Marathon Musings

Head games are strong with this one.

I think I finally figured out why I was so panicky the week before SLO.   Other then the leg issue, that was real.  I know my last few years races have been rough but it seemed like I was stressing more than I should for a race that I wasn’t planning to try for a PR at.  A course I had run twice before so I knew what I was in for.   I don’t think my panic had anything to do with SLO, it was about this week.    This is the week where marathon training got serious.  #shitgotreal

What I haven’t mentioned is that I chucked my training plan out the window.   I spent weeks mashing my McMillan plan with a Higdon Novice 2 plan.  I gave myself an Excel headache over it.  😝   The more I looked at it, the more I didn’t think it was enough.  I also realized how poorly I had followed McMillan last year.  The only thing I remember really doing was hill repeats, all of the speed work outs looked completely foreign to me.   Apparently, denial also runs strong in this one.  Oops.

So I started over.  I did the research, a lot, and I found an 18 week plan that I liked.  It seemed intense for a Slacker like me but it also seemed doable.   Doable if I put in the work that is.  That is always the question.   In fact I don’t even want to say how I’m training as I know it’s the crazy train for a Slacker.  Even after a modification, it’s a little scary on paper.   Let’s see if I can get through the next month without flaming out.


The first 5 weeks were easy- as I was already running more than the mileage scheduled, I was supposed to wait until the plan caught up to me.  It caught up.    Ahhh, crap.     Thursday’s run in particular was freaking me out.  A 5 mile tempo not counting warm up or cool down?  After work?!  Tempo’s scare the hell out of me.    Which is why I wanted them in my training plan.

SLO kicked my ass and I couldn’t even really explain why.   What was I thinking signing up for a marathon?  My confidence took a beating and my past history with tempos wasn’t helping.  I can’t remember the last time I ran without taking a walk break.  I was thinking of numerous ways to rationalize bailing on the whole thing or cutting it short.   But I’d already made one adjustment this week since SLO hurt a little more than I had planned so I told myself to get over it and just run.


Spoiler:  I kicked that tempo’s ass.  Probably a little too much as it was 30 seconds fast; I was aiming for 10:18.   Considering I didn’t even think I could maintain a 10:30 pace for 5 miles, I’ll take it!  Plus, for me, that is remarkably consistent pace.

I needed that, I really did.   Even if the rest of the month knocks me down- and I know it will- this one run will keep going through the misery.  😝

Now, hopefully my legs will like me in the morning.

What run scares you? 

What do you hate running?  Love running?

 

 

 

2016 SLO Half Marathon Recap

Sometimes it’s just not your day.  And that’s not always a bad thing.

Race day came early but I felt like I had slept ok.  Much better than last year at least, my Up band tells me I got around 5 hours of sleep.   Could have been worse.  I had no idea what I was going to wear until I put it on.  It was not one of the outfits I had tried on the day before.    😝

My mom was my driver once again (thanks mom!) so we headed out around 5:45.   She was able to drop me off at the same place as previous years, so I only had a short walk to the start line.   I ran into Heather along the way.   Perfect timing!  We headed straight to the porta potties.  Lines for days!  Seriously, for the second year in a row I started way behind all the pacers.  The race started right on time at 6:45.  I had no clue what I was going to run- I would have thrown a party for a sub 2:10 but also been happy with a 2:10-2:15.  While April was a very strong training month, I was tired.  Perhaps more than I thought.

Miles 1-3: 10:08, 10:07, 10:49

Not too bad.  Miles 1 and 2 were about what I was expecting  Mile 1 is downhill and 2 is uphill so keeping at that pace was where I wanted to be.  Heather and I were running together and it was cool getting to race together.  Mile 3 is where one of the longest climbs starts.   Last year I motored up it with no problems.  This year, it was kicking my ass.  It should not have felt that hard.

