Boston 2014: Week 3 Training

I didn't get in all of my miles for the week. Nor did I get in a tempo run. I also slacked on the speed workout. Right now I'm missing something big from my training: Motivation.

I know it will return. It happens every year.

Once I get outside I am fine. I enjoy the runs and I want to work and see results. But I am having a hard time getting myself out the door. I have always hated winter running and realize that maybe winter really is the time to just let myself hibernate. It's too bad Boston has to be in April. I enjoy summer marathon training much more.

Total Weekly Miles: 36 

Monday: 6 miles at 7:37 pace
Tom and I hit up the gym for the last time because it was just too cold (for me) out there in Vermont to go running.  

Tuesday: Off - drove back to DC

Wednesday: 7 mile speed workout 
Ran 2.5 miles for both warm up and cool down. It was a colder day for DC and the wind was blowing. After travelling for the whole day on Tuesday, I was not in the mood to do a speed workout. The plan called for eight 600s with a 400m jog recovery.

What I actually ran was only four 600s before I called it quits: Splits: 2:14, 2:16, 2:17, 2:22

Thursday: 6.5 miles at 7:33 pace
Scheduled tempo day but since I did "speed" on Wednesday I went for a regular run. It was snowing when I left and I can't tell you how many snowflakes I inhaled on the run or how many times I had to wipe my nose. While it was somewhat of a pain to be out there in the snow, it was also somewhat comforting to look up and see it all falling. I felt like a 6 year old again, amazed by what was coming down from the sky.

Friday: unplanned rest day
Not only was it in the teens with a windchill making it feel much colder, I had a SNOW day because of it and didn't have to go to school! Some people out there have way more will power and will go out for a run in that coldness/ice (like Tom!) but I don't.

Saturday: 6 miles at 7:25 pace
Went for an afternoon run before the sun went down.

Ice Skating for an hour: I hadn't been ice skating since high school but Tom and I headed to Georgetown's rink with some friends. If I was forced to start my life over again I would so go into speed skating instead of running! My legs quickly remembered how to skate and I had a blast! (In reality - speed skating would be the worst idea for me because I am not at all a sprinter)

Sunday: 10 miles at 8:00 pace
My motivation was enough to get me out there on this damp and dreary day. I made the mistake of eating lunch right before I left and suffered with that for the first half. I spent the second half trying to keep my wrists warm - my gloves became wet due to the damp air and I began to get a chill in the 36 degree weather.

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My training times were decent this week. Being outside helps to improve my speed as I tend to go slower on a treadmill. 

Goals for the week:

Now that the holidays are over I am going to have to force myself to focus on the healthy eating again. I have been consuming way too many treats and not enough veggies and fruit. My body is feeling it. My circulatory system is feeling it. 

I also need to up my water intake which I find hard to do in the winter time. I'm trying to have more tea in the morning and lemon water at night. I also need to make a goal to consume a whole water bottle during the afternoon at work so that I'm well hydrated before my run. 

Finally, I need to get back into the strength training. Need. Must. Will. Have to. 

I always plan on doing it around mile 3 into my run each day, but somehow "forget" to do it when I get home. 

Maybe my goal should be to just get back my motivation: motivation to run, to eat well, to do the work that I need to do to run the times that I want to. 

So that shall be it. My goal for the week:

Motivation.