Okay, so I kind of dropped off on blogging about running mostly because after the Haunted Hustle, I stopped running races. I had signed up for the Turkey Trot and had plans to run the Berbee Derby, but I ended up not doing either.
Wisconsin is having a really really cold winter. What has this done for my marathon training? Well, it's pretty terrible. When the days get shorter and the weather colder, finding the motivation to put on running shoes and run outside is pretty impossible. But when the days start to get longer in the spring, training is a thrill. My training has not been off to a very good start, though not necessarily a bad one either.
Last spring, when training for a marathon in May, I had stopped running altogether that winter. I was barely able to do 5 miles when I started up again at the end of January. Two weeks later, I ran a 5k race that was cold and rough. It was one of my slowest 5k. By mid-March, however, I was able to pull out a half marathon PR. But training sucked. I vowed that the next marathon training schedule would go better. Problem is, marathon training is time consuming and such a long process. It's hard to train for a race that's 6 months away! Not to mention, the long runs that take hours and hours.
This time, I didn't stop running this winter. I just stopped running some races butt early in the morning. And though the winter has been really cold in Wisconsin, I've been hitting the gym and logging some speedwork on the treadmill. Couple that with a yoga practice, and I've been feeling like a much stronger runner.
I also escaped the Wisconsin cold and made this move across the country to California for a few months. One might think that the 65 degree temperatures in sunny SoCal would be conducive to my running, but you'd be wrong. Instead, I'm having a hard time finding the time to run. I spend 1.5-2 hours commuting to and from work. What could/should be my running time has become my commuting time. Plus, it's amazing how love a running trail/path could motivate one's training. There's no awesome Arboretum loop here, just local streets lined with houses and unleashed small yappy dogs that chase me. No, I've not been happy with my runs here until this past Wednesday.
This past Wednesday, I sucked it up and decided to lap it around a park. At .7 miles, if I wanted to do 15 miles, it meant nearly 22 laps. I didn't know if I'd have the patience to do it, but I found that counting down the number of laps left was a lot easier than counting up. So I did 15 miles in about 2.5 hours. I felt really very good about that. I didn't struggle as much as I had with 15 miles last spring and most of the run felt easy and comfortable. My legs felt tired and sore the next day, and I'm nowhere near the weekly mileage that I really need to be at, but I'm feeling much more optimistic about this marathon I'm supposed to run in a month. Shit, A MONTH!
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Friday, September 27, 2013
The Competitive Drive
I often think back to last year's Lake Monona 20k. Despite the many half marathons I've ran, I've yet to run one at the same pace as that race. That was only the third race I had ever ran and yet it has become my goal to run at the same pace but just slightly longer.
I feel like a stronger and better runner these days, but I'm not hitting the pace that I did for the 20k. Partly I think it's because of the haphazard nature my training has devolved into. Last spring, I was training seriously for the Madison half marathon. I wasn't following a schedule, but I ran regularly and did a long run of 12 miles 2 weeks prior to the 20k. I trained and I tapered. These days, I run when I feel like it and sort of randomly run a half marathon when I feel like it.
During the Quad Cities Half marathon though, I wondered at mile 10.5 when I let the 2:00 pacer pass me by, if maybe the reason I'm no longer running at the same paces as when I first started running because I no longer have the same competitive drive.
When I first started running, I had no idea what kind of pace I was capable of. I fully expected to run my half marathon at a 12 min/mi pace. I kind of thought I'd run a half marathon, and then a marathon at some point and then be done. Check off the item on the bucket list and move on to other things. But running into a race creates a lot of adrenaline. I used to think to myself, "You're in race. You can't slow down!"
But these days, I no longer think that. Probably because races aren't as novel and perhaps because the foot injury last August put a somewhat different perspective in my head. When I let the 2:00 pacer go, I had no regrets. I thought to myself, "it's okay. I'll catch up or I won't."
I no longer have that sort of competitive drive. I worry about pushing too hard and getting injured. I don't just want to run one race. I want to run many more.
I feel like a stronger and better runner these days, but I'm not hitting the pace that I did for the 20k. Partly I think it's because of the haphazard nature my training has devolved into. Last spring, I was training seriously for the Madison half marathon. I wasn't following a schedule, but I ran regularly and did a long run of 12 miles 2 weeks prior to the 20k. I trained and I tapered. These days, I run when I feel like it and sort of randomly run a half marathon when I feel like it.
During the Quad Cities Half marathon though, I wondered at mile 10.5 when I let the 2:00 pacer pass me by, if maybe the reason I'm no longer running at the same paces as when I first started running because I no longer have the same competitive drive.
When I first started running, I had no idea what kind of pace I was capable of. I fully expected to run my half marathon at a 12 min/mi pace. I kind of thought I'd run a half marathon, and then a marathon at some point and then be done. Check off the item on the bucket list and move on to other things. But running into a race creates a lot of adrenaline. I used to think to myself, "You're in race. You can't slow down!"
