bug one on Sunday, 20 miles. Here what I took away:
I have rough miles (namely about mile 6, 12 and the last four off and on) and I need to pay attention before I hit the hard patch to see if I can avoid it. I want to try some Gatorade or something in one of the waters to see if switching helps. I did alright pace wise. I say alright because, although faster than the plan, I still feel like it was work and I need to still cut 40 seconds per mile. But I also know, although I'm working, my heart rate isn't in red for much if any of the run which seems to indicate I can push and will hopefully have the endurance and backbone to do just that.
I'm also finding that although I have this big goal, I am trying to find peace in just the doing of this and he hopeful finishing no matter the end time. I know I'll be disappointed if I don't BQ but I'm trying to also enjoy this enough to want to try again. There is a peace that is coming from this especially as, so far!, I've been injuryfree, even if more sore than usual.
These next three weeks will have some changes and I think we're going away for a week that is supposed to be a long, 18 miler, run. I haven't yet decided what I want to do but I may swap the 12 this week for the 18 and see. I may also need just a bit more of a break and will mess around in some other way. Jury is still out and I'm chatting with other people.
And my speed this week is like 7 Yassos. I'm kind of excited to see how I'm doing there and also dreading that many Yassos. So. Many.
Monday, August 28, 2017
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Steady as She Goes
In my world of training there hasn't been much to report other than keeping on. I went on vacation to California and so the plan got shifted a bit resulting in me doing two runs (one so amazingly hilly it gave Worcester a run for its money) and one faster than planned with the husband. It also meant taking a day off of work to run 18 miles.
Yup 18.
So I'm making it along so far. That run was at 9:00 which was just about in target. I felt mostly good and since I had spent the prior days traveling and with lots of family, lots of food and drink I feel like that's pretty good. My speed work out ended up not being tempos and are okay. They aren't as fast as when I started but still keeping faster than the plan.
On Sunday I'll go out for 20 which I'm trying to look at as "just another thing " and what I've become accustomed to despite the fact every longer run is longer than I've run. I've tried to continue to keep my focus on I'm hoping, since I have three 20ish milers, I'll continue to get better at that much like how I've become used to 5 miles just being my week day run.
I am getting a tiny bit nervous about the right knee as, on Tuesday and Wednesday, there was so tightness/pain. I am hoping once I get off my lazy butt after a few days vacation and then a week of work, I can get back to that and trying to not only run but maintain other aspects of training. I think overall I'm at that tired stage leg wise and need to be thoughtful about stretching, resting, shoes I wear at work and foam rolling. I'm better than when I was younger but still need to dedicate time to making sure I stay limber and not tight.
Yup 18.
So I'm making it along so far. That run was at 9:00 which was just about in target. I felt mostly good and since I had spent the prior days traveling and with lots of family, lots of food and drink I feel like that's pretty good. My speed work out ended up not being tempos and are okay. They aren't as fast as when I started but still keeping faster than the plan.
On Sunday I'll go out for 20 which I'm trying to look at as "just another thing " and what I've become accustomed to despite the fact every longer run is longer than I've run. I've tried to continue to keep my focus on I'm hoping, since I have three 20ish milers, I'll continue to get better at that much like how I've become used to 5 miles just being my week day run.
I am getting a tiny bit nervous about the right knee as, on Tuesday and Wednesday, there was so tightness/pain. I am hoping once I get off my lazy butt after a few days vacation and then a week of work, I can get back to that and trying to not only run but maintain other aspects of training. I think overall I'm at that tired stage leg wise and need to be thoughtful about stretching, resting, shoes I wear at work and foam rolling. I'm better than when I was younger but still need to dedicate time to making sure I stay limber and not tight.
Saturday, August 5, 2017
Lift Your Head and Look Around*
As posted previously today was my 16 mile run. I was trepidation us going into it because well it's 16 miles. I feel like these long runs have a lot hinging on them for obvious reasons and they all have not felt like your successes. I do understand that not every run will feel like a success and the main focus of the long runs is to get the mileage and get your body used to the work that goes along with so many miles. But, that being said, of course you want every long run to feel like you can keep going and finish the marathon.
