought the fact that I can't even manage less than 2mi of speedwork makes me roll my eyes at myself), but I was able to run 20mi comfortably last week.

Sigh. 

3 Weeks 'til Peachtree

Week-Beginning Thoughts:
Three weeks out, and I'm still in interval mode. Not sure whether I want to focus on improving distance, speed, or straight run duration. 

Monday
Planned: 1mi run with kiddo, 30min core workout

Did: biked 1mi with kiddo, 30min core workout

Got bit by ants yesterday and my ankle is HUGE and uncomfortable so I opted to bike with kiddo ran a mile instead of trying to fit a swollen foot into a running shoe. I did do an ACTUAL workout for my core (MuscleBurnsFat) later in the evening, which was SO nice, though. It's been forever since I've had the stamina to do something like this. 

Tuesday

Planned: 5mi (4/1 intervals as long as I can)

Did: 6.22mi 3/1 intervals @ 10:10/mi avg, 1mi with kiddo

WHAT A VICTORY. It's been over two months since COVID, and I was finally able to complete a 10K today for the first time. I'm mentally renewed and feel like my body is finally ready to get back to "training".

Also, I felt good enough to go back out for another mile with my kiddo afterwards. :D 

Wednesday

Planned: 1mi run with kiddo, 30min core workout

Did: 1mi with kiddo (mostly walking)

Kiddo decided he wanted to walk instead of run this morning, so today was a pretty light workout day, but I'm kind of fine with that since I'm not sure how my body will react to yesterday's run. 

Thursday

Planned: 1mi WU, 30min 1/1, 1mi CD

Did: 6.18mi @ 10:03/mi avg

This is the first workout I've done in over two months. I could not have been happier to be on the track at 4:30am with my best friend/training partner in disgustingly muggy 98% humidity. The prescribed workout for the program I'm coaching today was a series of 15x 1min hard/1min easy intervals, so I figured I could do that. I was excited to also run my first straight mile in awhile. After the first mile (with no walk breaks), I took a bit of time to walk before hitting the fast intervals.

At first, I planned on running the hard and walking the easy.... but that seemed too easy. Then I decided I'd run hard and recover easy-- no pace goals, just by feel. I figured I'd probably be running the hards around 8:30-9/mi and the easy closer to 10:30-11. 

After a few, I was definitely wondering how I was supposed to do THIRTY of these. Spoiler alert: I wasn't. I was supposed to do 15 x 1min/1min, but, in my head, I'd converted that to thirty sets, instead of thirty minutes. Oops. 

I ended up running:

8x ~7:45-8:00 / 11ish

5x - run/walk (run varied from 7:54 to 9:15/mi)

5x 7:20-7:43 / 11ish

THIS FELT SO GOOD.  :D

Friday

Planned: 3-4mi easy 

Did: rest

I opted for rest today due to a few reasons:

1) I was "out late" at the kiddo's swim meet last night

2) Thursday's workout was harder than I've gone in awhile, and I was planning on a similarly demanding workout for Saturday-- no sense running myself to the ground on my comeback

3) Fridays are my long days of work

Saturday

Planned: 6.2mi (intervals dependent o how Thurs/Fri go)

Did: 6.22mi @ 9:43/mi avg-- STRAIGHT RUNNING

This run felt more like an 18 or 20mi during marathon training than a "easy 10K". I never felt like I couldn't do what I was asking my body to do, but it was definitely taking a lot of grit and stamina to do it. Nevertheless, I am so so so happy to have had it. I ran a full 10K for the first time in over two months. A month ago, I literally didn't think I could cover the distance for Peachtree, much less run it. So grateful. 

Sunday

Planned: 30min lifting; 45min walk

Did: 30min 5K with the stroller, casual walking through nature preserve

Oh. I didn't look at my "plan" before I went out this morning. It was too good of weather to pass up, though, so even if I had checked my plan, I probably would've still run. I headed to the river with my littlest and enjoyed some 70 degree with wind and lower humidity weather while we ran. I felt normal for the first time in awhile. So grateful. 

