It's hard to believe, but I've now finished one half of my training. Amazing how quickly the time flies by! I pushed myself above the one hour mark this past week for the first time this season! It feels so good to get those long runs completed. Surprisingly, often times my long run each week is my easiest. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m more focused, or taking better care of myself the day before, but often times I feel like I could run much further when it comes to the end of my long run. I tend to stop myself at those points knowing adding too much distance too quickly can lead to injury.
I’m preparing myself for my second, and most likely last 10k before PF Changs, this Thursday (http://www.raceplaceevents.com/event.php?event=401002). I’m forcing myself to behave all week, despite the distractions that come with the holiday approaching. I know a few good days of rest, good diet, some good runs and workouts, and adequate stretching offer me the best chance for a strong run on Thanksgiving. I’m not much of a pasta eater, but it’s certain to make my menu this week. And I love knowing I’m starting out a day of gluttony with a solid run, erases some of the guilt!
Week 8 Summary: Goal 20 miles, 6.5 mile long run. I met my distance goal, and exceeded my long run goal with a 7 mile run. My long run took me 1:01:59 (8:51). I’ve now completed more than 120 miles, with a pace of 8:52.
Week 9 Goal: My goal this week is 21 miles. I’m scheduled for a long run of 7 miles, but since I ran that last week I’ll attempt for 7.25 miles this week. Added to my 10k race on Thursday, my other two runs won’t have to be very long.
Thursday, November 27th 10k: My goal for this 10k is 53:55 (8:40 miles).
Monday, November 24, 2008
Getting further...
I’m still somehow behind on my blogs. I guess that’s pretty indicative of what’s going on in my life right now…never seems to be a free moment, but I’m enjoying it all the same.
My running is definitely coming along, and as my long runs build, I’m feeling more confident and much stronger on my shorter runs. I have encountered some knee pain, which always concerns me. I know with as busy as I’ve been, I haven’t been as strict on getting in all my lower body workouts and stretching. For some reason strength training my legs always is the easiest one for me to put off. I think partially because I know it makes me sore for a couple days, which interferes with my running schedule. I think also it’s because my legs get such a workout from running, I tend to want to work my upper body when I’m in the gym. Whatever it is, I’m really trying to commit myself to being better, since I know as I build my mileage the chances for an injury increase.
By no means take the next statement as a complaint…but summer just seems to be holding on here! I love the warm weather, although it does make it a little trickier for training. Even as we close in on the end of November, I have to schedule runs for earlier in the day, or at night. The forecast has it cooling down this week, which makes me a little sad, but it allow me more freedom for when I run during the day. I’m pretty sure this will be the shortest winter ever since by early February it’s usually warming back up. I love this state!
Week 7 Summary: Goal 19 miles, 10k (6.22 miles) long run. I completed 19 miles for week 7, and ran a 10k. Details of my 10k are in my last post.
Week 8 Goal: My goal for week 8 is 20 miles, with a 6.5 mile long run.
My running is definitely coming along, and as my long runs build, I’m feeling more confident and much stronger on my shorter runs. I have encountered some knee pain, which always concerns me. I know with as busy as I’ve been, I haven’t been as strict on getting in all my lower body workouts and stretching. For some reason strength training my legs always is the easiest one for me to put off. I think partially because I know it makes me sore for a couple days, which interferes with my running schedule. I think also it’s because my legs get such a workout from running, I tend to want to work my upper body when I’m in the gym. Whatever it is, I’m really trying to commit myself to being better, since I know as I build my mileage the chances for an injury increase.
By no means take the next statement as a complaint…but summer just seems to be holding on here! I love the warm weather, although it does make it a little trickier for training. Even as we close in on the end of November, I have to schedule runs for earlier in the day, or at night. The forecast has it cooling down this week, which makes me a little sad, but it allow me more freedom for when I run during the day. I’m pretty sure this will be the shortest winter ever since by early February it’s usually warming back up. I love this state!
Week 7 Summary: Goal 19 miles, 10k (6.22 miles) long run. I completed 19 miles for week 7, and ran a 10k. Details of my 10k are in my last post.
Week 8 Goal: My goal for week 8 is 20 miles, with a 6.5 mile long run.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Behind on my posts...not on my running.
So apparently last week was too busy to update my blog. I’ll do a quick catch up now, and fill you all in better later this week.
I completed the Phoenix 10k last weekend. The run was a real struggle for me, although I do realize I may not have done the best pre-race preparation the day and two before. I’m keeping that in mind for my next 10k in just 10 days. I did forget to hit the stop button on my Garmin when crossing the finish line, but I hit the lap button at 6.22 miles, and was at 53:29 (8:36). The race was a little longer than an actual 10k (I’m not sure if I did a lot of sideways running, or if the course was just off a bit), and I finished it out in 54:27 (8:46s based on 6.22 miles). I asked a couple guys after the race what their gps watches measured the race at, and they said 6.33 miles, so it wasn’t just me:)
I woke up this morning with severe pain behind my left knee. I took yesterday off running, and wasn’t feeling any pain yesterday, so I’m not sure what’s going on. I can’t straighten my leg all the way though, so I’m not happy about it. I’m going to try some continued stretching and see if I can get out for a run this evening. This is a different kind of pain than I’ve ever felt before, so I’m not sure if running will be a really bad thing, or even an option. But I’ll give it a try.
Week 6 Summary: Goal 18 miles, with a 5.75 mile long run. I exceeded my long run with a 6 mile run, and met my miles goal. My pace for the week was 8:46.
Week 7 Goal: My goal for week 7 was 19 miles, with a long run being my 10k (6.22 miles).
