Training – Slacker Runner

Week 45- Dark

November 12, 2019November 11, 2019 Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Daylight savings never used to bother me. This year I feel like it smacked me in the face.

Which is odd because I thought it would be better now that I work so much closer to home. Doesn’t make a difference, I still don’t get off work until it’s full dark. Boo. Someone want to come run with me?

On the work front, things are looking up and we should hopefully be fully staffed in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed, I think I can, I think I can.

I watched more Christmas movies this weekend. I am trying to wait until Thanksgiving but I am losing the battle. This is one way the stupid 80* weather is helping.

I also slept. A lot. I really mean a lot. I took the weekend to reset after a rough few weeks… well, truthfully I didn’t plan but that’s what my body dictated. Surprisingly no naps were involved.

Monday- Wednesday- Dark
I packed clothes to run after work but I kept putting it off. I told myself I hadn’t had time to test my lights since spring. I even went so far as to order new ones. I mean extra light never hurts, right?

Can you see me now?

Thursday- 1.6 miles
The plan was to run and then meet my mom for dinner. What I didn’t account for was traffic on the freeway being at a standstill. One fender bender had turned into 4 and they backed up both sides of the freeway. Thankfully it looked like everyone in the accidents were just irritated. I made it to my running spot but I only had 20 minutes. So I ran. Slower like I do in the dark… maybe I should use winter as a way to work on my heart rate?

Friday- Nope
Another open to close.

Saturday- 4 miles
It’s freezing overnight and 85 in the day. Should I be melting on runs in November? No! I rode the struggle bus the whole time. I know it won’t be long until I am complaining about the cold but right now, it’s welcome.

Sunday- 4 miles
I was so tired. I woke with a headache so went back to sleep. Even with that, by afternoon, I had zero desire to run. Hell, I didn’t even want to move. I wanted to nap. I forced myself to get up and drive to my running spot. Less than a mile in, I knew running was not going to happen. I could have thrown in the towel and quit but instead I walked. 4 miles and I even managed to negative split the thing. Better than nothing!

9.6 miles for the week. Not too surprising considering it was the first week of Daylight savings and it usually takes me awhile to rip off that bandaid. Missing a long run is what really killed the mileage. But let’s be real….when was my last long run??

How was your week?

Slacker, Training

Week 44- Oops

November 5, 2019November 4, 2019 Fallon @ Slacker Runner

So, apparently I was stuck on week 42 for a while??? Like here and here. Oops.

You know how they say that if you want something put it out in the world? Well, there’s also the inverse- don’t jinx yourself. I was just rambling on about how I needed November to be better than October. And then I was taking my mother to the hospital at dark o’thirty on November 1. She’s out now, but things are still a little off.

Plus work has been a little stressful as we are interviewing for my location and have been running a little tight. I’m just going to be Thomas- I think I can, I think I can.

Monday- 2.7ish miles
There was a lot of smoke in the air but I was looking forward to this run. And it wasn’t too bad, yes breathing was a bit harder than I would like but not too bad. It would have been longer but a girl out walking spooked me on the path, then I spooked her going the other way and then there was a shady dog. So I called it at my car instead of running beyond like I usually do.

Tuesday- Nada

Wednesday- Poor Air Quality
I don’t understand the ways of wind but the fires burning 3 hours north and 3 hours south were pushing the smoke our way. The county was under an air advisory. There’s only so far I will push these whiny lungs.

Thursday- 3.1 miles
This run felt pretty good. It also made me realize that it would be last run after work in daylight. Boo.

Friday- Chaos
See above.

Saturday- Nada
I was exhausted. I sprung my mother from the hospital, picked up her meds and basically became a couch potato. My brain couldn’t process much so I spent my evening watching Hallmark Christmas movies. Which broke my vow of waiting until after Thanksgiving.

Sunday- 5ish miles
I needed the time change as I slept horribly. I dragged myself out for a few miles and chased Fall. Which is funny as it was 85*. It’s November and I was in shorts and a tank. I also kind of crawled this run but it is what it is.

10ish miles for the week. Could be worse, could be a helluva lot worse.

Just gotta keep moving.

How was your week?

BibRave, Hiking-Trails, Run!, Training

Detour

October 29, 2019October 28, 2019 Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Sometimes you get lost on the trail.
Actually that’s kind of fun, and something I’ve done more than once.

But sometimes, you’re paying attention to the trail markers and you head back the way you came before too much harm or drama.

Disclaimer: I received Gatorade Endurance products to use as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

In this case, I pause.

I had big plans for October. 1 road half and 2 hard trail half’s. The last one was supposed to be my victory dance for the year. Ok, maybe less victory and more proof of will power but still.

Then October knocked me back a few pegs. I feel like I lost 5 years of fitness in the last 4 weeks. Is that possible? I feel like it is now. This bout with asthma is kicking me hard. It’s been years since it’s been this rough and I still can’t figure out what triggered it. I ran 5 miles last week- 5. (Also consider this Week 43) How is that going to get me to a 50K? It won’t.