Weekly Mileage: 21.7

Week-Ending Thoughts:

So grateful to finally believe I'm through COVID. 

4 Weeks 'til Peachtree

Week-Beginning Thoughts:
Well, I'm going to be doing a 10K in about a month... I obviously have no hopes of racing it, and, with my current health, am not even sure just running it is an option either. I think my plan right now is to hope to do 90/30s for as long as I can and then extend the walk as necessary to finish the distance... but we'll see how much ground I can cover in the next month and where my body's at on July 4. 

Monday
Planned: 20min easy bootcamp workout over swim practice

Did: 10min yoga, 20min dance

Tuesday

Planned: 5mi (90/30 intervals) ONB, with option to finish it out at home if I'm feeling good

Did: as planned 5.0mi @ 9:52/mi avg

Just didn't have time to finish it out.

Wednesday

Planned: 1hr power walk, 20min one-arm lifting

Did: 30min leg cardio/strength workout, 

Work, weather, and lack of sleep curtailed the walk, but I got a decent cardio leg session in over lunch. 

Thursday

Planned: 4mi (90/30 intervals) 

Did: 1hr power walk, 20min single-arm lifting

Exhausted and skipped t-storm run.

Friday

Planned: 30min bootcamp workout

Did: 3.4mi (90/30), 30min bootcamp core

Missed first alarm, then stepped in cat hairballs so I was late to my run and didn't hit the full 4. Got in my first high-er intensity core/cardio workout since COVID in the afternoon, though. That felt nice. 

Saturday

Planned: 5mi (90/30 intervals) 

Did: as scheduled 5.04mi @ 10:13/mi

It was hard to start this one, but I ended up feeling pretty good towards the end.

Sunday

Planned: 3mi (90/30 intervals) 

Did: 3.22mi with stroller 4/1 @ 10:12/mi avg, 3.12mi walk to ice cream shop and back

Felt like trying something a bit different today and opted for longer run intervals, intending on slowing my run pace. Four minutes felt like forever to begin with. I never felt like I needed to stop, but it was definitely not an enjoyable or easy activity to run continuously for four minutes. Sigh... Slow progress

I suppose I should celebrate the fact that I followed this morning's run up with a 5K walk to/from the ice cream shop this afternoon with no issues. That certainly wouldn't have happened a few weeks ago. 

Weekly Mileage: 16.7

Week-Ending Thoughts:

I'm really happy that I've made it through an entire week of "training". It's nice to be able to reliably plan to workout, and have a rough idea of what mileage my body can sustain. Still don't think that running Peachtree is a realistic goal, but am starting to hone in on the idea of averaging 10min miles with my walk/run strategy and feeling comfortable with the thought of begin capable of training for a 5K (not a fast one, but just the ability to RUN it) closer to fall.

Strep Throat Week

Week-Beginning Thoughts:

I think I'm finally getting back to the point where I can progress. It'll be slow, but I feel like I'm able to at least stay healthy enough to work. Next week will be the first week I think I'll be confident enough to plan training out for myself.

Monday
3.62mi @ 13:03/mi avg with stroller (90/30 ish), about a mile of walking
We had a nice family outing with husband running, oldest biking, and me running with the littlest in the stroller beachside. That was followed by a family beach outing and lots of fun boogie boarding in the waves. Then I came home and felt tired... and took a 2hr nap. Then it got worse by the afternoon and I went to bed at 7pm... and had a 103 fever overnight... and didn't wake up until nearly noon the next day.

Tuesday
laid in bed all day, except to go to urgent care
Tested positive for strep throat. So much for that training thing....

Wednesday
Drove back to ATL with two small children 
Headache, sore throat, fatigue, and all the grossness included.

Thursday
Still recovering

Friday

1.5mi stroller walk

Finally felt good enough by the evening to do a neighborhood walk with the little one.

Saturday

3.75mi 90s/30s intervals @ 10:05/mi avg

Met up with my training partner for a nice bit of 90/30 before an all-day chorus coaching session. Trying to find the right balance of what I can do to progress without setting myself back... 