Miles 4-6: 11:06, 9:47, 10:48

And my first walking break.  I was already tired, I couldn’t seem to get into gear.  Strange thing- my toes went numb on both feet around mile 4.  Umm, what?   It leveled off a bit and we picked up the pace.  I don’t remember that mile feeling any different but it clocked in at the fastest.   We made it past where I fell last year and kept running.   Mile 6 was where we started uphill again.  This is not a course for the faint of heart.


Miles 7-9:  11:44, 10:47, 10:29

Hello, walking again.  This time longer.   I am so thankful for Heather sticking with me, I was realizing that this was not going to be my best showing.   We passed through the Cliff shot zone and I grabbed a citrus shot in hopes that it would help.  The turn around comes a little past the 7 mile mark, then we get some downhill to enjoy.    There was more walking in those miles as well.  Heather knows everyone, so we made some friends along the course.  😊


Miles 10-12: 11:19, 10:45, 11:19

With only 4 miles to go and it being mostly flat to downhill, I was optimistic that I could pick up the pace.  I say I because I was the one slowing us down.  I was dragging, couldn’t find another gear to get into and had to use my inhaler a few times.  It had turned out to be a very warm morning and was a little more humid than I would have liked but those things shouldn’t have effected me that much.   Mile 12 has a bridge that we have to switchback up then down and it kicks my butt every year.  This mile also had the last aid station.  It was manned by volunteers from one my work locations- and my boss’s boss- so I tried to at least smile at them when we past.  It may have looked more like a grimace.  😝


Mile 13:  10:43 -13.1 (8:31 pace to finish)-

Seriously, I was in a dark tunnel of misery here.  Not really sure why.  My calves were achy but nothing major, I was just beat and really needed to see that finish line.   Once again, Heather was awesome- I probably would have walked so much more without her keeping me going.  There is a tiny climb right at mile 13 that feels like a mountain and then it is all downhill to the finish.  That road seemed so long!!!   I spotted my mother along the side and tried to smile but again I think it was more of a grimace.  I dodged some people and crossed the finish line.


Finish- 2:21:55

We got our medals and headed for the water.  The expo area was kind of a hot mess when it came to recovery.   Water was the only thing that was easy to locate.   It took some effort to find the food and then more to find my mom.  Once I did, we took some pics before heading out.  I may have stuck around a little longer but that gel hadn’t settled well with my stomach so I was ready to get going.


Not the race I was hoping for but you can’t always get what you want.  However, the day was still good.  I got to run a course I love- hills and all- and it has pretty great spectators.   I got to run with a great friend and there is nothing bad about that.  🙂


 

 

Training Week 18 Recap/ April Wrap up

Upcoming Race– SLO Marathon 13.1

Focus– Keep calm and don’t freak out about the weird leg pain 😝😓

By Monday morning, my left leg was feeling better so I was hopeful that was the end of my weird leg pain.  I was optimistic about returning to running as usual.  However if you read my Prepping for SLO post, you know I was suffering what must have been the taper crazies.  Except as I write this, I realize that I didn’t taper.  My mileage stayed the same.  Oops.


Monday- 4 miles  I headed out after work for what I hoped would a nice, easy run testing my new shoes for the first time, Skechers GoRun Ride.   I kept it pretty easy and my legs felt ok.   My shins were a little achy but overall it was a good run.  The shoes felt pretty good but I wasn’t going to push it.  4 mile test run and then I put the shoes away for the rest of the week.


Tuesday- 5 miles  More easy paced miles.  I had only planned on running 3-4 miles but I felt pretty good so I kept going.    I ran a slightly different route than usual and it ended with a pretty sweet downhill.  I’ve noticed that it takes me a good 2-3 miles to warm up now so most of my runs feel better at the end.    I actually negative split this run.    I also got to run past the creepiest ice cream truck ever.  First of all, I didn’t even know they still existed. Also you could see where they had painted over the old logo on the truck.  Apparently, in its former life it was an electrician’s truck.  Ummm, no thank you.

Wednesday- Rest  Pizza night and it was pretty yummy.

Thursday- 3 miles   My leg felt fine all week and that lasted until around 4 PM Thursday.   I was standing at my boss’s desk talking to her and I felt the same muscle/ tendon/whatever shift again.   Seriously?!   Cue a dull ache and some limping.  Grrr.