But these days, I no longer think that. Probably because races aren't as novel and perhaps because the foot injury last August put a somewhat different perspective in my head. When I let the 2:00 pacer go, I had no regrets. I thought to myself, "it's okay. I'll catch up or I won't."
I no longer have that sort of competitive drive. I worry about pushing too hard and getting injured. I don't just want to run one race. I want to run many more.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Ironman volunteering
This past Sunday I volunteered on the bike course for Ironman Wisconsin. I spent about 6 hours pointing right and yelling "left!" so that bikers didn't miss their turnoff. It was right at an intersection so along with Officer Ann and Barry, we directed traffic as best as we can. I don't think I ever quite appreciated how obnoxious drivers can be until I'm watching them honk (at an officer!) for having to wait for bikers, making a turn right into the path of the bikers, and sometimes swerving damn close to them. I wasn't biking yet I was ready to curse out some of these drivers. The bikers were trying to complete an Ironman! Some drivers were nice and polite, and some were just assholes.
Last year, I was right by the finish line and watched as people came through, smiling and waving. It inspired me to do one. This year, working the middle of the bike course made it feel possible. The athletes do two loops of the bike course so they travel the same terrain and pass us twice. Some waved and nodded and said "thank you for volunteering," but the majority of them were focused on the race. It wasn't like the finish line where the racers were happy and relieved to be finished, but it was like how I felt on the marathon at mile 18, when you hit that point of not thinking too far past the next obstacle. You say to yourself, just get up that next hill, or just 5 more minutes. It is a mental battle.
So, I'm looking forward to the LA marathon and been scouting out training plans. I know now that I'll need to build in a few weeks of rest. I also would like to get up to 24 miles, and ideally a couple of times. Getting to 20 miles was sufficient to get to the finish line, but it didn't leave me feeling confident at the start. If part of the point of the 20 mile long run is to boost confidence, then I really need it to be closer to 24 to feel good. I'm aiming to start training in the first two weeks of November, which will give me 18-20 weeks. Ideally, I'd like to keep up with a weekly maintaining fitness schedule of a long ~10+ mile run on the weekends, and shorter 6 mile (tempo and interval) runs during the week until November when I'll start racking up the miles.
Last year, I was right by the finish line and watched as people came through, smiling and waving. It inspired me to do one. This year, working the middle of the bike course made it feel possible. The athletes do two loops of the bike course so they travel the same terrain and pass us twice. Some waved and nodded and said "thank you for volunteering," but the majority of them were focused on the race. It wasn't like the finish line where the racers were happy and relieved to be finished, but it was like how I felt on the marathon at mile 18, when you hit that point of not thinking too far past the next obstacle. You say to yourself, just get up that next hill, or just 5 more minutes. It is a mental battle.
So, I'm looking forward to the LA marathon and been scouting out training plans. I know now that I'll need to build in a few weeks of rest. I also would like to get up to 24 miles, and ideally a couple of times. Getting to 20 miles was sufficient to get to the finish line, but it didn't leave me feeling confident at the start. If part of the point of the 20 mile long run is to boost confidence, then I really need it to be closer to 24 to feel good. I'm aiming to start training in the first two weeks of November, which will give me 18-20 weeks. Ideally, I'd like to keep up with a weekly maintaining fitness schedule of a long ~10+ mile run on the weekends, and shorter 6 mile (tempo and interval) runs during the week until November when I'll start racking up the miles.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Races are like a drug.
Folks, have you noticed that there is usually a little widget in the sidebar that lists my upcoming races? Have you noticed that since last week that widget is GONE? Yes, indeed. I currently have no races on my calendar. Part of this was by design as I had only figured out in the last month and a half where I'll be for 2013-2014.
My friend P commented that racing was like a drug for me and Barry. I totally agreed. I wondered hypothetically how much a cocaine habit would cost me annually and whether that amount was more or less than my current racing habit. It's only been a week since my last race and I'm ITCHING to sign up and start training and thinking about the next one.
I've decided to not run a marathon this fall. There aren't really any marathons past mid-November in the Midwest within driving distance, and a November marathon would be too soon to do a good job of training. I rushed and half-a$$ed the training for my first marathon, and I didn't feel like trying to do that again. Instead, I have my sights on the LA marathon on March 9. It'll be an expensive marathon, as all California marathons tend to be, but it's the marathon that first inspired me to dream of running one.
My friend P commented that racing was like a drug for me and Barry. I totally agreed. I wondered hypothetically how much a cocaine habit would cost me annually and whether that amount was more or less than my current racing habit. It's only been a week since my last race and I'm ITCHING to sign up and start training and thinking about the next one.
