Tag: Training

Run!, Training

Week 27- Panic

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

This week was up and down and topsy turvy and that was before the earthquakes.

Yeah, Cali’s been moving around this week. On one hand the former wanna be geologist in me is excited by earthquakes. On the other, my town suffered a lot in the last big quake about 15 years ago. Downtown was leveled, a sulfur spring ruptured and numerous other buildings were condemned. And for some reason it took almost 10 years to cap that damn spring. Downtown was rebuilt but we had a giant hole blocked off in the library parking lot for years. A stinky one at that.

In other news, going back to work the day after the 4th of July was hard. It was like the Monday of Fridays. Anyone else not have a long weekend?

But only took a pic of the old Library

And then I played tourist in my town on Saturday and ventured out to the Lavender Festival.

Plan vs Reality

Monday- 1.5 miles/ 1.5 miles
I don’t recall much about this run other than I got it done. I didn’t even post about it to social media, ha! But I took a pic so I guess it really happened.😛

Tuesday- 2 mile up/down, 3x 1 mile repeats at 5K pace / 1.5 up/down, 3 miles of pain- yoga
I’ve been beginning to realize that I may over overstepped with the training paces on my training plan. Reality hammered that home with this run. Not only did I tank the paces prescribed, I ended with a possible injury. I knew I should have quit during the second repeat attempt but I am stupid. So stupid. I limped back to my car hence the shorter cool down.

Wednesday- 1.5 miles/ Nada
I limped around the office all day, that was fun. My stomach also decided to hate me so that was fun.

Thursday- July 4Th! 4 mile fartlek/ MM100
I thought about trying for at least an easy run but decided to be smart instead. Boo. I did attempt a very slow workout video.

Friday- 1.5 miles/ Nada
My leg felt better until the end of the day but I was just fried and didn’t run. I really need to figure out how to run in the morning. Especially when I work open to close.

Saturday- 9 miles/ 9 miles
I actually got up early for this! Except nasty humidity rolled in so I actually think it was hotter than my last 2 long runs in the afternoon heat. Oh and I got fried. So much for sunblock. I also think it was the slowest 9 miles I’ve ever run. I had a freakin’ panic attack around mile 3. I started noticing the symptoms just before crossing the bridge. Which could have been partly fueled by the previous nights tremor. I’m not a big fan of bridges, at least not being on them, so why I chose today of all days to run across it for the first time in months, I have no idea. I refused to let the panic attack win and just slowed way down anytime I felt the usual symptoms. I also explored a side path off one street in an effort to distract myself.

Sunday- Rest/ Rest
I thought about trying to make up some of the 7 miles I missed throughout the week but ended up napping instead. Oh and I started Stranger Things 3.

15.3 miles out of 22.5 for the week. My leg is still not right so I am holding out optimism for the week to come. Plus I went in and adjusted the paces zones in my training plan so now they should at least be achievable.

How was your week? Have a good 4th of July?

Slacker, Training, BibRave

Week 26- Don’t Bet on Me

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

I wouldn’t even bet on myself.

I am my own worst enemy.

  • 2019 Race Schedule (so far):
  • 8/11 Oaktown Half (Thanks BibRave)
  • 7/20 Vintners 5 Mile or Rock to Pier 10K (not looking good)
  • 10/ 6 RnR San Jose (Thanks BibRave!)

I started the week with some drag and dropping of my training plan on Final Surge. I appreciate this feature with my training plan but the last few weeks, the ease of changing has enabled my inner Slacker to be even more Slacker like. I had a work function on Thursday and I knew I had to make adjustments for that.

I’ve also fallen into the bad habit of reading other blogs, but not commenting- I’m sorry! I’ve also stalled out in the book I am reading and the book I am listening to. May I should have called this post “Stall” since I kind of feel like that describes my running too the past few weeks.

