My 2016 running intentions are one part goal and another part bucket list. I accomplished quite a bit in 2015 and I want to keep that hot streak going but also remember the FUN in discovering this hobby/sport/whatever-you-call-it (and also remember that I’ll be training in two different sports, with my decision to return to roller derby).
1. PR my half marathon: I super, really want to work on getting my half marathon under 2 hours. I won’t be planning for this right out of the gate in 2016 to train properly (and smartly!) for my second full marathon, but I fully intend to make this happen later this year. My current half PR is 2:18:36 so I know this is ambitious (but a two-hour half marathon is not completely impossible).
Which brings me to #2: Complete another full marathon: I already have the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon on my calendar — and registered! — and training kick-off starts this weekend. No time goals this year (yet).
3. Run 700 miles: I barely squeaked out 500 miles in 2015 (actually only did 488.59 miles), what makes me think that I can run 700??? Let’s just say that I have a plan.
4. Do a 50k and/or Ragnar Relay: This is the year that things get CRAZY for this 30-something (and why I think that my mileage will be higher than last year). I want to cross one (or both) of these off my bucket list in 2016. Again, I’ll look to late summer/fall to make this a real thing.
5. Run a race in costume: I get so caught up in race day anxiety and performance that I sometimes forget about the element of fun. After laughing at the costumes in the Movie Madness Half Marathon and seeing everyone have so much fun with it, I want to be “that guy” too.
So my running goals for the year have a little bit of everything. I think it’s a good balance of challenge, adventure and, most importantly, FUN.
Last holiday season, I made a Pinterest board: Gifts for 30-somethings. Most of my suggestions still hold up! And I’ve been pinning more items to it as the holiday approaches (it’s a super-easy way for the boyfriend to know exactly what I want).
Here are my Top Five this year: 1. SOCKS.
OMG, I am SUCH a 30-something — I wrote “socks” in response to basically every email to family asking for gift ideas. I need a couple pairs of these DryMax socks for running in winter [purchase here], but also these SmartWool socks for winter in general [purchase at REI and many outdoor stores]. MORE SOCKS!
2. YOGA ACCESSORIES
I don’t know how I keep losing my wide yoga headbands (blame the cats, I’m sure), but I needed a couple more to stash into my workout bags. Hindsight, I wish I would’ve asked for another Buff too.
3. BOOKS & SHIT
My multi-media list includes things to read and things to listen to — and something to write in (I guess you could say that I’m obsessed with journal books). But my Amazon Wish List is full of books that I want to read in the New Year (and yes, some adult coloring books). I also asked for a couple vintage vinyl records that are missing from my favorites collection: Blood, Sweat & Tears; Presidents of the United States of America; and King Harvest. Also in this category is a Five-Year Diary.
4. SPLURGE ITEM
How am I a young-ish urban professional and don’t own a black crossbody bag?! A stretch for my Wish List, but I’m currently coveting this black leather bag from Bartaile.
SWOON.
5. MORE RUNNING STUFF
Since marathon training, I realized that I could use a few additional items for next year’s cycle: a jar of Cytomax (yes, I really put this on my wish list, and please, only lemon-lime); a water belt — I currently use a handheld for my training runs which can get annoying during long runs (and is often, not enough water) and I need a smart way to carry all that Cytomax AND water; I also asked for a kettlebell for my at-home workouts — no idea where I’ll swing the dang thing but I’ll figure it out.
Can a single blog post even capture the excitement of completing a first marathon? I don’t know, but I’m going to try this. My FIRST marathon was an indescribable experience. The Niagara Falls International Marathon were 26.2 miles that start in the U.S., continue over the border via the Peace Bridge and through Canada, ending at Niagara Falls. Most of the mileage follows the Niagara Parkway along the Niagara River, and it is just a breathtaking course.
This race had a 6-hour time limit, and I was training to finish in less than 5 hours. I felt pretty good for most of the race — no pain in that stupid nagging knee at all — and started to get overall tired and tight about 15 miles in. But Miles 21-26 were just a next-level experience. It was something part out-of-body and part flow state.
