Training Update: Week 14 (September 14-September 20)

This week was a tough one and all of my runs seemed harder than they should have been. I felt very fatigued after the Ventura Half Marathon last Sunday and did not have much energy at all this week. My IT bands were sore for a few days which was very odd. I have never experienced that before especially after a race that I did not give 100%. I did not even make it to the gym all week and did all of my strength training at home. I tried to stay positive and thankfully things came together at the end of the week.

Here is a recap of Week Fourteen:

Monday: Strength Training: I have all of the tools that I need at home so when I don't feel like driving to the gym I have no excuse!

Tuesday: 3.25 Miles with 30 second pickups: Thankfully this was a short run because I was just not feeling it. I fought through it and got it done.

Wednesday: Strength Training: I did not make it to the gym again and did my strength training at home.

Thursday: 6.23 Miles: This was my toughest run of the week. I had the day off so I went to the track early and had the toughest time hitting my goal paces. I stopped a few times because I was so frustrated. I finally pulled it together and finished it because quitting was not an option.

Friday: REST DAY: I really needed this day off. I felt like my body needed a day to recover and get back on track.

Saturday: 17.25 Miles: After having such a bad week, the negative thoughts were already stuck in my mind. I also knew it was going to be a hot day so that was not helping my negative thoughts. I started while it was still dark out and finished before the heat set in. This run turned out better than expected and the last three miles were the fastest. I needed that!

Sunday:  REST DAY: Definitely needed this day to relax and that is what I did. We went to the beach and enjoyed the day. I also worked on my compression sock tan which is much needed. I know..it's pretty bad! I am working on it.

TOTAL MILES: 26.73

2015 MILES: 941

This week I really need to focus on getting my mind back in the game. Thankfully it is a easier week and my long run is only ten miles at marathon goal pace. I think I can handle that but if the heat would let up that would make it that much better.

Training Update: Week Eleven (August 24-30)

Another week of pain free running in the books! I have been trying something different this week that I wanted to share. I have been setting up all of my runs in Garmin Connect and then transferring them to my Garmin 620 because it really helps me hit my target paces and I don't have to keep staring at my watch. I seem to do much better with the help of Garmin beeping and screaming at me when I am running too fast or too slow. It also stops me from throwing in the towel and just going for a run versus finishing the planned workout!

Here is a recap of Week Eleven:

Monday: Strength Training: I love squats..they are my favorite!

Tuesday: 5.5 Mile Threshold Run: I went to the track at my regular time but noticed that it is starting to get dark a little earlier. I try to get there as late as possible to avoid the heat so a break from the heat is much needed if I am going to have to start getting there a little earlier.

Wednesday: Muscle Imbalance Strength Training: Buster kept me company while I squatted my life away. I am getting better with the Bosu Ball so I am excited to see some progress here.

Thursday: 4.35 Miles: I took this run to the track because I didn't feel like dealing with all of the traffic lights and extra stops. My runs seems to go a lot better without all of the unnecessary stops.

Friday: REST DAY:  This was a working Friday for me so it was nice to come home from work to relax and prepare for my long run in the morning.

Saturday: 20.15 Miles: This was a tough one because of the heat. The last three miles were really ugly and I took way too many breaks! It started out great but at the temperature rose I wasn't feeling so great. I have not been feeling too positive about my long runs lately.

Sunday: Strength Training: My legs were feeling great after my 20 mile run so I decided to go ahead with my strength training. I was finally able to handle some 45's on the leg press so I was pretty happy about that! 

TOTAL MILES: 30

2015 MILES: 865

Training Update: Week 10 (August 17-August 23)

The heat has been so horrible for the past few weeks but the positive thing is that I have not had any hip pain for ten weeks! That is truly a blessing and when I think about that, the heat really doesn't bother me anymore. There is always something to be thankful for and life is so much better when we try to see the good in everything. 

Here is a recap of Week Ten:

Monday: Strength Training: My day started out with Jury Duty. I seriously don't think I would be good on a jury so I spent most of the day praying that I would be excused and I finally was!

