Monday, July 29, 2013

MTWR 2 & 3

The hardest part about following a training schedule is the lack of flexibility. Like most runners, I hate to know I've missed a workout or didn't complete it the way it should have been done. But life sometimes gets in the way, and I think it's the mark of a true athlete when you can roll with the punches.

We have to remember that no one is forcing us to do this! Running is supposed to be fun, and that means we have to let life happen and enjoy it!

Weeks 2 and 3 of marathon training weren't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. But I did what I could, I was honest about where I fell short, and this week I'm ready to make some changes and buckle down.

Monday, July 15 (week 2)
Rest
Tuesday, July 16
3 miles. Treadmill; quick workout before leaving for CA.
Wednesday, July 17
3 miles. Hilly and hot in CA.
Thursday, July 18
5 miles on the boardwalk at Hermosa Beach, CA.
Friday, July 19
Hiking/cross training
Saturday, July 20
Hiking/cross training
Sunday, July 21
Rest. Missed my long run.
Monday, July 22 (week 3)
Rest
Tuesday, July 23
5 miles in Santa Barbara
Wednesday, July 24
Rest (flight home)
Thursday, July 25
Rest
Friday, July 26
3.5 miles. Aimed for 5, but felt sick. Jet lag, maybe?
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Xtraining. 2:00 plank, ab roller, flat band, 50 walking lunges, bicep curls, triceps/back (20x2), bridges & swaying bridges. At home.
Sunday, July 28
3.37 miles. Felt really sluggish. Very humid and my legs hurt. Might switch Xtraining back to original plan so long runs come first.

In California, I missed my 9 mile long run. I was okay with that because the amount of walking we were doing was keeping me on my feet and I wasn't really taking any "rest" days.

My long run yesterday was terrible. It was only supposed to be 6 miles, but my legs cramped up and I barely made it more than 3. As I was finishing the run and going through possible causes (humidity, dehydration, fatigue, jet lag, new shoes...) I realized that doing lunges and weighted leg exercises the day before probably was a contributing factor.

So I'm going to switch cross-training back to the day after the long run. Hopefully that shows some improvement.

On Facebook, I belong to the Women's Running Community. I love following it because someone is always asking something I was wondering, and someone else always has the answer. WRC has local chapters, too, but I haven't found any near me.

Anyway, they posted this last week and I just had to share it.


We've all seen lists of reasons why running is awesome, but seriously. This? This tops them all.

Any list that mentions our closeted love of boybands (or 80s divas...I am totally guilty of running to Whitney Houston), forgetting our ladylike facades, and lowering our tolerance is a list I can live by.

So here's to a great week of training, and an infinite number of things to add to this fantastically perfect list.

What's your #10 reason running doesn't suck?
What's the most embarrassing thing on your playlist?
How did your training go last week?
What's on your plate for this week?

ABK

16 comments:

  1. I used to do weights before my long run and when I stopped that my world changed! My run coach put my leg lifting day on Monday and my long run on Saturday so I have Tues - Fri to recover and complete the long run with fresh legs.

    I learned long ago that I just can't get embarrassed by my musical choices otherwise I would be in a constant state of embarrassment! There are very few songs in my Spotify that are not from the 90s or early 2000s.

    It was a good decade for me, what can I say? :) In my world Britney and NSYNC still rule the music scene!

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    1. I'm glad to hear cutting the weights before the long run helped! Gives me hope haha.

      Oh my gosh, nothing is better than 90s music imo. I'm a big 90s-alternative fan. Matchbox20, Goo Goo Dolls...to this day they're still my favorites!

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  2. I'm jealous you were able to run on the boardwalk in Hermosa! I was there a couple weeks ago, but was sidelined due to my IT band. It felt like cruel punishment watching all of those runners out there lol!

    I was going to say a whole lot of late 90's pop music, but then I remembered I recently added a song by "Piano Boys" to my current playlist, which is exactly as lame as it sounds!

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    1. It's really crazy how many runners are on the boardwalk for that stretch of beaches! I've never seen so many runners when not at a race lol.

      Piano Boys? Oh man, I may need to check that out just for the laughs ;o)

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  3. Hahah I love that WRC poster! And yes, I agree walking that much on your trip counts as a workout!

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    1. I'm glad I'm not the only one...we literally were on our feet at least 5 hours a day. I figure that counts for something!

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  4. I love the WRC! A great group of women!
    I completely agree with you that life gets in the way sometimes and we just have to live life and find a balance between running! My past 2 weeks of training have been awful but I hope to jump back on the band wagon!!! Woot woot!!!

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    1. Sometimes all we have to do is look our training in the face, be honest with ourselves, and get back to it! This week will be better for you, too!

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  5. #10- it makes me feel like a bad a$$...lol! I have the Spice Girls on my iPod and I'm not afraid to admit it :). Keep up the good work and definitely save the lunges for after the long run!

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    1. There is seriously nothing wrong and everything right with Spice Girls on a running mix! They should be a requirement for everyday listening!

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  6. Love that poster...think I might need to steal it :)

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    1. Of course! Just give credit to the WRC :o)

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  7. That poster is awesome!

    I just changed my leg day to Thursday instead of Friday to see if it would help my long runs feel better on Sundays. It definitely did help this week. My legs were not nearly as fatigued. I like what you said about rolling with the punches. I've been having a weird mental struggle because we are leaving for a 2 week long trip tomorrow and I know I won't be running as much. But I know that I will come back with really fresh legs and my body will probably be really happy with me!

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    1. I'm looking forward to my legs feeling more refreshed after I change my schedule around. Vacations can definitely throw a little wrench in our plans, but you're definitely right that your legs will feel super refreshed when you come back!

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  8. Ha! I love that poster- cute idea! :) One of the things I love the most about my training schedule is it isn't written for long term- I get a weekly schedule from my coach and we adjust it based on what the feedback is from my runs. Flexibility is important- in my opinion and listening to my/your body should always be #1.

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    1. One day, I'll definitely need to look into getting a trainer who can personalize my schedule. It's sometimes hard to juggle the schedule you're "supposed" to do vs. what your body actually needs/can do!

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