Tag: Training

Big Sur Marathon Training-Week 2

This week had some rough patches.

I started the week with that pesky, painful shoulder pull.  I couldn’t raise my left arm, getting dressed was awkward.  Then a migraine came to visit for an extended period which is ironic considering I had an appointment with my neurologist to discuss my migraines.  😒   And as an aside– aren’t I too young to say I have a neurologist and a gastroenterologist I see on a regular basis?   Then my stomach turned into it’s butthead self at the end of the week.

Work is also a little busier than normal as we are one person down.   I was beginning to wonder if I was going to manage any decent miles.

The plan-

week 2

Monday- Rest  9 hours at work took my shoulder knot ( I don’t know what to call it) to a whole other level and I could barely move by the end of the workday.  Boo.

Tuesday- 1/2 my PT exercises.  I knew I needed to do my exercises but they also hurt so I managed to get through 1/2 of them.  With the help of my boss, I also rearranged everything on my desk so here’s hoping it helps with some of my constant aches and pains.

Wednesday- 3 miles I could finally lift my arm high enough to put on a sports bra so running was back on the table.   3 slow, treadmill miles that is.  I felt like I ran them faster than my last treadmill run but according to the treadmill not so much.  I also forgot to stop my watch when I stopped the treadmill so it left me some interesting numbers.  😜

Thursday- PT exercises Oops, I should have run. I changed to run.  Running was on the schedule.  Yet somehow it didn’t happen.  That is not a good start to training.  Nope.

Friday- Rest We’re running a little short these days so it was an open to close for me.  I felt like I ran circles around the building though.

Saturday- 10 miles First double digits of training.  The schedule called for 9 but I added 1 to partially make up for the miles I missed.    I’m keeping my run/walk intervals for the first month of training while I get back into the higher mileage again.  I never felt tired but my pace tanked for miles 7, 8 and 9.  I felt like I was running the pace and putting out the same effort level but the numbers popping up were 30 seconds slower than the previous miles.  The overall pace was perfectly fine for a long run but I just could not figure why I was moving slower but not feeling it.  Maybe it was because my headphones died at mile 6?

Sunday- 5ish miles  I wanted 7 so I could hit the overall mile total for the week but my legs were not having it.  Not at all.    My ankles were so damn sore.  That’s a new one.  I took more than few breaks.  I knew pushing it to 7 would be stupid so I satisfied myself with 5.2.

18.38 miles for the week.  Not what the plan had but considering how the week started, it ended pretty ok.  Minus the leg pain but then again I did put more miles on my legs in a short period of time than I have recently so I only have myself to blame.

How was your week?

Week 52-And a cold

And just like 52 weeks have gone by and bring 2017 to close.

And the calendar did me a solid and worked out perfectly… unlike last year.

I had my second PT appointment and this time they had me try lumbar traction.  Then all laughed at the expression of fear on my face as they described it.  It really wasn’t that bad.

Last week was a little rough, I felt a little ragged around the edges.   I was looking forward to the 3 day weekend- not for the New Year’s parties but more for the opportunity to sleep.   Truth- I just barely managed to stay awake through midnight on New Year’s Eve but I still managed to miss the ball drop on TV.  Oops.

Monday- Christmas  And I was about as active as a lump on a log.

Tuesday- Rest/ PT Exercises I knew work was likely to be busy after the 3 day weekend and oh boy was I right.

Wednesday- Missed Run  Work was exhausting and I was tired and cranky so instead of running I just headed home.  Which might have been fate telling me something- maybe that’s dramatic but barely moments after picking my mom up to go to dinner, we were driving down the street to see flames literally shooting out of the top of an apartment building. Then it hit the power lines.  I pulled over while my mom called 911 and jumped out and stood with the homeowner, we asked if anyone else was inside or if there were any pets.  I then just got my car out of the way and stayed out of the way while we waited for the fire department and PD to show up.  It was definitely not how I thought the night was going to go.