I've decided to not run a marathon this fall. There aren't really any marathons past mid-November in the Midwest within driving distance, and a November marathon would be too soon to do a good job of training. I rushed and half-a$$ed the training for my first marathon, and I didn't feel like trying to do that again. Instead, I have my sights on the LA marathon on March 9. It'll be an expensive marathon, as all California marathons tend to be, but it's the marathon that first inspired me to dream of running one.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Bugline Recreational Trail
This post would be more interesting if it were punctuated by some photos, but I don't run with a phone, so no photos.
I was in Milwaukee this weekend and decided that after weeks of training on the treadmill, it was time to take it on the road. We had a bit of relief from the heat this weekend: only high 80s as opposed to high 90s. The Bugline Recreational Trail is in Waukesha County, but the start of it is pretty close to Milwaukee County Line. I started actually about a mile in on the trail. It's a gravel stone path with some road crossings. Every mile was marked with a sign next to a wooden bench. The path is mostly tree-lined, though there were a few areas where I was under the blazing sun. I tried to run faster past those areas. Between the mile 3 and mile 4 marker was this stone quarry just beyond the bushes on either side of the path. The quarry was no longer in use and had this beautifully blue quarry pond. It was completely unexpected and I was reluctant to turn around about a half mile past the mile 4 marker because I wanted to see what else laid on this path.
I was on the treadmill for most of the last few weeks because of my knee and left foot, and I think the time on the bouncier treadmill surface helped. I didn't feel any pain on my run. I was not, however, adjusted to the heat and humidity. All told, I ran about 7 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes or so. My shoes picked up a nice selection of rocks.
I was in Milwaukee this weekend and decided that after weeks of training on the treadmill, it was time to take it on the road. We had a bit of relief from the heat this weekend: only high 80s as opposed to high 90s. The Bugline Recreational Trail is in Waukesha County, but the start of it is pretty close to Milwaukee County Line. I started actually about a mile in on the trail. It's a gravel stone path with some road crossings. Every mile was marked with a sign next to a wooden bench. The path is mostly tree-lined, though there were a few areas where I was under the blazing sun. I tried to run faster past those areas. Between the mile 3 and mile 4 marker was this stone quarry just beyond the bushes on either side of the path. The quarry was no longer in use and had this beautifully blue quarry pond. It was completely unexpected and I was reluctant to turn around about a half mile past the mile 4 marker because I wanted to see what else laid on this path.
I was on the treadmill for most of the last few weeks because of my knee and left foot, and I think the time on the bouncier treadmill surface helped. I didn't feel any pain on my run. I was not, however, adjusted to the heat and humidity. All told, I ran about 7 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes or so. My shoes picked up a nice selection of rocks.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
20 miles and Spring Sprint at the Arb 5k
Last season's training for the half marathon had a motto. It was, "make it to 13.1 miles." I didn't follow any training plans. I just ran with the idea that I had to be able to run the half marathon. This season when I started training for the marathon, I decided to follow a training plan. Part of the reason was because I wasn't ready to jump back into training and I knew I didn't have the motivation and gusto I had last spring for the half. So the motto started out as, "stick to the plan." Well, that went out the window pretty quick. Instead, this season's training motto has morphed to "listen to your body."
Last week, despite the 18 mile long run I had on the schedule, I skipped it. My body was telling me that it does not want to go out there and run. I went out there on Wednesday and started a planned 8 mile run. Instead, 1 mile in I had to stop and walk. My muscles were more fatigued than usual. I was getting nauseous. I did some mental math and knew that this was the week. This was the week once a month where the running thing just doesn't work for me. After a half mile walk, I felt a bit better and finished out the run with 6 miles, but I knew the long run wouldn't happen that week.
So I took it easy for the next 5 days and didn't run because I just didn't feel like it. Unfortunately, the weather decided to take a downturn for the worst too. It was cold, raining, freezing, and windy this week. I ran a couple of times that week, but nothing of note. Come Friday, I walked out that morning and felt great. The weather felt warmer than I expected though it was still only 40, and I felt that today was my day for the 20 mile long run.
It's amazing how easy 15 miles can feel when my body feels ready for it. Even one mile felt like the hardest thing ever when my body just doesn't want to run. Mile 16-17 was hard though. I hit the wall there and I slowed to a crawl. But one foot after another and I started to find a second wind around mile 19. Suddenly, I was nearing mile 20 and I was picking up my speed. I thought to myself, "holy crap, did I just do that?" 3:35 on the clock.
Saturday morning though, I had signed up for a 5k at the Arboretum. Barry and I parked near Seminole highway and then walked about .9 mile on the trail to the start line at the Arboretum center. I thought this would for sure be my slowest 5k yet. My legs definitely felt tired from the 20 miler. It was also chillier and windier than I anticipated. Barry and I warmed up for about .5 miles, reassessed our clothing choices (I decided to go with a hat and gloves along with a light jacket), and waited at the start line. It was a simple out and back and mile 2 was definitely the hardest. I finished with 28:23. Not a PR, but not my worst either. And it was better than February's Valentine's 5k when I first started running again this season.
