Training Recap: Week Two (June 22-June 28)

Happy Monday! I have to say that I am really enjoying my training lately. I think what I love most about it is that I am never doing the same workout twice. My coach really changes things up so I actually look forward to my runs and trying new things each week. I am not running as many miles am I am used to which is a little scary but I have to trust the training. The good news about the lower mileage is that I have not had any hip pain in the last 2 weeks. Getting me back to running pain free is the priority so I am easing back into things slowly.

I had to juggle things around this week because my 87 year-old Grandma was not feeling well and needed me. My family comes before running so this week was all about getting back on track and juggling my personal life with my training schedule.

Here is a recap of Week Two:

Monday: Strength Training: I love this stuff but dislike how crowded the gym can be after work. I try to get there early so I can get in and out and beat the crowds.

Tuesday: Unplanned Rest Day: My Grandma was not feeling well so I did not make it to the track. We ended up at the Urgent Care instead and found out that she has a very severe Urinary Tract Infection. She is on medication now and feeling better. We are praying that she is 100% again very soon.

Wednesday: Speedwork (4.19 Miles): These runs have been a little challenging because of the heat. I try to get to the track as late as possible but it is still in the high 80's at 7:00pm. I have been hitting my goal paces/times so I am pretty happy about that!

Thursday: Strength Training: My other half has committed to working out in the weight area of the gym with me since I feel weird around all of the men. 

Friday: 8 Mile Endurance Run

Saturday:Strength Training: My legs were still a little sore from my strength training on Thursday so I took this workout a little easier. The gym is pretty empty on Saturday morning too so we were able to get in and out of there.

Sunday: 4.34 Miles: This run was short but it wasn't an easy one. I was a sweaty mess but felt accomplished when it was over.

TOTAL MILES: 16.53

I am already looking forward to my workouts for Week Three and haven't felt like skipping a workout yet. I guess it is different when you have a coach who is working with you. You want to be even more accountable than you ever were before. 

Do you change your workouts up and try new things?

This has really made a difference for me because I actually look forward to my runs because I am not doing the same thing over and over again. It is even better to try the new workouts in new places instead of the same routes I usually take.

Training Recap: Week One (June 15-June 21)

I survived my first week training with my new running coach. I was really nervous about starting my new training plan this past week because I wasn't sure if I could hot all the paces. I did not run a lot of miles but strength training combined with the running made my legs feel like I did. My legs were a little sore this week but nothing that I could not  work through. I have to say that being sore beats being in pain. It is a totally different feeling and my hip did not hurt at all this week. I am not sure I should even say that. Fingers crossed.

I have signed up for a few more races to add into my training cycle and I am excited but nervous about the goals that my coach will set for me. I signed up for a 5K and another half marathon so as those races approach my coach will set my goals for those races. I am looking at a November-December marathon as my goal race but will have to see if I am ready as the time approaches. I am already registered for Revel Canyon City so that may be the race. I want to stay local if possible but the elevation drop at Canyon City is pretty scary .

Week One went really well but I think that my coach took it easy on me and then it is going to just get harder from here on out. Here is a recap of my training for Week One:

Monday: Strength Training: training with a physio ball is harder than I thought and it a great option for strength training. Using the equipment I have at home changes things up and also makes it convenient for me if I can't make it to the gym.

Tuesday: 4.26 Miles Speedwork: I am not a big fan of speedwork but I know it is the only way to get faster. I am going to commit to going to the track on Tuesday nights once it cools down a little. I like the surface on the track and I like the idea of changing things up. My running club goes to the track every Tuesday so I also have the option of meeting up with them.

Wednesday: Strength Training

Thursday: 5 Miles @8:23

Friday: Rest/Strength Training/Cross Training of Choice. Friday is my "day of choice." I decided to go to the gym with my other half for more strength training because I know I need it. I feel kind of weird doing weights at the gym since there is nothing but men in the weight area so I feel more comfortable when he works out with me.

Saturday: 10 Miles-One thing that I have to work on is running my longer runs at an easier pace. I have a hard time with that because I want to be done especially during the summer months. I have to really slow myself down and I feel like I am barely moving at times. I wish my goal marathon pace felt that way for 26.2 miles!

Sunday: REST DAY- I was really looking forward to my rest day. My legs were feeling pretty tired and I needed it! We celebrated Father's Day and shared this amazingly delicious peach crumble! Life is Good!

TOTAL MILES: 19.26

My coach sends my training schedule two weeks at a time to give me a chance to review it, ask questions and work it into my schedule. I do have some flexibility with my training but I am trying to stick to it as closely as possible. I will be back next week to let you know how things go. Have a great week! Here are some questions for you too.

Do you mind being one of the only women in the weight training area of the gym?

Are  you training for anything?

Speedwork: Love it? Hate it?

I Hired a Running Coach

I haven't done a race recap on Mountains 2 Beach Marathon because it was such a bad experience that I am trying to forget about it for now. I know that finishing a marathon is a huge accomplishment but I just feel like I threw away what could have been a good race for all of the wrong reasons.

Those last six miles of my last marathon included a lot of walking and a lot of thinking too. Most of those thoughts were not very positive. I was in a lot of pain and I allowed myself to fall apart mentally on a very high level. I gave up and that should not have happened. I should have been able to hold it together better than I did. After running six marathons, I should have handled it differently. I walked away from that marathon feeling pretty defeated. I don't think I have ever felt that low after a marathon and that changed me. Pain changes you.

I questioned myself on so many levels and decided that I really needed to get myself together and start working towards a goal and running smarter. My biggest goals by far are to qualify for the Boston Marathon and stay injury free so I can eventually get there in one piece. I don't think I have ever trained at a level that was going to get me there. I have been enjoying running and in the back of my mind I always wondered if the thrill of running goes away once you get that BQ. 

I decided that it was time to start preparing myself and working towards my goals. I have worked with a running coach in the past and I have always been my own coach. I write my own training plans by piecing together different parts of cookie cutter plans. They have worked for me and I make them fit into my busy little schedule but I just knew that something was missing. I also told myself that when I made the decision to get serious I would consider hiring a running coach. I wasn't looking for a coach to babysit me because it is my job to keep myself accountable to my goals. I hired a coach because I wanted someone to: help me improve my running performance, evaluate my running history and design a proper training plan that minimizes my risk of injury and for the support, advice and motivation needed to help me achieve my goals.  

I shopped around and asked all of the relevant questions that a runner should ask when hiring a running coach and finally found one that I feel comfortable with. My coach is out of state so our interaction will be via email, phone and Training Peaks where all of my training is uploaded and reported. My coach has given me my training paces, goal race times and my first two weeks of workouts which start today. We will be doing a lot of things differently so I am excited and nervous all at the same time. Coach knows all about the hip issues I have been dealing with and we are going to work on building me up through strength training which I haven't taken too seriously.

With these changes and challenges ahead, I am hoping to get back to blogging and sharing more information and updates on how my training is going.

Do you have a running coach or have you ever worked with one?

What have you found to be the most beneficial part of hiring a coach?

Please share your experiences both negative and positive.