Tag Archive | training plan

Ruh Roh!

Jun30

ScoobyDooRuhRoh

I knew it was coming.

Sort of.

I was preparing for it.

Sort of.

But now the gauntlet has been thrown down by my running coach.    It’s Marathon Training Time.

Ruh Roh!

These last few weeks that I’ve been working with Caolan, the long running coach, have been preparing both of us for this.   Her getting to know my abilities.   Me getting to know her expectations and training ways.   It’s been working well.   Now it’s time to get serious.

Ruh Roh!

She sent me my training plan for the next two weeks with the miles building up which I was expecting.   We’ve talked about her thoughts on milage and I do know as we get further into training, the miles will build to about 40 a week.

Ruh Roh!

One of the things that I do like though is that she doesn’t think the dreaded 20 miler runs are necessarily warranted.   It’s really a case by case basis.   Some need it to mentally prepare to run a marathon, but since I’ve run one before I don’t need that mental aspect of it.    That is good, because I don’t think I could follow a plan that had 2 or 3 twenty mile runs in them.   This is not to say I will not have LONG runs, but they will be set on time.   Plus it might be multiple days of decent miles.   She feels it’s less wear and tear on the body and I will not argue with that thought process.   I like it.   Plus, we are working on getting my Plantar Fascitiis under control.   Per her suggestion, I’ve been heating instead of icing and it seems to be helping.

One thing that scared me in her last email though is the fact that she came to the conclusion on my last couple of runs that “those indicate that you can probably run faster .” 

  Damn.   Damn. Damn.

So now not only is she upping the miles, she is giving them a faster pace.   Not all as she still wants my recovery runs to be very slow, but other runs are going to speed up.

Ruh Roh!

I believe Mary said something to the effect of this on our way home from the Queens 10K,  “so your upset that your coach is making you do the things your paying her to do.”

Well yes and no.

Yes because it’s easy not to worry about where you finish when you are convinced your slower than you might actually be.   To actually try to go faster will be both a mental and physical challenge.    (You get what I’m talking about, don’t you Dawn:)

No because without her help I don’t think I would get to where hopefully I’m going to end up….

The finish line of the Marine Corps Marathon:)

Have you started your training yet?

What are you training for?

How Slow Can You Go?

May2

slow down

Ok, I’m ready to start working with my new coach.   I just got my first training plan and it’s time to get moving.   It’s only for 4 days as I will normally get my weekly plan on Tuesday’s.    It seems like when I get my new plans, I will then email her back with my weekly completed training plans with some notes.   She needs to know what I completed, how I felt, paces, and such.  Seems pretty reasonable and I am excited to get started.  I guess it’s a good thing that I bought the training journal to keep track of things too!

One thing that struck me though is that FOR NOW she wants me to slow down my training runs.   The next two runs are scheduled to be run at 11+.    What?   How can that be?    I think my average run lately is in the low 10’s or better.   To slow down is going to be hard.  It goes against the grain.   When I first started running, I was running an eleven minute mile.   Now to intentionally run this “slow” is just going to seem weird and it is actually going to be hard to do.   I will do it, but it won’t be without a lot of looking at my Garmin for help.   I know that I am going to have to pay close attention to my time and not just go with the flow.  Caolan has assured me that there is a method to her madness and to trust her.    As I said before, she knows what she is doing.   So I will trust her knowledge that I need to run at these slower paces more than my desire not to.

The one line in the email that really stood out to me was when she said,

“Most of us run too fast too often and not fast enough ever.“

She is so right and I will listen to her.

So I will check my ego at the door and run the pace or as close to the pace as she tells me to run.

The real challenge will be being brave enough to get in my swim suit tomorrow for a swim!

Wish me luck!

Have you ever slowed down to speed up?

Starting off on the Right Foot:)

Mar10

So this week as I said I would do, I climbed back on the wagon.

Yesterday was a rest day and I took full advantage of it too.   I figured the best way to start off on the right foot is with not necessarily pretty feet but good feet..   It’s been a hard winter and my feet showed it.   I’ve also been majorly overdo for a pedicure too and my feet showed it.   Normally they ask if you want callouses removed.   This time it wasn’t phrased as a question but a statment.

