Running and Laughing through the Golden State
Running and Laughing through the Golden State
Lake Marie via the Skyline Trail is a trek to get too but well worth the 6.2 miles round trip. It’s one of the most beautiful views in Napa. While getting there is challenging, it’s well worth the climb weather you are hiking or running. It’s about 3.2 miles or 6.4 round trip.
Last week I saw an image that said: “the no-excuses culture is toxic.” I 100% agree.
Rarely does a single image or phrase inspire me to write an entire blog post, but this is something I have always felt strongly about.
The no-excuses phrase falls into a category that I see often and maybe daily. The “fitness motivation” category with phrases like no excuses, never miss a workout, the only bad workout is the one you didn’t do.
Life goes on.
Like many people, motivation has been difficult when there aren’t any significant races on the horizon. I’ve been looking for something new to train and do. As I mentioned last Thursday, I enjoyed my previous virtual challenge. Now that it’s over, I wanted something else.
It doesn’t take a genius to know that we are in the middle of a pandemic. Lives lost, businesses closed, and livelihoods broken—sports and racing fall in the least of priorities with that.
So? So, many fall races have already been canceled. While there are still many big fall races that haven’t been canceled…it’s more or less, “they haven’t been canceled yet.”
I guess for the next few weeks, nothing should feel comfortable. I’m at the point in my running where nothing feels terrible but I don’t feel great running either.
This is the part of running that you want to push, and get fast and stronger. You can push the envelope a bit, but push too far and you are most susceptible to an injury. I’ve learned that lesson the hard time (more than once). This week instead of increasing distance, I included a race.
| Monday: | Easy 45 minutes+ core |
| Tuesday: | Easy 45 minutes |
| Wednesday: | Easy 45 minutes+ core |
| Thursday: | Rest |
| Friday: | Easy 45 minutes |
| Saturday: | 40 minutes with a personal friend (8:30 pace) |
| Sunday: | 5k (6:33 pace) |
Progression:
Week 3: 33-35 miles + a speed workout 5k
Monday-Friday were easy, breezy, beautiful, CoverGirl runs…or just boring runs. For a while, my runs will remain easy. I don’t time them but my realistic guess is between 9-10 minute miles.
On Saturday I ran with a personal friend who is currently much faster than I am. She had an easy run on Saturday, which was a little bit out of my comfort zone but we were able to meet about halfway and run about 8:30 pace. It’s definitely much faster than I’ve running but it felt good and it was great to catch up. I didn’t feel bad and the run flew by.
On Sunday, I ran a 5k at a local airport with my husband. I had found the race earlier in the week but my husband and I wanted to play it by ear and not commit (we are chronic race day signupers anyways).
I thought because the race finished on a runway, it must be flat. Spoiler: I thought wrong. While it started and ended on the runway, there was actually a large climb during the middle mile. My splits were 6:25, 6:36, and 6:33 which I’m happy with. It was a great rust buster.
Unfortunately, I am a little jaded because, after the race, I tripped and fell and bruised up my knee, elbow, and shoulder. Not the end of the world and I am more annoyed than anything. So now I’ve cut multiple cuts, and road rash down my right side.
This week was great and I have no complaints. I added 1 speed workout but kept mileage about the same. Next week, I’ll probably do something similar. I haven’t found any 5ks but if one peaks my interest I might run another. I’m just continuing to trek along. Although, now I have a nice knee scab to trek with.
Posts from the week:
Why Building a Base is So Important for Running
Brooks Glycerin 15 Shoe Review
Questions for you:
How was your week of running?
Have you ever fallen while running?
Ha…I’ve fallen so many times. From the time I was hit by a cyclist, to the time I tripped and fell in my neighborhood. My knees make me look more badass than I actually am.