Thursday- Rest/PT exercises Work this week just kicked my butt.  Plus I was denial that I was sick.  If I ignored the sore throat and the coughing, that meant they weren’t real right?  Despite the fact I’d fallen asleep in my chair almost every night.   I missed a dinner with old high school friends because I didn’t want to get anyone sick, so I wasn’t being completely stupid.

Friday-  Rest  More of the same.  This time I missed a dinner with a coworker who was leaving another location.  Boo.  Also fell asleep in my chair again.

Saturday- 3.1 miles  After sleeping in, I headed out for what I figured was going to be an afternoon slog.  Except I was moving way faster than I should have been for only having run once last week and being sick this week.  Legs what are you doing?   I had no business seeing miles in the 10 minute range and my lungs let me know so I ended up take a break to sit on a wall at one point.

Sunday- 4 miles Once again I headed out expecting a slow run and once again my legs and lungs were at war.   My legs just wanted to go! But my lungs were not quite on board.  It was better than the day before though.  Other than a little wheezing, this 4 miles felt pretty good.

7.1 miles for the week.  Better than last week.  Still super low but I’m not mad.  The last week of the year always throws me a curve ball and this was no exception.

How was your week?

Week 51- Christmas Slacking

In more ways than one. 😛😛

Last week was a little chaotic.   Work was super busy, I was running behind on all things Christmas and I received some not great news about that job interview I had a few weeks ago.    I admit I fell into a cranky funk for a few days but I climbed out of the hole and perked up.  I think….maybe I should get a second opinion on that.

Monday- Christmas shopping.  With barely anything to wrap- this was necessary.   Crossed some things off my list but not much.

Tuesday- Cookie baking!  And eating a few too many.  Also planned. Well, maybe not how many I ate.  Oh and my PT exercises.

Wednesday- Missed run.  My replacement bed was delivered and once again, Pops was there for the delivery.    Instead of running I headed home to take the family out to dinner.

Thursday- 3.3 milesOn the treadmill!!!  Holy crap, who am I? And it wasn’t miserable!    I warmed up with plenty of walking as the treadmill always makes me achy and then I worked on focusing on my cadence.  Both to see if I could improve my average number and if it would help with the on again, off again shin pain.  Partial success to both!  What was not cool was that Monsters Inside Me was once again on the TV in front of me.  Why?!?!?!

Friday-Work My hopes for a calm day were not granted.

Saturday- Missed run.  I had planned on a 6 mile run longish run for the week and scheduled my day accordingly.  However that schedule had me running in the afternoon because I wanted to sleep in.  Which was all fine until my brother decided to take my mother and I to the movies and dinner.    Instead I enjoyed yummy food and walked out of theater with a strange fascination with Adam Driver.  Someone send help.  😛

Sunday- Christmas Eve  Try as I might, I could not get the motivation up to go for a run.   So other than some errands- why did I not grocery shop before Christmas Eve?????- I spent the day with family relaxing and lounging.

So yeah, 3.3 miles for the week.    I’m not going to say ouch because I chose to miss those 2 runs.  I chose dinner and the movies and family time over the runs and I’m ok with that.

How was your week?

How was your Christmas?

Week 50- Behind

Barely running and I still can’t get these recaps up on time lately.  Oops.   End of the year ennui, maybe?  Embracing the inner Slacker? Hmmm.

Maybe I can blame the darkness?  Even though I actually did run more miles in November this year compared to last.  Fingers crossed that pattern holds for December!  Though considering I had the flu from hell last year, that’s a low bar.

Last week saw me starting PT, so you’d think my body would be feeling better.  And it kind of did… on Monday.     And mostly Tuesday.  Too bad I didn’t run those days.  🤔  Instead I deliberately rested since I had run Saturday and Sunday and then had PT.    I completed my PT exercises 3 days last week and would have twice more but my stomach was being a total asshat.   Kind of hard to focus on moves that rely on your core when your stomach is behaving like a demon.   Grrrrr. As for the other 2 days, well that was just me being a Slacker.

So what did happen?

Monday-  Physical Therapy  Why is my right side such a problem child???  And I’m so glad I had the forethought to change into running pants first.  Some of those exercises were awkward enough in pants- what would have happened if I had left my skirt on???  I also experienced a TENS device for the first time.  Kind of odd.

