Advertisements

Tag Archives: training

NYCM Training Week 3: Race Tuneup and Miles

October 21, 2019 By in Running, Training Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment
NYCM Training Week 3: Race Tuneup and Miles

It’s hard to believe in 2 weeks I’ll have (hopefully) run my next marathon. Training is going as best as it can in a short period. This 5-week buildup has been different than any other marathon because it’s short and I’m feeling undertrained. My goal is to get to both the start and finish line healthy. I don’t have a goal to run X time, but I solely want to run healthy and enjoy myself.  I am contemplating running the marathon more like a long run than race as a hard race. I would appreciate it more as well as recover faster.  I haven’t fully decided though yet.

Monday Easy 50 minutes
Tuesday: Easy 50 minutes
Wednesday: 10 miles averaging 8:19 with a fast finish
Thursday: Easy 4 miles with Jen M.
Friday: Swim 3000 meters
Saturday: Easy 60 minutes
Sunday: AC Half Marathon+ 7 miles for 20 total miles

 

Thoughts:

The goal on Sunday was to test my hamstring with 20 miles. It felt 100% fine for the entire race and miles afterward. It was the best-case scenario. It feels good that I’m able to push runs I couldn’t a few weeks ago. Fast and track style workouts are what aggravate it the most. Long runs and marathon paced work doesn’t seem to bother it anymore.

The Progression of my Hamstring (High Hamstring Tendinitis stemming from the glute medius). 

5 weeks ago, I couldn’t run.

3 weeks ago, I could only run very slow.

2 weeks ago, it was noticeable to run fast.

1 week ago, it was somewhat noticeable to run fast.

This week it fine to paces up to 6:55. (I just haven’t done anything faster than that)

So there is progress when I type it out like that.

From here, I’ll run a fairly similar run next week (not 20 miles though) and do a short taper. I’m also realistic that my training cycle has been nothing close to ideal. That’s okay, that’s been the theme of the entire 2019.

I am trying to find the best words to say: I just don’t like marathons. I don’t like the training and I feel like it’s not the right fit for me. After NYCM, I doubt I’m going to train for another for a while (I am talking years). I would need a good reason to want too. Truthfully, if NYCM wasn’t such a prestigious race and big deal, I probably wouldn’t run, but I like New York.  I like the race, the environment, and everything else.  I just don’t like marathons or marathon training.  As you can see, I need to find better ways to convey those thoughts.

In all, it was a good week and it was the best case scenario at Atlantic City.

Posts from the Week:

Gritty 5k (20:45)

Heroes to Hero 5k (20:30)

New Balance Fuelcell Echo Shoe Review

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. 

Questions for you:

Have you dealt with hamstring pain?

Do you like marathons?

Advertisements

NYCM Training: Increasing Mileage and Racing

October 14, 2019 By in Running, Training Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment
NYCM Training: Increasing Mileage and Racing

As New York City Marathon looms closer and closer, I feel less and less prepared. My only goal is to start and finish healthy, something I couldn’t do for Big Cottonwood. I’m at peace with that decision, although I do wish my hamstring felt better than it does. Running doesn’t make it worse, actually walking and sitting is the worst. It doesn’t hurt or alter my stride, but it’s noticeable when I run faster than about 6:40 pace. Anyway, running is going as well as it could right now.

Monday Easy 50 minutes
Tuesday: Easy 50 minutes
Wednesday: 10 miles averaging 8:06 fast finish
Thursday: Rest
Friday: Easy 60 minutes
Saturday: Heros to Hero 5k 20:30
Sunday: Gritty 5k 20:45 (total mileage 15)

Thoughts:

As you can see, it was a busy week. I got in miles. While traditionally, this should be “peak week” for NYCM, it won’t be for me. I’m hoping to sneak in one more week of bigger training for the New York City Marathon. I want to do a 20 miler beforehand because I want to know how my hamstring will respond to that.  It’s getting better but I do find I’m on the edge of pushing it, but not pushing it too far too set me back. I don’t want any surprises running 26.2 miles.

I don’t think I’m going to do any “traditional” speed work before NYCM because I’m already increasing mileage and with races, I think that’s enough.

I didn’t have the time to swim last week (because I chose to sleep).