Sunday

3.41mi @ 11:09/mi with my oldest, 5mi stroller walk, ~1mi pool walk

Today was a GREAT day. My oldest had asked to run with me, so I planned on going a mile with him, grabbing donuts, and then walking home. We ended up running over a 5K together, all inclusive. SO SO SO grateful to have been able to share that together... and then I was able to walk 5mi with my squishier little one. 

No tiredness, but definitely felt ready to be "done" at the end. Here's hoping I'm ready to launch into some sort of rebuilding training....

Weekly Mileage: 10.8

Week-Ending Thoughts:

So much for that "I'm confident in my health" bit... Still feeling hopeful about returning to suuuuuper modified training next week. 

Dead to the World Again-Beach/Strep Throat

Well, here we are again... I'm sick... again. We're up to 40% of the year so far being marred by injury or illness, and I'm not even counting the couple weeks where I was able to kiiiind of workout, but still had to scale way back due to COVID recovery and/or my busted wrist keeping me from lifting anything.

Just got back from a week at the beach with my extended family that started off bad (we had a COVID exposure before we left, which screwed our plans and meant we had to isolate from family for the first day of the visit, and my nephew and BIL had norovirus to start things off too), had a couple good days, and finished terribly (with me going to my "regular" urgent care center when I'm in Virginia after a night of 103 degree fever... to be diagnosed with STREP THROAT). 

Basically, I hate my life right now because I don't have my health. I'm sick of being sick.

Stuff I've done in the past week:

Monday, 5/23
Nothing. Had a scratchy throat and slight neck ache. Felt tired. Also was exposed to COVID the day before but didn't know it yet.

Tuesday, 5/24
5.0mi of 2min run/1min walk @ 10:37/mi avg
Felt good. Also did a mile walk at swim practice that evening.

Wednesday, 5/25
Fatigued. Didn't run. Had a headache and stiff neck. Took a 2hr nap.

Thursday, 5/26
COVID tests= negative. Drove 12 hours to Virginia.. Felt tired and congested.

Friday, 5/27
4.71mi total of walking 

Saturday, 5/28
3.85mi walk with FIL, another 2.6mi of walking later in the day
Felt good ish.

Sunday, 5/29
4.56mi @ 9:55/mi avg, 1.0mi @ 12:31/mi avg
Today was a good day. I did a solo run of 90s/30s and that interval felt good. Then I ran with my oldest for a mile after dinner. :)

...but I had a lump in my throat that night.

Monday, 5/30
3.62mi @ 13:03/mi avg with stroller (90/30 ish), about a mile of walking
We had a nice family outing with husband running, oldest biking, and me running with the littlest in the stroller beachside. That was followed by a family beach outing and lots of fun boogie boarding in the waves. Then I came home and felt tired... and took a 2hr nap. Then it got worse by the afternoon and I went to bed at 7pm... and had a 103 fever overnight... and didn't wake up until nearly noon the next day.

Tuesday, 5/31
laid in bed all day, except to go to urgent care
Tested positive for strep throat. Yay.

Wednesday, 6/1
Drove back to ATL with two small children 
Headache, sore throat, fatigue, and all the grossness included.

Really struggling with this "stay healthy" thing. 

A Slow Comeback

Week-beginning Thoughts:
My plan for this week is to do some run/walk intervals every other day, and fit in a bit of strength training as able.

Monday
17min pre-dawn walk, 10min lift/core, 32min easy cardio
Since I "ran" yesterday, I wanted to give myself an easy day. I woke up early, though, and opted into a pre-sun walk through my neighborhood. This is the first time I'm been out to workout before the sun in over a month, and it just felt so good to be OUT THERE.

I can back in, did 5min of "strength" (lunges, squats, and some 2lb dumbbells) and 5min of core.

In the afternoon, while my kid was at swim practice, I did an easy workout. 

Tuesday
4.00min 1/1 intervals @ 11:08/mi avg
SO amazing to be back with the group on 10KTuesday, even though I kept myself to 45min and intervals. 


Wednesday
1hr walk
I'd say today's the first day I've felt GOOD in over a month. I've been active, but able am to wake up without an alarm after only 8-9 hours of sleep. YASSSSSSSSSSSSS. Did a lunch walk with my husband today, and felt like I might want to run because walking felt too easy. So grateful for that.