Sauconys ready.
I ran most of the course, with a few short walks through water stops and some stretching after Mile 15. No bathroom breaks, despite there being a port-o-pot at every Mile (really!) and no real distress for the duration of the race. I did break the Cardinal Rule of running though, by drinking something new (Cytomax) on the course that I didn’t train with… but I was at a point where IDGAF and, well, gluten-free fig newtons and sports beans weren’t cutting it. It wasn’t until after Mile 20, but I was ready for a bigger boost. And I felt like I drank a Red Bull and “grew some wings” (maybe I need to start trying out some new fueling options?).
Registration and Cost: I registered early bird back in March for $100 — yep, I officially registered for a full marathon before even doing a half marathon. The full marathon was capped at 1,200 runners (there were 721 total finishers so I imagine it didn’t sell out) and you have to have a valid passport in order to register for this race.
I apparently have a race day uniform now. LOL
Shuttle and Bag Check: There was a shuttle option from Canada (again, only for the full marathoners) and corresponding bag check on the buses. I didn’t use either since I stayed in Buffalo and had a pick-up at the finish line on the Canada side.
Expo and Packet Pick-up: The expo was located at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, so we had to cross the border to get there. One last border agent check point at packet pick-up itself, and the rest was easy. I was also able to pick up a fellow Pittsburgh runner’s bag and t-shirt (sans bib) since he was unable to make the race. The staff was super helpful and easy-going about it. Also, we got to fill up the bags trick-or-treat style at a vendor table at the far side of the expo; I couldn’t eat most of the products but it was very generous — including a full-size box of pasta!
Start Line: The race started in Buffalo near the Albright-Knox Gallery — which was open pre-race so that runners could wait INSIDE before the start. We even explored some of the galleries. That was majorly cool. Outside, there were seemingly enough port-o-pots, though I waited about 10 minutes with the influx of users about twenty minutes before start time. The half marathoners started at a different location on the Canada side.
So happy to be running!
Weather: The morning was chilly and low 40s at the start, and I thought it was perfect for shorts (hilariously). I did go back-and-forth on wearing my gloves and taking them off (and glad that I tucked them into my sleeve instead of discarding them mid-race), and I kept my cap on for the duration of the race. It was also super windy at certain points, which I think Pittsburgh winters have prepared me well for. Clouds covered the sky for the first half and the sun came out for the second. Considering I was initially planning for a forecast of rain for the weekend (and what Buffalo/Niagara could be at the end of October), I was overjoyed.
About 10 miles from the finish: Niagara Falls in the background.
Fans and Experience: Not a lot of fans on this course, which I know is troublesome for some runners. But I was OK with it. Running over the Peace Bridge was definitely a highlight, albeit a windy one. Each water stop had a bunch of volunteers, some stops had music, another had a mascot (I think, at Mile 20). The first and last 3 miles had the most crowd activity. One of my favorite moments was high-fiving these two kids after Mile 24 and yelling “POWER UP!” The families were all laughing and these kids were so dang excited. I was too!
Peace Bridge! We had our own lane.
Best Sign: One spectator held a sign with a Buffalo Bills game update (with newly-taped updated scores). I asked him the score of the Browns game OF COURSE. (He laughed and told me the game had only just started.)
Medals and Swag: THERE IS A TINY SPINNING FLAG IN THE MEDAL! This represents the two countries we ran through and HOW FUN. (I was quite mesmerized by it after my finish. See: DELIRIUM) There was also a long-sleeved performance tee — bright green, SQUEE! — as part of our registration/packet.
Finish Line: This was the first race where they gave us these branded zippy hooded jackets at the finish line — they’re super thin and gauzy but they did their job to cover me up at the finish (and look better than foil)!
Naturally, I had chocolate milk.
Bonus: You guys, the volunteers were giving out cheese pizza at the Mile 20 water stop. How amazing (and how torturous for me).