Today I was especially anxious because there was a storm front that was coming in and I was trying to work out the timing of things. I had pretty readily committed to running tomorrow and so I just had hope I want to get denied because of unsafe conditions. Turns out there was no storm, well except for one clap of lightning, but there was plenty and plenty of rain. Like soaked at mile four and still having 12 to do. I also was a bit anxious because I was trying a new route and want sure how I'd like it.
But here's the awesome part: everything, despite the rain, went well. I kept an 8:54 pace which was unexpected given a few of the splits I had. I never felt like I was over working annnnnd I felt like I had more in me. Even know, hours later, I still feel good. I hope this positive trend continues and I also hope it's cool on race day because I think that was a huge help.
*You Will Be Found
Today I was especially anxious because there was a storm front that was coming in and I was trying to work out the timing of things. I had pretty readily committed to running tomorrow and so I just had hope I want to get denied because of unsafe conditions. Turns out there was no storm, well except for one clap of lightning, but there was plenty and plenty of rain. Like soaked at mile four and still having 12 to do. I also was a bit anxious because I was trying a new route and want sure how I'd like it.
But here's the awesome part: everything, despite the rain, went well. I kept an 8:54 pace which was unexpected given a few of the splits I had. I never felt like I was over working annnnnd I felt like I had more in me. Even know, hours later, I still feel good. I hope this positive trend continues and I also hope it's cool on race day because I think that was a huge help.
*You Will Be Found
Friday, August 4, 2017
Tomorrow, Tomorrow
So the last few days/week of running have been, as usual, a series of ups and downs. After my speed work out last week I had a so-so 12 mile run. It was one of those run somewhere I always felt like I was working a little too hard for what I was trying to accomplish. It was also one of those runs where I felt like I should be doing better because I have such a distance to go. That being said, it was also one of those runs when I finished that I had to say the distance was done, the pace was correct, and that is what is asked of me.
I then had a pretty awful feeling 4.77 mile run on Sunday after my husband and I spent the weekend away. Of course when we are away there is less focus on what I eat and when I eat it and how much I drink. I am hoping that the 4 mile run I did and the discomfort that went with it was just a byproduct of the weekend. I should also say that it wasn't awful but the pace was slower than what I am supposed to run the marathon at and I only did a little over four.
But then flash forward to this Wednesday and my speed workout which I had to do a series of 4 mile Hills on the treadmill due to my thunderstorm and that seemed to go well. I did not do things as steeply as I did when I ran them outside but I did them faster and more consistently. I hope they have the benefit that the hills are supposed to have because I'm still trying to figure out that component a bit.
Now tomorrow I am facing a 16 mile run. I am going to try it on the rail trail which I have never run on before. There is a chance of scattered showers and maybe thunderstorms as well so that adds an interesting element. I am a little trepidation us about it because I feel like I am hinging a lot on these runs as they get longer. Hopefully it will go well enough and I can consider that there is only 10 more miles to go after what I run.
I then had a pretty awful feeling 4.77 mile run on Sunday after my husband and I spent the weekend away. Of course when we are away there is less focus on what I eat and when I eat it and how much I drink. I am hoping that the 4 mile run I did and the discomfort that went with it was just a byproduct of the weekend. I should also say that it wasn't awful but the pace was slower than what I am supposed to run the marathon at and I only did a little over four.
But then flash forward to this Wednesday and my speed workout which I had to do a series of 4 mile Hills on the treadmill due to my thunderstorm and that seemed to go well. I did not do things as steeply as I did when I ran them outside but I did them faster and more consistently. I hope they have the benefit that the hills are supposed to have because I'm still trying to figure out that component a bit.
Now tomorrow I am facing a 16 mile run. I am going to try it on the rail trail which I have never run on before. There is a chance of scattered showers and maybe thunderstorms as well so that adds an interesting element. I am a little trepidation us about it because I feel like I am hinging a lot on these runs as they get longer. Hopefully it will go well enough and I can consider that there is only 10 more miles to go after what I run.
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