While I didn't get in all of the miles and strength training I wanted, it was still a pretty satisfying week. I felt pretty comfortable on all of my runs and was able to stay a little better rested this week. Next week will be busy, with a 4 day trip to San Francisco. I plan to take advantage of being up there and scope out some running routs for after our move!
Week 4 Summary:
Total Mileage: 33.2
Average Pace: 9:09
Goals Achieved: 5 of 6 (I didn't get the stremgth training in)
Week 4 Details:
Monday: Rest Day
Tuesday: 9:00 pm - 5 miles (9:06 pace) - 4 solo miles and then a 1 mile with the dogs.
Wednesday: 9:30 pm - 5 miles with 3 at tempo (9:04 overall pace, 7:45 pace for tempo miles)
Thursday: 9:00 pm - 4.2 miles (8:58 pace) - group run
Friday: Rest day.
Saturday: 5:00 pm - 6 miles with 5 at GMP (4.5 miles with the BOB) (8:38 overall pace, 8:28 pace for GMP miles) - finally, a GMP run with the BOB that actually approximated my GMP =) Baby girl got fussy around 4.5 miles. So, I dropped her off with DH (thanks, hubby!) and finished up my run.
Sunday: 9:00 am - 13 miles; 8 as group run and then 5 solo (9:43 avg pace, 10:04 for the group miles, 9:13 for the solo miles) - felt good, finished with two strong miles.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Compression Socks - On the bandwagon
"Honey, I have a confession to make."
DH looked up at me warily from his books, "What is it?"
"Today, I spent $40 on a pair of socks."
He looked a bit confused. "Why would you do that?"
"Well, see, they help you recover - from running - and they're super cozy."
I knew it sounded like a lame reason. That is precisely why I haven't bought any until today. I mean, really, $40 for socks? Today was stressful at work and I had an unexpected break between meetings around lunch. So, to relish my brief zen time, I headed to the running store down the street and, surprise, walked out with a pair of compression socks.
While waiting for my gas tank to fill on the way home, I pulled them on in my car. Oh my, now that is nice. I was immediately grinning ear to ear. Why hasn't someone convinced me to try these before? Sure, I've seen all your blog posts on compression socks. Why, though, hasn't one of my running buddies taken me by the shoulders, shaken me violently and loudly asserted you must get these? They're that good =)
I don't plan to actually run in these bad boys, not yet, at least. I will, however, likely be wearing them whenever possible... including to bed tonight. Is it possible to wear compression socks too much? Probably. I'll do the requisite Google searching tomorrow.
DH looked up at me warily from his books, "What is it?"
"Today, I spent $40 on a pair of socks."
He looked a bit confused. "Why would you do that?"
"Well, see, they help you recover - from running - and they're super cozy."
I knew it sounded like a lame reason. That is precisely why I haven't bought any until today. I mean, really, $40 for socks? Today was stressful at work and I had an unexpected break between meetings around lunch. So, to relish my brief zen time, I headed to the running store down the street and, surprise, walked out with a pair of compression socks.
While waiting for my gas tank to fill on the way home, I pulled them on in my car. Oh my, now that is nice. I was immediately grinning ear to ear. Why hasn't someone convinced me to try these before? Sure, I've seen all your blog posts on compression socks. Why, though, hasn't one of my running buddies taken me by the shoulders, shaken me violently and loudly asserted you must get these? They're that good =)
I don't plan to actually run in these bad boys, not yet, at least. I will, however, likely be wearing them whenever possible... including to bed tonight. Is it possible to wear compression socks too much? Probably. I'll do the requisite Google searching tomorrow.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Week 3 - San Francisco Marathon Training
Well, I didn't reach my goal of getting runs done in the morning during the week. I did, however, still manage to get in the miles and quality workouts I wanted. Best of all, this was a minor 'step-back' week. So, I feel well rested and ready to continue building mileage next week!
Week 3 Summary:
Week 3 Summary:
- Total Mileage: 33
- Average Pace: 9:16
- Goals Achieved: 6 of 6 (yay, first week getting everything in!)
- Monday: Rest Day
- Tuesday: 8:45 pm - 5 miles (9:03 pace) - 2 solo miles and then a 3 mile group run.