And for once I’ve been smart about things. I dropped to the 10K for both the road race and Space Rock. And that last trail half that was supposed to be a party? That was supposed to happen a few days ago- Sunday. I didn’t even try. I knew I wasn’t in the head space or shape for 13ish miles of hard effort climbing. And they had no shorter distances. Attempting it likly would have set me back months in the long run.

I’ve run numerous races sick, some feverish and possibly out of it. Why? Because Goonies never say die? That’s stupid. I may be getting to an age I don’t want to admit anymore but maybe I am finally learning a few things. Maybe.

So when the road hits a fork, you have choices. I could bury my head in the sand and just be a lazy bum until next year. I mean, cold weather is coming right?

Nope. I am still aiming for a 50K in the early months of 2020. So in keeping with that theme, I have a new plan for the next 7 weeks culminating with a local-ish 25k in December. This should give me time to make up some of the ground I lost in the last few weeks. Also this race is a known entity– I know where the killer climb is and where the other mountain is. And the cruel turn-around. And I will be training on these trails. If I say it decisively, it will happen, right?

I may have finally figured out how to fuel my body, now I just need it to breather properly.

Join me while I fight my way back?

Run!, Slacker, Training

Week 42- Whiplash

October 22, 2019October 21, 2019 Fallon @ Slacker Runner

This weather is giving me whiplash. One day it’s 90 something then it’s 60ish with 20+mph winds. I actually like the lower temps but the fire winds could leave anytime. Soon would be better.

I had the beginning of the week off of work. I was so looking forward to a few days of rest and getting all those backed up errands done. Somehow, I never napped and the errands still need to be done. Like cleaning my car and an oil change. Oops. The time just seemed to fly by and then I was back to work on Wednesday.

Monday- 36ish minutes on the bike
I was going to run in the early afternoon since I had the day off. However I ended up taking my dad back to the doctor. By the time I got home, I was feeling super lazy but I made myself ride the bike while watching Ridiculousness. That was what my brain could handle.

Tuesday- 3 mile struggle bus run
I don’t know if it was because it was over 90 again, or if it was lingering asthma issues but this run was rough. I had originally planned on running more but just couldn’t.

Wednesday- 30 minutes on the bike
Wasn’t feeling a run but didn’t want to be lazy.

Thursday- 3.1 miles
Dude. This run was so easy, breezy. The temp had dropped, my heart rate stayed low and it wasn’t a struggle to legit run easy. It was such a chill run I was kind of in shock. Even the crazy wind wasn’t a downside. Why can’t all runs be like this?

Friday- Nope
Open to close is going to be the name of the game for a while at work. I don’t see much in the running front on any Friday in the future.

Saturday- Nap
I worked in the morning but I really did intend to run in the afternoon. I did but instead I napped for 2 hours. Oops.

Sunday- 6.3 miles
Miserable miles. I had plans of running 7-8 miles but hopped on the struggle bus from the get go. It was warmer than I thought it would be, my asthma was flaring, I was crawling. It was all I could do to finish the 6.3. I even parked it on a bunch 5ish miles in because I was so done. Grrrrrr.

12ish miles for the week. And Sunday’s miserable run was followed up by a massive asthma flare on Sunday night so that was fun. But hey 5/7 days isn’t bad! At least for me.

How was your week?

Run!, Slacker, Training

Week 42- What Day Is It?

October 15, 2019October 14, 2019 Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Seriously, what day is it? I was wrong most days last week. The drama of Sunday continued on into the week. Roll with it right?

My dad had more health drama, I was supposed to be running a half marathon on the weekend. I tried to cancel, he insisted I go. It was a lot of back and forth. I also drove around the county numerous times. I knew a couple vacation days were coming at the end of the week, so I just tried to hold on. I was feeling a little fried.

Oh, and I got a new watch!

Monday- Rest or Stress
I dropped my dad off at the hospital in the early morning and made my way to work. I had running gear for an after work run but then things changed and I ending up leaving work early because they said I had to pickup my dad at 2:30. Get there and they wanted another hour. I was regretting leaving my running gear at work. I could have run laps around the hospital. I napped in the car.

Tuesday- Nothing
Or just something I did that I can’t remember.

Wednesday – 3ish miles
After so many days off, I had a feeling this was going to be rough. It honestly felt pretty good. In fact I probably would have run more but every now and again, the end section of the street where I park my car gets super full. Like cars idling in odd spots and people talking to each other in and out of cars. And I mean like 10 cars. It’s always odd so I bounced.

Thursday- Nothing
I had planned on running and was hoping to break in my new watch but again life. My dad had gone back to the ER on Wednesday night and then he wasn’t answering his phone that afternoon. So I went straight to check on him after work.

Friday- Road trip!
After much back and forth with both of my parents, I headed down towards Santa Clarita for my Saturday race. By this time I had already messaged the race and dropped from the 13.1 to the 10K. I had canceled my hotel in the beginning of the week so I was also booking a hotel en route. Oh, and Northern Los Angeles was on fire.