Last week, despite the 18 mile long run I had on the schedule, I skipped it. My body was telling me that it does not want to go out there and run. I went out there on Wednesday and started a planned 8 mile run. Instead, 1 mile in I had to stop and walk. My muscles were more fatigued than usual. I was getting nauseous. I did some mental math and knew that this was the week. This was the week once a month where the running thing just doesn't work for me. After a half mile walk, I felt a bit better and finished out the run with 6 miles, but I knew the long run wouldn't happen that week.
So I took it easy for the next 5 days and didn't run because I just didn't feel like it. Unfortunately, the weather decided to take a downturn for the worst too. It was cold, raining, freezing, and windy this week. I ran a couple of times that week, but nothing of note. Come Friday, I walked out that morning and felt great. The weather felt warmer than I expected though it was still only 40, and I felt that today was my day for the 20 mile long run.
It's amazing how easy 15 miles can feel when my body feels ready for it. Even one mile felt like the hardest thing ever when my body just doesn't want to run. Mile 16-17 was hard though. I hit the wall there and I slowed to a crawl. But one foot after another and I started to find a second wind around mile 19. Suddenly, I was nearing mile 20 and I was picking up my speed. I thought to myself, "holy crap, did I just do that?" 3:35 on the clock.
Saturday morning though, I had signed up for a 5k at the Arboretum. Barry and I parked near Seminole highway and then walked about .9 mile on the trail to the start line at the Arboretum center. I thought this would for sure be my slowest 5k yet. My legs definitely felt tired from the 20 miler. It was also chillier and windier than I anticipated. Barry and I warmed up for about .5 miles, reassessed our clothing choices (I decided to go with a hat and gloves along with a light jacket), and waited at the start line. It was a simple out and back and mile 2 was definitely the hardest. I finished with 28:23. Not a PR, but not my worst either. And it was better than February's Valentine's 5k when I first started running again this season.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
17.3 miles
After last week's embarrassing attempt at a 16 miler, I was dreading this week's 17 miles on the schedule. I mulled over the disastrous long run, and decided that I must be doing something wrong with my training. The road to a marathon shouldn't be this hard. People enjoy the long runs. I keep thinking about the email I had gotten from Flying Pig Marathon that said, "trust your training." But now I was starting to doubt my training schedule. The ramp up in miles was too difficult, and shouldn't I try to focus on getting the long runs in rather than try to increase in mileage for the other runs during the week as well? Not that training for a half marathon should be anything like training
for a marathon (they're very different beasts so I've been told many
times), but last spring I was hitting longer and longer distances with
ease and excitement. This spring, the long runs seems to fail
miserably.
This week, I decided to go back to what worked well last spring. I decided to keep my mileage low during the week, nothing more than a 10k. And well, to start drinking beer.
The beer thing is secondary, I'm sure. But I remembered that there were two things I did a lot of last spring. I ran a lot and I drank a lot. And that worked very well for me. So, I'm going to drink more beer.
I ran only twice since the 11 mile run. A slow 4.5 mile run in which I tackled hills and decided to just explore a neighborhood. I didn't want to run, but I thought I'd at least get a slow on in. I ran again on Monday on the treadmill, doing intervals. I would do 5 minutes at an 8:34 min/mile pace, slow to a walk for 2.5 minutes and repeat for 6 intervals total. With a 1 mile warmup, it ended up being 6 miles.
Well, something worked better this week. Despite the anxiety about this morning's long run, it felt much easier than last week's 11 mile. I was hoping to go 30k, but I got started late this morning and a scheduled lunch date meant I had to cut it a bit short to only 17.3 miles. I started slow, and got about 12.6 miles in 2:10. I felt pretty good throughout most of it. Only in the last couple of miles did I think, "I'm ready to stop running now." Don't get me wrong. I'm tired as all hell, and my muscles feel like dead weight, but it's a good kind of feeling, rather than a "I feel like I'm going to die".
I also bought new shoes the other day. My first pair of running shoes were purchased at a New Balance outlet store and I knew nothing about how I ran or what I needed. I just picked up a pair that looked pretty. My next pair were purchased at Movin' Shoes, and this time, they at least looked at how I walked and whether I overpronated. They recommended some shoes and I picked one out. When I ran the Madison half marathon in them, my feet rubbed in them in all kinds of wrong way and I ended up with quite ugly blisters. So back to Movin' Shoes. This time, they recommended me to size up. I tried on the Saucony Kinvara 2's and I just knew that these were my shoes. Lightweight and for neutral feet. I loved them.