Sunday, November 9 10k Summary: I finished the race in 54:27, which was just 2 seconds more than my goal. My Garmin shows me beating my goal for 6.22 miles, with 53:29, 9 seconds faster than my goal pace. That puts me just 2 seconds off 7 mph.
I completed the Phoenix 10k last weekend. The run was a real struggle for me, although I do realize I may not have done the best pre-race preparation the day and two before. I’m keeping that in mind for my next 10k in just 10 days. I did forget to hit the stop button on my Garmin when crossing the finish line, but I hit the lap button at 6.22 miles, and was at 53:29 (8:36). The race was a little longer than an actual 10k (I’m not sure if I did a lot of sideways running, or if the course was just off a bit), and I finished it out in 54:27 (8:46s based on 6.22 miles). I asked a couple guys after the race what their gps watches measured the race at, and they said 6.33 miles, so it wasn’t just me:)
I woke up this morning with severe pain behind my left knee. I took yesterday off running, and wasn’t feeling any pain yesterday, so I’m not sure what’s going on. I can’t straighten my leg all the way though, so I’m not happy about it. I’m going to try some continued stretching and see if I can get out for a run this evening. This is a different kind of pain than I’ve ever felt before, so I’m not sure if running will be a really bad thing, or even an option. But I’ll give it a try.
Week 6 Summary: Goal 18 miles, with a 5.75 mile long run. I exceeded my long run with a 6 mile run, and met my miles goal. My pace for the week was 8:46.
Week 7 Goal: My goal for week 7 was 19 miles, with a long run being my 10k (6.22 miles).
Sunday, November 9 10k Summary: I finished the race in 54:27, which was just 2 seconds more than my goal. My Garmin shows me beating my goal for 6.22 miles, with 53:29, 9 seconds faster than my goal pace. That puts me just 2 seconds off 7 mph.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Coming along...
How the heck is it already November and just a handful of weeks away from 2009? This time of year always seems to fly by, and it amazes me how training pushes it along even faster. I’m in the middle of my sixth week of training, and yet it feels like I just started. Things seem to be progressing pretty well, although there are still a lot of runs, even the short ones, that are a real struggle. I know there comes a point, and usually it just happens one day, where four and five mile runs feel like a breeze. I’m still waiting for 3.5 mile runs to feel that way. But it will come. Running is all about consistency…and a little bit self-torture. You’ve got to love the feeling of finishing a run just a bit more than you love feeling like dying along the way.
I’m gearing up for my first 10k of the season in just four days. I don’t expect this to be my strongest 10k ever, but I’m going to give it my best. I just don’t want to set myself up for disappointment if my time hasn’t improved compared to past 10ks. I’ve set expectations that the 10k on Thanksgiving will be a stronger run for me. This will be my longest run yet this season, so just getting to the end takes a lot of effort. I did finish out a long run this morning of six miles, which is a definite boost to my confidence. Knowing I just have .22 miles further to run on Sunday makes it feel like a smaller task. And who knows, some days you can head out for a run and it’s just easy…other days it makes you beg for death…hopefully Sunday will be an easy day!
I did some comparing to see how I’m doing this year compared to last (I’ve kept some extensive logs the last 2 years of training). Last year my training was to last 18 weeks, whereas this year I’ve scheduled 16. My injury flared up in the 15th week, hence the shorter training. Both years I hit my long run of six miles in the sixth week. My first 10k last year wasn’t until the beginning of week eight, whereas this year it’s a week earlier. My pace this year is quite a bit faster too. My paces are about 5 to 15 seconds faster than the same weeks last year.
Week 5 Summary: Goal 13.5 miles in three runs, with a 5.25 mile long run. I finished out 13.5 miles at a pace of 8:54. I completed a long run of 5.5 miles which has pushed me .75 miles ahead of my scheduled long runs.
Week 6 Goal: I’m scheduled to run 18 miles this week with a long run of 5.75 miles.
Sunday, November 9th 10k Goal: My goal is to complete the race in 54:25 (8:45 minute miles).
I’m gearing up for my first 10k of the season in just four days. I don’t expect this to be my strongest 10k ever, but I’m going to give it my best. I just don’t want to set myself up for disappointment if my time hasn’t improved compared to past 10ks. I’ve set expectations that the 10k on Thanksgiving will be a stronger run for me. This will be my longest run yet this season, so just getting to the end takes a lot of effort. I did finish out a long run this morning of six miles, which is a definite boost to my confidence. Knowing I just have .22 miles further to run on Sunday makes it feel like a smaller task. And who knows, some days you can head out for a run and it’s just easy…other days it makes you beg for death…hopefully Sunday will be an easy day!
I did some comparing to see how I’m doing this year compared to last (I’ve kept some extensive logs the last 2 years of training). Last year my training was to last 18 weeks, whereas this year I’ve scheduled 16. My injury flared up in the 15th week, hence the shorter training. Both years I hit my long run of six miles in the sixth week. My first 10k last year wasn’t until the beginning of week eight, whereas this year it’s a week earlier. My pace this year is quite a bit faster too. My paces are about 5 to 15 seconds faster than the same weeks last year.
Week 5 Summary: Goal 13.5 miles in three runs, with a 5.25 mile long run. I finished out 13.5 miles at a pace of 8:54. I completed a long run of 5.5 miles which has pushed me .75 miles ahead of my scheduled long runs.
Week 6 Goal: I’m scheduled to run 18 miles this week with a long run of 5.75 miles.
Sunday, November 9th 10k Goal: My goal is to complete the race in 54:25 (8:45 minute miles).
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