Thursday- 8 miles bike I had planned on running.  Took all of my gear to work with that intention but then the day just ran me down.  Work ran over and I was exhausted and my right leg was oddly sore/ numb.  My head was hurting but I told myself to suck it up and run so I changed into my running clothes and headed for home. Where I somehow put my shoes on the wrong damn feet.  Ok, universe, message received.    I went home and rode the bike instead.

Saturday – 6 miles 6 was always the plan but I underestimated how much smoke was in the air.  Again.  I also may have overestimated what my back was willing to do.  That or it just isn’t used to carrying water with my pack again.  It has been a while.  😛  I felt like I was huffing and puffing more than I would like.  My leg felt tight.  Everything felt rough.  Then my headphones died.  Grrrr.   Of course as I headed towards home, my leg loosened up.   When I looked at my splits later I may have been running a tiny faster than I should have especially considering the air quality.

Sunday- missed run Planned on Christmas shopping and running.  Failed at both.  Went shopping- ALL day but bought nothing and missed my run.

So, 6 miles run and 8 miles bike.  Blah.    Here’s hoping this week is a little better.

Except I already know I have issues.  How is it less than 7 days to Christmas?  I still need to finish shopping.  I haven’t made cookies.  Oh and my replacement bed is coming this week.     Ok, I will gladly miss a run for the bed if the new one is less of a brick compared to the rock I’ve been sleeping on for the last 3 months.  😛

How was your week?

Are you done shopping?

Week 48- Lingering

And the pain lingers on.

Isn’t that a song? I feel like it’s a song lyric.  🎶

Last week was a little better than the previous week though not by much.    I doubled the miles but when you run barely more than zero, double is still next to nothing.    Which is problematic because filling all my extra time with Christmas movie watching has given me the most intense craving for sugar cookies with icing ever.   I want them all.   That’s not a good thing.

Last week was kind of odd anyhow.  I had my interview on Wednesday which had interesting moments but not of the usual interview kind.  Then Saturday saw my mother’s birthday and my dad’s is this week.   I also had the world’s messiest oil change.  Like my car was leaking oil for the next 3 days.  I called the dealer it was so bad, thinking they had screwed something up.  Nope, they just slopped oil everywhere.

Ok, so what were the piddly “workouts” I did last week?

Monday/Tuesday- Nothing but a little stretching.  My leg wasn’t too happy and I wasn’t going to push it.    I am embracing the flats life.  It’s so boring.

Wednesday- 2.51 miles  I meant to head to the gym for a few test miles but realized I forgot my headphones instead I ran outside.  Slowly.  My leg wasn’t screaming but it wasn’t marvelous.  However I was just so excited to be out there.

Thursday- 2.16 miles Should I have run so soon?  Yeah, probably not but I had to take the car back to the dealer due to the oil change fiasco so I was home sooner than normal and I couldn’t pass up the chance.  My leg actually felt better than the previous day.  Yay!!  Oh and it pushed me to 50 miles for November, which considering how many days I deliberately didn’t run because of my leg, I’ll just say Hell yeah!

Friday-  Stupid I wore low heeled boots to work.  Only about 2 inches but it was stupid and my leg did not appreciate it at all.  Stupid.

Saturday-Birthday shopping with my mom.  I could feel my shin talking all day.  Why did I wear heels on Friday??  Grrrr.

Sunday- 10 miles bike  My leg still felt off and truthfully I might have done something stupid and gone for a run but an unplanned afternoon nap changed that.  Oops.  So I hopped on the bike to try and work up a sweat.  Except the cat decided she really wanted to be part of the exercise too.  She kept trying to go under the pedals.  Don’t do that!

4.68 miles run, 10 miles bike.  As I type this I realize I have yet to run in December.  Yikes!  Come on leg, knock it off, it’s only 3 weeks to marathon training!

How was your week?

Any Christmas festivities?

Anyone race?  I was having major RnR San Antonio FOMO.