- Wednesday: Rest Day - unplanned. I started watching Gone With the Wind and, whoops, it was 11pm before I knew it.
- Thursday:
- 4:45 pm - 6.5 miles GMP (goal marathon pace) run and BOB run (8:47 pace overall) - I left work a little early and took the BOB to get baby girl from day care. I didn't quite hit the pace I wanted, but I give myself points for pushing the stroller =) (note, I probably looked goofy running with an empty baby stroller for 3.25 miles!)
- Friday: 10:30 am - 4.5 miles (8:35 pace) - Interval workout, 4x800 with 0.25 between. Intervals @ 3:31, 3:32, 3:27, 3:27. Happy to be back on the track.
- Saturday: 8:30 am - 7 miles (10:17 pace) - group run
- Sunday:
- 9:30 am - 10 miles (9:18 pace) - long run, finished with 1.5 miles at GMP (8:30) and felt great.
- 3:45 pm - strength training session (I really need to get these in during the week)
Friday, April 15, 2011
Conquering the Oval
It has been 10 years since I stepped on a track, until this morning. Sure, I've done my share of interval workouts, but always on a treadmill or on the road (thank you, Garmin!)... never the track. Some hate the track, but not me. I love it. So why did I stay away so long? Shame, and fear.
You see, back in high school and my freshman year of college I was a sprinter - 400m. I loved that race, especially the mile relay, and the sport in general. Running track was something I had very little talent for, but really, really wanted to be good at. So, I worked very, very hard and made my university D1 track team as a walk on. I even made the travel team, and scored points in meets. I loved it.
And then, as has happened many times since, I came face-to-face with my own limitations. I was a physics major and the topic was really too difficult for me. At least, it was too difficult for me to do well in my studies and spend three hours a day running around a circle. I admire all student athletes who can make it all work. I couldn't. I wasn't on a scholarship and didn't go to college to run. So, halfway through the spring semester my freshman year I quit the team. For 19 year old me, it was my first big failure.
Since then I have stayed away from the track. I was ashamed that I hadn't been able to do it all - especially, while at school, when I ran into my old teammates. Also, I was afraid of the regret I'd feel if I did go back on the track - maybe, just maybe if I'd tried harder?
Today, however, felt like the day. I took the day off work, it was beautiful outside, and it was a little too hot to do the long run I had planned. So, I made my way to the beautiful red oval (I do live on a college campus) and tried it out. It was perfect. My 800m repeats came off beautifully and I felt completely at home; nostalgic, but not sad. I'm not entirely sure why it took me so long, but I'm happy to be back on the track =)
You see, back in high school and my freshman year of college I was a sprinter - 400m. I loved that race, especially the mile relay, and the sport in general. Running track was something I had very little talent for, but really, really wanted to be good at. So, I worked very, very hard and made my university D1 track team as a walk on. I even made the travel team, and scored points in meets. I loved it.
And then, as has happened many times since, I came face-to-face with my own limitations. I was a physics major and the topic was really too difficult for me. At least, it was too difficult for me to do well in my studies and spend three hours a day running around a circle. I admire all student athletes who can make it all work. I couldn't. I wasn't on a scholarship and didn't go to college to run. So, halfway through the spring semester my freshman year I quit the team. For 19 year old me, it was my first big failure.
Since then I have stayed away from the track. I was ashamed that I hadn't been able to do it all - especially, while at school, when I ran into my old teammates. Also, I was afraid of the regret I'd feel if I did go back on the track - maybe, just maybe if I'd tried harder?
Today, however, felt like the day. I took the day off work, it was beautiful outside, and it was a little too hot to do the long run I had planned. So, I made my way to the beautiful red oval (I do live on a college campus) and tried it out. It was perfect. My 800m repeats came off beautifully and I felt completely at home; nostalgic, but not sad. I'm not entirely sure why it took me so long, but I'm happy to be back on the track =)
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Week 2 - San Francisco Marathon Training
Two things became clear this week:
- I need to get more miles in during the week. This weekend warrior business will likely get me injured.
- I need to get up early (yikes) and run in the morning, if number 1 is going to happen.
- Total Mileage: 32.75
- Average Pace: 9:06
- Goals Achieved: 5 of 6 (no BOB run this week - sorry, baby girl)
- Monday: Rest Day - needed it, after the busy weekend.
