Tag Archive | Training

It Could Happen?

As a mother of teens, I always try to impart to them that things just don’t always happen to other people. I’m not doing this to instill fear in them, but I want them to think. I want them to be safe. To be smart. To think about things before they jump into them even if all their friends are jumping. Teens have a tendency to think that nothing bad will ever happen to them.

Runner’s tend to be like teens in this respect.

Then I saw an article about a young mother who was killed by a car while jogging. Sadly it is not the first time I’ve seen such articles. Sadly it will not be the last time I see such articles either. Sometimes the runner is doing everything right. Sometimes the runner is not. Either way it is a devastating loss. Either way someone has lost someone they love. Either way there is a driver who must now live with the fact that another life was taken even if he was doing everything right. And still every time, I think not again.

I know that there are those who spend their working lives trying to make the roadways safer for us all and I thank them. I also know that there are those who do not think anyone besides a motorized vehicle should be out on the roadways. They, of course, are wrong. The problem is that we as runners have to share the roads with both the considerate and inconsiderate. I also know that even though I think that I maybe doing everything right that I am only human and will make a mistake on occasion. I need to stop thinking like my teens and realize that, yes, it could happen to me too. There are no guarantees.

I say these things not because I am trying to instill fear. I say these things not because I am going to stop running outside and go back to running on the dreaded treadmill. I say these things because just like my children, I need to be safe, smart, and think about things. We need to be as safe when running as we would want those we love. We need to remember that it just doesn’t happen to someone else.

Now I know that we all see those out on the road running whom we know are doing everything wrong. These are the people that I really have to stop myself from rolling down my window to tell them that they should wear reflective gear at night, that they should run towards and not with traffic, that when safe they should run on sidewalks, and that they should not have earbuds in while running. The only thing that stops me is that I’m sure it will not be well received. So I have to do my part by being a good example and sharing my knowledge with those in my circle who may need some guidance.

I needed to get my run in today. I needed it not just for my legs, but also for my head. I have as most on the East Coast been stuck inside the last several days due to the blizzard Jonas. I also really, really, really did not want to take my run inside. I wanted to be out in the snow. I also do not find inside running as relaxing as running outside in the elements no matter what they may be. That being said, I knew that due to the conditions of the streets that I needed to be all the things I try to teach my teens. I needed to be smart. I needed to think and I most importantly I needed to be safe.

Before my run, I texted some friends to see what the condition of their streets and sidewalks were. I adjusted my route according to their responses. I also knew that no matter how much I HATE to run on sidewalks that they would be my best option today.

snow

Still safer than running in a street made smaller by the snow. I stayed off main roads where I might normally run because they were not clear enough. I also took pace off the table. I further adjusted my route when faced with impassible conditions.

Case in point…

snow1

I got my 5 miles in. They were not fast. They may not even have been pretty, but they were as safe as I could make them.

How do you deal with the winter running?

Under Pressure

Oct4

So I’ve been off the radar with my blog updates for what seems like a long time, but in reality it has only been a week. Where has the time gone? What have I been up to? Well I will let you in on little secret……

I’ve been running:)

The closer you get to your goal marathon (or at least this is true for me), the more pressure you have. Not the pressure of training as with training it becomes more about the time. The pressure of finding the time as the runs are longer. It’s the pressure to find a few hours several days a week while doing everything else that needs to be done.

Under Pressure

When I first started my pretraining if you will. I was running a few hours a week and now some of my runs are hours.

This does not allow for much down time.

The pressure to try to keep up the house. Now, I’m not talking keep up the house so that you can eat off the floor. I mean the pressure of getting all the things that need to be done done.

Laundry. Grocery shopping. Getting kids to activities. Getting kids home from activities. Feeding family, showering, ect, ect, ect. You know the drill.

It is the pressure of doing all the things that need to be done actually done while maintaining a training schedule that requires more miles and more hours than when you came up with the brilliant idea of running a marathon.

