Rehoboth Beach Marathon Training Week 11 – And That’s the Way we Get by

What day is it? Feels like another Monday, but I’m told it’s Tuesday. Soon enough, Tuesday will be gone with the wind. Speaking of songs, my blog post title comes from one and if you can name the artist I’ll be especially impressed. The title speaks to where I am in my training right now. I’m really just trying to get by. The goal at Rehoboth is finishing. The goal of this training is survival. No more hill repeats and no more track workouts. Bleh.

 

This isn’t all Debbie Downer though. I’m training again! It’s not the ideal training, but it’s training nonetheless. Yes, my right side STILL doesn’t feel quite like my left side, but I think I’m on the right track (Dad joke).

I’m taking this slowly and really paying attention to how everything feels, both during and after my runs. I won’t let things get too crazy. I’ll slowly build up with my fingers crossed. Let’s recap how this week went, shall we?

Monday – Planned 4 miles/Actual 4 miles

I did a kettlebell workout with Jill at lunchtime, but life tried its best to keep me from running on my very first training day back, but I beat life’s butt. I just had to run at night, after a steak dinner. I got the meat sweats!

Clearly, that sweat contains steak and it is night time.

Tuesday – Planned 4 miles/Actual 4 miles

I titled this one on Strava, “Nothing hurt. Weird.” That’s a real plus, since it seems that SOMETHING has hurt for the last several weeks. I ran on the treadmill and I really think that helps a bit with where I sit currently in dealing with a banged up hip. It’s a nice break from the pavement. Yes, trail runners, I know that trails are too! Gosh!

I tweeted nice things about the TM.

Wednesday – Rest

This wasn’t a total rest day, but just from running. I’m continuing on with kettlebells at least once a week and mostly twice a week. I don’t blame my kettlebell workouts for any of what I’ve been dealing with and I really think they’ve helped.

Thursday – Planned 6 miles/Actual 6 miles

I ran this one alone in the dark. Truthfully, I wanted to be alone and I needed to be alone. It was just me, my music, and my pace. It was pretty refreshing to do my own thing. Unfortunately, “my own thing” involved an unscheduled stop. I’ll spare you the details, but there was POOP. What is it about a mid-run poop that makes me feel like running fast? Weird, right? Running in my Pegasus Turbos helped too. Those things feel best at a 7:00 pace or so.

Friday – Rest

I’m liking this 2 rest days a week thing. Right now, I NEED it.

Saturday – Planned 6 miles/Actual 6 mile tempo

This run was with friends! We didn’t have coffee though. It turned into a tempo run, which doesn’t make ANY sense. Tempo Saturday? There’s no ring to that. I felt fast from the beginning and had no trouble at all keeping up. It’s weird, but I still feel better when I’m burning it up a little. My friends are all getting ready to kill their upcoming races and I hope for nothing but the best for them.

Sunday – Planned 10 miles/Actual 10 miles

I got my long run done! It wasn’t perfect and I did catch feelings in my right leg, but I got through it without the pain getting much worse. Honestly, it hurt more later in the day but I managed. I’m continuing to stretch, roll, PT, etc. etc. This was a big accomplishment to me both mentally and physically. I’ve been battling things for so long and now there’s doubt embedded into my brain.

About that…I’ve noticed on several runs lately that my heart rate is up quite a bit from what I’d expect. This could mean that my wrist-based heart rate monitor is as erratic as many say they are OR is the stress and anxiety associated with my sore hip getting to me? I’d love to know some thoughts on that subject. Doctors? PTs? Anybody?

Well, Week 11 is in the books. It’s not the week 11 that I’d originally hoped for, but it’s the week 11 that I’m stuck with. The good news is, I made it through and can keep on running. Let’s hope for the same (or better) for week 12. At least I’ll have these Hoka Clifton 1s to try out. They are back, baby!