Plan vs Reality

Monday 2.5 miles w/ strides/ 2.5 miles w/strides
I had originally thought about moving my hardest workout of the week to Monday but I was still dealing with migraine fog so I am glad I didn’t. I headed to the lake path for a few easy miles with 6 strides… or 7, I kind of lost count. My mom was out there too, she decide to join me and do a few laps of the lake herself.

Tuesday 1.5 miles/ 1.5 miles
I am really beginning to love these easy days. I am starting to realize that not every run has to be long to be worthwhile. Any movement is good movement. Sometimes I forget this.

Wednesday- 1.5 up/down, 2x 2mile repeats/ 1.4 up/down, 2x 2 mile repeats
I was scared of this workout. I didn’t think I could do it. I have also been starting to realize that I may have over reached with my goal for Oaktown Half and may need to adjust my pace settings. My goal for this workout was for each repeat to be at 10k pace- 9:32-9:49. I’m not there yet. But I tried- the miles ranged from 9:58 – 10:21. And they were hard. So hard. Oh did I mention it was almost 90 and I forgot water too?

Thursday- 1.5 miles/ Mixer
I had a feeling I wouldn’t run today due the mixer for work and that proved true.

Friday- 1.5 miles/ lazy
I originally planned on doubling up for this run and running 3 miles to make up for Thursday. Work was a little crazy and I ended up staying til close. I have a feeling I will likely do that most times I open- I feel guilty leaving before closing. Then I was just kind of done.

Saturday- 9 miles/ 3.1 miles
I was supposed to run my long run for the week but the snooze button was too tempting. So instead I headed out for a very easy 3 miler in the heat of the day. 95*- so much fun.

Sunday- Rest/ 5.5 miles
Once again, I was too friendly with the snooze button. Even as I was lying in bed, I knew I was just screwing myself over and only had myself to blame. Then as the day progressed and the temp rose, I was tempted to just bail on the run. However, after an internal argument, I made myself go for a run. Just run and see what happened. Well, it was 90* so what I got was a sluggish 5.5 miles. However that was better than being lazy.

So 18.4 /21.5 miles for the week and more red than green on my training calendar. Also a good amount of irritation with myself.

How was your week?

Run!, Stomach, Training

Week 24- Nerve

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

This week was good but odd in some ways.

  • 2019 Race Schedule (so far):
  • 8/11 Oaktown Half (Thanks BibRave)
  • 7/20 Vintners 5 Mile or Rock to Pier 10K
  • 10/ 6 RnR San Jose (more to come)

We started it with a red flag heat wave then swung back the other way. I had some good runs, I missed one and one definitely pushed the definition of the word “run”.

I had a slap in the face about the level of my emotional eating and tendency to eat more than I should in one sitting. But that’s for another blog post. That I’ve started and stopped a few times already.

My sciatica pain came back. Either due to my new (to me) desk chair or because I spent an hour on the treadmill this week. Could be either, could be both. Not gonna lie, wish I could go get my chair from my previous office.

Oh and I rearranged all the furniture in my bedroom over the weekend because why not?

Plan vs Reality

Monday 1.5 miles/ .8 ish miles
I am pushing it by calling this a run. I was in jeans and boots but I was moving pretty fast. It hit 105 in hometown that day and 95 in SLO. While the home town temp isn’t abnormal- that SLO temp is. I had to do an errand for work and I was moving pretty quickly. I admit when I learned there was a fire in the riverbed at home town and they were shutting down the main bridge in town, I turned on my watch while doing this errand.

Tuesday 1 mile up/down, 2x 1 mile repeats/ 4 miles -1 up/down, 2 x1 mile repeats
It was 103 in home town so I used my brain and headed to the gym. I hate the treadmill. The warm mile wasn’t bad, I didn’t nail the mile repeat paces but I was damn close. I find running on the treadmill so much harder then outside. And by mile 4, I could tell that my lower back was not happy.

Wednesday 1.5 miles/ 1.5 miles
Nothing much to say just went out and did it.