That being said, I can see the silver lining. I am almost to taper time. It’s getting close.

The closer you get too, you have to realize that sometimes you sadly must realign things. You must make choices about what you can and can’t do. As my Coach has said to me, you must keep your eye on the prize.

Today, I should be running the Paine to Pain Trail Half Marathon. I registered very early in the year and this was going to be an epic adventure for Dawn and me. She did it last year and loved it. We were going to do it together. I had thought maybe I would still run it as a training run, but the closer it came to it the more I realized that it might not be the smartest thing for me to do right now. Also the closer you get to your goal race, the more paranoid you get that you will twist an ankle or something (again at least me.). So for this year, I had to give up my adventure with Dawn.

Although, I’m sure that she will still have an epic adventure! She actually decided to become a sweeper for the race. I can’t wait to hear all about it and am slightly sad that I am not there. Truth be told though I did NOT miss the early wake up call:) Dawn and I will have many more times for epic adventures and this was just not to be.

I am to the point in my training where I need to remember to enjoy the ride. I’ve put in countless hours and countless miles (that’s not true I do keep track). I feel as ready as I will ever be, but I have to not let the pressure trip me up.

How do you handle the pressure of training and life?

I Do Have My Eye on the Prize!

Sep28

Well I am getting close to the finish line of both my marathon training and my quest to complete the 9+1 to get into the 2016 NYCM. Both have become equally important to me and I want them both. Yeah, I’m like that.

Yesterday, I had the Bronx 10 Miler which I actually thought would fit very nicely in my training plan, but do to a hiccup in my schedule did not. I still needed to do it though because it was race number 8 out of 9. In talking with my coach, it was decided that I would push back my l6 miles long run a day till Tuesday. This is an important run as 12 miles with any luck will be at my goal marathon pace of 9:50 to 10:05. So it was determined that I would do Bronx slow and steady. My mantra was to be, “This is not my goal race.” I was told to keep my eye on the prize.

Was I disjointed that I wouldn’t be racing Bronx. You bet. Did I want to race? Maybe a little:) But I knew what was important. I was going to keep my eye on the prize. I lined up with my friends, but told them all I would see them at the finish line. Dawn was planning to push it and I was so excited for her, but I knew that we wouldn’t be able to run it together and besides she didn’t need me. Initially I thought about starting in a slower coral, but I wanted to start with my friends. When the race started, I started slow and steady. I ran the first 3 miles around 10:15, but I really wasn’t paying attention to my watch. I even stopped to take a picture around mile 5. I was not pushing it or at least I didn’t think so. Then I ran into a woman and her husband that I’ve met at several races through a mutual friends. I decided to run with them. Slow and Steady. We literally were chatting the whole time. I wasn’t paying attention to the time. I just was running. Slow and Steady. Conversational pace.

We cross the finish line together.

We pause for pictures.

I even meet an online running friend from the group Runners United NYC. I recognized her from her beautiful hair and went up to her and asked if she was ConfidentCurls and introduced myself as Accidentally Running Mama. Yes, just like that! Then we take a picture together and until meeting her in person I did not realize how tall she was as I already knew how short I am. It amazing how inspiring people can be that you’ve never met in person and there are actually a few that I only know online that I can’t wait to meet in person at the Marine Corps Marathon!

Then I meet up with my Mom’s Run This Town Mama’s. Excited to hear how they all did and that Dawn ran the race that we all knew she could run. Yeah, Dawn!! That is until she tells me that I’m going to be in trouble. She points out that I did exactly what she knew I would do which was not do a slow jog. Then I look at my time and realize that she may be right. I get home and look at my splits and although VERY pretty were not on the agenda for the day.