But 3 half marathons and nearly a year later, it's time to think about new ones. I heard that the Kinvara 3's hadn't changed that much from the 2's so I purchased a pair at Movin' Shoes and thought I would love them too. Nope, they rubbed my feet in the wrong way, and I started getting chafed and bleeding on my left ankle. Back to Movin' Shoes. After they were unsuccessful at tracking down a pair of Kinvara 2's for me, I walked out with a pair of Adidas Adizero Adios 2. Also lightweight, but with a more significant heel to toe drop, they were incredibly incredibly ugly. I had a choice between a motley yellow with pink accents or a bright neon pink with purple accents. I went with the pink. I ran my 17 miles in them today, and while the fit seemed fine (no blisters, or rubbed skin), I wished for a bit more cushioning at the midfoot. By mile 14, the concrete road felt a bit much on my leg. Maybe it's something I'll get used to, or maybe I'll take these back.
This week, I decided to go back to what worked well last spring. I decided to keep my mileage low during the week, nothing more than a 10k. And well, to start drinking beer.
The beer thing is secondary, I'm sure. But I remembered that there were two things I did a lot of last spring. I ran a lot and I drank a lot. And that worked very well for me. So, I'm going to drink more beer.
I ran only twice since the 11 mile run. A slow 4.5 mile run in which I tackled hills and decided to just explore a neighborhood. I didn't want to run, but I thought I'd at least get a slow on in. I ran again on Monday on the treadmill, doing intervals. I would do 5 minutes at an 8:34 min/mile pace, slow to a walk for 2.5 minutes and repeat for 6 intervals total. With a 1 mile warmup, it ended up being 6 miles.
Well, something worked better this week. Despite the anxiety about this morning's long run, it felt much easier than last week's 11 mile. I was hoping to go 30k, but I got started late this morning and a scheduled lunch date meant I had to cut it a bit short to only 17.3 miles. I started slow, and got about 12.6 miles in 2:10. I felt pretty good throughout most of it. Only in the last couple of miles did I think, "I'm ready to stop running now." Don't get me wrong. I'm tired as all hell, and my muscles feel like dead weight, but it's a good kind of feeling, rather than a "I feel like I'm going to die".
I also bought new shoes the other day. My first pair of running shoes were purchased at a New Balance outlet store and I knew nothing about how I ran or what I needed. I just picked up a pair that looked pretty. My next pair were purchased at Movin' Shoes, and this time, they at least looked at how I walked and whether I overpronated. They recommended some shoes and I picked one out. When I ran the Madison half marathon in them, my feet rubbed in them in all kinds of wrong way and I ended up with quite ugly blisters. So back to Movin' Shoes. This time, they recommended me to size up. I tried on the Saucony Kinvara 2's and I just knew that these were my shoes. Lightweight and for neutral feet. I loved them.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Weekly mileage and that stupid 1/10 of a mile track.
Remember how throughout the half marathon last Saturday, I repeatedly told myself to run a smart race so that I could come back the next week and run my scheduled 16 mile training run? Yeah, that didn't happen.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still proud of how I did in the half marathon. It was a PR and I felt like I could've gone for another 2 miles. BUT, I was well rested for the half marathon. I ran 6 miles 4 days before the half marathon and then didn't touch any running shoes until race day. However, this week, I ran 8 miles on Tuesday, three days after the half marathon and then attempted the 16 miles on the 1/10 of a mile track at the SERF yesterday.
I started out the attempted 16 miler pretty well. I was slow. I stopped every 25 laps or where I thought a water stop might be on race day for a sip of water. The first 5.5 miles went by easily that way. The next 4 were harder. At about mile 9.5, I stopped running on that damn track, and decided I'd finish on the treadmill. But 2 miles later, I didn't think I could do another 4 miles. I was feeling nauseous and had absolutely no motivation to keep pushing. I was just done.
My longest long run to date is only 13 miles. At least, my mileage for the week is 32. I really wish I'd just kept jogging for another couple of miles after Saturday's race. I'd feel better about how my training run went yesterday.
I don't know what I was thinking when I signed up for a spring marathon. Why didn't I sign up for one in June, or at least late May? Didn't I anticipate that my period every month would result in a week with low mileage? Or that there are many spring races that I want to do? Why does this seem so much harder? What am I doing trying to following a training schedule? I didn't follow one for the half marathon and that worked out quite well. I ran when my body said it was ready. I didn't run when it told me it needed rest. Now, things ache. My right hip bothers me. My left kneecap feels all loose and unstable. I feel on the verge of serious injury.
At the forefront of my mind is the idea that I should perhaps switch races on May 5. Do the half marathon instead of the full marathon. I could try for another PR. I think that's just my disappointment in my training thus far speaking. Though I can't manage to get past 13 miles. I could run 13 miles in two hours, and have a little less than 5 hours to walk the remaining 13 and still make the 7 hour cutoff. Would I rather finish a marathon where I walked half or it and finish with an abysmal time or would I rather run a half marathon really well? Would I feel as accomplished or as proud of my performance if I walked nearly half of a marathon?
