Week in Review: Training Week 5

Hey, I'm actually posting my training recap before the middle of the following week! I. Am. AWE-some.

And away we go!

• Sunday--Does bowling count as exercise? :P
• Monday--4 mile treadmill run 46 mins (approx?) 11:30 pace--Terrible treadmill run. I had to stop and walk a few times and almost quit twice. It was just no good. And I accidentally hit the emergency stop button so I lost all my stats halfway through. Sigh. I was glad when it was over.
• Tuesday--No clue. Nothing on DailyMile, so I guess it's another missed workout...
• Wednesday--Run Club! 3.82 miles, 40 mintues (10:35 pace). That was a FAST run. I tried keeping up with the fast runners, and managed to stay within a 1/2 block or so. We clocked the first mile at right around 10 minutes, which is super crazy fast for me and would explain why I was DYYYING. The second mile was about the same, and then times dropped off after that. But overall all am I happy with this run. Heck-to-the-yeah.
• Thursday--LPRD Spin Class, 40 mintues: Our regular teacher was out, so we had a sub. She was fine, but different and you know how that goes. Is the class "meh" because the instructor wasn't as good or simply because the instructor was different? It was a bit more aerobics-y/choreographed than what I was used to, but I did get a good workout and I suppose that's all that matters.
• Friday--Rest Day
• Saturday--Long run got punted to Sunday because of weather issues. You'll read about it next week!

All in all a good week. Some good runs, some not-so-good. Still missing workouts during the week, which has to stop. Part of it is lack of motivation on my part, but another factor is how to arrange it when I have to move my long run day to Sunday.

Take this week, for instance. I should've done my long run on Saturday, started a new week yesterday with strength/stretch and done a 4-miler today. But because I switched Sat/Sun on the schedule I did my long run yesterday, which meant I wasn't real keen on doing another 4 miles today (my legs were stiff and sore), even if it had been possible with the Hubster's schedule. So, I've already lost 4 miles this week or everything is shifted around and I might be running on back-to-back days at some point. It's a logistical nightmare. I can't seem to figure out how to flip workouts around and still keep miles without doing back-to-back runs, so I inevitably drop the strength workouts. I guess I'd rather keep the miles at this point? It's a struggle and I'm not sure I'm doing it "right."

How do you handle scheduling hiccups? When training for a specific event, do you think it's more important to hit the mileage each week (even if it means dropping other workouts and rearranging days) or is it better to skip a shorter run in order to keep a strength workout?

Week in Review: Training Week 4

Yikes. I almost finished this week before posting last week's recap. Without further ado...

I will start by saying I KNOW my strength training has completely fallen off the map, and I'm disappointed in myself letting it happen. I don't have any legit reasons, other than the usual excuses: I'm tired, I'm busy, I didn't feel like it, life got in the way, etc. The bottom line is that I NEED to make it happen. I know it's essential for training purposes (or it wouldn't be in the plan) and I also feel better when I'm strength training.

• Sunday: 5 Miles! 5 Miles! 57 Mintues (11:21 pace) The weather was absolutely perfect for a run, especially for my first real "long" run. The run started out rough, however, and I felt queasy for the first mile or so. Once that passed, I was utterly enjoying myself and felt like I breezed through it. I never thought I'd say that about a run, let alone a 5 mile run! It was a great way to start the week!
• Monday: No workout posted, which makes since because I'd just done my long run the day before. But still--boo!
• Tuesday: Two strength workouts: Legs/core, upper body
• Wednesday: 4.11 miles, 44:31 minutes (10:49ish pace) My notes say that it was not the smoothest run for me. My legs were tired and heavy (maybe too many leg exercises the day before) and I felt sluggish the whole time. However, I see that my time was pretty good and my notes say that my first two miles were done in 20:30, which is fast for me. So maybe I was just pushing myself harder than usual?
• Thursday: LPRD Spin, 45 minutes. A killer, killer class. Lots of sprints and concentrated leg work. Good times!
• Friday: Rest day!
• Saturday: 5 miles, 55 minutes (10:58ish pace): Again, the run was not pleasant. I don't recall enjoying this one very much, but look at my time. I'm starting to see a direct correlation between miserable runs and better times. I know it's a matter of pushing myself, but I also want to enjoy myself out there. And maybe it's because the longer distances are a challenge (it would certainly make sense anyway). I guess the good news is I'm still doing them, challenging or not!

Another week done!

Quickly

I'm woefully behind on blogging, and I even have a draft sitting in the hopper waiting to be posted. Of course it's old now, and will need revising. Ah hell, maybe I'll post it anyway. And I owe you a weekly recap for LAST week. Egads. But quickly--QUICKLY...

I registered for my first sprint triathlon today! I'll be participating in the YWCA of Minneapolis Women's Sprint Tri with my three far-flung BFFs: B, L and M. I'm nervous and excited, but mostly just excited. Right now anyway. Of course I still have to complete my half mary, and a 5K and a 12K before THAT. And probably another in July, to repeat the first 5K I ever completed. So, lots to keep me busy until August.

And now to break it to the Hubster why there's a $100 charge on the card. La-di-da!

Week in Review: Training Week 3

Another week has FLOWN by. Whooooosh. It was a pretty good week overall, but I had a few training hiccups. However, temperatures have started creeping upwards, which is SO nice. The snow has started melting, days are getting longer, and weather is cooperating for outdoor running.