They are pretty. Aren’t they? Dawn laughed because she pointed out that my coach has me so well trained I do negative splits without even trying. There may be some truth to that, but I also know that every run is not this pretty. The truth though is that my coach has trained me so well that I was running this race at a faster pace, but I felt good doing so. I, really, was chit chatting away. I did not feel out of breath. I did not feel like I needed to stop. I was just plugging away. Now, maybe I should have paid more attention to how fast I was plugging away, but I really didn’t feel like I was pushing myself. Although I will admit that when I was getting close to the end, I did take it up a notch. Yes, I am one of those people that no matter the race or the pace; I will give it all I’ve got at the end.

Can’t help myself.

Makes for nice picture though. Don’t you think?

So now today is a Rest Day.

I will respect the rest day. I will honor it and keep it holey. Ok, maybe not that far but pretty close. Seems like I’m starting out on the right foot anyway. Because I do know that the only way I will not be in trouble with my coach is if I nail tomorrows Long Run. Yes, I do know that I am a grown woman who can do what I want when I want. That being said, the reason that I have a coach is to listen to her guidance and the things she tells me. She really is much smarter and wiser than me in the ways of running. She didn’t accidentally start running.

So rest, relax, and carb load today.

Has this ever happened to you?

Do you have Running Friends that you’ve never met in person?

From Night to Day

Aug25

I’ve been doing something the last few days that I hate doing. I’ve been getting up early to run. Now, I’m not talking crazy early, but I’ve been getting out the door by 7:00. I like to say that I only wake up early to run only if I’m getting a shiny medal. For the most part that is true and it’s not like I’m doing track workouts at 5:30 in the morning like some Mama’s I know. Unfortunately, my training called for runs that really need the light of day. If I want to be ready for the shiny awesome medal in October than that means a few “early” workouts at least until the kids get back in school.

So what have I been doing?

Wednesday – 9 miles with average pace of 11:15 in 1:41:23.

More night time running which is good and bad. I would like to say that it was cooler, but it really was still hot and humid. My pace was supposed 10:50, but it was hard to maintain that pace in the dark even with all my lights.

Thurs: Aerobic: 4 miles Average pace 11:46. Easy to keep +++ pace with heavy legs.

I like “easy” miles. Although nothing is easy when in comes to putting in so many miles. Although my feet have been feeling good, my quads have been feeling tight. Might be because I’ve been doing so many miles and probably not stretching or rolling as much as I should. Truth be told is that it is hard enough to find all the hours it takes to get my run in, let alone add the extra time for that.

Fri: Aerobic: 10 miles – Aaverage Pace 11:01 in 1:49:27

This was the the transition to an “early” run. Truth be told it really wasn’t early as I didn’t get out the door till 8:00 AM. I should have left a little earlier, but this was still better than leaving at 11:00 AM. My quads were still tight making legs feel heavy and me feel a little sluggish. Luckily this was a run where it was more about miles than pace and my goal was to stay in the 10:50 to 11:00 range. Some miles better than others, but overall a decent run and the overall average pace was on target.

11:00, 11:04, 11:29, 11:01,10:49, 10:39, 10:46, 10:49, 10:51, 11:46

Sat: Aerobic: 4 miles average pace 13:03

This run I went out with the intention of finding house #13 for my MRTT scavenger hunt. Hey, you’ve got to do something to keep your mind occupied while training. I had a route lined up as my friend lives at #10 on a street. Got to her street and the numbers on her street went from 11 to 15. Grrr. So I started making my way home, going down other streets to find the ever ellusive number 13. Shockingly many streets were just like the first. I did finally find one:) More truth, I would never live in a house number 13. Yeah, I’m a little superstitious. Maybe I shouldn’t be because literally right after house number 13, I almost ran into some wild life which I also needed for my hunt.

What is life if it’s not fun?

Sun: Off:

Off from running. Did go to a Yoga class with at Athleta with my MRTT group. This class felt so good and it made me realize that I need to get back to yoga. I also realized that I haven’t been all summer. Maybe this has something to do with why my quads are so tight.