Heroes to Hero 5k: 20:30

This is one of my favorite 5ks in the area. It’s flat, fast, and fun. The weather was ideal, but my legs just didn’t feel good. It wasn’t my hamstring but general soreness of upping my mileage. I could have stopped at mile 1 and not felt guilty about it, but it was a point to point course. I’ve come to terms with where I’m at fitness-wise right now.

Gritty 5k: 20:45

If it were most other 5ks, I wouldn’t have run two in a single week. The Gritty 5k was billed as a “fun run” with all proceeds going to charity. They didn’t do awards for winning, just best dressed. If you are any sort of Gritty fan, I highly recommend it. Even if you’re not, I highly recommend it. Which is fine. It was a lot of fun and my legs didn’t feel as bad the second race (weird right)? I felt like I could have run another few miles.

Posts from the Week:

New Balance 1500v5 Shoe Review

Cow Run 10 Miler 1:15.00

Hiking Franklin Parker Preserve

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. 

Questions for you:

How was your week of training?

Is anyone else doing NYCM? 

NYCM Training Week 2: Building Back

October 7, 2019 By in NYC training cycle Tags: , , , , , 1 Comment
NYCM Training Week 2: Building Back

Getting Back into shape is tough.  Adding a marathon in less than a month doesn’t make it any easier.

The goal was to slowly add mileage and see where time takes me. As I mentioned in my September training log, my goal for the New York City Marathon is to start and finish healthy.  I don’t have a time goal and I’m not going to cram my month with too many miles. I know I’ll find myself injured with something else if I do that.

Monday: 6.5 miles with Haley
Tuesday: Easy 30 minutes
Wednesday: 6.5 miles with strides
Thursday: Easy 6.2 miles with Jen M.
Friday: Swim 3000 meters
Saturday: Easy 45 minutes
Sunday: Cow Town 10 miler (1:15.00)+wu/cd 15 miles

 

Thoughts:

The week itself went fine. I’m still having some hamstring tightness (not hurt, just tight). I’m hoping it slowly goes away with a few more ART sessions with Dr. Craig from Dr. Kemenosh.

It was fun to run with a don’t have a lot else to say about the week. I’m happy to be running healthy again.

Cow Run 10 Miler (1:15.00):

This race was rough in many ways. First, it was my first run “fast” in 5 weeks. Second, since it was a point to point, we dealt with a headwind most of the race. Third, I opted to run in a costume which I quickly discovered was not breathable. During the race, I decided 7:30 was what my body felt like and I stayed there. Hopefully, fitness comes back soon.

I had a lot of fun running and even though it was a PW (personal worst), I don’t regret doing it and ripping the bandaid off. As far as my hamstring goes, it is sorer than I hoped, but it’s not terrible.  I don’t feel it when I walk or live life, but did feel it during our running cool down.

Posts from the Week:

On Cloudstratus Shoe Review

Running Books

Hiking Sunrise Mountain at State Forest

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. 

Question for you: How was your week of workouts? 

September Training: Injury and New Races

October 3, 2019 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , ,
September Training: Injury and New Races

Like most of the month, this isn’t the training log I expected to write. I was hoping to write about how I conquered the Big Cottonwood Half Marathon. Sadly, that never happened.  While I’m sad, I don’t regret anything.

Miles Run: About 100
Rest days: 2 Full Weeks+2 during training
Range of Pace: 6:30-11:30-untimed
Races: 1812 Challenge (2:09.40/7:09 pace)
Cross Training: Swimming 5 times, Hiking 2X

Thoughts:

September went through a range of emotions for me.

Sad:

  • When I realized my injury was too deep to run my goal marathon: Big Cottonwood.
  • When I needed an MRI and I thought there was a possibility to something broken in the pelvis.

Mad:

  • Why did this happen less than 10 days before my marathon?
  • When 10 days of complete rest went by and nothing seemed to get better.

Relief:

  • When slowly I started feeling better
  • When my MRI showed I have no signs of stress reactions or stress fractures.

Happiness:

  • Winning the 18.12 Challenge, something I didn’t think was possible!
  • When my body slowly started to feel better.
  • When New Balance asked if I would like to run the New York City Marathon with Team New Balance.
  • Hiking. I just enjoy being out there.