- Tuesday: 9:00 pm - 3 miles (9:25 pace) - group run. I learned that Mexican food and two glasses of wine is not a good pre-run meal (duh!).
- Wednesday: Rest Day - unplanned, DH worked late and I went to bed at 9:30, before he was home.
- Thursday:
- 4:45 am - 5 miles w/ 3 at tempo (8:37 pace overall, 7:47 tempo pace) - felt great
- 8:00 pm - strength training session
- 9:00 pm - 3 miles (8:38 pace) - group run, and finally tired!
- Friday: 10:45 pm - 4.5 miles (9:40 pace) - just glad I got a run in.
- Saturday: 9:00 am - 6 miles (8:44 pace) - marathon pace run. I was hoping for closer to 8:30 pace, but I ran with a friend and we talked the whole time. So, that ups the effort a bit.
- Sunday:
- 9:00 am - 11 miles (9:19 pace) - 6 mile group run and then 5 solo. I finished up with two strong miles and felt really good.
- 6:30 pm - strength training session
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Get out the door!
Yesterday was one of those low motivation days. I had a heavy workout day on Thursday, an early wake-up on Friday and then a very busy day at work. Things seemed to conspire against my run... but I finally got something in.
- 5:30 pm: Had planned a BOB run, but baby girl was too tired from missing her afternoon nap at day care. All she could handle was to eat and go to sleep. =( No baby time for me that day.
- 6 pm: I was sitting in the living room - reading - waiting for DH to get home.
- 8 pm: Hungry - where is that guy?
- 8:45 pm: DH waltzes in w/ dinner (had gone out for drinks with coworkers)
- 8:45-10:30 pm: eat, watch movie, digest
- 10:45 pm: Getting ready to run - my only goal being to make it out the door and return in a better mood. I ask DH to clean the baby's bottles from the day while I'm gone.
- 11 pm: 1 mile into run, consider turning around.
- 11:30 pm: Back from 4.5 mile run - still in a poor mood, though.
- 11:35 pm: Scowl at dirty baby bottles still on counter, ask DH to clean them while I shower.
- 12:00 am: Get out of shower, scowl at dirty baby bottles still on counter. Dress, wash baby bottles.
- 12:15 am: DH asks why I'm in a bad mood. I point to the now clean bottles, then the clock, kiss him good night and go to bed =)
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Week 1 - San Francisco Marathon Training
For the next five weeks, many of my runs will be group runs I'm leading. I'm helping some undergraduates train for their first half marathon. My pace on these runs will be dictated by how the group is doing.
To help keep things on track, I have six general goals. For each week I'm going to try to achieve: 1) five days of running, 2) one interval or tempo run, 3) one pace run, 4) one long run, 5) two strength sessions, 6) one BOB run.
Week 1 Summary:
- Total Mileage: 30.25
- Average Pace: 9:19
- Goals Achieved: 4 of 6 (didn't have an interval/tempo run and didn't get the strength training in)
- Monday: Rest Day - planned 3 miles, but fell asleep at 7:30 pm
- Tuesday: 5:00 am - 3.25 miles (9:09 pace) - woke up well rested, thanks to early bed time =)
- Wednesday: 9:40 pm - 5 miles (9:00 pace) - planned to run earlier and do a tempo run, but the hubby worked late and the Garmin was dead, so, a relaxed 5 it was!
- Thursday: 9:00 pm - 3 miles (9:20 pace) - group run
- Friday: Rest Day
- Saturday:
- 8:30 am - 5 miles (9:45 pace) - group run
- 3:45 pm - 4 miles (9:04 pace) - BOB run (since I was pushing the BOB, I'm counting this as my pace run also =)). I'm not a fan of double days (I don't run enough mileage to warrant them, and I realize I'm really just flirting with injury when I do them). However, the baby was fussy and hubby needed to work. So, I headed out with baby girl and came back with a baby ready to nap.
- Sunday: 9:00 pm - 10 miles (9:25 pace) - 5 miles solo and then 5 miles group run.This was the way to do a 'long' run, company for the second half! When one of the students missed Saturday's run and asked if I could run on Sunday night, I decided to do my long run for the week this way. I'm glad I did =)
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