Tag: rest day

Training Win?

You know summer has arrived and it’s hot outside when you are the only person outside. I don’t just mean outside running, last week on a few of my runs I was the only person outside period. No one in their front yards, no one in backyards and no kids playing. And with the town/ state on water restriction, no lovely sprinklers to cool off with. I know hotter temps are coming so I figure I may as well get used to it. I love the heat but I am not adjusting as well this year. Maybe I’m getting older? 😬. Or three years working in a town that averages 30-40 degrees cooler a day is just confusing my system. Who knows, but I did complete my first week of training last week.

Monday–

Rest day. I wanted to run but the plan said rest. Still I packed my running stuff for after work. My stomach is usually a little iffy on Mondays (too many carbs on the weekend) and this day was no different. Since I needed to pick up a prescription after work and there was no way I could run then make it to the pharmacy, I decided to take the rest day. Halfway there it dawned on me that I could have changed at work, picked up the prescription then run in home town. Duh. I briefly considered changing in the Target bathroom but hell no, I’ve seen porta-a-potties cleaner than that place.

Tuesday-

This was supposed to be a 40 minute workout with pace intervals in the middle. The first kink in the plans was that Community BBQ nights started at the lake park where I like to do my speed work. Everywhere else is hilly or on busy streets. I avoid the park during the BBQ nights, no need to run around 100+ people having a party. I headed towards hometown knowing it was hot. It was 94 when I parked my car and that was with a pretty good wind. I reassessed the pace workout to an easy 40 min. I felt like I was crawling. I’ve noticed that it’s taking me longer to warm up during these hot runs. I usually walk for 5 minutes, the last few runs have been 10 minute walks. Shouldn’t it be the opposite? Ugh. 3.55 miles in 40 minutes.

Wednesday–

Yeah, short- hot panic fest. But we’ve talked about that already. 2.31 miles in 30 minutes.

Thursday-

I was supposed to have a meeting about a race so it was a planned rest day. The meeting was at the high school and my mother had tennis practice so we planned to meet for dinner after. However, the other party did not show up so after walking around the school wondering if I had the wrong meeting place, I waited for her in the front of the school in the shade. A nice janitor told me I shouldn’t have waited that long. 🙂 I told him I was now waiting for my mother and at least the shade was cooler than sitting in my car. But yes I was the one sitting out front like a sad puppy. Oh, high school- I don’t miss you. I mostly typed last Thursday’s blog post on my phone and took a cranky selfie. So it was moderately productive. Then I drowned my irritation in Mexican food. #sorryatkins

Friday-

I got to come in later than my new normal of 7:30 and I briefly considered running with that extra hour of sleep but nah, I hit snooze. Work was a usual crazy Friday and once off I headed home. I was tired, it had been a long week but for some reason that “motivational” quote popped into my head.

I made it home by 7, changed and was out the door 20 minutes later. Say what?! My stomach was cranky, partially due to the previous nights indulgence and the cookies on Friday, and I had been in high-heeled boots all day and I knew it was going to be less than pretty. But even with all that it was awesome. It was a good way to end the week and I was glad to see that there wasn’t any residual issues from Wednesday. 3.75 miles – 40 minutes.

Saturday-

Turns out running the previous night was a good thing. Saturday started with work followed by the usual errands. I try to do all my shopping on Saturday. Then the family headed down to SLO for an early Father’s Day Dinner at Olive Garden. I mean early, we were there by 4. I may have indulged in too many bread sticks. Oops, #sorryatkinsagain. It’s been 3 months since I’ve eaten pasta and I really don’t miss it. Luckily my usual go-to at Olive Garden is their Garlic Rosemary Chicken. So yummy. Dinner was followed up with frozen yogurt for desert. My poor stomach but it was all so yummy. 🙂 I pushed my long run to Sunday.