Mon: MP Aerobic: 15 miles Average pace 10:34 in 2:38:40 but overall time was 3:38:38

I needed to get this run done early because I didn’t want to do it at night since I was going to be running 8 miles of it at marathon pace. I also didn’t want to be running in the heat of the day. Luckily, Genine, wanted to run a few miles but she needed to run early. So we made plans to meet at 7:00 AM which was perfect for me. Without knowing that she would be meeting me, I’m fairly certain I would have wasted my morning and not gotten out till at least 8:00. That being said, I think the first thing I said to her when I saw her was “this sucks.” I was kind of dreading this run since it was such a long one, but it all worked out. My legs felt better and I’m not sure if it was extra rolling and stretching or yoga.

Genine stayed with me for the first couple of miles which was good. I still wasn’t feeling it, but I was already a few miles into it, so what choice did I have but to keep going. I hit most of the targets and did use fuel which I haven’t been using on my long runs but since I was running at marathon pace, I got to use fuel. I didn’t get a chance to eat before I left since I burnt my toast, I used a gel with caffeine instead. Then around mile 3, I ate 2 of jelly belly sport jelly beans (love them). Then I had another gel with caffeine at mile 8 and Gatorade at mile 10. Not sure if this was too much fuel for this run, but I figured since I didn’t have breakfast and hadn’t eaten anything since 7:30 the night before I needed it. Plus even though it was early, it was already hot and humid. Plus, I am such a hot mess when I run I think I needed it. Might need to think about Gatorade more as it really hit the spot!

Now the reason that my overall time was so much more than my actual running time is that I plan my runs so that I can refill my water bottle and I also have to wait at intersections and such. Still shocked at the difference as I didn’t realize I slowed down that much. Anyway, first water stop was at the park for bathroom break, refill bottles, a few pictures for my scavenger hunt. Then my second stop was at the 7-elleven where I normally stop to buy a $1 bottle of water. For this run though, I decided to get Gatorade for some reason. Nothing ever tasted so good. I might have to think about using this again although I don’t know that it would always taste as good as it did on this run.

11:10, 11:46, 10:59, 10:01, 9:44, 10:25, 9:57, 9:59, 9:48, 10:03, 9:59, 10:43, 11:00, 10:50, 12:11

I timed it that this run would end at Dunkin Donuts where I could get a nice recovery iced latte. Some people do look at you a little funny when your in line, but what’s a girl to do. I want (need) my iced latte and I can’t help it that I look like I ran through the sprinklers. I then cooled down with a short walk home. I’m also wondering if this is why my overall time is so much different too. I don’t think I reset (ended) my run until I got home, So who knows.

I don’t have my schedule for this week yet as I get my schedule on Tuesday’s. I’m curious as to what this week will bring. Last week since I had the long run with 8 miles at marathon pace, I didn’t have a tempo run which was nice. I’m thinking that I won’t be so lucky 2 weeks in a row!

How is your training going?

How do you fuel for your runs?

Becoming a Night Owl

Aug20

Now I’m not sure when I said this, but I do know in the past that I have made the statement that I have it easier than some people with my training schedule. Last summer it was different with the boys being in more camps giving me more time to get my trainining in during the day. That may have been true when I said it, but it does not seem to be the case anymore. I have turned into a night owl with my running.

It is good

and

It is bad.

The good part is that the evenings are cooler (not really, but at least the sun is not beating on my back). Last night’s run according to my weather app said it felt like 76 with 83% humidity. I was a hot sweaty mess by the end with sweat literally dripping from me. Isn’t that a pretty vision. I don’t understand people who don’t sweat when they run. I know them. I’m related to some, but I just don’t get it.

It looks like I ran in a sprinkler, but I did not!

The other good part is that I can go about my day normally without worrying about when to get my run in.

The bad part is when everyone else in my family is home relaxing, I am running out the door. I’ve been doing it often and it does cut into a little bit of the family time. I love my family time.

