Tag: Training

Platte River Training: Week 11

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I must say that I can’t complain with this week of training. Week 10 ended with a tough long run, so I took this week as recovery and a way to regroup before I hit the 12 and 13 mile marks the next couple of weeks. I kept the mileage this week relatively low, and ran every other day. My legs were a little tight in the beginning of the week, but I think with the way I planned things, I was able to really benefit towards the end of the week.  Each run felt great, even my 4 miles on the treadmill. One of the best moments, was the run I did on Tuesday. Apparently I had my fast pants on because I saw a sub 8 number on my Garmin, haven’t seen that in a while!

Hello speedy!

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: 2.5 Miles

Wednesday: Rest

Thursday: 4 Miles

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 5 Miles-St. Malachi Race

Sunday: Rest

The week ended with St. Malachi, race recap to come tomorrow. This week I’ve got a 12 miler on the schedule for Sunday and need to decide on the Cleveland 10 Miler before race fees go up. But even more excited, only one month until Colorado!

Platte River Training: Week 10

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Running is such a mental sport, and this week my mind was put to the test. I was lucky enough to get three runs in outside, something I’ve been craving now that its not completely dark outside when I get home from work. I used to semi enjoy the treadmill and could manage running on it every night, but I’ve mentally checked out of it. I can barely run 3 miles without getting bored, I feel like I’m not even moving.

Regardless of my endless fight with the treadmill, when my legs hit the pavement I’m running at a pace that creeps towards 9 minute mile pace. This is such  an amazing feeling. I’ve been stuck in my pace of 10 minute miles forever. Now I know my training is really paying off. I especially noticed this on Tuesday when I somehow found myself at 8:45 pace! I forgot I could even run this quick, and it gave me a glimmer of hope that one day I may find my old college friend, 7:30 pace.

For the most part, this week went well. I was under 10 minute pace for two full runs and half of my long run. I didn’t have any pain in my arch until Sunday, and I didn’t need to use tape. Thursday was my treadmill downer day, but I’m determined to get through the rest of the few treadmill runs I’ll have to do. Sunday was my biggest challenge. I knew I had to do 11, and after last week’s long run, I wanted to make this one better. The first half was great, I had a 9:10 pace (probably too fast for the distance) and the snow wasn’t too bad. About half way in, I started feeling dehydrated and thirsty, Gu helped, but I was pretty sure I was going to get sick a few times. I kept telling myself that this is probably what Colorado will feel like, but worse. If I can mentally push through these few rough workouts I can definitely enjoy those easy long runs….someday.

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: 3.86 Miles

Wednesday: Rest

Thursday: 2 Miles

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 3.56 Miles

Sunday: 10.84 Miles

This week is race week! Saturday is St.Malachi, my first race of the year. I’m a little nervous, because I haven’t raced a 5 miler in years, and I’ve heard it’s a tough course. Hope it’s fun!

And don’t forget I’m running for Team JDRF  for the Cleveland half marathon this year. My race is dedicated to those who are affected by Type 1 Diabetes.

Platte River Training: Week 9

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Week nine and I’m back! This week went so well, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s now down to the final seven weeks. How is race day coming so quickly? My two biggest goals this week were to run without pain, and to create a workout room in my apartment. I started the week with smaller mileage so not to stir up any problems, I also made sure to tape my arch for extra support.

“Don’t worry, I got this.”

The tape worked pretty well. I had a little pain throughout the week, mostly after a long day on my feet, but it didn’t bother my running. I felt confident enough that I’m better (knock on wood) to finally register for St. Malachi. This means there are only two weeks until the first race of 2012!

Monday: 3 Miles

Tuesday: 3 Miles

Wednesday: 4 Miles

Thursday: Rest Day

Friday: Sick 😦

Saturday: 3 Miles

Sunday: 11 Miles (Morning: 8, Afternoon: 3)

A pretty low key week until Sunday. I ran with my childhood neighbor, who was nice enough to go at a slower pace for me. However, he’s been in California for a year and a half, so what better time to catch up than while running….I struggled with this run at some points. I’ve been training alone so I’m not used to going back and forth on paces. I’m also not used to talking and running. Needless to say I had to cut it short to just 8 miles. I was determined to hit 11, so I did the last three later in the afternoon, at a 9:10 pace. Where was this pace earlier? And where did it come from? Training is paying off, it just decides when to show up.

So I survived a week with minimal pain, one goal accomplished. Second goal, I transferred part of my living room into a workout room.

Before 

After

Not much, but it’s a start. And unfortunately no treadmill. But I can be a little more productive in my own living room, instead of the gym with everyone around. Plus, I have the perfect spot for my new bag that I won from Jess and Ellie!

Platte River Training: Week 8

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Officially half way through training for Colorado, and unfortunately this week has been the worst week of training. I took a week off to let my arch recover. My schedule actually worked out that I was pretty busy after work, so I wouldn’t feel like a complete waste by not running all week. Thursday was the only day I got some miles in. I attempted the treadmill and ran two miles, I felt pretty good, but didn’t want to push it.

The pain has gotten a lot better and only happens once in a while, but it’s still almost every day. I’m hoping that with limited pain, this week will allow me to get back to a semi normal schedule of training. I just have to be patient and be thankful this is happening now, instead of the week before the race.

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: Rest

Wednesday: Rest

Thursday:  2 Miles

Friday: Rest

Saturday: Rest

Sunday: Rest

Here’s to a new week of hopefully no pain and many miles!

Platte River Training: Week 7

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I can’t believe it’s already week seven, I feel like I just started training and here it is flying by. I started the week with lower mileage because I was pretty tight from Sunday’s 10 miler. I had a massage on Wednesday at Revalations that I found for half off from Groupon. I was pumped to have a whole hour of relaxation, but even though it felt wonderful, I did leave a little disappointed. A majority of the time was focused on my back, and barely on my legs. Even more disappointing, my quads and hamstrings weren’t even touched and they needed the most attention. Major bummer 😦

Friday was the turning point of the week when I woke up with pain in my left arch. I had a few bad days within the past year with arch pain, but this was beyond normal, so I knew I was in trouble. I decided to take off for the rest of the week and let my foot recover. There are still two months until Colorado, so I’m not extremely nervous yet, but I don’t want to be in anymore pain than I already am.

Monday: 3 Miles

Tuesday: Rest Day

Wednesday: Massage

Thursday: 3 Miles

Friday: Rest Day

Saturday: Rest Day

Sunday: Rest Day

I’m a little bummed out this week, 6 miles is definitely on the low end of where I wanted to be.

Regardless I have to focus on the big picture, which is why I was so excited to see this come on Friday!

I may have two months until the first half, but I have eight months until the real test. Every moment of training is crucial, and sometimes you have to be patient.

Platte River Training: Week 6

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I am so pleased with how this week of training went. It was the only  time during traveling that I was able to get all my workouts in. Even better, my legs felt great the entire time. A majority of my week was spent in Dallas, humidity and warmth included, but it was a nice change from the Cleveland “winter.” Unfortunately I didn’t get to run outside. The location of our hotel didn’t allow for a safe route in the heart of downtown. But, the workout room made up for it with a beautiful view of the pool and the skyline of the city.

Downtown Dallas

Monday: Rest Day

Tuesday: 5 Miles

Wednesday: 3 Miles

Thursday: Rest Day

Friday: 4 Miles

Saturday: Rest Day

Sunday: 10 Miles

This week’s biggest accomplishment? That 10 miler up there. I somehow pulled off PR pace and ran it in 1:33, which would give me a 2:04 half! Despite some ups and downs in the past few weeks, I’m doing better than last year 🙂 Bring on Colorado!

Platte River Training: Week 5

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Frustration. This is the word I would use to describe my running as of late. Traveling every week has really taken a hit on my body. My biggest concern is that my arch starts to hurt after a few miles on the treadmill, but I’m being smart this time and stopping once I feel any pain. I’m not too nervous yet, I know that my body isn’t used to this. Fingers crossed that once traveling is done, my body will get back to normal.

Monday: 3 Miles

Tuesday: Rest Day

Wednesday: 2 Miles (Stopped short)

Thursday: 0

Friday: Rest Day

Saturday:  3 Miles

Sunday:  Rest Day

I really struggled with getting anywhere close to the miles I was supposed to run this week. I found this shirt, and decided from here on out, I’m going to have positive training.

No Excuses.

Well, it must have worked. Saturday morning I woke up to snow and decided to “brave the run.” I ran my fastest training run yet. There was something peaceful about running snow covered streets in the countryside of Wooster. I had negative splits, and I may have even had a smile on my face. Here on out there will be good training runs. Goodbye negative attitude.

Platte River Training: Week 2

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This week of training was interesting to say the least. I knew going in it would be challenging getting all of my miles in, unfortunately I didn’t get in as many as I had hoped, but my body did get a workout. This past week I spent a majority of my days in Vegas. I was on my feet from 8am-9pm, so by no means was I lazy.

Monday: 1.5 miles and lifting

Tuesday: Rest day

Wednesday: 5.5 miles-bike

Thursday: None

Friday: Rest day

Saturday: 4.5 miles

Sunday: Rest day

Luckily the day I flew in and back home were rest days, so I didn’t miss much there. Wednesday and Thursday were the busiest days, and for my own safety I decided not to run on the strip when it was dark. I was able to get a bike workout in one of the mornings, which felt good, I’ll be looking forward to more of these. I’d say it is safe to say I walked at least 10 miles a day, between walking from the hotel, to the conference center, to walking around our booth from 10am-5:30pm each day. I had to cut down my Saturday run because my body was still sore from being on my feet all week. But I was able to catch a nice view on my run.

Beautiful CLE

I’m really glad this hectic week was so early in training, I didn’t have too much to lose. This next week I’ll be home so I’m planning on really pounding the pavement. I also registered for three of my half marathons this week, Earth Day Challenge Half, Cleveland Half, and Mount Desert Island Half!

Back on the horse

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It’s been almost two months since running Columbus, and I finally took the first steps in getting ready for training. I had originally hoped to get started sooner, but between being afraid of still being hurt and grad school taking over my life, it kept getting pushed back. But now that I’ll have free nights I’ll finally be able to put in the miles, and hopefully get a few miles in before official training starts. I’m using my Runner’s World Smart Coach app to plan my training schedule over a 16 week time frame. I’ve used this app before, and I love it. I’ll also be tracking my training through Running2win. I also want to work on my muscles ( as in creating some)

Starting December 26th, I’ll begin my training plan for the Platter River Half. This is the first half of the year, as well as the first out of state half. No pressure, of course. Here goes nothing!

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Week 1 4 Miles Easy Rest 5 Miles Tempo-3M@10:02 4 Miles Easy Rest 8 Miles Long Rest
Week 2 5 Miles Easy Rest 5 Miles Speed-2×1600@9:29 4 Miles Easy Rest 8 Miles Long Rest
Week 3 5 Miles Easy Rest 5 Miles Tempo-3M@10:02 4 Miles Easy Rest 9 Miles Long Rest
Week 4 5 Miles Easy Rest 5 Miles Easy 4 Miles Easy Rest 4 Miles Easy Rest
Week 5 5 Miles Easy Rest 6 Miles Tempo-4M@10:02 4 Miles Easy Rest 9 Miles Long Rest
Week 6 4 Miles Easy Rest 7 Miles Speed-3×1600@9:23 4 Miles Easy Rest 10 Miles Long Rest
Week 7 4 Miles Easy 3 Miles Easy 6 Miles Tempo-4M@10:02 3 Miles Easy Rest 10 Miles Long Rest
Week 8 5 Miles Easy Rest 5 Miles Easy 5 Miles Easy Rest 5 Miles Easy Rest
Week 9 3 Miles Easy 3 Miles Easy 7 Miles Tempo-5M@10:01 3 Miles Easy Rest 11 Miles Long Rest
Week 10 3 Miles Easy 3 Miles Easy 8 Miles Speed-4×1600@9:17 3 Miles Easy Rest 11 Miles Long Rest
Week 11 4 Miles Easy 3 Miles Easy 7 Miles Tempo-5M@10:01 3 Miles Easy Rest 12 Miles Long Rest
Week 12 6 Miles Easy Rest 6 Miles Easy 5 Miles Easy Rest 5 Miles Easy Rest
Week 13 4 Miles Easy 3 Miles Easy 8 Miles Tempo-6M@10:01 3 Miles Easy Rest 12 Miles Long Rest
Week 14 3 Miles Easy 3 Miles Easy 10 Miles Speed-5×1600@9:12 2 Miles Easy Rest 12 Miles Long Rest
Week 15 4 Miles Easy 4 Miles Easy 8 Miles Tempo-6M@10:01 3 Miles Easy Rest 13 Miles Long Rest
Week 16 Rest 3 Miles Easy 3 Miles Easy Rest 2 Miles Easy 2 Miles Easy 13.1

Call me Crazy…

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Friends, family and coworkers have called me crazy for running a half marathon. They ask what’s chasing you to make you run that far. Why would you want to run any distance remotely close to that. I must be crazy, but aren’t all runners?

Thinking back to May, a few days before my first half, I was a nervous wreck. I had nightmares and would panic every time I thought of running 13.1 miles at one time. But here I am, two days away from my second half marathon, the River Run Half Marathon, and I’m in a completely different mind frame. I know what to expect and I know how I’m going to feel. But I also know how great it will be to cross that finish line and say I ran 13.1 miles. Again.

I’m not in as good as shape as I’d like to be. The whole Mastick knee incident put a small hiccup in my training, but I’m not going to let that get me down on Sunday. I haven’t decided on a time either. I don’t have enough half marathons under my belt to really tell what a good time is going to be for me to aim towards. However, I’m really excited for the race. It’s through the Cleveland Metro Parks, which I love. And it’s on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, so I can guarantee it’s going to be a very special race. I’ll be wearing my red and white shorts along with my blue shirt to show my support.

So if you happen to be wide awake Sunday from 8-10am and have nothing else to do, come on down to the metro parks and support your favorite runner 😉