A little peek into my brain today:
4:00 PM - Ugh why did I eat that pizza for lunch? I'm not going to feel like a track workout when I get home
5:00 PM - Huh, I should probably start that run. But maybe I'll just sit here and stress out about my life for an hour or two
6:00 PM - I'm so over this stupid marathon. Why did I think it was a good idea? I think I'm over-trained. I'm tired.
6:30 PM - Okay, I'll force myself to go a mile, just so I can get my mileage up to 200 for this month
6:40 PM - Woah, I'm actually kind of feeling okay. Maybe I'll go to the track and run one mile
6:50 PM [lap 2 of mile] - MY LEGS ARE DEEEAAAADDD. I'm not even going to look at my watch, holy crap this sucks. I bet this will be like an 8 minute mile
6:53 PM [end of mile] - What? 6:51? How did I do that? Maybe I'll try one more
7:00 PM [end of mile 2] - Seriously? 6:43? Is my watch broken? My legs are almost feeling good. I guess I'll do the third one.
7:07 [end of mile 3] - 6:29? AWESOME!!!! I LOVE RUNNING!!! I can't wait for the marathon. Running is my favorite. YAYYYYYYY!!!!!
And there's the roller coaster ride that takes place inside my brain on a daily basis. Good times.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
One week closer
Not too much to say other than I'm now under 4 weeks away from the marathon!
I got some great workouts in this week but also had some pretty big mental struggles. There were a couple days in there I just did not feel like hitting the road. Of course, I know that's not an option, and the fact that I refuse to run when it's dark usually sets a deadline for me that I HAVE to start running before.
I was supposed to do a 8K-15K race on Saturday but couldn't find one near me, so I headed to an 8 mile loop (no stoplights!) that is used as the course for a race every Thanksgiving. When I last ran the actual race, I ran just under 64 minutes, so my goal was to beat that, and I did! I pushed myself pretty hard and ran it in 1 hour and 13 seconds. Of course, I was pretty tired on Sunday, but my husband agreed to run the last 10 of my scheduled 17 miles with me, and that made it a lot more fun.
Summary of the week:
Monday - 90 minute Vinyasa yoga class
Tuesday - 8 miles w/ 4 x 800 (3:11, 3:13, 3:12, 3:11)
Wednesday - 11 miles @ 8:19 min/mile
Thursday - REST!
Friday - 5 miles (8:23 min/mile) + 6 x 100 M strides
Saturday - 10 miles w/ 8 @ 7:31 min/mile
Sunday - 17.1 miles @ 8:47 min/mile
Total - 51.1 miles
I got some great workouts in this week but also had some pretty big mental struggles. There were a couple days in there I just did not feel like hitting the road. Of course, I know that's not an option, and the fact that I refuse to run when it's dark usually sets a deadline for me that I HAVE to start running before.
I was supposed to do a 8K-15K race on Saturday but couldn't find one near me, so I headed to an 8 mile loop (no stoplights!) that is used as the course for a race every Thanksgiving. When I last ran the actual race, I ran just under 64 minutes, so my goal was to beat that, and I did! I pushed myself pretty hard and ran it in 1 hour and 13 seconds. Of course, I was pretty tired on Sunday, but my husband agreed to run the last 10 of my scheduled 17 miles with me, and that made it a lot more fun.
Summary of the week:
Monday - 90 minute Vinyasa yoga class
Tuesday - 8 miles w/ 4 x 800 (3:11, 3:13, 3:12, 3:11)
Wednesday - 11 miles @ 8:19 min/mile
Thursday - REST!
Friday - 5 miles (8:23 min/mile) + 6 x 100 M strides
Saturday - 10 miles w/ 8 @ 7:31 min/mile
Sunday - 17.1 miles @ 8:47 min/mile
Total - 51.1 miles
Monday, June 21, 2010
I survived 55!
My highest volume training week (55 miles!!) is over, and it went amazingly well! I have SO much more confidence leading up to this marathon than I have for any other. I also can't believe I'll be tapering in just 2 weeks.
