Last week I decided I was not going to run the DM Half Marathon, and that I would throw my training plan away. Instead, I set a goal of running 40 miles last week. My highest mileage week up til that point was 36!
I also told myself I was going to run easy since I was increasing mileage. I ran totally based on how I felt and you know what? I had the best week in terms of both mileage and speed!! I really like this whole "listening to your body" thing.
The other important thing is this self talk we all do. How many times do you still hesitate when people ask you "are you a runner"?
I still struggle with this. OWN who you are, OWN who you want to be.
Repeat after me: "Hell, yes, I'm a runner!!"
Here's how last week shaped up:
Tuesday: 4.42 miles @ 9:21 pace in the evening at youth xc practice. Some miles I was cruising around the campus @ 8:30 pace, others I was closer to 10 - 11 min pace jogging with the kids trying to keep them going. Then I had to take my oldest to boy scouts, so I ran outside some more while he was there, another 4.23 miles @ 8:20 avg pace.
Wednesday: treadmill at work. 5.45 miles / 50 min, 9:10 pace
Thursday: treadmill at work, speed intervals, 6.18 miles / 55 min, 8:53 pace. I will post the workout soon. It was awesome! Possibly my new favorite treadmill speed workout.
Friday: rest day - youth xc open! post on that to follow as well. It came together beautifully.
Saturday: treadmill at home, 5.46 miles / 50 min, 9:09 pace
Sunday: run outside. 8.17 miles @ 8:14 pace!!!! I have never run a longer run that fast. I was not at all feeling like running, so just decided to get it done and not worry about time. I just looked at my watch when it beeped off the mile times. The first two were around 8:45 pace and I was feeling really good. Mile 3 was 8:16 and a slight uphill. Mile 4 was 8:51 and a significant uphill. At that point I was halfway done and it was all downhill or flat from there. The next two miles were sub 8. Then I said, screw it, I am pushing this to the end!! I finished the last two miles on a flat stretch to home, 7:50 and 7:44 pace.
I have never had this good of a week on a training plan. The other change I made was adding back more carbs in my diet. I think this helped a lot with recovery and energy.
Last night I had to take my 8 yr old to the track early for his xc workout because he had to leave practice early for boy scouts. We did a warm up mile, 7 x 300m repeats, with ~ 2min rest, and a cool down mile.
I haven't run a track workout since this summer, and it was so fun to go fast! I was somewhat conservative as I wanted to complete all 7 repeats and not let the last couple go down the tubes. I would run one, then my son would do his as I timed him, back and forth.
That speedy 8 yr old ran his between 74 - 80 seconds, and smashed his last repeat at 66 seconds!!
I have longer legs (although this advantage is diminishing by the day at the rate he's growing). I can still run repeats faster, although I think he has better ability to hold a faster pace for longer. So I am going to be really mature and brag about beating my 8 yr old on my 300m repeats, which were consistently between 66 - 70 seconds, with a 63 sec repeat on the last one.
While I am bragging, he came in 7th overall (beating out a lot of older kids) and 1st in his age division at our 3k race. 13:02 finish time. Amazing.
Training plan or no training plan??
Wrong to try to beat your kid at sports? I know by this time next year he will be smoking me every time. That makes it ok, right??
3 comments:
Way to go, getting in 40 miles during one week! That is no small feat! I appreciate that you remind us all to own up to being runners.. I only get in 10-20 miles per week, but I never really consider myself a runner. Maybe it's time to change that way of thinking and realize that most people don't run at all!
Yes!! You are totally a runner. It's not "only" 10 - 20 miles a week, it is hours of time spent on your feet, pushing yourself to be healthy, when you could be sitting on the couch. I've been hitting higher mileage lately because I haven't been cross training as much. But over the last two years it has been a distinct ramp up, once I started hitting 20, I wasn't satisfied with less. Early this year I planned on hitting 25 every week (to get a 1200 mile year goal). Over the summer, 30 seemed totally do-able, so after hanging out there for a few weeks I decided 40 is the new 30!
That is so amazing! I know how addicting it gets once you start hitting those high miles! I'm pregnant now, so not planning to up my mileage anytime soon (actually will probably be decreasing it as I get bigger and bigger), but after this baby gets here I'm hoping to get right back into the swing of things, and maybe the added belly fat will be good motivation to run more and more :)
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