Don't get me wrong, I'm still proud of how I did in the half marathon. It was a PR and I felt like I could've gone for another 2 miles. BUT, I was well rested for the half marathon. I ran 6 miles 4 days before the half marathon and then didn't touch any running shoes until race day. However, this week, I ran 8 miles on Tuesday, three days after the half marathon and then attempted the 16 miles on the 1/10 of a mile track at the SERF yesterday.
I started out the attempted 16 miler pretty well. I was slow. I stopped every 25 laps or where I thought a water stop might be on race day for a sip of water. The first 5.5 miles went by easily that way. The next 4 were harder. At about mile 9.5, I stopped running on that damn track, and decided I'd finish on the treadmill. But 2 miles later, I didn't think I could do another 4 miles. I was feeling nauseous and had absolutely no motivation to keep pushing. I was just done.
My longest long run to date is only 13 miles. At least, my mileage for the week is 32. I really wish I'd just kept jogging for another couple of miles after Saturday's race. I'd feel better about how my training run went yesterday.
I don't know what I was thinking when I signed up for a spring marathon. Why didn't I sign up for one in June, or at least late May? Didn't I anticipate that my period every month would result in a week with low mileage? Or that there are many spring races that I want to do? Why does this seem so much harder? What am I doing trying to following a training schedule? I didn't follow one for the half marathon and that worked out quite well. I ran when my body said it was ready. I didn't run when it told me it needed rest. Now, things ache. My right hip bothers me. My left kneecap feels all loose and unstable. I feel on the verge of serious injury.
At the forefront of my mind is the idea that I should perhaps switch races on May 5. Do the half marathon instead of the full marathon. I could try for another PR. I think that's just my disappointment in my training thus far speaking. Though I can't manage to get past 13 miles. I could run 13 miles in two hours, and have a little less than 5 hours to walk the remaining 13 and still make the 7 hour cutoff. Would I rather finish a marathon where I walked half or it and finish with an abysmal time or would I rather run a half marathon really well? Would I feel as accomplished or as proud of my performance if I walked nearly half of a marathon?
Friday, March 1, 2013
Long runs and walk breaks
Yesterday's 12 mile long run went okay. Lately, I've been doing all my runs at the SERF on their tiny little .10 mile track. I used to never have the patience to run more than 4 miles on the track, but with some earphones and streaming Pandora, it's now enjoyable and preferable in fact to the icy, snowy roads through the Arboretum. Snow, I'm SO over you.
What's also nice about the track at the Serf is that 9.5 laps is a mile, which gives me a nice way to pace through my shorter runs. A lap a minute makes for 9:30 min/miles. Looking back on my race results from last year, that's about the pace I ran Black Earth, and roughly the pace for the Madison Mini. It feels like the right pace for me. Of course, I have no hopes of actually keeping this pace for the full marathon. But one can dream.
Yesterday, I did the first 6 miles at roughly 9:30 min/mile, but the next 6 miles was much more of a struggle and my pace fell by the wayside. Clearly, I'm still not pacing as well as I need to be for the long runs. Also starting around mile 6, my big toe and little toe on the left foot was really REALLY bothering me. I was feeling blisters forming on both, and I start to limp a bit through my run. I thought about quitting early, but I soldiered on. Afterward, I examine the foot, and the little toe was actually blister free, but the big toe has a blister/callus. I think it's still deciding which it wants to be.
I'm supposed to do a 14 mile long run next week, but I'm a bit concerned at this point. My foot is telling me that I need some recovery time, and my body is starting to feel the fatigue. But I can't afford at this point to slow the training. So I started reading around online about training plans. One thing that struck me in particular is Jeff Galloway's style of training for a marathon, i.e. incorporating walk breaks into the long runs and on race day. He suggests lots of walk breaks early and at a ratio of about 3:1 for a a 10 minute pace. The theory is that the walk breaks paces you better early in the race/long runs, gives you recovery time during the run and lets you keep to a strong pace at the end. Some 3:30 marathoners swear by walk breaks.
A ratio of 3 minutes run to 1 minute of walking seems incredibly incredibly slow. But I don't know. I might try this for the 14 miler and see how it goes. Normally, I'd take the week off before a big race, but I don't have the luxury with the marathon, so I need a better and faster way to recover. I'm thinking that I might not stick to the 3:1 ratio, but do more of a 4:1 ratio.
What's also nice about the track at the Serf is that 9.5 laps is a mile, which gives me a nice way to pace through my shorter runs. A lap a minute makes for 9:30 min/miles. Looking back on my race results from last year, that's about the pace I ran Black Earth, and roughly the pace for the Madison Mini. It feels like the right pace for me. Of course, I have no hopes of actually keeping this pace for the full marathon. But one can dream.