I wore my Mountains 2 Beach shirt to celebrate the fact that I just signed up to run the marathon again in 2016. I love this race. If I ever BQ, I would love for it to happen on this course because I love it that much.

Tuesday: 6 Miles: Speedwork: This one did not seem too bad until it ended with two miles at tempo pace instead of a nice and easy cool down. I wasn't sure if I would be able to do it but somehow I did.

Wednesday: Muscle Imbalance Strength Training: I felt a little better on the Bosu ball this week. I was sore from all of the body squats so I guess it is working!

Thursday: 7 Miles@8:21: This was a really tough day for me because I could not sleep. I ended up getting three hours of sleep and then going to an all day training for work. I could barely stay awake and had already decided to put my run off until the next day. Once I got home and rested for a couple of hours I decided to go to the gym and run on the treadmill. I haven't done any of my runs on a treadmill unless my coach actually tells me to so it was a good change. I did take two breaks because my IT band started hurting a little bit and I had to stretch it out.

Friday: REST DAY: It is always nice when my Off-Friday and Rest Day fall on the same day. I slept in until 7:30 am, spent some quality time with the furkids and ran some errands.

Saturday: 15 Miles:  The weather was perfect but my energy level was low. I am getting so used to slowing these long runs down that when I have to run at endurance pace it seems hard. That is the only thing that scares me about running my long runs at a much slower pace.

Sunday: Strength Training: I didn't feel like driving to the gym so I decided to get my sweat on at home with my Bosu Ball and other tools that I have at home.

TOTAL MILES: 28

2015 MILES: 835

Training Recap: Week Eight: (August 3-August 9)

The weather was so much better this week especially for my long run on Saturday. It was overcast the entire time and then the sun started to come out from behind the clouds right as we were finishing up. This week the heat will be back so I have to get my mind ready for it. 

I set a goal this year to run 1400 miles and I have just passed the halfway point with 782 miles. I am slightly behind my goal but I have 5 months let in the year to get there. I am also looking forward to getting my 1000 mile pin from my running club really soon. I know I can reach this goal since I am sooo close.

Here is a recap of Week Eight:

Monday: Strength Training: The gym is so crowded on Monday's so this is my least favorite workout of the week since it takes forever to get your workout done.

Tuesday:4.34 Miles

Wednesday:  Strength Training

Thursday: 7.33 Mile Speed Workout:  I got to the track rise as the sun was coming up and was it was empty. I felt really good after this track workout because it was the same workout I did 8 weeks ago but this time I was able to do it twice without feeling too beat up!

Friday: REST DAY: Unfortunately it wasn't such a great day because I had to attend my grandma's funeral on my step-dad's side.

Saturday: 14 Miles with the Running Club. I am glad that I ran with them because sometimes these long runs seem impossible to do alone. 

Sunday: Strength Training: I really didn't feel like going to the gym but I had no good reason not to so I went!  I think I overdid it because I have been sore for two days now.

TOTAL MILES: 25.67

My long run this week calls for 18 Miles. I think I am going to run 16 with my running club and then pick up an extra two miles before or after. It is supposed to be a hot one on Saturday too but those cool towels that my running club puts at the water stops is going to save me!

Training Recap: Week Seven: (July 27-August 2)

We had some really hot weather this week in California. I really struggle through my runs in the heat and wish that I could run in the mornings. Since I work full-time, I have to do most of my runs after work so I have to just suck it up and get it done. 

Things are moving right along with my training and my hip pain has stayed away for 7 weeks now! Getting rid of the hip pain is truly my focus this time around and I am hoping that if I stick to the strength training, I will continue to run pain free. July was a good month for me. My mileage is starting to get back up there so I am really happy to have hit over 100 miles this month.

Here is a recap of Week Seven:

Monday: 7 Miles at Marathon Goal Pace. I really had to push myself through this one in the heat. It is amazing how marathon goal pace feels so hard in 90 degree temps. I waited a little too long for things to cool down and ended up running the last two miles in the dark.