Sunday-

The plan called for a 50 minute long run. Ummm, that’s not long. I realize it’s only week 1 of 17 and most half marathon plans are 12 weeks but still. I wanted some structure to my summer runs so I picked 17 weeks. But, yeah, those 50 minutes kicked my ass. I actually headed out around 10am since I knew it was going to be hot. It was already in the 80’s. I huffed and puffed my way through 5 miles in 56 minutes. Yes miles 1 and 2 had times where I met up with my mom and the puppy and walked more but what was with the other 3? I have to figure out this heat thing or I am never breaking 2. I did like having the run done earlier though.

So, week one done. Bring on week 2. And maybe some speed? *sorry about the random picture sizes, I am having troubles figuring out Dropbox. 😦

How was your weekend? And Father’s Day?

How long do you usually train for a half marathon?

What do you consider a long run?

An Unexpected Walk

Happy Monday!! Does that even make sense?

This weekend didn’t exactly go as I had hoped but it was still a good and mostly relaxing one. Step one was accomplished on Saturday morning, sleeping in! I actually woke around 7 and went back to sleep. My alarm went off at 9 but I have been feeling a little under weather lately (more than usual) so I totally admit to staying in bed for another 45 minutes. It was kind of glorious. I decided then that Saturday would be my full rest day. The plan was to go to lunch with my mom and my brother, do some errands and then clean my car. Best laid plans right?

I ended up getting a call while at lunch that had me flying out to work town for a little snafu. Actually, my mom was driving because I had been with her which was better because I would have been speeding. 🙂 After taking care of the situation we started for home. She asked if I wanted to try walking on the beach. Now I am not really a beach person- sacrilege, because I can see it from work- but she did just drive me, so I said sure. So glad I did.

I gave her directions to a park with beach access and we were off. We’re having a heat wave right now, it was 100 flippin’ degrees in a town that considers 85 hot. The sand was hot on the way down but the water felt amazing. No lie, part of me just wanted to sit in the water but I didn’t have clothes to change into. 😦

We did about 1/2 mile to the beach and around 2 on the beach. That’s the farthest I’ve ever walked barefoot. The water was super clear, and I went about knee high at most. Lower leg workout- score!! Downside to this walk- on the way back, all the beach access points looked alike. We missed ours and came up a ways down on the street. I was reasonably sure I knew where I was and what street I needed to be on. We found it but it dead ended into a mini canyon. What? No lie, I asked Siri for help. We were 1.4 miles from where we parked, oops. But we made it back and just chalked it up to extra exercise. 🙂

Sunday involved a little shopping. I may have spent some money at the Running Warehouse but more on that later. 🙂 I chose not to run that day but according to that stupid heath app on my iPhone, that I don’t know how to use, I walked over 3 miles shopping. Combine that with the almost 4 miles on Saturday and I will call this active rest. 🙂

How was your weekend?

Do you have fall weather yet or summer lingering where you are too? Tomorrow is supposed to be 90+ here. 😦

What’s the best unexpected thing you did lately?

Running in Circles

Monday was a big day at work for a few reasons and by the end I was looking forward to a nice, easy recovery run after work. I chose the lake path again, partly due to the flatness after the previous day’s 10 and I because I thought it would be a good place to test out my new shoes. They fit great in the store but I had to go up a 1/2 size. When I wore them for the puppy walk on Saturday night, they felt too big, especially going downhill. Ruh-ro. This time out I paired them with my Pro Compression Trainer Low socks (love by the way) as they are a little thicker than my other socks. So much better!