Then there is the whole safety issue. As you know from my previous post on this, I am not afraid to light up the night when I go out. I want to be seen. That being said, there are still so many stupid drivers out there at night who may even drive a little faster because they are not expecting anyone to be out on the roads running. Shhhh, don’t tell my mother but last night I had to jump on the grass as a kid (yup, I’m that old) was taking a corner way too fast and was turning too wide. This is why when running at night, I do tend to run closer to the side of the grass by turns. People seem to take them way too fast and it is easier to get out of their way.

So tip for the day –

Do NOT run in the middle of the road near corners on quiet streets because these tend to be the ones you need to worry about most.

Then there is the whole it’s dark thing. I don’t mind it, but some streets just need more lighting in my opinion.

I’m still learning which streets to avoid at night and this one became one last night. Not enough street lighting to make me happy.

Now I am not trying to discourage anyone from running at night, because you do what you’ve got to do. I do like it as it can also be a very peaceful time to run. Less distraction than during the day and causing you to focus more on your run.

Although truth be told I was slightly distracted last night as my MRTT is having a running scavenger hunt. So I did have to stop along the way for some fun because anything you do life should be fun!

Here is what I found.

I still was out done by my very creative MRTT Mama’s, but it’s all fun and games!

Hoe do you keep your training fun?

Some Runs Are Just Not As Awesome as Others

Aug16

Runner’s truth….

Not every run is fun.

Not every run is like running through a meadow.

More truth.

Some runs just suck from the very beginning.

Today was such a day.

I think I knew it from the beginning. I almost walked back in my house after going outside. Then I thought to myself that if I didn’t go then, I wouldn’t be able to get my run in today. Besides I was ready to go. I knew what splits I was looking to hit. I had my course all mapped out. I was ready. I really wanted to get my run in. Although, truth be told, I regretted the decision for most of my run. Except, of course, the part when it was over and I knew that I go it in.

I was coming off the rails on this one. There are several reasons and sometimes that just the way it goes.

First there was the phone call with my mom right as I was getting to go out the door. Yes, it was 92 today but I have run on hotter days. The difference is that right before a run I didn’t have anyone say to me, “You shouldn’t run today. You are going to give yourself heat stroke or a heart attack.” These are not the words of encouragement needed before a run. Even though I knew that I was prepared to run in the elements, these words stuck in the back of my head.

Then there was my Garmin which died before I even hit mile one. This really made me mad because it was on the charger all night. I’m starting to wonder if my charger is not working properly because this has happened to me before. I will have to keep an eye on it. I had toyed with stopping then since I was supposed to be doing a tempo run which is impossible to do without a watch. Since it was so hot and humid though, I decided to just keep on going and do the best I could.

Then around mile 3, my sunglasses literally broke. Yes, I knew they were on their way out but really.

My face sums up the way I felt. Then by this point I was already feeling the pain of the run. It really wasn’t physical pain but mental. Part of the problem was the first part of my route did not have as much shade as I thought it did and I was baking in the sun. Then it got in my head that it was too hot to run. I kept on going.

One of the reasons that I like to plan a route out is that it doesn’t give me an out once I start. I was literally 3 miles away and thought to myself even if I turn around I would only be 2 miles shy of the 8 I needed so I might as well stick with it. I kept on going. I even toyed with calling someone to pick me up, but I figured I should save that for when I really need it.

Then I got a message from my cheerleader, Dawn, telling me I could do it. We messaged back and forth and it helped. I kept on going. Luckily by then I had hit more shade and although the run was still hard, I was no longer baking in the sun. I admit that I would run. Then I would walk when I felt that I needed to. Then I would run again picking out something in the distance to run to before I could stop again. Again, it wasn’t pretty. I was NOT close to any kind of heat stroke except in my head. I was a hot mess!