Yesterday, I did the first 6 miles at roughly 9:30 min/mile, but the next 6 miles was much more of a struggle and my pace fell by the wayside. Clearly, I'm still not pacing as well as I need to be for the long runs. Also starting around mile 6, my big toe and little toe on the left foot was really REALLY bothering me. I was feeling blisters forming on both, and I start to limp a bit through my run. I thought about quitting early, but I soldiered on. Afterward, I examine the foot, and the little toe was actually blister free, but the big toe has a blister/callus. I think it's still deciding which it wants to be.
I'm supposed to do a 14 mile long run next week, but I'm a bit concerned at this point. My foot is telling me that I need some recovery time, and my body is starting to feel the fatigue. But I can't afford at this point to slow the training. So I started reading around online about training plans. One thing that struck me in particular is Jeff Galloway's style of training for a marathon, i.e. incorporating walk breaks into the long runs and on race day. He suggests lots of walk breaks early and at a ratio of about 3:1 for a a 10 minute pace. The theory is that the walk breaks paces you better early in the race/long runs, gives you recovery time during the run and lets you keep to a strong pace at the end. Some 3:30 marathoners swear by walk breaks.
A ratio of 3 minutes run to 1 minute of walking seems incredibly incredibly slow. But I don't know. I might try this for the 14 miler and see how it goes. Normally, I'd take the week off before a big race, but I don't have the luxury with the marathon, so I need a better and faster way to recover. I'm thinking that I might not stick to the 3:1 ratio, but do more of a 4:1 ratio.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Marathon Training Schedule
So the whole "make it to 13.1 mile" philosophy that I used when training for the half marathon didn't translate so well in training for the marathon. I don't know if it's because of the weather that pales in comparison to the awesome spring last year, or if my excitement for running is just lower than doing it all for the first time. Last year, each new distance where I went yet further was exciting and motivating. So far, I'm just trying to get back to where I was.
Last Thursday, I did about 10 miles. It was a slow 10 mile run, and I was achy the day after. Then I made the mistake of going to yoga class where we did a bunch of warrior poses that made me use the same running muscles. But Saturday, I went out and did 4 miles, and everything chilled out. I felt great and recovered Sunday, and I breathed a sigh of relief. The 10 mile run out of nowhere hadn't been the best idea. I had only ran at most 6 miles at that point, and not very consistently. It was a risk, and I very well could've been injured.
My feet is gaining back all the calluses I had developed last year. I'm hoping they stay calluses and don't develop into blisters that will be more difficult to deal with. At this point, I'm feeling pretty good about the half marathon in 2 weeks. I'm still rather nervous about the marathon though. I didn't really leave much leeway for things going wrong in the training, such as injuries, illness, etc.
I'm sort of following this 16 week training schedule. I'm currently on week 7, aiming for 12 miles this Thursday. There are some modification in the schedule due to upcoming races with various distances, but I'm keeping the long runs roughly the same and aiming for at least the same mileage each week. The week of Black Earth will be interesting.
Last Thursday, I did about 10 miles. It was a slow 10 mile run, and I was achy the day after. Then I made the mistake of going to yoga class where we did a bunch of warrior poses that made me use the same running muscles. But Saturday, I went out and did 4 miles, and everything chilled out. I felt great and recovered Sunday, and I breathed a sigh of relief. The 10 mile run out of nowhere hadn't been the best idea. I had only ran at most 6 miles at that point, and not very consistently. It was a risk, and I very well could've been injured.
My feet is gaining back all the calluses I had developed last year. I'm hoping they stay calluses and don't develop into blisters that will be more difficult to deal with. At this point, I'm feeling pretty good about the half marathon in 2 weeks. I'm still rather nervous about the marathon though. I didn't really leave much leeway for things going wrong in the training, such as injuries, illness, etc.
I'm sort of following this 16 week training schedule. I'm currently on week 7, aiming for 12 miles this Thursday. There are some modification in the schedule due to upcoming races with various distances, but I'm keeping the long runs roughly the same and aiming for at least the same mileage each week. The week of Black Earth will be interesting.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
New Year, Fresh Start
I'm way behind on this marathon training. I took a break from
running after the Berbee Derby. I was already burned out from all the
races and barely trained at all for the Berbee. After the Berbee, I ran
sporadically, roughly 3 miles every 2 weeks, just enough to not go
completely soft, but not enough to call it much of anything.
New Year's Day, I went out and did 3 miles because I ran last year on New Year's Day and that seems an appropriate tradition to maintain. No resolutions, just running on New Year's Day. Then a trip out of town meant that whatever jump start I was hoping to get on my training went out the window. Plus, the weather has been a particularly good at removing all motivation and the SERF wasn't open over winter break. I had all my excuses.
Two weeks ago I did a little math and realized I was vastly vastly behind where I needed to be for my marathon training. I could go out and do 5 miles once, but I couldn't do 6 miles 3 times a week like I had been doing late last spring. But I kept at it, running as often as I felt motivated to do and as far as I felt I needed. I ran a 10k in under an hour on the treadmill yesterday, and I'll probably go for another 4-6 tomorrow.