My mother met me at the lake and we set out. I was feeling tired and my leg was not appreciating the heels that I had worn all day, so I wasn’t expecting much. After a 10 minute warm up walk, I broke away to run, not sure I was going to 3 laps or 4. I think the Sayonara’s had my legs a little confused. They forgot it was supposed to be an easy day. I averaged a 9:35 pace for the next 3 miles with forced walk breaks in each mile because I knew I should be running slower. 4.25 miles in total for the day. I felt pretty good in the shoes, but then it’s only been 8 miles. I was trying to pay extra attention to my form since I knew they were a lighter weight than I was used to, it did get a little sloppy towards the end. I will have to work on that next time. 🙂

Today was D-Day otherwise known as doctor day. After waiting so long, I was kind of afraid something was going to push it back again. I skedaddled out of work at 1:45 because I was afraid of any traffic issues. Of course, there were none so I ended spending some time in the parking lot. 🙂 For the first time, my mother joined me at the appointment. I just wanted a better answer so I was all for anything that might make him listen more. We were there for 2 hours, granted part of that was waiting in the waiting room. I was prepared for him to want to order tests, I was prepared for different medication; I was not prepared for was for him to admit that he needs another opinion. Umm, aren’t you the specialist? So I have a bunch of blood work I need to do followed by 2 new heavy duty antibiotics and then a histamine blocker? They are also working on a referral for a doc down in LA. Boo.

One of the antibiotics he initially wanted to prescribe dictated no strenuous exercise because it could damage your tendons. I guess I had my “hell no” face on because before I could say anything (or freak out) my mother spoke up. She implied that I could get really bitchy without running -haha- true story! He switched medications so I am still ok to run. It just means that once again I am going into a half marathon while on antibiotics. After getting out of the appointment I was just felt drained, and after 3 days of running/ walking I turned the evening into a rest day.

This week might end up with fewer running days but I am trying not to stress on it. I start class tomorrow and am trying to figure out how to do a business mixer and the gym on Thursday. I need to do my long run on Saturday because the company picnic (or beach day) is Sunday. This school thing is really throwing me off- when am I ever going to do business internationally anyways?

How about you guys? Ever wanted to snap at a doctor?

What company picnics? Yay, nay or never had one?

How has your week been?

Silent Saturday — From the Fair

Troubles with counting…

Sleep has not been my friend these past few days. After Wednesday’s rest day, I had planned to do 4 miles in between work and class on Thursday. I was still exhausted when I woke that morning. We have also had 2 people out sick during the week and numerous sick customers. Not cool. Half way through the day I had a sore throat and a headache. No!

I didn’t feel sick but I didn’t feel well either. I thought long and hard on whether I should run or not. I am so afraid of getting sick right now. I have just over 7 days until City to the Sea. I ran my second half marathon 2 weeks after having the stomach flu. That was hell. I cried at mile 10. I don’t mean little sniffles; I mean balled my eyes out. I was so done. 😦 I am not doing that again, so I chose to rest and not run. My running bag and shoes were on the floor of my passenger seat. I felt like they were judging me on my drive to school. 😦

Friday was more of the same, with an added bonus of waking up at 4AM with a gnarly Charlie horse. Ouch! On top of that work was crazy busy. I spent the day popping Vitamin C and trying to firmly believe in mind over matter. All this led to another rest day. But I had done 3 off in a row before, I would be ok right?

Apparently I can’t count. Checked my nike app this morning and it showed zero miles for October. That hurt. Then I noticed the date, October 5. Wait, what? But I had only had 3 rest days. Then it dawned on me that volleyball on Tuesday may have not been a rest day but it didn’t add any miles either. I hadn’t run in 4 days. Well crap.

My head still ached but I had to get in a few miles. After getting my errands done, laundry done, car cleaned and helping my parents schlep some concrete, I was going to rest for a bit and then head to the gym for some very easy treadmill miles. Yeah, that rest turned into me falling asleep on the floor. Oops. When I woke up I had lost my enthusiasm for the gym. But I changed my clothes, put on my running shoes and headed out the door.

I didn’t go to the gym but instead just ran / walked around my neighborhood. Downside to that is there are a lot of hills. Those were some hard four miles. I was tired and sluggish and just wanted to be done.

Not the best but moving forward — Walking counts as moving forward right?

But they were run. I actually felt ok after the run. My headache had briefly gone away. It eventually came back but here’s hoping some sleep and a nice relaxing Sunday helps it go away. Maybe with some more easy miles thrown in.

Anyone else having a rough start to the weekend?