Now that I’m going to do a mini buildup, towards New York, I have a new goal. My goal for New York is to start and finish healthy. I’m not going to force myself to run a lot of mileage. Ramping anything too quickly will result in another injury. I’ve told a few people but it’s hard to have a miserable time at New York City if you’re healthy.

As far as my hamstring goes, it never hurts when walking or living life. It only hurt with running. Early in the month, it hurt with any runner. Now, it doesn’t hurt with easy running, but I have yet to test it out with anything “fast”. I did a few strides a few days ago and while it felt tight, it didn’t feel bad.

I’m looking forward to seeing how it responds in a race setting.

My plan for October is just to slowly increase miles, get a few quality sessions and then run New York. I will be doing a few races to test out my hamstring as well. I don’t need any surprises at the marathon.

Posts from the Week:

Running Books
Aftershokz Aeropex Headphone Review
Vital Proteins RecoveryWave
Aftershokz Xtrainerz Headphone Review

Shoe Reviews:
New Balance Fuelcell 5280 Shoe Review
New Balance 880v9 Shoe Review
Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%
Nike Zoom Fly 3 Shoe Review

Hiking:
Hiking Sunrise Mountain at State Forest
Hiking Wissahickon Creek Gorge Loop Trail
Hiking Splitrock Reservoir

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. 

Questions for you:
Have you run NYCM?
How was your month of training? 

Training and Recovery Log Sept. 30th

September 30, 2019 By in Running, Training Tags: , , , , ,
Training and Recovery Log Sept. 30th

I’m not training (at least technically not yet) for anything, but last week marked a huge jump in recovery for me. My previous training log was a bunch of rambling that was barely coherent. When I wrote it, I was waiting to hear if I had some sort of pelvic stress fracture. Like anyone, I was nervous and had played back why it “definitely was” and why “it couldn’t possibly be”.

With my history of bone injury and no relief in 2 weeks, I knew it was time to get an MRI. Would I have a femoral head, pelvis, or sacrum stress fracture? I even went so far as to think a herniated disk could be a possibility (which my dad likes to remind me happened when he was also 29).

Anyway, it was none of those things, which is surprising. My MRI came back and said I had no suspicious bone injuries and no stress reactions or stress fractures. Truthfully, I would be more bummed to have a bone injury than to miss a race. I had A LOT of bone injuries in my early twenties.  I’ve worked hard the last few years to listen to my body and take extra rest when I need it.  Due to my form, I stress my metatarsals so I’ve become very mindful of that.

Plus bone injuries in your pelvis and above the knee are usually a sign of something more serious.

Moving forward, my MRI showed it is not bone-related. With a lot of Active Release Therapy with Dr. Craig from Dr.Kemenosh, I’ve recovered pretty well. It felt like the first 2 weeks; I made no recovery and this week the stars are aligning and I feel almost completely better.

So Where Does This Take Me?

I do believe there is time to “salvage” my running season but I’m not going to stress about it.  I am signed up for another fall marathon and I’ll do a mini buildup. I will disclose that race sometime today or tomorrow. Like my previous goal with Big Cottonwood, my goal will be to start and finish healthy. The older I get, the more that becomes my goal. Do I want to PR? Of course, but I’m realistic that I’m not in the same shape I was in 2018.

Anyway the training of the training log-

Monday: 3000-meter swim
Tuesday: 3000-meter swim
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 30-minute run
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 30-minute run
Sunday: 6 Mile Hike in the Pinelands

My hamstring and butt feel better. I would say I’m about 95% back to feeling better. My running last week was more like plodding. While I only took about 2.5 weeks off, I feel like I took months. I’m just plodding along, happy I can run.

I also know not to be a dummy and jump back into the same mileage I was doing (even when I was starting to taper), then I will end up with a stress fracture.

I’ve been hiking a lot more recently. Even when I couldn’t run a step, hiking has never felt painful. It feels good to continue to do that.  Between that and swimming, the cross-training has kept some fitness.

This training log was a bit more enjoyable to write than last week.

Posts from the week:

New Balance Fuelcell 5280 Shoe Review

Aftershokz Aeropex Headphone Review

Hiking Wissahickon Creek Gorge Loop Trail

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. 

Questions for you:

Have you ever dealt with hamstring tendinitis? 

Are you training for anything? 

 

%d bloggers like this: