Rehoboth Beach Marathon Training Week 13 – I Wanna Go Back, Yeahhhhhhh!

This week’s title is from one of my very favorite songs by one of my very favorite bands (think mid 90s for the album). The title also reflects a big step I made this week in my mental game. I remembered what training USED to be like.

I’m actually recapping on a Monday this week and getting ahead of the game for a change. I feel like I just did this. My right leg is really an emotional roller coaster these days. I have runs that feel like I’m ready to take on anything and I have runs where I’m not sure what I’m doing is best for me. I’d give anything to just feel average everyday.

I had a really good week overall. There was fun to be had, but just the right amount. There was good family time, some grownup fun, but I was still able to get all of my runs in. I did a little rearranging though.

Look at all this fun!

Monday – Planned 4 miles/Actual 4 miles

I continued my use of the treadmill on Mondays. I think that’s going to be a thing. Maybe I’ll call it “Mill Monday”. The lower impact after a long run on Sunday really does seem like it’s good for me. My longest Monday run to get ready for Rehoboth is only 5 miles, and that’s a pretty tolerable distance for treadmill running.

I did cross-train a little, but really took it easy. Monday is now “cross-training light” day. My advisers agree it’s a smart move. 🙂

Tuesday – Planned 6 miles/Actual 5 miles

I shorted my run by a mile, but that’s alright. I NEEDED a coffee run with Alissa and Wade. We’ve all had a lot going on and haven’t been able to get together as often as we used to. Of course, if my marathon goes horribly, I’LL BLAME THIS!

I’ve been hesitant to run at too easy a pace, since that’s when I seemed to have the most hip problems, but this one went just fine. I didn’t get to stretch like I would like to. It can be tough to find the time or the place to do it on the days where I go right into work.

Wednesday – Kettlebells

Whatever slack I’m being allowed by Jill on Mondays I’m paying for on Wednesdays. This was a butt-whoopin. Literally. My butt. Whooped. Kettlebell swings and squats destroy me. That’s a sure sign that I need them. I was definitely cool with not running.

Thursday – Planned 6 miles/Actual 6 miles

A coffee mug. 

This was the 2nd week in a row that I got together with Brooke and MC for a 6 miler and some coffee. I’m hoping it becomes a thing! Brooke was getting ready for the NYC marathon (she KILLED it BTW) while MC and I are trying to get ourselves back to normal.

The pace was just right. The first 3 miles, we averaged an 8:07. The last 3 miles, we averaged a 7:48. That’s about my most comfortable pace. 🙂

 

Friday – Planned Rest/Actual 8 miles

This was supposed to be my rest day, but I decided to get my Saturday run done early so that I could enjoy some Halloween Party shenanigans (see earlier photo) without worry. I haven’t been doing any speedwork or tempos as part of my training, since I’m trying to be on the cautious side. I did decide to step on the gas for a couple of these miles and even ran a 6:57! It felt great, but I definitely can’t keep that up for as long as I could before the injury. I’ll get back to it eventually.

After the run, I felt a little on the sore side (stupid hip). I did my stretching and got some relief at least. It’s hard to say what made me sore. Was it the tough workout Wednesday? Was it the run on my rest day? Was it the fast pace? I’m tired of guessing honestly…

Saturday – Planned 8 miles/Actual Rest

I rested, as in I didn’t run. There were soccer games, and baseball/softball with the kids. There was a birthday party that involved scrambling for a last minute gift. My hip was sore, but not as sore as it was at its worst. The highlight was that awesome extra hour of sleep, which I somehow turned into 2 extra hours (more about that below).

Sunday – Planned 15 miles/Actual 15 miles!

15 at EXACTLY an 8:00/mile pace. SO HAPPY!

So about this time change thing… Basically I assumed that my watch would NOT update and set my alarm for 5:50 when I really wanted to get up at 4:50 to run at 6:00. It DID update, so I ended up waking up at the actual 5:50 and starting my run at 7:00. Boooooo.

I’ll be honest, I was pretty pessimistic going in. I overslept. I didn’t feel particularly great. I was thinking about my hip. As I was getting ready, I decided that I couldn’t take all of this feeling great/feeling crappy stuff anymore. My decision was that if the run went poorly or I ended up in pain, I was going to drop from the marathon and switch to the half. So OF COURSE, I have an AMAZINGLY good run!

How did this happen, you ask? I started thinking back to the joy and optimism that I used to have when I first marathon trained. I thought about when adding the miles every week was uncharted territory that brought excitement and adventure. I thought about that wise advice to “run the mile you’re in”. I ran with a smile. Smiles take WAY less energy than game faces.

This run was everything I needed. I came out confident. I could have run longer. My last mile was by far the fastest at a 7:21. I stretched and ate all of the food that a person needs to make up 1,600-1,800 calories. I finally felt like someone that could run a marathon again!

I’m looking forward to this week’s training. I feel like I’m back in control and not just holding on for dear life anymore.

Sorry for such a long one this week.

 

 

 

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