I caved and headed to the lake.  With my leg being off, I figured flat and easy access to my car would be a good thing.  I ran headphone free and with my pepper spray and paid extra attention.   Which was also a good thing as there were some new additions to the path-


Friday- Rest  Stupid leg.   I wore heals today as my legs usually feel better in them than flats.   I also sat a lot.

Saturday- SLO Expo day!! I wasn’t running but I knew the expo would be a bit of walking, so I made sure to wear actual running shoes instead of flip flops.  My leg/hip felt a little better but again I was planning on moving as little as possible.   The expo was laid out different than previous years and seemed smaller.   But let’s talk about the really important part.  SLO Ambassador meetup!!

📸: Ashley

It was great getting to catch up with everyone I met last year as well as meeting the new ambassadors.  Our jackets are super nice if a little big.    😏  I’ve been feeling super fluffy lately and not liking pictures of myself but I had to share this one.  Check out that photobomb!


Sunday -SLO Marathon 13.1   I didn’t fall!!!  Other than that, the details will be in the recap on Wednesday.  🙂


Overall, it was a varied week.  Running was ok but my weird leg thing kept lingering.   Thursday ached the most and Friday was uncomfortable.    Apparently I forgot how to do math since 25 miles is on the higher end for me.  Oops.  Speaking of mileage, let’s talk about April–


Hot damn,  I think that’s my second highest mileage month ever.  Maybe third.  Wait, no, I just checked- this April was my highest mileage month ever.    I really thought I had had a higher one.   Guess there all no limits to the denial I was living in.   Higher mileage aside, April was a stressful, emotional month.  All of that meant poor sleep; combine that with all the running and I am so tired.    I relied on a little too much coffee and soda to keep me going.    Going into May, my mileage should keep increasing but I am hoping for some better sleep and less reliance on caffeine, fingers crossed.

Bring it May.

How was your week?

Anyone race this weekend?

 

 

Prepping for SLO

I’ve never been one to believe in the “taper crazies”.  Hell, I love taper.  An excuse to run less and eat more?  Sign me up! 😝  Yes, I know that’s not how it works but let a Slacker lie to herself ok?

I wasn’t really planning on tapering for SLO.   I did one speed workout this training cycle.  One.  Once I realized how few long runs I had actually done over the years, my focus turned to getting in the distance and time on my feet.   While I have done much better since that little epiphany, it still could have been better.

My plan for SLO was to treat it more like an epic long run.  Enjoy the race, enjoy my pace, take in the view, smile at the awesome crowds and maybe, just maybe take a decent race picture for once.     And now?

I had my weird hip/ IT thing on Friday’s long run.  That led to limping on Saturday and resting all weekend.   This week’s runs have been so-so.  Tuesday’s was actually pretty good.  But outside of that- my shins ache at random moments.  My calves feel tight.  Today it hurt my big toe to drive, seriously?!   There’s a tickle in my throat that feels like it wants to turn into something more.   Bring on the Airborne!!  I haven’t slept well in about a month.


Grrr.  I love this race, I do not want to stress about it.  As of right now, I honestly have no idea what my finishing time might be.  I feel unprepared for the hills.  My fault, I should have sought out more hills.    The hill I use for hill repeats has been a construction zone for the last few months.  No excuses. I should have found another one.   After last year I feel like I have unfinished business with this race.


Maybe that is influencing how I am feeling this week?  I have no idea.   So now, I need to calm down.  I need to make sure I am sleeping better (or trying to), I need to ensure I m still keeping my carb count low to moderate and I need to not stress.  I have been looking forward to this weekend for months.   There are so many people that I am looking forward to seeing again.   I enjoy looking around the expo, and really this is my favorite finish line.

More cowbell!!

Actually, I think venting about it for a few hundred words helped.   Bring it on SLO, let’s do this.  Now if only I could figure out what I am wearing.  😝

Do you believe in taper crazies?

Any tips?