While the bulk of my body is getting better, my wrist is stubbornly not. I saw the orthopedist today and he said he's glad my wrist is improving, but if I'm still having issues in another month, he might want an MRI to see if I've got a TFCC tear that would require surgery. Uggghhhh.

Thursday
3.37mi @ 10:12/mi avg- few minutes of walking
First run with my training partner in forever. Ran as long as I want, walked as long as I wanted, and repeated. :D 


Friday
MBF Upper Body, one-handed
Wrist is not feeling hot, and I was told not to do any lifting at all with my busted wrist until I've gone a few days without thinking about it/noticing it, soooo, bring on the asymmetric workouts. Still grateful for the ability to do something.

Saturday
4.02mi @ 10:25/mi avg with random intervals, 1.11mi bagel walk, 0.9mi Touch a Truck excursion
I've got enough energy back to do what I want. Now it seems to just be building stamina again. I can do this part! 

Sunday
5.0mi with stroller 4min run/1min walk @ 10:37/mi avg
This was too much. Running for 4min was exhausting and I probably should have stopped earlier... Cut my planned 10K short and just walked it in. 

Week-ending Thoughts:
I did something active every day this week, got a normal amount of sleep, did a LOT with my kids/family, and have not been fatigued. SO HAPPY. Now, it's time to get to work on a slow, controlled build back of strength and stamina. 

One Month Since COVID

Today is the 135th day of 2022.

I've been unable to train due to illness or injury for 56 of those. That's 41%.

It's been a shit year for athlete me. 

This week was about trying to find my body's acceptable exertion level-- i.e. what I can do consistently without any negative effects. 

Monday 
Since I went to bed at 6:30pm on Sunday and slept for awhile, I opted against doing anything today.

Tuesday
Yoga during kid's swim practice. Not sure if it was the heat or something else, but I felt kind of weak, even with a static pose practice.

Wednesday
30min walk AM, 10min walk PM
Put effort into researching this "PEM" condition my PA mentioned as a "worst case scenario" and tried to figure out a HR plan. 

Thursday
10min AM "workout"- 
5min strength (slow lunges, squats, and some 2lb dumbbell arm lifts)
5min core (planks, leg lifts)
Had some chest tightness after.
15min PM walk

Friday
10min AM walk
36min easy walk

Saturday
15min walk/run: 
5min walk WU
2x30s jog/60s walk
1x60/60
2x30/60
5min CD

This felt good from a mental standpoint, and maybe good from a physical standpoint. It's so foreign to run that I kept second guessing myself on how much effort I should be exerting. The scariest thing for me has been that I've never felt any danger signs/fatigue DURING a workout-- it always hits me well afterwards, so it's hard to connect the two and really understand that the exhaustion I'm feeling might be from something I did 48 hours ago. 

After my morning workout, I headed down to a big event day at Atlanta Track Club for the In-Training for Peachtree program. I'm a "virtual" Run Lead this season, helping participants from behind a computer screen instead of running with them on a weekly basis. As a special motivator, though. all training participants were invited to a big "party" day at HQ this week, so I came in case any of my virtual trainees would be there and want to meet me in person. 

It was surreal to be back at ATC, where I've made so many memories running, but not run. I held it together though until everyone had left for their run, and then cried on the way to my car. It's really, really hard to not be able to do what you love. 

The day turned around after that, and I was able to do a 30min Beachbody workout. When I first subscribed two years ago, I found the only Spanish-language program they had, and was soooooo disappointed by how un-intense it was. Today, that was exactly what I needed. I modified the heck out of that workout, and felt happy to at least be able to do something normal-ish. 

Sunday
3.11mi @ 11:08/mi avg, 1min run/1min walk intervals
This run felt harder than I'd expected, but so joyful. 

Week Wrap-up
I've been able to fully function in my daily life this week without any problems. This is a HUGE win. I'm still needing a lot of sleep compared to pre-COVID, but my body is starting to be able to wake up around 5-5:30am on its own.