Then there was the water situation. Yes, I did buy a hydration backpack but when I tried it on before my run; I didn’t like it. I think this cheaper version that I bought might be good for hikes but I could not imagine running in it. I had my Fitletic hydration belt with all 4 water bottles AND my hand held water bottle. It was not enough on a day like today. I should have looped to the park to refill, but I thought that I was fine. Big mistake. Then I was on the search for water.

I stopped at a friends house thinking that I would fill with her hose, but she had it hooked up to a sprinkler. Not sure if it was the sweat on my hands or what, but I could not unhook it to fill my bottles. She wasn’t home or I would have knocked as I’ve done in the past. Luckily a man saw me sitting, yes sitting, under a tree and gave me a water bottle. I kept going. Swung by another friends house and the same thing happened except no nice man to give me water. By then I was close to home and just kept pushing.

I made it!

I got my run in!

The I realized that for some stupid reason I ran an extra mile. I did nine instead of eight. I will chalk that up to being delusional from the heat.

9 miles in 1:45

So, no not every run is awesome and some do suck. But it is these runs that we push are way through that really show us what we are made of. It is these runs that help to make us better runners. It gives us the mental toughness needed to push through when running an event when all you want to do is stop. If every run was easy, then that means you are not pushing your limits. Life is about pushing limits and getting out of our comfort zone.

So I’m off to bed now as tomorrow is another day

and

I’ve got 14 miles to put on the books.

How do you push through when all you want to do is give up?

Vacation is Over

Aug13

It’s been quiet around here lately, but that doesn’t mean that I’ve forgotten about my blog. I took a vacation. I took a relaxing vacation. Actually it is a vacation that I’ve been taking for 17 years with my husband. It’s a vacation that his family has been taking for over 40 years now. I was camping on a beautiful lake in Vermont. It’s not a glamorous vacation, but I really wouldn’t trade it at all. I go with my husbands family and we literally take up several camp sites. The kids run all over the place with cousins and no one even cares about missing electronics. One of the best things is that the area we camp at has not only limited internet connection, but also limited cell reception. It really is nice to get away from it all.

Now normally while hubby is out fishing with the boys, I lounge in the hammock and read. I will admit that although I did spend some time napping in the hammock, I did not do any reading. Mostly because I took this quiet time to get in some runs. Now, before going I looked up some local trails. I, actually, found the perfect trail that literally was 10 minutes from camp. It was a beautiful trail on a converted rail line. All these years and I never knew it was there. Literally, picture perfect!

Who knew there were flat trails in Vermont!?!

Not me, but now that I found it I can’t wait to run them again next year.

I got in several runs including two eight mile runs one of them being my tempo run. I’m not sure if it was the cooler air, the scenery, or the flat trail but I not only kept my pace but actually ran a little faster even running mile 7 at 8:55. I think it was a fluke, but I’ll take it!

I was determined not to let vacation keep me from running and with the exception of not getting my long run in, I did ok. I will admit that I was very disappointed that I did not get in my long run which was a scheduled seventeen miles. I wanted to run around the lake we camp at. It would have been an amazing challenge due to the hills. I’m not sure if I would have made it, but I won’t know till next year when I will make sure that I have time!

I’m glad that I kept my training up because when I got home I realized that the Marine Corps Marathon is now less than 75 days away. Oh my!.

Do you keep up your training on vacation?

Water, Water everywhere and Not a Drop to Spare!

Jul28

If you live in Jersey, you are used to hot and humid summers. Summer heat is great when you can lounge at the pool or surf the waves at the beach. It’s not so awesome when you are running in it. The last few long runs I’ve been lucky enough to have days so hot and humid that my town even has cooling centers due to heat advisory and air quality. I’m a firm believer though if you wait for the perfect conditions to run, you will never run.

I’ve run a lot of long runs in extreme heat. A few of my MRTT Mama’s are joking that they think that I am training for Death Valley. I’m not but I sometimes feel that way too!

