About my new Saucony Kinvaras.SO MUCH KNEE PAIN.
DAMN YOU!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Sticking to Your Guns
So I started my training plan-- I chose the Fitness Magazine's 8-week plan, which I plan to do twice, once attempting a 9:30 average pace, and once attempting a 9:00 average pace, which theoretically puts me at a sub-2hour 13.1 miles (1:58). Is it possible to cut :30 off of everything I try to do on the back half of this thing? IDK. I don't know enough about training to answer that. But the plan is pretty rigorous, so maybe I can ease into that goal race pace as I build my stamina back up, rather than trying to jump drastically at the halfway point.
Last week, Week 1, I had an amazing week. I stuck diligently to the plan, including speed repeats (which I never do) and cross training. I swam laps for the first time in years. I lifted weights and made it to a 7AM hot yoga flow class. By Saturday I was sore as hell but pleasantly tired and ready to do my Sunday distance run. I even was tempted to run on my prescribed rest day because the rest of the week felt invigorating. Awesome, yes?
But then, for the holiday weekend, Boyfriend and I went to the steamy, nasty hot Chattanooga. While it was way fun, and I got a good arm workout from lifting and swinging around a lead-heavy 3.5-year old, it was preventatively hot for running during the afternoons. We slept in both days, and I chose to revel in the evenings instead of carving out an hour and a half to do my distance and shower, or even 45 minutes for junk miles on Monday.
By Tuesday, I was sluggish, mad at myself for getting off schedule so early, and disgustingly full of three days worth of corn on the cob and peach cobbler. Which brings me to my point: stick to your guns. Even though running is largely a solo sport, there is a lot of offensive and defensive strategizing to be concerned with, even if, like me, you are a huffing, puffing amateur. If, like me, running feels really good, and not running feels disappointing and bad, you have to play defense against distractions, and offensively prioritize. It can feel a little antisocial to abandon a preplanned activity to have time for yourself. I imagine for people with kids of their own it feels absolutely weird to get up in the morning and leave the house to go be by yourself. For me, I feel the need to hang out with others every minute of a vacation, and typically feel exactly like I described when I return from them which, might I add, is not how one should feel returning from vacation. So yes, I think it's important. If it makes me happier with the world and myself, I'm sure I'm more consistently pleasant, and that, I think, is more valuable than being present for every single minute of a vacation. So I just need to have the guts to run always, not just when it conveniently fits the routine.
Last week, Week 1, I had an amazing week. I stuck diligently to the plan, including speed repeats (which I never do) and cross training. I swam laps for the first time in years. I lifted weights and made it to a 7AM hot yoga flow class. By Saturday I was sore as hell but pleasantly tired and ready to do my Sunday distance run. I even was tempted to run on my prescribed rest day because the rest of the week felt invigorating. Awesome, yes?
But then, for the holiday weekend, Boyfriend and I went to the steamy, nasty hot Chattanooga. While it was way fun, and I got a good arm workout from lifting and swinging around a lead-heavy 3.5-year old, it was preventatively hot for running during the afternoons. We slept in both days, and I chose to revel in the evenings instead of carving out an hour and a half to do my distance and shower, or even 45 minutes for junk miles on Monday.
By Tuesday, I was sluggish, mad at myself for getting off schedule so early, and disgustingly full of three days worth of corn on the cob and peach cobbler. Which brings me to my point: stick to your guns. Even though running is largely a solo sport, there is a lot of offensive and defensive strategizing to be concerned with, even if, like me, you are a huffing, puffing amateur. If, like me, running feels really good, and not running feels disappointing and bad, you have to play defense against distractions, and offensively prioritize. It can feel a little antisocial to abandon a preplanned activity to have time for yourself. I imagine for people with kids of their own it feels absolutely weird to get up in the morning and leave the house to go be by yourself. For me, I feel the need to hang out with others every minute of a vacation, and typically feel exactly like I described when I return from them which, might I add, is not how one should feel returning from vacation. So yes, I think it's important. If it makes me happier with the world and myself, I'm sure I'm more consistently pleasant, and that, I think, is more valuable than being present for every single minute of a vacation. So I just need to have the guts to run always, not just when it conveniently fits the routine.
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