So it's been a productive two weeks of running. First is that fact that I'm still running, woo! As I get closer to the taper and the race I begin to understand the tired looks my past marathon friends have given me at this time in training. If you follow a training plan even closely you are logging and running more than you probably have before. My plan only has me doing four days a week too! If I did the five-to-six days of running of other plans, I'd be even more cooked than I am now. But, that being said, I still am finding some peace in running and it hasn't felt like a chore that often.
That brings me to second productive note: I ran 21.21 miles two weeks ago at an 8:51. Longest I've ever gone although not done yet. The run was pretty good all things being considered, and the fact I may now have blocked most of it out. But the overall time was at pace so when I did stop my watch I managed to make up the time which is cool. I felt like I could keep going although I was happy it was over. What I'm not sure about is if I could have kept going while running it 31 seconds faster... But, as I've said before, I'm trying to enjoy this process so that I want to run more especially if I don't make my BQ.
And my last point is, three, yesterday I did 16 at an 8:37! I definitely felt like that one I wanted to end, although more so because I was tired of working than a particular pain or something similar. In still debating what I do twice day: aim for the 8:20 and 3:40:00 goal or just run. I really want to finish and I worry if I got for the 8:20 I may not. But as I previously posted, sometimes you've just gotta go and see as well. Time will tell I guess...
I have one more long run (aiming for 22.2) and then just two weeks of speed with the tapering longer runs. Tinensure flies when you're logging miles and miles and miles.
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Monday, September 4, 2017
And I'm Free, Like the Wind
Just a quick post I'd been meaning to do about goals. So I, no surprise I think, own a Fitbit and have for years. I love it and love he step tracking and the goal making. I've always been pretty good at living up to the 10K a day,but about four months ago went to 11.5K. NBD I suppose, but it was a new goal. And then, aside from times I couldn't make the goal, mostly with traveling, I would find myself doing that good old, walk around the house to make goals some times. Again, NBD except now I'm running. A lot. And I found I just didn't want to do that to myself. And so I moved back to 10K and, more importantly, am trying to give myself a break if it doesn't seem like I'll make it through just a normal day.
So, why say all this?
Because I'm trying to be a realist about my life and goals. I want to qualify, but I may not and sometimes that's okay. I want to walk more, but sometimes I may not and that's okay too. Sometimes you just have to realize it okay to just be okay.
So, why say all this?
Because I'm trying to be a realist about my life and goals. I want to qualify, but I may not and sometimes that's okay. I want to walk more, but sometimes I may not and that's okay too. Sometimes you just have to realize it okay to just be okay.
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Better to Die than to Crawl
Here's the neat thing about Baystate: they have pace Runner's for certain time goals and mine is on such group. Here's the mental concern with that: can I keep pace? Obviously that's my goal so the answer should be yes, but there's that large unknown.
My 20 miler went well, but I'm still running 40 seconds slower than the race and I also do stop and stretch so I'm really more like a minute off goal. I know that the plans say to keep a slower pace and the speed work is where I make up the time and, when you put it together, voila!, success! But it seems so hard to comprehend. So while I plan to start with the pace group there's a part of me that's worries that right off the gate I'm going to find myself failing and knowing I have 22, 20 or even just 10 miles to go. I think I'm mentally strong enough to say "F that" and just do what I need to do, but that could be a long time of "uuuuugh really."
The flip side though is maybe it'll be okay. Maybe he pace group will be just what I need and I'll find myself doing what I've been trying to do. My speed work has always been at or below the paces, but as I tell my husband, I ran track, I know how to sprint and do speed work. So I'm not 100% sure how much of an accurate gauge that may be. Then again, I did a half aeration today at the pace of 8:38 and per how I felt and my heart rate watch, it wasn't too much work.
I guess, as I've posted before, this is the unknown with someone this long and, for me, new. When it comes to race day it just may be a crap shoot after all and so the question is how do I approach it and, I think, I just attack.
My 20 miler went well, but I'm still running 40 seconds slower than the race and I also do stop and stretch so I'm really more like a minute off goal. I know that the plans say to keep a slower pace and the speed work is where I make up the time and, when you put it together, voila!, success! But it seems so hard to comprehend. So while I plan to start with the pace group there's a part of me that's worries that right off the gate I'm going to find myself failing and knowing I have 22, 20 or even just 10 miles to go. I think I'm mentally strong enough to say "F that" and just do what I need to do, but that could be a long time of "uuuuugh really."
The flip side though is maybe it'll be okay. Maybe he pace group will be just what I need and I'll find myself doing what I've been trying to do. My speed work has always been at or below the paces, but as I tell my husband, I ran track, I know how to sprint and do speed work. So I'm not 100% sure how much of an accurate gauge that may be. Then again, I did a half aeration today at the pace of 8:38 and per how I felt and my heart rate watch, it wasn't too much work.
I guess, as I've posted before, this is the unknown with someone this long and, for me, new. When it comes to race day it just may be a crap shoot after all and so the question is how do I approach it and, I think, I just attack.
Monday, August 28, 2017
Dance a Tango to Hell
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.
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.
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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