Random Bullshit: Another WTF with the Music app on my iPhone, punking me and playing the same song over and over and over for nearly 2 miles (until I realized there was NO WAY this remix was that redundant). And then my playlist would only advance to the next song if I used the phone and not the control function on my headphones. I had to close and restart the app, which allowed me to advance the songs through the headphone remote but wouldn’t automatically shuffle through the playlist.
Notable 30-somethings: The #1 female finisher was in the 30-39 age bracket (and #7 overall). Congrats, Paulina Golec from Krakow!
After Party: Since the race ended at Horseshoe Falls, selfies were NECESSARY. Then, a champagne and cheese plate back in the hotel. Like you do. Later, back in the States, we walked (yep, walked) over to Buffalo Proper for an amazing post-race meal.
TL;DR: The Great: A freaking rainbow opened up just as I reached Mile 26. I mean, C’MON UNIVERSE. I started yelling LOOK AT IT! And yes, I started crying. The Good: Miles 21-26. Something inside me came alive in those miles. I can’t really explain it but it was transformative. Dare I say it: I was having FUN. The Bad: Experienced some Charley Horses in my right calf around Mile 18. All things considered, that was something I could handle. The Ugly: Since this was my first marathon, I saw some of the bad that happens to runners during a race. I really tried not to let down runners get in my head, and I had an amazing running partner (new friend from Alabama!) who kept me thinking positive.
Caught snacking.
Splits: First off, I thought *for sure* that my Garmin watch would die before I finished, but it lasted the entire race.
10:18 (1) / 10:27 (2) / 10:36 (3) / 10:31 (4) / 10:16 (5)
10:31 (6) / 11:09 (7) / 10:38 (8) / 10:40 (9) / 10:38 (10)
10:50 (11) / 10:42 (12) / 10:49 (13) / 10:33 (14) / 11:29 (15)
11:08 (16) / 10:50 (17) / 11:08 (18) / 11:50 (19) / 11:13 (20)
12:57 (21) / 12:23 (22) / 12:51 (23) / 11:50 (24) / 11:17 (25)
11:04 (26)
Obviously, I slowed WAY down Miles 21-23, which I honestly didn’t notice until I looked at my splits after the race. But my overall strategy was to run the first half at 10:30 pace (which is on par with my half marathon time) which I managed pretty well. I knew that I would probably slow to an 11:30 at some point; I certainly didn’t expect an almost 13-minute mile in that — but what expectations did I have, really? — and at that point in the race I was stopping and taking pictures, enjoying the views and the experience, talking to my fellow runners and to the volunteers. And there was definitely some singing out loud. Man, I couldn’t have asked for a better first time.
Without further ado…
RESULTS Time: 4:57:24 First Half: 2:20:36 Second Half: 2:36:49 Pace: 7:04 (min/km — the metric system always makes me laugh!) or 11:05/mi
I have continually asked myself: Am I ready for this?
Like most of my races in the past year, I haven’t really been sure until I start running. But as you probably know, every run feels different. I know this marathon is going to be tough both mentally and physically. But I’m feeling… really anxious. Especially after starting to experience some knee pain on my long run last weekend.
WEEK 18 MONDAY: Rest Day
TUESDAY: Rest Day; concert after work and Uber-ed home with friends, so only walked to work (1.5 miles).
WEDNESDAY: Disappointed that run//yoga run club was relocated because of the post-season game, but that was exactly why I wouldn’t be driving anywhere. I was annoyed enough by merely walking through the crowds to get home that I didn’t feel like running around downtown anywhere. I’ve been feeling *really* burned out, so was looking forward to our weekend get-away. Walked to-from work (3 total miles)
THURSDAY: Ran my commute home from work (with an extra loop around the Point State Park fountain). 2.18 miles at average 9.19 pace
FRIDAY: Packed, prepared for our trip. Lots of stretching in between loads of laundry.
SATURDAY: Guys, I went swimming. OUTSIDE. Our resort pool was beautiful and warm and it was so wonderfully relaxing. I did some water exercises, walking, and some laps.
