Not much has changed since I started training last week. Although, the marathon organizers did send out an email to reassure us that they plan to keep us informed as they monitor the situation. They also sent a separate email to international participants, of which I am one. This one also said much the same with an added note that at this time since we cannot actually cross the border to come, they take that into consideration too. We shall see what comes in the next weeks and months.
Monday, 60 minutes regular, 6.91 miles
I had the day “off” thanks to the school district not using two of the scheduled make up days which meant that I could have run in the morning if I had chosen to. Since I had an ART appointment at Performance Therapy I figured that I would run over there, approximately a mile away, and then run back to my normal route. When I told this to Mom, she informed me that the forecast held rain until the afternoon so I held off. I had the ART appointment in the morning and made sure to keep it. I have realized that much like my teeth, my legs require regular maintenance, meaning that I start to feel the right glute/hamstring/calf tightness caused by my hips getting out of alignment.
By the time 4:30 rolled around, I could not wait to get out and run. We had a few sprinkles at first but the rain stayed away. I could feel my right leg a bit, usual for after one of the appointments. Other than that I felt fantastic, strong. Mom ran with me for the first 40 minutes but had an evening obligation that she had to get back for so she could set up Zoom. I headed back out for another 10 minute out and back and felt truly invigorated.
Tuesday, tempo run regular run, 5.66 miles
Although I really wanted to attempt a tempo run, this sort of run usually requires flatter terrain than I have access to. I also did not know if I would be able to get the run in at all since the weather channel forecasted rain literally all day. When I saw a break in the rain, misting but still a lot less than the morning, that coincided with finishing my “office hours” for school, I jumped at the chance. Mom and I headed out in the drizzle, feeling hard core. (Well, I felt hard core; I didn’t ask her but she probably felt that way too.) I could tell that the ART on Monday helped significantly; my stride felt fantastic. When we finished the run on the downhill, I leaned into the downhill and felt incredible. I can best describe it as picturing someone’s stride in rhythm to “Chariots of Fire” only going fast.
Wednesday, strength training, 6 x 1km repeats, 8.53 miles
When I mentioned strength training to Ellis on Tuesday, he cheerfully agreed but asked that we do it on Thursday so that he could think up a routine for us. Alright then. I switched Wednesday and Thursday’s workouts and headed out immediately after my office hours ended to get in my speedwork session before my grad class (via Zoom). One of the reasons that I have resorted to the treadmill for speedwork routinely in the past is because of the fairly frequent hills that populate my regular route. I told myself that I would give it my best shot. The warm weather returned as well so quite a few factors worked against me. I settled into the run and felt good. When I started the first interval, I planned to lap each interval but forgot on the first interval, started on the 2nd interval but forgot to end the lap but managed to get the last four.
1-4:32 (approximate, felt good as I started)
2-4:57 (approximate, had the longest hill of any intervals on this one)
3-4:30 (6 seconds fast but had a significant downhill for most of the interval)
4-4:41 (only 5 seconds slower than the goal
5-4:56 (20 seconds slower but this included a hill and I didn’t give up!)
6-4:20 (Somehow I did the math wrong and ended up with .57 instead of .62. I also paused at a signal after a massive uphill
Thursday, strength training
Ellis delivered, of course. He put together a challenging yet doable routine with the handful of equipment that we have here at the house. I think I pushed through this workout even stronger than I might have at the gym. I loved getting the work done and know that I will feel this for sure tomorrow.
Friday, 40 minutes easy, 4.68 miles
I definitely felt sore, in a good way, from the strength training workout yesterday. I knew that would make the run a little interesting. My legs definitely did not really feel like moving today but I continue to be thankful for every change I get to run outside even if we did have our first incidence of someone yelling “go home” at us while we ran. You too, sir. You too.
Saturday, 14 miles, 14.46 miles
In the hour or so before I woke up for good this morning, I dreamed about not wanting to do this run and postponing until Sunday, texting that to Mom so she could join me (she couldn’t join today because she and Ellis are laying sod at the house), and then changing my mind to run anyway. All this happened just before I woke up so by the time I finally got up, I was ready to run. I had no goals for the run, especially since if everything had gone according to plan, I would not have had a long run this weekend thanks to the now cancelled Model UN trip. Instead, I headed out and plodded along, grateful for the opportunity to run. Unlike last week, I felt in a better place mentally and also noticed a decreased number of cars on the road, nowhere near where we need to be but a step in the right direction. By the last quarter of the run the temperatures which had started in the 70s, crept up to 80 and the headwind came back to play as well. I started walking every mile but kept myself going. I also stopped at the gas station a little over a mile from my house and bought myself a gatorade. As I drank some of that right away, I realized just how much more powder I put into my drinks. 🙂 Since I nearly ran out of hydration today, I need to start making a game plan soon for how to make sure I have enough hydration for these much warmer runs.