Despite my running burnout, I'm trucking along.
Last week, I did my last long run before the Disneyland 1/2 - a 2 hour/10 mile affair that involved blocks of 30 mins. of running interspersed with 10 minute walks. It went ok! Not exactly feeling like I could take on the world at the end, but I know I can at least finish the race.
I just have no idea about whether or not I'll manage my time goal. I am in better shape than I was when I did the Princess in March. Even then, I managed to shave 4 minutes off my previous time. Now my endurance is better, I'm stronger, I've trained much more. Theoretically, I should be able to carve down another 4-5 minutes, but there's a big difference between theory and execution.
It's hard to believe that it's all so close. Here's hoping I'm prepared!
Also, in roughly 100 hours, I will be eating my first Monte Cristo of the weekend.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
I Kinda Hit the Wall
I have running/training burnout.
I haven't really run in almost two weeks. I've been doing plenty of other high-intensity training, so I don't feel like I'm losing my place, fitness-wise, but I just HAVE NOT felt like running. At all.
This is not entirely surprising since I had reached a point where I was running a lot more than ever before. Too much of a good thing, you know? I hope I have not jeopardized my performance in the upcoming 1/2 marathons by taking a break. I know I need the rest, and really, that's more important than making the finish time I have in my head as a goal. We'll see what happens!
I haven't really run in almost two weeks. I've been doing plenty of other high-intensity training, so I don't feel like I'm losing my place, fitness-wise, but I just HAVE NOT felt like running. At all.
This is not entirely surprising since I had reached a point where I was running a lot more than ever before. Too much of a good thing, you know? I hope I have not jeopardized my performance in the upcoming 1/2 marathons by taking a break. I know I need the rest, and really, that's more important than making the finish time I have in my head as a goal. We'll see what happens!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Ambitious Fractions
Tuesday night, I ran for 52 minutes. A personal record for a continuous run.
Yesterday afternoon, some weird part of my brain decided I should try for a full hour, even though I'm not scheduled to do so for several weeks. I figure I do workout videos longer than 60 minutes, so why not?
So I started my run at 7:30, thinking "This makes timing easy. I'll just switch directions at 8, and aim for 8:30. If at 8:25 I feel wiped out, I'll just call it a night and be happy."
I remember at the 20 minute mark thinking I was 1/3 of the way there and that I felt ok. Then it was 1/2. Then 5/8. (Yes, I really do count out things in fractions, and not just running. Road trips, to do lists, you name it. If I can quantify some progress, I feel better.)
Once I had switched my direction, it was just ticking down the minutes to the end and seemed to whiz by.
I found myself thinking in disbelief "I'm totally going to make it!"
And I did.
Yesterday afternoon, some weird part of my brain decided I should try for a full hour, even though I'm not scheduled to do so for several weeks. I figure I do workout videos longer than 60 minutes, so why not?
So I started my run at 7:30, thinking "This makes timing easy. I'll just switch directions at 8, and aim for 8:30. If at 8:25 I feel wiped out, I'll just call it a night and be happy."
I remember at the 20 minute mark thinking I was 1/3 of the way there and that I felt ok. Then it was 1/2. Then 5/8. (Yes, I really do count out things in fractions, and not just running. Road trips, to do lists, you name it. If I can quantify some progress, I feel better.)
Once I had switched my direction, it was just ticking down the minutes to the end and seemed to whiz by.
I found myself thinking in disbelief "I'm totally going to make it!"
And I did.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
9 Mile Weekend
I was scheduled to do 8 miles this weekend.
I set out early Saturday morning planning to do 8 miles. But that didn't happen.
Around mile 5, I was worn the hell out. I was thinking 3 more in the Atlanta heat (even though it wasn't even 10am yet) was just going to be misery. Then, a distant bell rang in my head - I just recently read an article about the benefits of splitting up longer training runs when prepping for marathons. Ok, I'm only prepping for a 1/2, and I didn't read the article carefully, but as I was already registered for a 5k Sunday morning, I figured I could call it a day at 6 miles on Saturday and not feel too guilty.
So that's what I did!
Cut to Sunday AM.
Brian came down to Centennial Park with me for the race since all of our friends had conflicts. (Some of them just had warm, cozy, comforter-covered conflicts, but who can begrudge someone a sleep-in morning?) I got my number and waited for the start, enjoying the sights and sounds of a bunch of veterinarian conference attendees up way too early on a Sunday.
When the gun went off, I started running, but within two minutes, my body was flipping me the bird. It's not unheard of for me to feel sluggish at the beginning of the run and then get past it about five minutes in, but my legs just kept getting heavier and heavier. My body was all "Fuck YOU. I did SIX miles of intervals yesterday! I hate you! Bitch."
I managed to run a respectable amount of the race (probably 2/3) alternating with walking intervals, so I feel no guilt. Of course, when I got to the finish and they were all out of shirts in my size, I was a little dejected. There's allegedly a shirt coming in the mail, so we'll see what happens with that.
Despite the semi-crummy happenings of the morning, I'm still glad I did it. 1. It benefited shelter animals. 2. It's one more time that I trained my diligence and discipline muscles a little. I'll take it!
I set out early Saturday morning planning to do 8 miles. But that didn't happen.
Around mile 5, I was worn the hell out. I was thinking 3 more in the Atlanta heat (even though it wasn't even 10am yet) was just going to be misery. Then, a distant bell rang in my head - I just recently read an article about the benefits of splitting up longer training runs when prepping for marathons. Ok, I'm only prepping for a 1/2, and I didn't read the article carefully, but as I was already registered for a 5k Sunday morning, I figured I could call it a day at 6 miles on Saturday and not feel too guilty.
So that's what I did!
Cut to Sunday AM.
Brian came down to Centennial Park with me for the race since all of our friends had conflicts. (Some of them just had warm, cozy, comforter-covered conflicts, but who can begrudge someone a sleep-in morning?) I got my number and waited for the start, enjoying the sights and sounds of a bunch of veterinarian conference attendees up way too early on a Sunday.
When the gun went off, I started running, but within two minutes, my body was flipping me the bird. It's not unheard of for me to feel sluggish at the beginning of the run and then get past it about five minutes in, but my legs just kept getting heavier and heavier. My body was all "Fuck YOU. I did SIX miles of intervals yesterday! I hate you! Bitch."
I managed to run a respectable amount of the race (probably 2/3) alternating with walking intervals, so I feel no guilt. Of course, when I got to the finish and they were all out of shirts in my size, I was a little dejected. There's allegedly a shirt coming in the mail, so we'll see what happens with that.
Despite the semi-crummy happenings of the morning, I'm still glad I did it. 1. It benefited shelter animals. 2. It's one more time that I trained my diligence and discipline muscles a little. I'll take it!
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