Thursday- 3.5 mile fartlek run/ 3.5 mile fartlek run
My stomach was a total asshat and I was tired and did not want to run. I was trying to rationalize skipping the run but I changed and headed out anyways. I normally love fartlek runs but this was more about getting it done. It wasn’t horrible but I was glad I pulled it together.

Friday- 1.5 miles/ Spiral
I skipped this run. My lower back was hurting pretty badly but I wonder if I just used that as an excuse. It also wasn’t a great food night and reality may have hit me.

Saturday- 8 miles/ 8.5 miles
Once again I hit the snooze button a few too many times. So another mid afternoon run was on the books. I almost pushed the run to Sunday but told myself to stop being stupid. I headed out around 3:30 and it was only in the 80’s. I started off with a half mile warmup then got to business trying to get the next 8 miles in the long run zone assigned. So close! Miles 4-6 were too slow. I ran a section of road that while shaded the headwind died. The temperature increased like wow. My stomach also cramped spectacularly in mile 5. I slammed to a halt and wondered if I could even make it to my car. There were park bathrooms .5 mile in the opposite way so I was torn which way to go. I stood on the side of the road for a while. But someone was conspiring against me- they tore down the park bathrooms!! Why?!?!?! Somehow my miles back to the car were my fastest. With moments when I had to stop and take deep breathes. In and out, in and out. It was also my first run trying a new fuel but I am not sure which way to make that correlation. Hmmm.

Sunday- Rest/ Rest
Nailed it! I actually thought about heading out to make up the missed 1.5 mile run but sleep and a migraine kept it a rest day. So I caught up on my DVR and cleaned my closet.

18.8 miles for the week. So close to where I was supposed to be!

How was your week?

Run!, Slacker, Training

Week 23- Derail

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Oh this week was fun.

Sense the sarcasm. It started ok but when a little wonky towards the end. Ok, a lot wonky. Normal June temps came back with a vengeance, power outages, broken toilets- oh it was fun.

Oh and I decided to start the week off with a 3 day refresh where I wasn’t eating a whole lot of solid food and drinking mostly smoothies. In some ways it was good and others it was a mess.

Monday 1.5 miles/ 1.5 miles
I thought about take a rest day post race but I was feeling ok so I headed out for my planned run. I was slow moving and sluggish but it didn’t feel to bad.

Tuesday 2.5 miles with 4 strides/ 2.5 miles with 4 strides
I flipped Tuesday and Thursday’s workouts as I figured I needed a little more recovery time. I am glad I did as this run was a slow going. While I did the strides they may have been the slowest strides I’ve done since starting this training plan.

Wednesday 1.5 miles/ 1.5 miles
The temps have finally swung to the hot side. This was a rough run. I still felt like I had lingering asthma issues from the race. I told myself it was the sudden temp change that made this run so hard.

Thursday 1.5 up/ down, 1.5 mile repeats x2/ Nada
I was exhausted. I don’t know when I have ever felt that tired. It showed at work too as everyone told me to stay away from them thinking I was sick. I wasn’t, just dog tired. I went home and just rested instead.

Friday 1.5 miles/ Nada
I had the late shift and I totally took advantage of that extra 45 minutes and slept. I meant to run after work, I was feeling a little better and I even had grand delusions of moving my long run to Friday evening. I mean it was graduation night but surely I could find clear roads, right? Then there was a power outage back home and it took out the tv’s. Apparently I’m the only one in the house who could fix them. So home I went- except after over an hour of trying I learn the issue was on Directv’s side and there was nothing I could do.

Saturday 7 miles/ 5.4 mile crap fest
I worked a Saturday shift but I set a very early alarm. Except when the alarm went off it was dark and cold and I was tired. I went back to sleep for a bit. Which meant I headed out 10 hours later with temps at 92. And it kicked my ass. I was melting. I overheated so bad, mine hands started swelling. I started with multiple walk breaks which turned to all out walking with multiple stops to hide in the shade. It was miserable.