SUNDAY: Again, another beautiful day for swimming (maybe a bit cooler than the day before). Not so exercise-intense as the previous day, but I stayed active to keep warm. Then, realizing that it was probably a little too chilly to hang out at sundown, we spent 15-20 minutes relaxing in the hot tub.
Truth be told, I intended to do my long run Sunday morning, but I woke up either severely hungover (wine pairings with dinner the night before, so… incredibly likely) or sick from something I ate. I attempted to get out of bed a few times — once even meeting the boyfriend for a quick game of putt-putt and lunch. But then as I sat in the restaurant, I got nauseous again and had to go back to bed. Around 5pm, I felt well enough to keep food down and start moving around. I didn’t trust my stomach in the shuttle bus either, so I walked both ways. It was probably a 4-mile round trip! Alas, I moved my long run to Monday.
Total runs: 1
Total miles: 2.18 miles
WEEK 19 MONDAY: I was supposed to do 10-12 miles for my long run, but ran out of time in the morning before checking out of our hotel at Nemacolin. I suppose it was a blessing, given that my left knee was starting to hurt around 6.5 miles in. I’m hoping it’s because of all the rolling hills around the resort property and not an actual injury. I have been dealing with really tight hamstrings and piriformis issues, which might be related to the . Strangely, this is the SAME knee that was acting up prior to the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, which didn’t bother me at all during that race; it hasn’t bothered me since, actually.
I continued for another couple miles — the pain lessened after a mile, but flared up again as I finished. The grounds of the resort were pretty neat though, especially running around the Animal Sanctuaries (I’m pretty sure that the white tiger was trying to chase me). Alas, another 8.74 miles logged at average 10:57 pace. Although now I don’t know if I should just rest until the marathon, do a few easy/low-mile runs, if this is what happens to every first-time marathoner at this point in training or what. Maybe it was from swimming?
When we got back home, I made sure to spend a lot of time foam-rolling my legs.
TUESDAY: I did some hip exercises and strengthening for possible Runner’s Knee (per Dr. Google and Runner’s World recommendations).
WEDNESDAY: I joined in with my run//yoga run club friends for a slow three miles and it felt REALLY good. I skipped power yoga afterward to focus more on stretching at home. No knee pain.
3.04 miles at average 11:09 pace.
THURSDAY: Rest and stretch.
FRIDAY: Had to work late, so Rest Day.
SATURDAY: Fineview Step Challenge – review coming this week! FIVE MILES OF FUN.
SUNDAY: More foam rolling, stretching.
I also walk-commuted to work three days this week.
Total runs: 3
Total miles: 16.51 miles
Total training miles: 252.58 miles
This is it. The hard work is done, and I am officially in my taper (hashtag, taper madness). I’ll certainly do a reflection post on my training later on but right now? I’m exhausted.
MONDAY Rest Day
TUESDAY Had a grad school open house after work, so another Rest Day (and I am seriously on, like, four snooze alarms in the morning now. Sigh). I realize that I need to bring a set of workout clothes, my yoga mat, and a pair of running shoes back to my office. At some point, I took everything home and never brought my workout gear back; there have been so many times that I’m sitting at work, stressed, and totally want NEED to run it out.
WEDNESDAY Again, plans after work, so another Rest Day (I realize that this is too many in one week, especially in days off in a row after the Akron Relay. Feeling disappointed in myself, my training, and super antsy about not making this more of a priority). So my Thursday run was rough…
THURSDAY 3.96 miles with some speed bursts — It was fun to play Dodge the Drunk as Steelers fans encroached upon the North Shore though. There are always those idiots who have no idea how to move over when you call your path to the left (or worse, those who step right in front of you). I’m not ashamed to say that I put my shoulder in a guy when he stepped in my way, and I refused to break stride.
But my body did not feel good. At all. My shins were bothering me, and I was super stiff with heavy legs and my foot felt like it was attached crooked (??). I guess I needed a better warm-up, since Miles 3 and 4 felt much better. Mentally though, I had to talk myself into that last mile. I did a lot of stretching when I was done.
