Ah yes, the weekly training blog. This week was a very high mileage week for me and in fact, my highest lifetime mileage week. The temperature just really jived with my running and I was able to wake up early and get my miles done. So in short, everything clicked.
Running: 84 miles
Swimming: 7000 meters
I’ll start with running. Most of my runs have been relatively easy with a few striders here and there. My only moderate (tempo) run was at our local summer series race on Tuesday night. It is a legit “race” but it’s more a fun type of thing. No one goes there to race and elbow bitches out of the way because it’s so hot and that isn’t the atmosphere Most people go for a tempo type fun run. It’s just fun. I ran 3.4 miles at a 7 minute pace.
My other fast workout was some speed I did on Friday. I was originally supposed to have 3X1 miles but my body could not handle that. I changed it to 12X400s at the same pace but having that extra rest allowed me to make my target times.
Was it frustrating?
Yes, a little bit but I have to remember where I’m coming from (last year and my stress fracture). The pace I was running this year would be a dream for me last year. I am improving by a lot and keeping that in mind kept me going.
On to swimming…I swam twice. Once I did 3k and once I did 4k. Easy and mindless to keep weight off my legs. I enjoy my pool time because it gives me some personal time to just relax and get some cross training in.
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Moving on to next week:
Next week is a taper week for me. I’m very excited and it’s my biggest race of the summer! The year before last year (2010) I won, last year I stress fractured-so I would like to win again. 😉 This particular race is a 1k run on the beach, followed by a 1k swim back in the ocean, then getting out and running a 5k on the boardwalk.
The boardwalk is hard and concrete and obviously the most type of stress you can put on your legs. This year, I’m much more ready though.
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Running wise this week, I’ll probably get about 40 miles in next week and swimming another 7000 meters. My running will be quicker.
I will hopefully do a tempo run (around 6:30 pace) on Monday followed by Speed on Wednesday and take Thursday off.
So yes, an easy dropping off week to me. This will allow my muscles to repair a bit and also prepare me for a (hopefully) fantastic race on Saturday.
Question for you:
1. What do you do when you struggle with workouts?
2. What are your workout plans this week? Any races?
3. Do you enjoy tapering?
Congrats on that high mileage!! That is awesome. You never cease to amaze me. Love your attitude with the speed workout too. That’s something I need to keep in mind.
I get to move up to 5 minutes of running with 1 minute of walking this week. This is the slowest return to running of my life and hopefully the last time I have to “return” for a while.
I’m so happy for you Tara! I hope you never have to make this postinjury return again!
woo nice mileage as per usual! and cutting to 40 is a pretty huge taper so you’re probably gonna be hella fast at that race 😀 Struggling with workouts is no fun though, usually when I find myself not hitting paces or not feeling on top of it, it’s a sign I need a little bit of a break! I usually just cut my mileage and run easy (watch-less) till I feel more energetic.
Great training week!!! Good luck with your big race! Woo 🙂
Wow, respect, I’d be impressed if I’d cycled that far in a week 🙂
Good luck in advance for the run;I’d never heard of tapering but it sounds great. I’ve got a week off work this week so I’m planning to go to Body Pump; I haven’t been for far too long!
I’d be impressed if someone cycled that much too. I cannot cycle worth a darn!
awesome job girl! I love looking at where I was last year and realizing that while I am not at my peak, I am far more healthy and happy in my running.
Wow awesome training week, I am sure you will win again, just don’t get injured… I always get injured right when I’m peaking it sucks… I struggle with workouts when I am tired and sore. This week I would love to have a consistent training week without piriformis pain. No races as I am direly unfit right now. I HATE tapering, makes me feel lazy and aggitated! But apparently it’s the best thing to do if you want to do well in a race hmmm! Hope you have an awesome week! Auds 🙂
Great week Hollie! I’m sure you’re gonna rock your race with such a big taper. I’m cheering for you already!
Wow you are really smart with your training!!!! Good luck!!
Good luck for your race, and enjoy taper week! I don’t have a race this week.
But there is this Powerade Challenge in our city that they are doing as a Olympic build up. Its an interactive race on the waterfront and they some of the NZ Olympians do the course so you can compare your times to them,
It is 8k and I do it as a tempo run and there is a bit of friendly competition with some of my running club people to get the fastest time. So I’ll do that on Friday.
Good luck girly! I can’t wait to see how you do!
Nice job! I would do anything to get rid of thesr sore legs to run.
Congrats on the amazingly high mileage! Make sure to enjoy your taper week. I actually just started my taper week (my first half marathon is this weekend!) and despite the fact that I thought I would be going crazy with the decreased mileage, I’m actually pumped for the “break”. We’ll see if that continues into the week…