The JOY of running--week of 12/14 -12/20

[katluvr]

Ok, title of thread is to remind me WHY I do this. I need to find the "JOY" of running again. This is normal with training (for me)...gotta do the miles, gotta do the work-out, etc.

Sunday was my longest run ever! 16 miles. On the happy side: I DID IT.
So I headed out at 8 AM, 70+ degrees, 100% humidity, foggy with visibility of a couple of 100 yards. I gave my self permission to take this one slow. Didn't feel bad. Had a few moments when my pace picked up. It was warm, muggy, UGH! Mile 10 seems to be my "wall" lately. That is when pace really slowed down. The mind and body wanted to walk. I then started having way more walk breaks. Even though I said "at mile 12 I'll walk"...it felt to a walk even sooner. At mile 12-ish I was turning around and heading home (loop brings me back to a stretch to get home quicker that all my "add on loops"). So that give me a little lift. Still was hard to keep a steady pace. I dug deep the last mile or so. I felt like I was moving in slow motion. It was sunny and 80 degrees by then.

So my optimistic side is: I DID 16 miles.
My evaluation of the run is: took me too darn long 3 hours 3 minutes. (however that was in line w/ the 1 - 2 min off "race pace" for the LSD run).
I think I fueled ok. Need to switch to 4 bottle fuel belt so gf does not have to bring me more hydration. Had foot/toe pain mile 7-ish. Again worked thru it. Just need to find more energy and speed.
Ok--optimistic side--I DID 16 miles, my longest run ever in warm, muggy conditions. So I could be faster if weather was nice (right?).

After run I sat in the cool pool. Then ate some yummy banana bread gf made. Put on my compression sleeves, propped up feet, watched end of a movie I saw before and then napped a bit. So I took much more rest time after this run. My feet ached and really didnt' like walking on them. I have a blister on side of my big toe---first blister in AGES! But all and all OK.
Today I am a bit sore, glutes and hammies, little calf tightness...but walking normal! Today is rest day so that is what I will do.

I am re-examining my training plan. I knew this was agressive. I thought more running would help build my endurance. But I think I am not doing quality. Speed work and true tempo runs started in the next couple of weeks. I may drop down to running 4 out of 7...just need to see.

Happy Monday!
K

[OakLeaf]

Nice run kat! I don't think that was too slow at all. It makes sense to me that the long runs are about building miles, which means taking it plenty easy, and speedwork is speedwork. For the most part I really have to watch my pace on the longer runs.

Not today though. I don't know if it was because I'm still adapting to the heat, or maybe it was because my whole body was screaming from yesterday's ride and Saturday's yoga , but going slow was not a problem for me. 13 miles, at just about your same pace, which is over 2 minutes/mile slower than I ran the half in October (in much cooler and drier weather).

Anyway, every workout I feel more acclimated to the heat and humidity. DH was going out on some errands when I left for my run, so I asked him to get me a pair of compression hose from the drugstore, and I've got them on now. Considering how sore my legs were before my run today, I'm not sure I'll be able to notice any effects from the hose, but giving them a try! Yoga tomorrow. It's nice to be back around the corner from a fabulous yoga studio.

[Wahine]

Good work Kat and Oak!! Those are both great runs. Good call on the compression sleeves and hose, especially you Oak. Sounds like you were pretty sore and challenged.

I ran for the first time since Ironman on Sunday. Very light and easy outing. 45 min total time out but only about 30 min of that was running. I'm realized that I'm still not ready to get back into training. My cold is still lingering and I don't have that "get up and go" that I usually. Patience is the key right now.

Enjoy!!

[zoom-zoom]

Nice run kat! I don't think that was too slow at all. It makes sense to me that the long runs are about building miles, which means taking it plenty easy, and speedwork is speedwork.

Ditto. Most runs and most miles should be slow and easy. There is no shame in walking...none at all. I walked a little bit on my run today. When easy and long runs are kept easy, then you'll be better recovered to have truly quality speed work sessions.

[Jones]

Nice job ladies, 16 and 13 very impressive. I did my run today for my half mary training 35 min moderate, now my recurring calf cramp is back. More stretching for me.

[rocknrollgirl]

We ran tonight on the rail trail with headlamps. Just 4 miles. No flow, I felt klunky, but hey, it is Monday. Klunky, but done.

[limewave]

I think I have shin splints.

Owe.