How the week shaped up:
Monday - 20 minute yoga podcast + abs
Tuesday - 6.5 miles recovery (9:12 min/mile)
Wednesday - 12.3 miles (8:38 min/mile)
Thursday - 20 minute yoga podcast
Friday - 12 miles w/ 7 LT (5 @ 8:15 min/mile; 7 @ 7:35 min/mile)
Saturday - 5 miles recovery (9:17 min/mile)
Sunday - 20 miles (8:46 min/mile)
Total: 55.8 miles
I've noticed my recovery runs have been getting slower, but my long runs and LT workouts are feeling a LOT better, and I'm able to keep a better pace than I used to. I think I used to push too hard in recovery runs, which kind of defeats the whole purpose!
And now I'm off to bed...800s in the morning!
How the week shaped up:
Monday - 20 minute yoga podcast + abs
Tuesday - 6.5 miles recovery (9:12 min/mile)
Wednesday - 12.3 miles (8:38 min/mile)
Thursday - 20 minute yoga podcast
Friday - 12 miles w/ 7 LT (5 @ 8:15 min/mile; 7 @ 7:35 min/mile)
Saturday - 5 miles recovery (9:17 min/mile)
Sunday - 20 miles (8:46 min/mile)
Total: 55.8 miles
I've noticed my recovery runs have been getting slower, but my long runs and LT workouts are feeling a LOT better, and I'm able to keep a better pace than I used to. I think I used to push too hard in recovery runs, which kind of defeats the whole purpose!
And now I'm off to bed...800s in the morning!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
My new best friend
Mike was browsing the bulk bins at our natural food co-op the other day, when he came across a bin labeled "jogger's friend." Apparently it's just a sugar and electrolyte drink similar to Gatorade, but with no artificial colors or flavors. He bought a bag of it, and I've been using it on my longer runs recently.
Oh. My. Goodness. Where has this stuff been for all the years I've been running? I trained with sports drink for a couple marathons, but it always gave me a stomach ache. I definitely need to investigate what this stuff is, because I absolutely LOVE what it does for my running, especially on hot days. I also love that I can control how strong it is, so it's not overly sweet or concentrated.
I got bad news on Friday morning - apparently it was a really tough decision (don't they always say that?), but I didn't get the job I was hoping for. I took it pretty hard, but things are looking a lot better now. I'm going back to school in the fall for the one class I need to get a single subject credential. After that, I'll be able to teach K-12, which opens up my options (and apparently science teachers are in demand in quite a few places). Plus, like Ali pointed out in her comment, subbing leaves a whole lot more time open for training!
After last week's crappy runs, this week felt like a breakthrough. I felt strong on pretty much every run, and today's was the icing on the cake. I had 15 miles w/ 12 at marathon goal pace. I was hoping I'd be able to hold an 8:15 pace, which would give me a 3:36 marathon (the McMillan race calculator thinks I can do that based on my last 10K time). I was definitely pushing it a little, but not killing myself, and I did the 12 at 7:54 pace! What a HUGE confidence booster. I passed the 13.1 mile mark around 1:44, which is faster than my PR, so I REALLY need to find a half marathon to do one of these days!
Summary of the week:
Monday - 45 minutes stationary bike, plus some abs
Tuesday - 10 miles w/ 5x1000m (4:09, 4:10, 4:06, 4:05, 4:02)
Wednesday - 5 miles @ 8:01 pace
Thursday - 12 miles @ 8:24 pace
Friday - rest
Saturday - 6.5 miles @ 8:20 pace, plus 6 100m strides
Sunday - 15.1 miles w/ 3 @ 8:14 pace followed by 12 @ 7:54 pace
Total - 48.6 miles
Oh. My. Goodness. Where has this stuff been for all the years I've been running? I trained with sports drink for a couple marathons, but it always gave me a stomach ache. I definitely need to investigate what this stuff is, because I absolutely LOVE what it does for my running, especially on hot days. I also love that I can control how strong it is, so it's not overly sweet or concentrated.
I got bad news on Friday morning - apparently it was a really tough decision (don't they always say that?), but I didn't get the job I was hoping for. I took it pretty hard, but things are looking a lot better now. I'm going back to school in the fall for the one class I need to get a single subject credential. After that, I'll be able to teach K-12, which opens up my options (and apparently science teachers are in demand in quite a few places). Plus, like Ali pointed out in her comment, subbing leaves a whole lot more time open for training!
