Weekly Check-In

So as part of The Sisterhood, I’m going to be checking with my weekly training report.  So this last week has been a full week.  I’m following my training plan set for by Coach Joe (our coach from VTNT).  My weeks are going to look pretty much the same but with a few differences in miles completed.  So since last Wednesday I completed my tempo workout on Thursday, which consisted of 2 miles at a pace of approximately 8:55 on the treadmill at a setting of 6.7.  Friday was a rest day.  Saturday was my long run.  10 miles.  I got up at 5:45 so I could run before it got hot.  The previous Saturday I completed 6 miles starting at about 9:30 and thought I was going to die.  So I *chose* to get up at 5:45 so I could eat and be out the door no later than 6:30.  I was a little nervous about maintaining my prescribed pace of 10:40.  That’s a pretty slow pace for me, but there were points in my run where I was *much* slower than others.  My average was 9:55.  So still slower than normal, but not slow enough.

Another caveat is that I’ve been running in my Vibram Five Fingers.  But after my run last Tuesday, my right knee was sore.  I know that you have to take it slow when you first start running in the VFFs because it’s like learning to run all over again.  I didn’t want to hurt myself, so my tempo run on Thursday was in my Nikes and I ran the 10 miles in my Nikes too.  The funny part – well maybe not funny, but interesting – my knees have always ached when I run.  Nothing that lingers, but ache nonethless.  I haven’t had *any* knee pain since running in my VFFs.  But by mile 5/6 on Saturday, my knees were sore, and they continued to hurt throughout most of the rest of the day.

Yesterday was my first run of the week.  It was a 6-mile run at 9:33 (which is 6.3 on the treadmill).  I am convinced my stride on the treadmill does not equate to accurate mileage on the treadmill.  I’m certain of this.  The 6 miles on the treadmill felt very hard compared to my 10-miler on Saturday.  But I ran my 6 miles in my VFFs.

I’m trying to get as much sleep as possible because I know once school starts for the girls, my time is going to be very tight again.  I will be getting up early to do my runs during the week and staying up too late getting my work done.  You know, the paying job.

This weekend will only be 8 miles for my long run.  I’m planning on wearing my VFFs as I am mentally ready to tackle running with them 100%.

 

Passing the torch

Last night I signed the whole family up for a fun run.  One mile.  At 8 pm.  Which, I will have you know is bedtime ’round these parts.  But I thought that the fact that they got to stay up late, wear a race bib, and that we would all be doing it together would be a good incentive.  My kids don’t enjoy running.  I want them to appreciate it.  Only time will tell if I get a running partner or not.  They had a blast.  T ran with the 9yo.  I ran with the 4yo and 7yo.  The 7yo didn’t want to run.  She could walk almost fast enough to keep up with me and the little one.  She needed some prodding at times.

I’m happy to report that they all finished.  They all *ran* through the finish line.  They were so cute and exhausted.  I don’t have an after picture, but here they are after pinning their race bibs on.

So, T and I have started our training for Nike Women’s Marathon which is in October.  I’ve been running the last week in my Vibram Five Fingers.  I’ve been wearing them for a couple of months.  Today I ran/walked 6.25 miles in them.  My feet felt really good during that 6.25 miles.  Now? Like this evening as I sit here and type?  My three small toes on my left foot have been in a constant state of cramping.  I’m blaming it on lack of bananas and the heat.  Did I mention that to get my long runs in for this training I’m going to *need* to get up at oh-effing-dark-thirty to do them.  Because the heat seriously made me feel like I was suffocating today.  My standard of effort has always been whether I can take a deep breath periodically while running.  Today? I could totally do that, but it didn’t feel like I was getting enough oxygen.  But I know I’m acclimating at least a bit to the heat.  I’ve noticed the last few runs I’ve done outside that I actually get the chills periodically.  You know, my body releasing heat to stay cool.  It’s kind of neat how the body adapts.  So I have many more runs coming up.  I’m excited to be officially training for the next race.  My mind hasn’t yet accepted the work involved, but I’m getting there.  I have 10 miles next Saturday on the schedule.  And that exhausts me thinking about it, but I’ll do it, and I’ll like it…after I’m done.

 

I’m still runnin’

Wow, I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I last posted here.  The rest of June was cray-zee!  We had our family reunion in Maine and I piggybacked that trip with a conference in Chicago and then trying to get back into normal life.  But, I will have you know, I’m still running.  I took the week off after San Diego as prescribed by Coach Joe.  And then I did some shorter runs.  I haven’t gone much over 6 miles since San Diego.  I’m itching to start training again for the Nike Women’s (half) Marathon in San Francisco in October.  I ran twice in Maine – and sweated bullets there with the humidity.  I also ran twice while in Chicago – again sweating bullets.  And I’m determined to run once a week outside in the dry heat of Nevada this summer.  I’m determined to be prepared for any heat coming my way.  Granted my next races are going to be fall and winter, but I was so disappointed in my performance in San Diego.  I don’t want to be in that position again.  So I’m running.  This week I ran 9 miles.  That was on top of a 10-mile hike on Monday with T and the girls.  Yes, the girls made 10 miles.  Well, the 4yo got a ride for about 3 miles back, but all things considering they did awesome.  Very proud of them.  I’m looking at a 5-miler tomorrow on the treadmill since T is gone for drill this weekend.  I also started incorporating tempo runs back into my schedule.  Tempo runs helped me so much in training for San Diego.  I did one on Friday and while it felt good, I know I could push myself harder and be okay even in the hot garage!  So that’s where I’m at.  Running has definitely become a new lifestyle for me.  I’ve been consistently running for almost 2 years now.  That’s a record for me.  I love training for a race.  It helps keep my motivation going.