Apparently I like to torture myself.
But if anyone asks - I tell them that I like the challenge. It sounds better that way - and I don't sound as crazy.
Total Weekly Mileage: 34 Miles
Monday: 5 miles at 7:52 pace
I took this run easy. For a week and a half I had been doing very short and easy runs to get back into running without damaging my foot or hamstring like before. It's hard to hold back. Sometimes it feels worse to run slow. But I forced myself to do it. My body felt good on the run even though I woke up late and it was a bit warm out.
Tuesday: 3.5 miles at 9:43 pace
This was a Fun Run night with some XC-kiddos. It was cloudy (good) but so HUMID! We took it easy to run as a group. I had left my Garmin at home so I didn't know the pace. Sometimes I really enjoy these easy days, but not when you can't stop sweating and you haven't even started running.
Wednesday: Off
Thursday: 5.3 miles at 8:03 pace - FIRST DAY OF TRAINING
This year I'm using the Hansons training plan from their book, not from Runner's World (like last year) and it has some slight modifications - including the start day being on a Thursday....
I was a little negative going into this run. I also felt like crap from the first few strides. My breathing was off and I had to stop numerous times because of a cramp. I think part of it was the heat and humidity, but it could have been from eating breakfast before running. I have to eat breakfast so I force myself to deal with the cramps.
A short run easily became a long run, but I told myself that Friday would be a new day and that I just had to get through this run.
Friday: 5.5 miles at 7:44 pace
And Friday was indeed a new day. My body felt much better, but still not 100%. It was a very quiet morning on the trails. Apparently I'm the only one that gets up before 7:00am the day after the 4th of July. I had to get the run in before we headed off to visit Monticello. The leg and foot still felt good *knockonwood* so I was happy.
 |
| Thomas Jefferson's Monticello |
Looking back to last year's plan, I was scheduled to have speed workouts from the first week. In this year's plan the speed workouts start a little later, which gives me a few weeks of good, easy runs. I couldn't wait a few weeks though. I felt the need to tempo, so tempo I did!
Even though it was only 81 degrees out by 9:00 (not bad compared to last year), the sun was incredibly hot. I hit the woods to stay cooler as did many other folks. By the time I got home it looked as though I had been stuck in a rain storm. Welcome to summer training....
 |
| The fields at James Monroe's House (5th US President): I wish I could run through these fields all day! |
Sunday: 8.1 miles at 8:14 pace
"Long" runs are supposed to be taken easy. And by easy, I mean 45-90 seconds slower per mile than your race pace. The goal is to spend more time on your feet, thus building better blood flow in your muscles.
I forced myself to go slow and it was painful. My body really did not want to run it. Perhaps my slower runs are supposed to be a bit faster this year. I'll learn as I get moving through the training weeks, but for now I'm going to be cautious and take it easy while my body gets back into the consistent running.
Looking Forward
This week I want to be more consistent with my weight and core work. Last week I slacked on it big time, even though I had been doing it quite regularly since school got out. I want to be stronger all-round, not just in my running.
_____________
And for some fun-advice for the runners out there: Runner's World posted this article on what to do while running if you come across people/behaviors that are bothering you. As it turns out, I'm a "cat-runner" who likes the freedom to do what I want, while Tom is a "dog" runner and likes running for the social component. This might explain why I can't always run with him - I like my quiet runs and my "ability" to do what I want - which normally means running the same route....
No comments:
Post a Comment