• Sunday: Leg/balance workout, and some extra stretching
• Monday: Treadmill flat run, 3.5 miles, 40ish minutes (11:17 pace): Was having a great run and probably could've done more, but I was already over my time on the treadmill. Feels good to have GREAT treadmill runs--never thought THAT would happen!
• Tuesday: Cross-training--Jillian Michaels' 6 Week 6 Pack. Ow.
• Wednesday: 2.4 miles, 25 minutes (10.18 pace!): Man, this was SUCH a great run up until they kicked everyone out of the cardio room for a class. I was FLYING and felt phenomenal. So frustrating to have to quit right when things are getting good. Went home and did 15 minutes of upper body to make up a little bit of the lost workout.
• Thursday: Ugh. Another "lost" workout! Supposed to be spin night, but class was cancelled and I didn't know until I got there. However, I did discover the cardio room at the third city rec center and they have six treadmills and six bikes, including two that are more "spin" style. Ended up doing a 20 minute stationary bike routine. Better than nothing.
• Friday: Rest day.
• Saturday: Supposed to be my long run, but ended up punting that until Sunday (will include on next week's report) because the hubster was out of town all day and I didn't have childcare. I did squeeze in 30 minutes of strength training (which is my normal Sunday workout).

I had some decent runs in there! I feel like I'm turning a corner in my training. My times are improving (11:30 is a "slow" run for me now), my distances are increasing, AND I'm feeling good most of the time. I like the direction I'm headed!

Sixty-two days and counting!

Run Club Recap

Yesterday's post was the short version. Here's the long version. The REALLY long version. Consider yourself warned.

(And a quick shout-out to my friend M who mentioned my blog in her post about group workouts. Thanks, pal!)

My local running store is facilitating a women's only running group, aimed at non-competitive, beginner-level runners. I skipped spin last night to check it out. When I arrived--dressed to the hilt for running--I immediately felt out of place, but not for the reasons I expected.

I imagined a group of sleek, tough, Garmin-wearing 30-somethings--how those folks would fit into a beginner/non-competitive group is beyond me. (Obviously I have a vivid imagination.) What I got was a small group made up of half 50-somethings who were NOT runners (they told us that--no judgements from Yours Truly), a young 30-something who'd run one 5k, and me. (Another lady eventually joined us, and she's in the intermediate range, with some potential as a triathlon training parter.) No one else was dressed to run, especially not in skin-tight running tights under a fitted wicking top and jacket, the way I was. Can you say "overdressed"?

We talked a bit about running experience/levels/mileage and what goals we'd like to accomplish as a group. The suggested goal is to complete the 5k at the same event where I'm running the half, so I guess I can probably check that one off the list. ;) At this point, everyone except me and the leader peeled off and headed home. I'd dressed for a run, and I was going to get one.

As we left the store, she asked about my usual pace and I said I hovered around an 11:30/mile, which she said sounded like it would be a good pace. And then she must have promptly forgot what she'd just uttered because she took off like a bat out of hell.

The leader is tiny compared to me (I'm 6ft in shoes), wiry and quick. She's like a little mouse. Which I suppose made me the cat, as I spent the next half-hour chasing her through downtown, trying to keep up. I did manage to match her about halfway through, or maybe the icy, slushy sidewalks forced her to finally slow down. About the time I fell into the groove, we were winding down and almost back to the store. I glanced at my watch when we stopped: 27:04. I suspected we'd been booking it faster than I normally would have--my quads and lungs were definitely protesting--but until I could map the route, I'd couldn't be sure. I knew it was under 3 miles, but wasn't sure how much over 2.

It wasn't until I got home and mapped it out--2.5 miles--that I realized I had indeed run a 10:39 pace. Wow! I know a 10:39 is a slow, easy run for lots of folks but for me? It's my fastest time yet, and almost a full minute faster than my normal solo pace.

I know when we stopped I felt like I was working hard and my legs were hollering, but I wasn't close to dying. Looking back, I probably could've hit 3 miles and been okay. I know I couldn't have pulled off that pace for that long on my own, which is, I suppose, the point of a running group. You (hopefully) have folks faster than you that make you dig deeper, run faster, reach farther than you would on your own.

I've mentioned in the past how I frequently have a case of "the can'ts." My mind is so quick to deliver the negative messages the first time my body sends out its "this is too hard!" signals, which often occur before I've even left the house. Last night was good for me--I saw that I CAN. And I DID. I know it was only 2.5 miles and it was only 10:39. But to run multiple miles at a pace that begins with a 10? Milestone.

My participation in the running group is still up in the air at this point. We meet again on Monday, so that removes the spin conflict for next week, which is good. But I worry about the balance of the group as far as skill level. I know I'm not SUPER AWESOME FAST RUNNER LADY, but I am beyond the slow run/walk intervals that some of the other folks want to start off doing. On one hand, I don't want to sacrifice my workout/training just to be part of a group, if that group is slower than me. On the other hand, I want to be supportive of their endeavors as new runners and not leave them behind if I want to go faster or longer. On the other hand, it is HI-larious that I should think so highly of myself that my speed/skill/running would ever make someone feel bad because I "left them behind". Oh, the laughing. It hurts. (And also? Apparently I have three hands.)

But just going by yesterday, where I hit a new quickest pace, I know that a group run is something I need. And heck, I'm lonely! So maybe this isn't the right group for me, but I do need *A* group. I'll go Monday, but I think the search continues for the group that's right for me.

10:39

First day of new running club.

Fastest pace yet--a full minute faster than my usual "alone" pace.

If this is what a running group can do, SIGN ME UP.