Training Week March 10th-March 16th

 March 10^th: Resty-rest.

March 11^th: Because of Eastern States there’s only one work out this week. For the past few days I was dead set this was only 6x800 believing it so much that’s what I programmed on my phone. I hoped/planned to do this outside as I have the dog boarded and no husband at home. But once it came time to head to the park where I run these, I just didn’t want to. For one some friends were meeting up to walk and I didn’t want to just keep run by them and two, although it is lighter now I figured I’d be finishing in the dark. So, home to the tread I went. The workout went pretty well. I managed to pick up the paces a bit from the last time I had some 800s and felt in control. I ran in my new Brooks Hyperion Max 2 and they felt fancy and free.

March 12^th: A long recovery run after a long workday including picking up the doggo, felt exactly like one would expect. It was a planned 8 but I promised myself I’d do an hour. I went a little over that to get to 7 on the tread and that was good for me. The work on Tuesday and this late run has been not sleeping the best per my watch because I go from hard work, to food, to shower to sleep. I’m looking forward to the rest day and to the day off on Friday.

March 13^th: Rest, done and done.

March 14^th: I took today off of work and it was quiet nice. I solid sleep and an easy little 5 mile run back into packing and sitting. 

March 15th: Just a quick run that was scheduled as three but I just did what worked. Nothing special which isn’t a bad thing. 

March 16th: Eastern States! This was our 5th time doing the 20 miler and probably the best logiscally. It’s a late start which make fueling interesting but the toast, PB and jelly held me through. My main goal was to do this was a harder long run. I modified that as it got closure to focus on fueling. When I went into it I thought about a prior year progression run but I’m really bad at those so want excited about it. I then figured just do a long run but … boooooring. So, once I started at saw my splits being pretty consistent at 8:28-8:30 I thought okay let’s do this first ten meteradome style. Just try and glide through 8:30s for ten miles and then drop to 8:00-815 for the last ten. I had a few folks I saw and chased down which was a good distraction and then I went at 10 (a little before actually). I wasn’t able to go below 8:15 really but I did pick it up. I was colder than expected with the weather so that kept some mental power although not physical aside from when I tried to open gels (oy!). I focused on needing to pee which I think was actually a defense mechanism but I finally pulled off to a port-o-potty at 16. It cost me about a minute but I think the mental gain wasn’t a lost. I had a good second half and a good last 3-4 miles mentally. My gel intake could have been better and I think I need to try a plan UCAN and se how that sits…

Overall, I’m happy with this result. It was a PR and I feel like I tried something more the second half and tried to not shy away from the distance. I’m still needing to work on fueling as I think that’s a big missing piece but this wasn’t a misstep. 

The positive mental game was pretty good and I just trying to keep remembering that I get to play running. That being out here is fun. It’s something I get to do and choose to do. What a gift!