Tuesday: Strength Training

Wednesday: 6.65 Mile Speed Workout: I normally do my speed workout on Tuesdays but I had to move my schedule around this week. The track was pretty empty and I was the last one to leave. I pretty much got kicked out and ended up doing the last part of my cool down in the parking lot.

Thursday: REST DAY: I was really needing a day off. I really appreciate these days now that I have added strength training in.

Friday: 16.2 Miles: My long runs are so much slower now and I am struggling with this. I try to include hills on my long runs so that I am forced to slow things down. It actually works and is not so bad plus I can always use the hill workout.

Saturday: Strength Training: The gym was empty so it was nice to get in and out of there and not have to wait for any of the equipment.

Sunday: 30 Minute Workout: This was my choice day where I can do 30  minutes of cross training but no running. I wasn't in the mood to go to the gym so I used what I had at home.  I tried to target all of the major areas (legs, arms, glutes and core) for this one.

TOTAL MILES: 29.85

My long run this week is 13 Miles and my running club is doing 14 miles so I am going to run with them this weekend. Running in a group sure makes the miles fly by and makes it a lot easier to do. Enjoy your week everyone!

Training Recap: Week Six: (July 20-July 26)

This week was a little crazy. There are some changes going on in my home so I haven't been sleeping really well. I am still trying to adjust but it has definitely taken a toll on my energy level. I have actually been taking naps on the weekend to get back some of those lost hours of sleep. I guess that would explain why I woke up late on Saturday and missed my 5K!

Here is a recap of Week Six:

Monday: Strength Training: I made the mistake of coming home, eating dinner and then telling myself that I was going to lay in my bed and rest for an hour before heading to the gym. The gym never happened so I did my own thing at home. My stomach was sore the next day from those leg lifts!

Tuesday: 6.33 Mile Speedwork:  I was a little nervous going into this one because it was the hardest one yet. I nailed all of my intervals but boy was I glad when it was all over.

Wednesday: Strength Training: I worked out with a friend who goes to a much fancier fitness center than I do. They have Woodway treadmills at her gym so I ran on a Woodway for the first time. It felt much harder than the treadmills that I am used to running on so it was a new experience for me. I am not sure how @runemz does it! I guess she is just a ROCKSTAR!

Thursday: 3.63 Miles Easy. I broke in a new pair of Brooks Glycerin 13's and I love them. They have so much cushion that I feel like I am running on a cloud. I have been running in the 12's for the past few months and I love them but the 13's have a lot more cushion than the 12's. Transitioning from an old model to a new one is always scary and I have had some bad experiences in the past so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Friday: REST DAY: I decided to rest my legs before my 5K the following day.

Saturday: Well the 5K did not happen. I did not set my alarm because I never need it. I automatically wake up at 4-5am everyday but was awakened by a 4.3 earthquake at almost 6am instead. I did not have enough time to get ready and head to the race because it was not local.

I felt really guilty about missing the 5K so I got up and ran my 11 mile long run instead which I was planning to do on Sunday. I was already a mess about missing the 5K and the earthquake so it did not go very well at all. It was hot and I was dragging but I finally got into my run the last 6 miles. These kind of runs can be real confidence killers but you have to move on and take the good with the bad.

I wasn't sure how I was going to explain to my coach that I missed the 5k because I overslept but then I got this text message from him. 

Sunday: Strength Training

TOTAL MILES: 21 

My mileage is going to increase a bit this coming week and I am excited about it because it will be a challenge for me. The weekly mileage will be very close to past training cycles but will now include the strength training. I have a 16 miler coming up so I am looking for some new scenery to run in since my running club will only be doing 6 miles this weekend. The weather is not looking very promising so I have to start planning it all out.

 

 Do you look at the weather forecast and plan your weekly runs or do you just go with the flow?

Training Recap: Week Five: (July 13-July 19)

This was a tough week. My energy level seemed to be really low and I really had to push myself to stick to the schedule. I haven't been sleeping well so training becomes even more challenging when you are lacking the energy you need. The highlight of my weekend was the long overdue rain that we finally received.  We really need it so it was a true blessing!

