Weekly Recap 2/21/11 - 2/28/11

Well, I got through last week and all of my school stuff went well. The weekend was a little hectic trying to catch up on all the chores i've been neglecting over the last month while working like a maniac. I'm hoping things will slow down a little bit and i'll have more time for myself in the next month or so. I got most of my workouts in last week. Thursday was supposed to be a 5 miler with some hills, but I was so exhausted by that point that I settled for a 3 mile easy run on the treadmill and called it a day.

Sunday - 6.2 miles

Saturday - 5 miles

Friday - off

Thursday - 3 miles

Wednesday - off

Tuesday - 4 miles with 3 x 3 min of speed

Monday - weights

Weekly Milage Total: 18.2 Miles

Worn Down

I'm feeling a little run down and worn out. This past month has been extremely busy on the school end of things. Writing a grant progress report, writing a change of project proposal for my grant, co-writing a review, and prepping for my next committee meeting. It's been busy, and stressful. I think it's almost over. The review is due this week and my committee meeting happens this week, so after that i'm hoping to go back to a somewhat normal schedule where I can actually get home at a decent hour and not stay up late writing or reading! I'm also looking forward to taking next weekend completely off (of work anyways... i'm sure i'll still be running). I really need some R&R. These last few weeks my weights routine has suffered, although I've still managed to get most of my runs in. I was pretty sore from the race last sunday, and overall just exhausted, so I skipped all forms of speed work this week. Here's hoping this week goes by as quickly and painlessly as possible!

Weekly Recap 2/14/11 - 2/20/11

Sunday - 8 miles

Saturday - 5 miles

Friday - off

Thursday - 4 miles

Wednesday - off

Tuesday - 4 miles

Monday - off

Weekly Milage Total: 21 miles

Run With your Heart Trail Challenge-Race Report

Let the 2011 racing season begin!

Let me start off by saying this race was very different than any race i've ever done and it was fun! I've done my fair share of winter trail running while growing up and, if you can believe it, even raced on my high school SNOW SHOE TEAM (yes this really exists). If I had to make a comparison, this race most closely resembled my snow shoe days (only without the snow shoes and with more slipping around). I've been toying with the idea of buying yak trax... but never got around to it. Too bad. They would have been helpful. It became clear to me early on that "fast" was not how I was going to be running. The day was beautiful, in the upper 30's (I think) and SUNNY!! The course was hilly and without traction I pretty much had to walk up and down the steepest parts. I managed to only wipe out once, and not to twist an ankle (I consider this a win!). What I did I think would better be described as riking (hiking/running) or jiking? (jogging/hiking), rather than actual running. Whatever it was, it was still a great day to get outside and great exercise. Man am I sore from all that sliding around! Towards the end I started to feel really down on myself for how God aweful slow I was going. My final time was 1:50:49.... for a 15K.... I can practically run a half marathon in that time! Well, after looking at the race results, I really don't feel that bad. The female winner ran 8:14/mile, there were a handful of people who ran 9ish min/miles and everyone else was 10+ min miles. After looking at that, my 11:54/mile doesn't seem SO bad.

Overall it was a great race, great support, great energy. I think there were more pictures taken than in the marathon! Hopefully there will be at least one good one.... I tried to smile.... it will probably come out looking like a grimace with my eyes closed (this is usually the case). I even managed to win a raffle prize: tickets to the Cleveland Film festival. Not to shabby. I think I'll do this race again. First I think i'll purchase some yak trax.

Training Recaps

2/7/11 - 2/13/11

Sunday - 9.3 miles (Run with your heart Trail Challenge)

Saturday- 4.0 miles

Friday - rest

Thursday - 4.0 miles

Wednesday - rest

Tuesday - 6 miles total. 4X800, 4X400 with 400 recoveries.

Monday - Full Body Weights

Weekly Milage Total: 23.3 miles

1/31/11-2/6/11

Sunday - 6.1 miles

Saturday - 4.0 miles

Friday - rest

Thursday - 4.0 mile progression run

Wednesday - Cardio weights class at the gym

Tuesday- 6 miles total. 4X800, 4X400 with 400 recoveries for speedwork.

Monday - Full Body Weights

Weekly Milage Total: 20.1 miles.

