Another week of training down?
I received constructive feedback about how boring my training logs had become. When the majority of your blog is about running, I guess that is never good. So I thought I would dive more in depth into my logs each week. I don’t get paid to blog about my training but if it helps someone else then fabulous. Or if you’re like me, and nosy, than also equally as fabulous. I’m not a coach and not being coached.
One reason I have blogged less and less about training is that a lot of people don’t read posts. With the rise of instagram runners, a lot of blogs including my personal favorites have died off. We all have lives and like I said on Wednesday, it doesn’t bother me but I don’t ever plan to become an instagrammer that writes a novel with each photo. That being said, I have nothing to hide and as someone who works in run specialty, I do know half of my readers are people I “know in real life” so lying and hiding life would be weird.
On another running note, I will say I have decided on a fall race and once I have things set in stone I will share.
| Monday: | Easy 3 miles running |
| Tuesday: | 10 Miles easy with Alexis |
| Wednesday: | 3X1 mile 6:30 pace (warmup 2/cool down 2) |
| Thursday: | Rest |
| Friday: | Easy 60 minutes running |
| Saturday: | Killington 25k (3:20) |
| Sunday: | Rest |
Easy Runs:
I run easy and usually either run without a watch on a route I already know (such as 3 miles). I just put it on timer mode and run for X amount of minutes. I have no idea pace or distance on the timed runs, but I typically average the miles to be about 9 minute miles. They are usually boring, uneventful, and I just leave and go for run.
Wednesday: 3X1 mile (averaging 6:30 pace) with ½ mile jog (no stopping)
I would have liked this workout to be closer to 6:15 pace but my body didn’t have it. I could tell I was tired but I had read something Sara Hall posted about: it wasn’t the easy workouts that made us stronger but the hard workouts that we didn’t feel great. I’m not taking stop breaks and just jogging through (very easy) because I do plan to build fitness for longer races (IE: not a 5 or 10k).
To be clear, I didn’t feel “injury bad” but more just tired, and my legs were heavy. We all have those days and it’s nothing to cry or be ashamed about. The weather was more humid than it has been but I was happy to get the workout done. Of course, it stinks for a workout not to go perfectly, but I’m not devastated.
While 400s are still just my favorite workout, I don’t want to find myself too stale by doing them all of the time. I am the person that could do the same workout week after week and not get bored of it. Swimming the mile in college gave me the “ability” to stay mindless…but I know it’s important to mix it up.
Killington 25k: (3:20):
Killington is known as the “Beast of the East” and I can see why. I was over 20 minutes slower at Killington than running the 25k in Colorado at 9000 feet of elevation. The terrain is much different and there is no way to compare. It was the physical task I’ve ever done and the terrain was either 40% incline or decline. There were sections of the race that became “only” 20% incline and I thought I was getting a nice break.
I am a terrible downhill runner. It’s something I know I could get better with practice, but right now it’s very weak for me. I was passed by dozens of people on downhills, only to pass them on the uphill. Trail running has taught me, if I ran a “just uphill race”, I would probably do pretty good at it. For me, the hardest part was going down a short decline around 13.5 that we ended up running through almost knee deep mud. Luckily, I didn’t injure myself but I can tell you…my quads are very very sore.
I am proud of my accomplishment. I run, walked, crawled, jogged, climbed, to the finish line and I couldn’t have asked anymore from myself. Running the two trail races has taught me a lot about myself and I am so glad I decided to run both this year!
Posts from the Week:
Getting Lost at Shark River Park
Differences of Collagen Peptides and Gelatin
Questions for you:
What is the hardest race you’ve run?
Do you have any fall goal races?
It’s funny how our perceptions change. A few years ago, I hated monotony and needed constant change in my workouts or else I would be bored. Now, similar to you, I could do the same workouts each week and not be bored. I enjoy knowing what comes next, ticking off the same laps on the track, knowing exactly where each mile marker is, etc.
Great job on the trail races! I’ve always wanted to do one, but I have weak ankles and am scared in the trails. I would hate to get injured doing something that’s not a goal race or terrain, but it would be fun to do something without expectations. I also need to invest in good trail shoes for this.
Hardest race I’ve ever done would probably be a very hilly half marathon I did in PA with a small trail portion. I’m pretty much always in shape to run a half (ie always have the mileage in me) but those kills had my quads sore for days. They were very very steep and I’m not used to anything more than rolling hills.
Fall race- Chicago marathon in just a few short weeks. After that, I’m going to tackle a few more halves before the end of the year. Excited to see what you have lined up!
That is exciting Seletha! What is your goal for Chicago?
Which half in PA? My inlaws live in Central Pa and I remember hearing of a tough half like that.
Before this summer I was terrified of hurting myself on trails but I do think getting good trail shoes has helped and honestly just doing it. I feel like if I didn’t plunge in, I would be terrified until I did.
Training logs are training logs, and it’s the kind of post people either like to read or not. Sometimes running in general is monotonous and there’s not much to say about a run except that you did it. I hated going into details in my training logs because I felt like if I shared the pace of every run, it would just invite people to compare and also mess with my own head. Since I’m not running, I don’t seek out training posts to read. You have plenty of other variety, and it’s not like someone has to read every single blog post to be a blog reader.
Congratulations on the Killington race! I can’t wait to read more about it. I don’t do the intense trail runs but it’s really interesting to me and I have a few friends who are into those and ultras. I hope you got some pics from the run too- just from the background, it looks like it’s pretty out there.
I also feel like it’s invite to compare about pace, time, distance, whatever. The other piece for me, personally, is that I’m not focused on distance or pace so many runs I just don’t know the exact mileage or pace. That being said, I could more effort than I was.
That race was brutal and I cannot even fathom doing the 25k with ALL the additional up and down. The descent also trashed my quads and I’m not walking down the stairs any better today then I was yesterday. This week will definitely be swim heavy for this girl 🙂 It was great seeing you, even if it was only for a short time, and you should be SUPER proud of yourself for conquering the BEAST!!!
I always love your training logs and have never felt like they were lazy! One of the reasons I love following you and reading your blog is because you aren’t obsessed with pace or mileage like so many other runners. It seems like you love running without letting it take over your life and I personally think that is so refreshing! You don’t owe it to anyone else to provide every little detail of your training and I think it;s unfortunate that someone called you lazy because of what you chose to share on YOUR blog. You have a great blog and I enjoy your content (and I think so many others feel the same way!). Congrats on your 25k, the ups and downs looked brutal but you killed it!!