Running - It's Not Math

Miles Run This Week: 10.2
Days until Burlington: 195

So, the goal to run 5 days a week is already going pretty well (she says on day 3). But when it was intermittently raining last night, it was somehow easier for me to get out and run, knowing that there was no pressure to run a certain distance, more to just get another day under my legs. (I ended up doing a modest 3.1.) 

Today I signed up for the St. Pete's 10K, so in less than 30 days, I'll be running here:

 

With views like this:



which is WAAAAAAY better than any 10K I'm going to run in January in Boston.

This week was my first week of adding back "speed work" - which - for the record - is actually a terrible idea because I'm also increasing the miles I run (this is a recipe for injury). But on Wednesday, I did my first tempo run in a while. Tempo runs are a warm up, with about 20-30 minutes of "near race pace" running with a cool down. These get your legs used to running for a long time at a faster clip (which is obviously different from sprinting). One of the toughest things to gauge for me is my "race pace" - since pretty much every race for me has had varying degrees of preparation behind it - I don't really know what's "typical" or what's "me at my best". I mean - I have PRs in each distance, but then I'll have a race right near it that is like...a full minute per mile off.

A lot of training is allegedly based on pacing. You run long, slow distance runs about 2 minutes slower per mile than your race pace. You run tempo runs about 20 seconds off your race page. Race pace race pace race pace.

While I've been running for 3 years, this is still something I have no idea how to measure. Which makes me panic a little. Then I was reading my Runner's World - and someone said, "RUN! It's not math." So last night, I just did what felt OK on my legs - which was much slower than I would have liked, but I know is the way to stay injury-free.

It also helps to run with a view!

What's Luck Got To Do With It?

Miles Run this Week: 4

Days until Burlington: 197

While at a party this weekend, someone said to me (about marathon training), "I'd say good luck, but I know luck doesn't have a lot to do with it." He's absolutely right - luck might make you a naturally fast runner. Luck might get you perfect weather on race day. But luck falls short for endurance sports - it's always preparedness. 

After writing last week about how hard it is to get out there this time of year...I totally succumbed to cheesecake and gift wrapping and non-running. I've now had two weeks in a row below 10 miles - which isn't bad, per se, (better than two weeks in a row at 0 miles), but I've got about 8 weeks before I'm at a 25 mile a week (plus) clip. I am terrified that I'll just burn out, and hover around 10 miles, and then suddenly have to make a 150% increase. I haven't been hitting my targets to prevent that. I'm doing OK...but I could be doing better. 

But running is like that. Most things in life are like that. You have your expectations (of yourself, of others, of the weather) and sometimes, you miss. So, you recalculate and refocus. I mean, I guess you could give up - but if that's your response to things, I doubt you're even reading this right now. Most likely, you're on your couch, barely on the radar (which is fine, if you have cheesecake, and are just taking a couple nights off of running). 

One of the tactics that always helps me is rewording my goal, so that the same things will be accomplished, but my focus won't be on unrealistic (lofty) goals, or putting stress on myself to meet a goal that I just flubbed. 

This entire marathon has been built on this premise. Usually, I'm beating myself up over miles, and staring at a 4:59:59 marathon time that I essentially make impossible to reach, because I'm not running the miles. It's a vicious cycle (that landed me a nice 6+ time last time). So, much like my focus for Burlington has changed (stick to the training plan, and the time will most likely follow), I have to change up my approach to my building miles. 

My goal from now until February (when I start training) is to run 5 days a week. Maybe I can only do a mile some days because of time. Maybe I can only do a mile before my legs shred. Last night I did 4 miles because there was no wind by the Charles - and those days are pretty tough to find. I was feeling good, so instead of 3, I did 4. If I'm running 5 days a week, it'll be pretty easy to hit those mileage weeks I've been missing. 

To also keep me focused, I'm looking at some races to put on my calendar. To kick off 2012, I'm running the St. Pete's Beach Classic 10K when I go to see my parents in Tampa MLK weekend. Definitely looking to get the speed back to what it was in June for another sub-hour 10K. (Especially because my Mom and Dad will be watching - and the last time they saw me run a race, it was the final quarter mile of Boston - so needless to say, I wasn't looking my best.) 

Just making sure my luck won't run out!

Packed Schedule v Running

Miles run this week: 2
Days until Burlington: 204

Welp, the holiday season is upon us, which means weekends full of parties and cookies, miles ramping up, miles in the freezing cold, and pals are starting to train for Boston.

I'm looking at my schedule of miles, and the day before Christmas Eve I have a 10 miler slated. I finally manned up and ran 7 miles (without spin class before - much smarter) again...now I'm staring down 10? I'm starting to remember why I took 2011 off of marathoning. The time it demands alone is mentally grueling - nevermind that 68 minutes outside in 40-ish degree weather made my hands so cold that they were swollen when I got home.

But when I'm out there, I feel incredible. Thinking about the mere fact that I've run so many miles makes me run faster, and happier while I'm out there.

It's the getting out there that's tough. My whiney inner lazy fat kid takes over:
-It's dark out when you get home from work!
-You have so many cookies to make for parties!
-You have cheesecake in the fridge and Teen Mom 2 on DVR!
-There are so many presents to wrap!
-Cheesecake!

I ran two miles on the treadmill yesterday - and the way this week is shaping up, it's looking like I'll end up doing about 9 out of my 18 miles on the 'mill. This is awful for a couple reasons - (1) running on the treadmill is some form of torture from an ancient, evil civilization (2) it's hard on the body, particularly the hips (which are already a sad state of affairs for me). Between the cookie baking, present shopping and tree trimming, it looks like my only option.

I just keep thinking about how much happier I will be in Burlington if I lay the good groundwork now! (And cheesecake.)