Here is a recap of Week Five:

Monday: Strength Training: Monday's are always tough but a new week means a new start and I always want to start my week out right.

Tuesday: 5.06 Mile Speedwork: My legs were super sore from all of the squats that I did the day before so this took some serious mental toughness. It was also 90 degrees when I started so I almost thought about not doing it but the guilt set in and then off I went.

Wednesday: Strength Training: I decided not to go to the gym and do a workout at home. I think I did a 20 minute upper body workout and called it a day because I was feeling so tired and my legs were so sore from my Monday workout combined with speed work on Tuesday.

Thursday: 6 Miles at Marathon Goal Pace. This run was not good at all. It was hot and humid and I just had no energy. I took so many breaks and I felt pretty defeated but it happens and we have to move on and hope for better days.

Friday: REST DAY: I headed back to the dentist to finish up this whole root canal process. This whole process has been stressful and expensive. I am so done with it. I have one final visit and hopefully I never have to go through this ever again!

Saturday: 14 Miles: I was able to run with my running club again. They had 11 miles on their schedule so I ran a few more miles by myself in the end to get to 14. I had a good run. The route is mainly rolling hills but I enjoy the change since I don't have a lot of hills to run near me. We got caught in a downpour around Mile 9 but it did not last long. It was really refreshing and we really need the rain because the drought situation is pretty bad here in Southern California.

Sunday: Strength Training: This was supposed to be a rest day but my Wednesday workout was so not great that I decided that I needed to make it up today. 

TOTAL MILES: 25.06

I am a little nervous about the upcoming week. My speed workout will be 7 miles and up until now I haven't done more than 5 miles of speedwork. Those workouts are the most challenging for me but I plan to hit it hard and give it my best effort. 

It is doesn't challenge you it doesn't change you, right?

Did anyone hear about the situation/cancellation of the Revel Rockies race in Colorado? What are your thoughts on the situation?

I am registered to run another one of their events in November and the whole situation made me really nervous since all of their race require bus service to get to the start. I am curious to see how they deal with the situation and with all of the unhappy runners.

Training Recap: Week Four (July 6-July 12)

I think I overdid it with the eating this week so I am getting myself back on track this week. We celebrated my nephew and my other half's birthdays so we were all over the place eating and celebrating with family. 

Here is a recap of Week Four:

Monday: Strength Training: We got to the gym early since I was off work and it was empty! We were able to get a workout in without having to stand around and wait which really helped us keep moving and break a good sweat.

Tuesday: Speedwork (5 Miles): I planned on heading to the track early since I was still on vacation and the weather was perfect but ended up here instead to eat 57 cent pancakes. You gotta live a little, right?

I still made it to the track in the evening in the 80 degree temps. This is my challenging day of the week but seems to go really quickly.

Wednesday: Strength Training 

Thursday: 3.65 Miles with Drills

Friday: REST DAY: It wasn't much of a rest day because I ended up at the dentist getting a root canal. I haven't had a cavity in forever but apparently one of my filling cracked without me realizing it and it resulted in a deep cavity. I didn't have any pain or discomfort but good thing I went in for my check up and they found it before it got worse.

Saturday: 10 Miles @9:00: I finally went for a run with my running club. I have missed these people and it felt good to have some company on my run.

Sunday: 3 Mile Recovery Run: I did this one on the treadmill. It had been a while since I have ran on the machine but it was nice to not have to get up early before church to get this one done. Watching the Wimbledon Championship helped the time pass quickly before the boredom sat in.

TOTAL MILES: 21.65

I have been training with my coach now for a month. He has kept the mileage just where I need it to be in order to stop the hip pain from returning. The next couple of weeks will be a good test for me as the mileage will continue to increase and the speed work will start to get a little harder. I have a 5K coming up soon and I am hoping to see some progress there if the weather is not too warm. I am a wimp and my performance really declines in the heat. 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!