Splits: 10:26 (1)/ 10:04 (2)/ 9:52 (3)/ 10:04 (4)
FRIDAY Sick day from work, so I needed to rest and work this out of my system. I guess I’m not surprised at this point that my body’s immunity is being tested.
SATURDAY I’m always nervous about running the day before a long run, so after my massage, I did a half hour of strength-based yoga for runners at home (since I missed my weekly yoga night on Wednesday) and did SO much stretching.
ETA: I nearly forgot! I went for a 60-minute sports massage in the morning. She helped me stretch, which felt amazing. I’ve been having a lot of tightness in my piriformis, and she spent a good bulk of the massage time on my legs and glutes. Next month, I’m doing a 90-minute FOR SURE.
SUNDAY Long run — 20 MILES (and the Penguins/Lemiuex 6.6k race). I was freaking out about this run, especially since I missed a 18-mile run in my training. I was allowing myself to get *as close as possible* to that 20. But once I was close to 18, I needed to keep running. And then needed to get past 19. Because my GPS wouldn’t connect at the start of the training run, I knew that I had to add about .75 to my total mileage.
If you want to know what kind of person I am: I needed to see 20 miles on my watch, so I kept running beyond my actual 20 just to get the pleasure of seeing that number. Those last three miles were slow and felt terrible BUT I RAN TWENTY FREAKING MILES. Actually, 20.76 (Total time: 3:37:39).
Some of those splits are outliers because I forgot to pause my watch walking up to the start line of the 6.6k race (and, again, afterward when I finished and walked back to where I was meeting the group), and I obviously ran the race WAY TOO FAST. But… eh. I slowed WAY down on those last three miles by myself (and I was really starting to hurt everywhere). I need to trust that I can run the bulk of my race at an average 10:15 pace though, slowing to an 11:00 for that last portion. I think I can, I think I can… finish less than 5 hours?
And, yes — LOTS of stretching and moving around after this run! (And I ate, like, 8 meals.)
Total runs: 2
Total miles: 24.72 miles
Total training miles: 233.89 miles
SEPTEMBER NUMBERS
Total runs: 10
Total miles: 66.55 miles
Increase: 5.89 miles over August
the week:
Oh, it turned October when I wasn’t paying attention. That means it’s marathon month. But also my favorite time of year — COLD WEATHER AND LAYERS. YAAAAAS. I’m not a PSL drinker, but I do love some pumpkin roll. Which I plan to make a gluten-free version of this year!
weekend:
20-miler long run weekend! I’ll be running Sunday morning with a few ladies from my 16-mile group a couple weeks ago, and completing the Lemiuex 6.6k race as part of the “course.” I won’t lie: I am terrified.
I have a massage scheduled for Saturday, which is TOTALLY IN THE WRONG ORDER OF THINGS.
52 books in 52 weeks:
I’m 6 books behind right now so I’m going to need some quick, easy, fun reads to catch up. Any recommendations? (I’m halfway through a 400-page book and about a quarter through another 400-page book.)
seven things, seven days:
1. I had brunch last weekend at the Blue Door Cafe in Akron (Cuyahoga Falls), and they had the most amazing breakfast-sandwich-in-a-gluten-free-wrap. And individual french press coffee. I can’t wait to return when we’re back in town!
2. Went to my first graduate school open house… and my good feelings about this school and program grew stronger. I only have a month though until the application deadline, so I need to start thinking about my personal statement.
3. Being in love with The Moth podcast, I was so excited to attend the Pittsburgh live tour stop of their story slam.
4. Admittedly, I lied about never wanting to run another marathon. Because one day, I’d like to run this.
5. Why is it so hard to catch your own typos?
6. This research on weight vs diet and exercise in different generations is super fascinating. {via The Atlantic}
7. I initially published this with only 6 things. That’s a first!
It’s ALMOST taper time, you guys. I have my long(est) 20-mile run to look forward to this weekend and then the insanity of waiting and advanced mental training begins.
MONDAY: walked to/from work (2.75 miles); LOTS of stretching and foam-rolling tonight too.