[colby]

You're doing great, kat, just keep it up. 16 miles is a great, admirable journey. Sometimes we beat ourselves up the most (I am totally guilty). Go back to positive thinking - tell yourself you can do it. Tell yourself you will make it. Think fast. I really think the positive thinking helps, even if it just helps everything be less stressful.

I ran 3 miles on Sunday, sort of with my husband (he jogged about a quarter mile, but walked about 3/4 mile), completely with my dog. It felt... blah. Not really sure why.

Monday I did yoga. I tried to learn about shoulder stands (against a wall) but was too much of a wuss to flip my legs up to the wall (something about falling on my head). Today I did it again and had no problems. Performance anxiety?

Today I ran 4 miles in the snow! Probably 3 inches of fresh snow on top of an inch or two from yesterday, and the first running day after it snows like that is always the best because there aren't tracks in it that make you wobble and it's not slick or icy. It was pretty sweet. I felt like I was moving well, I was not. 4 miles, including letting the dog smell every other dog's trail and pee 8 times, took me almost 45 minutes! My heart rate was more like a 9-10 minute mile, so chalk that one up to snow resistance and having to tiptoe like fred flintstone doing his twinkle toes thing as you cross slippery intersections. My footprints were nice though, even pressure from the midfoot out, rather than being heel or toe heavy. Wore 2 pairs of toe socks, perfect (one pair is just a little too chilly, if I had trail runners I think that wouldn't be a problem).

On a sadder note, my left big toenail has a terminal illness, purple-toenail-itis. It's getting purpler and purpler... I thought I could save it with ice after the marathon, but alas, it was already too late. Hoping to hang on until the new nail starts growing in underneath. When I replaced my Brooks Ariel shoes, I went a half size down because the ones I had felt like they might just be too big. They are still 1 size larger than I normally wear and I just barely feel the ends of the shoes if I reach my toes, but my feet must really expand when I run long distances. Next replacement pair will be back to the bigger size, I guess. Expensive experiment

[Bike Chick]

Urlea, you are so motivating but by the time I got home from work it was dark and 25 degrees. I went to the gym and did a puny 2 miles on the treadmill. I'm such a wus.

[Becky]

I got home late last night, but it was still in the low 50s. Rather than leave the dog home or run on the treadmill on such a nice night, I decided to try taking him with me.

Cody hasn't run with me since the last time I gave up running, probably about 4 years ago. So we took it easy and kept it short, and I think that we both had a great time! We did about a mile in the dark, both wearing our reflective vests and checking out the christmas lights. Towards the end, I could tell that he was getting tired, but not bad for his first effort!

I hoped on the treadmill for another mile while he sacked out in front of the fan and slept

[indigoiis]

Did a 3.2 tempo run this morning.

[katluvr]

So I got up to run my 7 miles this AM. Was out the door before 6. It was in the 60's and at first it felt "cool".
I really thought I was thinking positive. But everytime I looked at my pace it was just dragging. Then I got all "mental". But keep hoofing it along. I actaully only did 5.5 miles. Just was not feeling right. In fact I "re-thought" my whole training plan.

I picked this plan to be agresssive. But I really am NOT a 5 out of 7 day runner. This plan does "speed type" work much later in the plan. So right now, maybe I am where I should be...but I am not feeling it. Maybe I need to cross trian more. (Lots of maybe's here). I know many people work full time and do this...but I am just struggling. Then it is the holidays. And I move to a new job Jan 4th (good thing). But have to "transition" out of this job...no one filling the postion right now. New job will be 2/3 times (not completely full time--yippee). BUT have to keep up some of my current job (extra hours). So just trying ot juggle all this change. And darn it--it is the holidays. I am NOT enjoying myself. And I should. Instead I am stress when I can run when I have a dinner plan w/ friends or family almost every night until X-mas. This is stuff I shouldl WANT to do.

So today I gave myself FULL permission to just shorten or blow off my runs this week. I WILL do my long run. But otherwise--this is just not the week for it. I am looking at doing a major tweak to my plan...I know I need a "speed work" run, a tempo run and a long run. So I need to map that out, add a bike and or swim day and start having run with it again.

I cannot thank everyone enough, especially Colby, for all the words of support and encouragement. I just have to realize this training plan is not working for me....at least not right now. I know I can do the distance--slow and steady is my world. So if I want to work on speed--then I need to look at the quality not quantity of my workouts. I have speed workouts and intervals I did w/ my coach when trianing for my 1/2...so I'll pull those out.

Ok, I feel better now!
(Well almost)