March Training

It’s hard to believe March is already over.  Usually during the month of March running becomes more enjoyable.  The weather is typically decent, I and get to celebrate my running birthday.  Plus for the last few years, I go run Shamrock in hometown area.

This year, however, was atypical.  This was one of the coldest (and rainiest) months in New Jersey history.  The winter I escaped while in Alabama, came back and bit me in the bum up here.

Miles Run: 270 
Workouts: 8
Range of Pace: 5:55-9:50-untimed
Rest Days: 3 
Best Workout:
1X3 mile 6:18 average
3X5 minute
5X400
It definitely gave me confidence in my speed. I haven’t hit a lot of my workout paces lately, but that one I did.  It was a workout where “everything clicked.”

Races: 2
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup 4 Miler (24:13)
Shamrock Half Marathon (1:26.49)

Favorite Race:
I don’t have a favorite this month, and both races were equally “good.”  Were either PRs?  No.  Were they both fun?  Yes.

While neither races was in great weather conditions, I made the best of both situations. The Grilled Cheese Run was in frigid conditions while Shamrock was in pouring rain, wind, and sleet.  Since January of 2016, I can’t catch a break weather wise.

Thoughts:

I’ve been dancing around the subject of training lately.  The truth is, I’m not happy with how I have progressed in the last 6 months (which is none).  I would have liked to have broken 18 minutes in a 5k by now.  I’ve been consistently training, logging speed as well as base mileage.  I’ve stayed healthy, but yet I’m still in the plateau of running between 18:30-18:40 5ks.  It doesn’t matter the conditions or the terrain, I still seem to hit that narrow window.

I’ve asked myself: is it bad weather? It is me?  Is it my legs just don’t physically go any faster?  Is it when I do race “a little better” the course is just “a little longer”?  And yes, .1 in a 5k is 30 seconds longer so a long course matters.

There are a lot of questions and I don’t have conclusions.  I’ve gone through plateaus before with both running and swimming.  It’s one of the hardest aspects of running.  You feel as though you’re working hard but having no success.

I’m hoping my legs, and the weather cooperates for one race together.

In April:

I’ve already run in the Phillies 5k but I do have a couple more 5ks as well as my goal half marathon, the April Fools in Atlantic City.  It’s scary to write, but I am hoping April brings a new PR. 

Blog Posts from the Month:
How Alternating Shoes Can Benefit Running
Why 5ks are the Best
Do You Need More Protein While Running? 
Hoka Bondi 5 Shoe Review
Brooks Launch 4 Shoe Review
Should You Race in Racing Flats?
Thoughts While Working in a Running Store

Questions for you:
How was your month of training?
Have you been stuck in a plateau?