Sunday Rest/ Rest–
I thought about making up some of my missed miles. But instead I took a 2 hour nap. So when it comes to rest- nailed it!

10.9 miles for the week. Ouch. Fingers crossed this week swings back the other way.

How was your week?

Run!, Slacker, Training

Week 21- Thunder

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

In more ways than one.

  • 2019 Race Schedule (so far):
  • 6/2 RnR San Diego (Thanks BibRave)
  • 8/11 Oaktown Half (Thanks BibRave)
  • 7/20 Vintners 5 Mile
  • 10/ 6 RnR San Jose (more to come)

The weather stayed gray, cold and rainy the majority of the week. Definitely not the typical May weather. A migraine came to party on Wednesday night and didn’t really let up until Saturday. That’s not abnormal though so I just had to grin and bear it the best I could. I may have relied on a little too much caffeine. And sugar. Oops. I keep promising I will make better eating choices but then I don’t. But that’s another blog for another day.

Planned vs Reality

Monday- 1.5 miles/ 1.5 miles
Easy mile-ish on Monday. Nothing really to say other than I just went out and did it. I did run a different portion of streets though. I may end up with out and backs just because 1.5 miles in hard to plan.

Tuesday- 2 miles up/down, 4×800 at 5K pace/ Nada
Oops. I was not feeling a run. More than just feeling lazy or tired, I was not into the run at all. I’ve learned that when I feel like that- skip the run. The times I haven’t in the past I’ve either hurt myself, lost something or broke my phone. So instead I met my mother for some pizza.

Wednesday- 1.5 miles/ 2 miles up/down, 4×800 at 5K pace
I almost put off this run again. I realized it wasn’t programmed into my watch, it was starting to rain, yada yada yada. I finally told myself 1 mile in to just shut up and run. So I did. My 400’s came in at 9:07, 9:41, 8:57, 9:31. My range was 9:12-9:31 so I wasn’t horribly off. First let me say 800’s are long. I also was stupid and way underestimated the section of path I was going to run these on so they were run with traffic on the roads. Not the best idea. Still it was a decent run and I felt better for having done it.

Thursday- 3.5 miles w/ strides/ 3.5 miles w/ strides
2 workouts back to back are not a good idea but I knew these miles were 98% easy. That said it was a little rough in the beginning but it got better as I ran on. I almost forgot the strides until the last mile and a half. Oops but I still managed to throw them in.

Friday- 1.5 miles/ 1.5 miles
I went in very early to work and stayed until almost close. I should have been tired but I was overly caffeinated and overly sugared up. I changed and headed back towards home town. I forgot it was cruise night. Traffic and cars were stupid busy and I had chosen the wrong side of town to run. I had to circle for a parking spot and almost said screw it when I managed to find a spot to parallel in. Then I tried to bust out the mile and a half as safely as I could.

It was freakin’ cold but I overheated 🤷‍♀️

Saturday- 6 miles/ 7 miles- 1 up/down 6 at pace
I had a miserable Friday night between the migraine and my damn GI disorder, I was so tired on Saturday I almost pushed the run to Sunday. I eventually made it out the door but kissed my long run pace goodbye figuring I was going to riding the struggle bus. Except I didn’t. Even with 25mph winds pushing me back half the time. Once I got into it I felt surprisingly well and just kept trucking on. I did have to stop multiple times to reapply BodyGlide as my thunder thighs were taking exception to non compression shorts. Haha. All the chafe! I didn’t look at my watch or my paces until later in the evening so I was surprised to see I hit my long run pace or under for all 6 miles. Who knew??

Sunday- Rest day/ Rest day
I love Sunday’s.

17.6 miles for the week, only .5 miles short of where I should have been. That warm up/ cool down on my long run helped me add back some of the mileage I missed. And with that we are into race week for San Diego. Yikes!

How was your week?