TUESDAY: walked to/from work (2.75 miles); I’ve been obsessed with squats lately, so every spare moment — brushing teeth, petting the cats, eating breakfast — I’ve been randomly doing them around the house. My neighbors must think I’m SO weird.
WEDNESDAY: Ran 3.04 miles and 75 minutes of hot yoga with Urban Elements run//yoga club. We had a substitute yoga instructor for the session, which helped to keep me focused on my yoga poses instead of my mind straying to off the mat. I loved the difference in style and it switched up my practice a bit. Unplanned, but obviously something I needed.
THURSDAY: Run 3 miles… three ANGRY miles. I did *not* want to run, and I was exhausted. But I tried the ol’ sport psychology trick of putting all my running stuff on to see how I felt then. And then I walked out the door to see if I still didn’t feel like running. Well, it worked, I guess, because I ran. But I still didn’t want to. lol
the week:
I hit my 30-day countdown point for my marathon training. I also got my first marathon reminder email this week. So… EEEEEEEEEK.
weekend:
This weekend I’m running the Akron Marathon Relay with a few friends. It’s my first relay, and I’m running leg 3 (the leg with the “hill”), which is 5.5 miles (I also need to run 18 total miles for my long run this week). I’m already experiencing a good amount of anxiety about the race because relay-ing seems so complicated because of its many moving (ahem, running) parts. And how the heck do I get to my starting point? Do I *have* to line up at 7 a.m. with everyone else?
If you’re in Pittsburgh, the Great Race (aka: the Great Big Clusterfuck) is happening on Sunday.
52 books in 52 weeks:
I happened to start two different 400-page books this week, so I’m not finishing anything soon (but both stories are SO GOOD). One is a work of fiction, which I haven’t included in my reading for a while.
seven things, seven days:
1. I started two applications for grad programs, and I have two open houses on my calendar. Highly motivated to start graduate school in early 2016.
2. My new on-site, day-to-day manager is two floors below my current office (no clue if that will eventually change), so I’m getting a lot of stairs in.
3. Reality TV is one of my guilty pleasures, and no matter how much Bachelor in Paradise annoyed me, I still watched and rolled my eyes incessantly. Read: Misattribution in Paradise {via Science of Relationships}
4. Speaking of TV, how do you feel about the season openers of Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder? Me: MEH.
5. How to be mentally tough: lessons from sports psychologists {via Today}
6. What’s the source of success in sports? A great listen from NPR.
7. Not there yet, but almost time to taper (and 11 fears you experience while tapering for a marathon). {via Women’s Running} I legit nearly cried from fear when I read this article.
I have no reason to split out Week 14 since… well, my only run was the Movie Madness Half Marathon. Every other day I was hit by a major struggle bus. I don’t know if that’s a typical point where wannabe-marathoners feel super exhausted and like everything is impossible, but I feel those things.
So, Week 14 — total runs: 1; total miles: 13.1 (those were 13.1 GOOD miles though!)
Week 15 MONDAY: Rest Day
TUESDAY: Didn’t realize that my afternoon meeting was scheduled through 6pm (and I had to walk home), so unfortunately, my scheduled run didn’t happen. I probably could have done a quickie workout at home, but I was so exhausted from traveling over the weekend (and again all the way to the North Hills for a dinner party Monday night) that I fell asleep early. The boyfriend said he pulled my iPad out of my hands and I didn’t even move.
WEDNESDAY: run//yoga//run club with Urban Elements. Tonight we did just shy of 4 miles. No splits. Followed up with some really powerful hot yoga. Body felt pretty good and yoga felt strong.
THURSDAY: Rest Day
FRIDAY: Today was National Run @ Work Day, so I took advantage of the group run that Steel City Road Runners was hosting from Point Park. It was hot, and I was sweaty (for a long time after the run too). But I befriended a couple guys for the five-mile loop, and they kept me motivated to finish at a quicker pace than I anticipated my body would do in the mid-afternoon. It felt good. I might make that part of my work-week schedule (I purchased some scented body sprays this weekend to stash at my desk too).