Even though to those driving by me running on an 87 degree day with 66% humidity, I may seem stupid, I will say that I am not. This is not to say that during my run I’m not thinking the same thing, but I do really put some thought into my runs and I do take the weather into account. Unfortunately, for me many of my runs are during the day. If I was one to wake up at the crack of dawn I might not have this problem, but I like to sleep. So I have adapted and adjusted.

Here are four things that I always do for a long run!

I do not go out empty handed. Actually, I do because I have a Fitletic Hydration Belt; but I ALWAYS have water. My belt has 4 bottles that allows me to carry 24 ounces of water.
I map out my run to utilize routes that usually have the most shade. I may not (ok never) follow my map exactly, but it is a nice general guide. I adjust as I go.
When mapping out my runs, I plan for water stops. Yes, even with my belt I need to refill. On yesterdays 15 miler, I refilled two and a half times. Sometimes I know exactly where I will stop (park or store), but often times I make sure that I am running in an area where there are people I know whose houses I can stop to refill. I’ve also been known to see a perfectly good stranger outside and ask if they have some water to spare. You will be surprised how nice people are:)
Go slow!! This is easy to do in the heat when your legs become heavy the further you go, but so many people try to maintain their pace in the heat. Don’t!

Also as a side note, if you can perfectly end your 15 miles at a Dunkin Donuts you are golden! Nothing like an iced caramel latte to help cool you off and put back any calories you may have burned off!

I will not lie, yesterdays 15 miles in the heat was a killer. By the time that I got home, my clothes were literally dripping with sweat and felt like I had been swimming in them. Yuck! That being said, I do keep thinking that once cooler weather comes that all this pushing myself in the heat is going to make for some nice fall running or at least that’s what I tell myself!

I have also come to the realization that it just might be time for me to take my hyrdation up a notch on my runs. I’m looking at hydration vests. I realized yesterday that as soon as I run out of water, I wilt. Then I thought about heading to the hills of Vermont where there are no local friends homes to stop. So it’s once again shopping time. I am so glad that running is a sport that is free. Ha!!!

How do you stay hydrated?

Training Recap

Jul26

I’ve had a good week of training even if I did skip my 5 mile easy run. I actually missed my cut-down day and then had to make a choice if I wanted to make that one up or skip it. I thought that my cut-down was more important to my training than the easy run.

Recap Week

Sun: 14 miles – This was a hot one. A very hot one! This was one of those hot humid New Jersey days where heat warnings were in effect. I did listen to the warnings and made sure to have my bottles filled with Nuun my new favorite drink on hot days. I also threw out any perspective pace and went solely for miles. The run was not pretty, but was more a slow and steady test of endurance. The average pace ended up being still not too bad considering that I wasn’t pushing it nor was I checking it at all during the run. Average pace was 11.48. Consistently in 11’s and 12’s. Overall moving time was 2:38:10 with total time of 3:03:15 as I made stops to refill water bottles and stand in sprinklers. I will say that I am very respectiful of peoples property and only stand at the edge of their property on the roads waiting to be cooled off. I was doing that very thing when a man came out to get something out of his car. I thanked him for the use of his sprinkler and he was very nice about it. One stop was even in a 7-elleven to get some water and take a few minutes to cool down in the air. I felt good (relatively speaking) that I was still able to get the miles in and didn’t need to shorten this run.

Monday: REST

Tuesday: Aerobic 7 miles in 1:12:41. Overall I kept a good pace. The last mile I allowed myself to push it a little bit, but not an all out sprint. I was very happy that after six miles of a fairly steady pace in the mid 10’s that the last mile I was able to run a 9:44.

Wednesday: My sister was visiting from California and wanted to do a quick run before we went for a pedicure. I knew that I had the Pizza Run that night, so we only went for 2 easy miles. Then that night I did the Pizza Run which you can read the recap if you want. Overall, I was happy with the 5K time of 28:38:47 for a average pace of 9:13.