I felt bad for the girl who practically had to use a hacksaw to fix my feet.

feet1

I think her expression reflects the level of duress that she was under! I think she should have been wearing a hazmat suit.  Don’t look too closely at this picture as you may loose your lunch.  Also my legs are wrapped and that is why they look they way they do.    I’m just glad the chairs next to me were empty!  Don’t worry, I tipped well.

She did a great job and now my feet are ready to begin my training.

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Yes, even Finn will now sit at my feet:)

And Yes, I snuck in a picture of my dog.

Since I’m trying to modify my training not just to alleviate boredom but also to try to keep over training injuries at bay, today I did 6 miles on the bike at the gym and some abs.  Can’t wait for the streets to be clear of snow as I really do need to train more on my actual bike.   Last year, I felt very uncomfortable with my bike at both Triathlons that I did. I was not fluid and felt out of step.   I need more bike time to fix that.   It was a hard decision not to run today because it really is so nice out, but if I’m going to have a plan I really should follow it.

Tomorrow, hopefully, swimming.   I haven’t done that in a LOOOOONG time.   I need to check the pool schedule and then see what happens.

What do you do to keep your training interesting?

It’s Time To Get Serious!

Oct9

Ok, I’ve been pretty serious about my Hat Trick Training (ya think?).   I’ve been following the plan.   I’m a good follower.   Probably because I wouldn’t know what to do otherwise and I’m committed to finishing.   I’ve also been following a very specific plan for this event since it’s not your normal weekend run.   The Intermediate Plan for Runner’s World Half-Marathon Hat Trick – 12 weeks from the people of Runner’s World.    Can’t get much more specific than that!!

Will the plan work?    Only time will tell and we’re in the single digits now!   9 DAYS!    It feels like I’ve been training for this forever but I guess only 10 1/2 weeks now.

Am I ready?

Who knows!

What I do know is I’ve been running my @ss off.   Too bad it didn’t also run off my pouch but that’s a different story.   What I do have from following this plan is  a sense of calmness.   I know that I have done all that I can do to prepare.   I have pushed myself.   I have ran through the pain.   I am ready to give it my all.  I really can’t ask any more of myself.

Will I finish all three races?

I do think I will.

I, honestly, don’t see why I wouldn’t baring any problems race days.  This last HM has shown me that when the going gets tough, I can keep going and really that’s all I need to do.   All I want to do is cross the finish line.

Again and Again!

That will be enough for me

(maybe).

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How to prepare for life big events?

Feeling a Little Dangerous

Aug21

When I first ran my first half marathon, I was lucky enough to go with three experienced runners and racers. On the way there they were all talking about what their pace was going to be what their plan was going to be for the Half. All the things a serious runner should know. When they asked me what my goal pace and finish time was, I had both no idea or answer except to say that my goal was to finish. I hadn’t given it any more thought than that. I, honestly, didn’t even know what would be considered a good finish time.

When we got to the start line, we made plans where to meet at the finish line as I told them not to wait for me. What I ended up doing was literally just following behind them the first few miles letting them set my pace. They didn’t even know I was there till about mile 3. A funny thing happened, I realized that I might just be able to keep up with them and I did. Eventually, I even ran with them and not behind them like a stalker. I even had what I now know was a decent finish time of 2:09.

I really had no idea what I was doing either. I just followed the group pace and luckily it worked for me. On the way home I said that I if I knew what I was doing, I might be dangerous. I still don’t know what I’m doing, but since then I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned that training involves more than just going out for a run. There are different types of training runs – the “easy” runs, tempo runs, speed workouts, and the long distance slow runs. Not only do I know about these runs, I’m actually doing them. I still have so much to learn but I’m starting to feel a little dangerous.

I’ve even decided on a plan for the Hat Trick. I’m going to run the 5K as a slow warm up. Not trying to get any type of PR. Then I’m going to focus my energy on the 10K. This will be my goal race. I’ve never run a 10k, so I want to finish with a good time. My goal time is to be around 60 minutes. I may be shooting for the stars, but why not. This is what I will use as my training pace. Then for my Half the next day, I, ideally, would like to finish around 2:30.

So now I’ve got a plan. I’ve got a training schedule. I’ve also got an awesome running mentor who is showing me the ropes. I’m definitely living dangerous now!!

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