5.06 miles at average 9:42 pace. Splits: 10:02 / 10:16 / 10:30 / 7:50 (??) / 9:58
SATURDAY: Recovery Day with a massage and facial (and a little retail therapy at the mall).
SUNDAY: I was so glad that I saw someone post a group run from downtown in the SCRR group. While I wasn’t doing the full 20-mile Bridges of Pittsburgh course, I knew that I needed some running camaraderie to get in my 16. I seriously lucked out with this group, who all shared great marathon and training advice — and their own long-run courses and schedules. I’ve been looking for a “tribe” so to speak to keep my training in check, and they really made me feel welcome. I never needed my headphones, and I was able to converse throughout the run. I think I got 12 of the 14 total bridges (I also crossed the 10th Street Bridge off my list!).
Side note: I woke up SUPER early for this run: 4:45am. It was still dark out when I left the house around 6:15, and I had a scary almost-incident with some guy yelling after me in the park by my house. I freaked out (honestly, I was truly scared) and my fight-or-flight response took me quickly back to the house, where I locked up and set the alarm and sat still in the bathroom for 10 minutes. Anyway, I waited for the skies to lighten up a bit (and more signs of life to appear) before I set out to meet the group at the West End Bridge at 7:05 — just in time for the perfect sunrise over Pittsburgh.
I would never have paced this fast if I was alone, but it was really cool to see that my body was totally capable of handling it (until I got a side stitch at Mile 10). I split off from the group at Mile 13 to take the North Shore Trail back home. After showering, I immediately napped for nearly two hours. I felt really, really sore for the remainder of the afternoon (and hungry!), so I spent half an episode of America’s Next Top Model (ha!) stretching and rolling my feet.
It’s another drop-back week in my training plan and THANK GOD because the Demons of Summer Humidity have returned with this awful weather and really wrecked my training week. My mid-week 4-mile run felt terrible, and I felt even worse the day after (soreness that I didn’t even experience after running 14 miles, which I cannot figure out).
MONDAY: Usual Rest Day/Laundry Day.
TUESDAY: Took another rest day.
WEDNESDAY: run//yoga club – 4 miles started off at a 9:30 pace, but I started trailing behind the group at 2 miles in. I decided to turn around before my companions and slow it up a bit. That was a good decision, since that group ended up with about 4.8 miles. And OMG the heat and humidity. UGH.
Yoga felt better than last week. I really focused on stretching out my hamstrings and hips throughout the practice. I felt really strong in my warrior and crescent poses — been far too long.
4.15 miles, average pace: 9:36/mi, total time: 39:53 (no splits)
THURSDAY: My body felt like absolute shit. I’m so frustrated.
FRIDAY: I had to spend another night stretching. I wish I would have rolled too. This is something that I’ve completely let fall to the wayside but this week convinced me how badly my body needs more care.
SATURDAY: Yoga outside! These park sessions through Yoga Hive will be held every Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. (The date on the Fittsburgh website says it ends on August 29 but the instructor confirmed through weekends in October.) The weekends when I’m in town I plan to make this part of my Saturday morning routine. Drop-in rate is only a $5 donation too.
SUNDAY: Any previously-denoted “bad” run that I’ve ever talked about is now one-upped by the run I had this Sunday. I planned to meet the boyfriend after he golfed so I could enjoy a little pool time; since our club is only about 6.5 miles away and my plan called for 10, I figured I could commute there by my legs. Seemed like a good challenge. Until you realize that once you cross the West End Bridge, it’s all uphill to Crafton. ALL. UPHILL. All uphill without a lot of sidewalks. And then uphill some more.
To be honest, I’m surprised that it didn’t take me longer to do those 6.83 miles. Also a big fail that Google Maps kept crashing so I kept getting lost. At a certain point I realized that I was one street over from where I needed to be but it may as well have been 3 miles. And I still had to go uphill to get to the club entrance.
Being in the pool after that hot mess felt amazing though both in cooling my body off and getting my joints moving in the water. And I got to show off my hawt running shorts tan.