Thursday: Did some swimming

Friday: This was the day that I was supposed to do my cut-down but I didn’t. I’m sure that if I really, really wanted to that I could have found the time, but I really wasn’t in the mood. My foot although not hurting but was bothering me and I really just didn’t want to aggravate it. Yup, I’m a baby.

Saturday: This was supposed to be my easy 5. When I headed out I was actually thinking that maybe I would do my 7 mile cut-down as 5 therby combining the two runs. It didn’t work out that way because once I headed out I knew I wanted to see if I could hit my targets for this run. I found a new route which is a little flatter, but one that I am also familiar with to not have to think about where I’m going. It seemed to work as I hit or was very close to my targets completing the run in 1:11:24 with average run pace of 10:12. My best pace was again the last mile where I hit a pace of 9:15!

Now you would think after such a good run that I would have been flying, but it actually had the opposite effect. I think I was alone for too many miles as I was starting to wonder why I’m doing this to myself. I’ve already ran a Marathon, so what am I trying to prove. Plus I had realized before going for my run that I have only 3 months till the MCM. Panic may be setting in. I know I can do this or at least I think I can do this. Part of me was wondering why I’m doing it. I am just an average runner. I will never be the front of the pack runner. So many people act like I’m this crazy driven person because of my running. Then I realized that they are right, but I have to remind myself that I am the good kind of crazy driven person.

It could be worse:)

I must remind myself that I push myself because I can.

I push myself because what is life without challenges?

I push myself to be a role model to my children that anything is possible!

I push myself so that my boys will grow up knowing that woman can be strong!

I push myself because there is nothing like crossing the finish line and knowing you are the reason you are there.

What do you do when you feel like throwing in the towel?

Weekly Training Recap

Jul21

So it appears Marathon training is in full swing! Somehow it snuck up on me and apparently I am in the thick of it already. I was looking at my miles for the Month of July as June I hit 100 and I wanted to see if I would this month too. Not a problem as I hit it today and we’ve still got a little more than a week to go. Not even sure how that happened. This is when I realized that I’m in marathon training. This past week I ran 30 miles alone!

The surprising thing even with the higher miles I’m feeling pretty good. I’m noticing that on my faster pace runs that is usually when my Plantar Fasciitis bothers me. I think between my orthotics, taping my foot, the stretching, and heating my foot it is all coming together. It’s a slow process and I wish it would just hurry up and go away, but it is better. I think this may just be something I will have to just realize is part of my running.

Boo Hoo!

Anyway, in looking at my training this last week, I’m realizing that really my runs have just been steadily getting longer. It’s not just that I went from zero to a hundred overnight. I’ve been adding a mile to most of my runs over the last couple of weeks. Very sneaky, Caolan, very sneaky. It’s good this gradual increase because first of all that is what your supposed to do and secondly I didn’t even notice.

I was also able to sneak in two group runs this past week. One was a group run that I intentionally let myself fall behind on as they were running at a 9:40 pace and I was supposed to run a little slower and I knew my faster cut-down was 2 days later. I ran faster than my pace called for but I did have the company of another mama runner who also didn’t want to keep up the faster pace. Then I was able to do my nice easy 5 with my girlfriend who didn’t mind that I was slowing her down to an easy 11 mile pace. I needed these group runs:)

Now as I’m in the thick of it, I am also preparing for our annual family vacation to Vermont. I’m working with my coach to make sure that I don’t loose steam on vacation. This will be the first vacation that I really try to continue with a training plan while there. It should be interesting. She is also going to make this a set back week which I need anyway. Hopefully this will help and the hills of Vermont will be kind to me.

How do you keep up with your training on Vacation.

The Accidentally Running Mama

Run, Bike, Swim and Have a Life!

Tag Archive | Training

It Could Happen?

Under Pressure

I Do Have My Eye on the Prize!

From Night to Day

Becoming a Night Owl

Some Runs Are Just Not As Awesome as Others

Vacation is Over

Water, Water everywhere and Not a Drop to Spare!

Training Recap

Weekly Training Recap