I'm surprised by how quickly it all comes back. I feel pretty secure that in only a couple more weeks, I could run a half. I figure if I get to 12 by the end of February, and 20 by the end of March, I'll have a good 4 weeks to taper for the marathon. Or I could just make a last minute switch to the Flying Pig half marathon.
New Year's Day, I went out and did 3 miles because I ran last year on New Year's Day and that seems an appropriate tradition to maintain. No resolutions, just running on New Year's Day. Then a trip out of town meant that whatever jump start I was hoping to get on my training went out the window. Plus, the weather has been a particularly good at removing all motivation and the SERF wasn't open over winter break. I had all my excuses.
Two weeks ago I did a little math and realized I was vastly vastly behind where I needed to be for my marathon training. I could go out and do 5 miles once, but I couldn't do 6 miles 3 times a week like I had been doing late last spring. But I kept at it, running as often as I felt motivated to do and as far as I felt I needed. I ran a 10k in under an hour on the treadmill yesterday, and I'll probably go for another 4-6 tomorrow.
I'm surprised by how quickly it all comes back. I feel pretty secure that in only a couple more weeks, I could run a half. I figure if I get to 12 by the end of February, and 20 by the end of March, I'll have a good 4 weeks to taper for the marathon. Or I could just make a last minute switch to the Flying Pig half marathon.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Training Log or lack thereof.
When I first started training in February for the half marathon, I was very diligent about writing down my runs. I logged the date, the distance, an estimate on the time, where the route was, whether on an indoor track or treadmill, etc. It was a good way to track my achievement. I was increasing my distance and it was exciting to be able to see the amount of miles I was running as well as entering those long runs of 8 or 10 miles. I was proud and a bit surprised of what I was capable of achieving.
At some point around Crazy Legs, I became a lot less diligent in logging my runs. I stopped logging where the route was, the time estimate, even the date became an estimate. There are entries after the 20k race, but really those entries were entered weeks later and I only half remembered what had happened on those runs.
Now, I don't bother logging them at all. I see this as a good thing. We don't record routines. We don't bother writing down the amount of water we consumed, how much and where, or about brushing our teeth in the morning. I actually had made the decision to start training in January, but first began recording runs when I made my first 10k run around the Arboretum. That was an achievement for me at the time. Now that 10k run is routine.
At some point around Crazy Legs, I became a lot less diligent in logging my runs. I stopped logging where the route was, the time estimate, even the date became an estimate. There are entries after the 20k race, but really those entries were entered weeks later and I only half remembered what had happened on those runs.
Now, I don't bother logging them at all. I see this as a good thing. We don't record routines. We don't bother writing down the amount of water we consumed, how much and where, or about brushing our teeth in the morning. I actually had made the decision to start training in January, but first began recording runs when I made my first 10k run around the Arboretum. That was an achievement for me at the time. Now that 10k run is routine.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Runner's High
I used to think the runner's high referred to what one felt after a run. A good workout in the morning can make the rest of the day can feel amazing. I felt like I go through the rest of the day lighter on my feet, feeling more accomplished. It elevates the mood for the day.
It wasn't until I started running more than 5 miles that I began to understand that runner's high. The first few miles of a run always suck for me. I start out thinking, "what am I doing out here? It's too hot/too cold/about to rain/too early. I'm feeling too tired/too sleepy/too much to do." But I've learned to not quit, to instead convince myself to get to mile 4. Because somewhere between mile 3 and mile 4, those annoying demoralizing thoughts of "maybe I'll quit early" go away and instead, I'm thinking about nothing. Thoughts are slowly drifting out my head, and I'm lulled by my breaths. Or maybe I've found one thought that I'm casually, amusingly tossing around. Each step has become part of a meditative rhythm and I am feeling like an efficient machine. My speed increases and I'm feeling like this was what my body was meant to do: turn calories into energy, breaths into steps, determination into speed.
It wasn't until I started running more than 5 miles that I began to understand that runner's high. The first few miles of a run always suck for me. I start out thinking, "what am I doing out here? It's too hot/too cold/about to rain/too early. I'm feeling too tired/too sleepy/too much to do." But I've learned to not quit, to instead convince myself to get to mile 4. Because somewhere between mile 3 and mile 4, those annoying demoralizing thoughts of "maybe I'll quit early" go away and instead, I'm thinking about nothing. Thoughts are slowly drifting out my head, and I'm lulled by my breaths. Or maybe I've found one thought that I'm casually, amusingly tossing around. Each step has become part of a meditative rhythm and I am feeling like an efficient machine. My speed increases and I'm feeling like this was what my body was meant to do: turn calories into energy, breaths into steps, determination into speed.
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