Feeling Undertrained

So, here's the thing...

I still have no motivation to follow a strict training schedule. I'm signed up for a 15K on February 13th. I haven't *really* trained for it. I did an 8.5 mile long run a few weeks ago and 8 this past weekend... so I definitely think i'll be able to finish it, i'm just not expecting a stellar performance. Now is about the time I should start training for the Cleveland 1/2 marathon too. I filled in the plan I used last year into my calendar... this should be week 2. The first few weeks of the plan consist of a few 4 mile and a few 6 mile runs each week, which is pretty much what i've been doing, so for now (and maybe for the whole time) i'm going to loosely follow the training plan and try to get as many of the prescribed long runs in as possible.

Weekly Recap 1/24/11-1/30/11

Sunday - 8.0 Miles. It was a good long run. I managed to keep my pace up despite snow packed roads.

Saturday - 4.0 miles. Icky weather...it was not a fun run.

Friday - rest

Thursday - I had planned 5 miles with some hills and speedwork, but forgot my ipod and could only manage 3 on the dreadmill before I gave up.

Wednesday - Tried a new Cardio/Weights class at the gym. It gets a thumbs up. I'm going to try to make it to that again!

Tuesday - 4.0 miles

Monday - Body Pump

Weekly Milage Total: 19 Miles

Running, even on a treadmill, is NOT "a waste of time"!

I don't know what the deal is, but it seems like this statement is everywhere these days... trainers at the gym, other health and fitness blogs, tv, internet all saying "stop wasting your time on the treadmill". Now, I kind of get what they are saying... in terms of weight loss (which, hey, it's January, so what other possible goal could anyone in a gym possibly have?) jogging along at a moderate pace at a 0% incline is not probably going to make you loose massive amounts of weight. Of course strength training and interval training are helpful to weightloss and overall fitness, but this hardly means that treadmill use is a waste of time. I, as a runner, refuse to believe that running (even on the treadmill) is a waste of time! And I really really wish people would stop saying that it is! Even treadmill running can be quite challenging, if done correctly.

I myself did a very challenging hill workout (which i'm hoping will help to prepare me for my upcoming trail race) on the treadmill last week. I stole the idea for the workout from: http://instephsshoes.blogspot.com. Personally, I did not feel it was a waste of time AT ALL. In fact, IT KICKED MY ASS! I should really do hill workouts (outdoors and on the treadmill) more often.

Here's the recap:

Sunday - 7 very chilly miles (8 degrees outside, 2 pairs of pants and 3 shirts.... I'll still take it over hot and humid!)

Saturday - 5.5 Chilly miles (below 10 degrees - but the sun was out!)

Friday - 4 miles easy (on the treadmill BTW)

Thursday - rest

Wednesday - Cardio intervals (on random cardio equipment at the gym) interspersed with mainly upper body weights.

Tuesday - 5.1 miles total with Treadmill Hill repeats as follows: 1%, 2%, 1%, 4%, 1%, 6%, 1%, 8%, 1%, 10% for one minute each. Repeat twice.

Monday - Full Body Weights

Weekly Milage Total: 21.6 Miles

A good running week.

This past week was a good running week. I managed to meet my 20 mile/week "off season" goal and work in two strength training sessions. I'm getting better at picking outdoor snow routes that allow me to run in the street (since no one shovels the sidewalk here). Today's run was great! It was 17 degrees, "feels like" 6 degrees temperature wise, so it was chilly, but the sun was out, which made it feel much nicer. At one point a guy ran past me and turned to me and said, "you know, most people think we are crazy for being out here doing this today, but I like it". It is so true, runners are a little nuts, but in a good way :-)

Here's the Weekly recap:

1/10/11-1/16/11

Sunday - 7.03 Miles

Saturday - 4.20 Miles

Friday - off

Thursday - 4.1 Mile tempo run on the treadmill

Wednesday - Weights with a focus on upper body.

Tuesday - My favorite speed workout: 1600 (400 recovery), 2X800 (400 recovery), 2X400 (200 recovery), 4X200 (200 recovery). With warmup and cooldown 5.11 Miles total.

Monday - Full Body weights

Weekly Milage Total: 20.44 Miles