After last week's crappy runs, this week felt like a breakthrough. I felt strong on pretty much every run, and today's was the icing on the cake. I had 15 miles w/ 12 at marathon goal pace. I was hoping I'd be able to hold an 8:15 pace, which would give me a 3:36 marathon (the McMillan race calculator thinks I can do that based on my last 10K time). I was definitely pushing it a little, but not killing myself, and I did the 12 at 7:54 pace! What a HUGE confidence booster. I passed the 13.1 mile mark around 1:44, which is faster than my PR, so I REALLY need to find a half marathon to do one of these days!
Summary of the week:
Monday - 45 minutes stationary bike, plus some abs
Tuesday - 10 miles w/ 5x1000m (4:09, 4:10, 4:06, 4:05, 4:02)
Wednesday - 5 miles @ 8:01 pace
Thursday - 12 miles @ 8:24 pace
Friday - rest
Saturday - 6.5 miles @ 8:20 pace, plus 6 100m strides
Sunday - 15.1 miles w/ 3 @ 8:14 pace followed by 12 @ 7:54 pace
Total - 48.6 miles
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
I hope good things come in 3s
Friday I got some disappointing news. I didn't get the summer school teaching position I was hoping for, and it really bummed me out. I knew going in that it was pretty unlikely, because all the full time teachers in the district had priority...I'm just a sub.
But then yesterday I got some good news. I passed 3 tests I needed to add a single subject biology credential to the multiple subject credential I already have. That was a huge relief.
Then there was this morning's track workout: purely AMAZING. The weather was perfect (60, cloudy, no wind) and I felt SO GOOD! The plan was 10 miles with 5 x 1000 at 5K race pace. My last 5K wasn't an accurate picture of my true 5K race pace, so I decided to shoot for 21:00 5K pace, which meant 4:12 for each 1000.
I ran 2 miles to the track and got going on the first one. I felt strong, and came in at 4:09. The second was 4:10, then 4:06, 4:05, and 4:02. They were hard, but in a good way, and it definitely felt like a pace I could hold for longer. This workout was a MAJOR confidence booster.
So good things in 3s...so far we've got my test results and this track workout. Wednesday I have an interview for a full-time junior high science teaching position for next year. I've been subbing at the school a lot, talked with the principal and a bunch of the teachers, and feel like the school is a perfect fit for me. I will be absolutely ecstatic if I get this job (and if I don't, I actually like substitute teaching and it wouldn't kill me to do it again next year).
But then yesterday I got some good news. I passed 3 tests I needed to add a single subject biology credential to the multiple subject credential I already have. That was a huge relief.
I ran 2 miles to the track and got going on the first one. I felt strong, and came in at 4:09. The second was 4:10, then 4:06, 4:05, and 4:02. They were hard, but in a good way, and it definitely felt like a pace I could hold for longer. This workout was a MAJOR confidence booster.
So good things in 3s...so far we've got my test results and this track workout. Wednesday I have an interview for a full-time junior high science teaching position for next year. I've been subbing at the school a lot, talked with the principal and a bunch of the teachers, and feel like the school is a perfect fit for me. I will be absolutely ecstatic if I get this job (and if I don't, I actually like substitute teaching and it wouldn't kill me to do it again next year).
Sunday, June 6, 2010
In a funk
This week I kind of fell off the training wagon. Fortunately, this was the week with lower mileage, so I didn't miss out on any totally crucial workouts, but I still feel kind of defeated.
Here's a little look at what the training plan said vs. what really happened:
Monday - Pfitz: Rest or Cross train (I rested)
Tuesday - Pfitz: Rest or Cross train (I rode the stationary bike for 45 minutes, followed by 25 minutes of lifting)
Wednesday - Pfitz: 12 miles (I had a REALLY packed day and had to cut this run down to 9.3 miles. I felt okay and ran it at 8:28 min/mile)
Thursday - Pfitz: Rest or Cross Train (I rested. Again. Not proud of that, but it happens)
Friday - Pfitz: 9 miles w/ 4 at LT pace (I woke up and felt really stick to my stomach, but wanted to try and tough it out. I only made it 4 miles because I was feeling so nauseated. I planned to do the rest of the workout after work, but I was still feeling pretty crappy, so I took it as a sign that my body would rather rest)
Saturday - Pfitz: 5 miles (I bumped this up to 7 miles because I was really low on miles for the week. It felt good, and I ran it at 8:18 min/mile)
Sunday - Pfitz: 16 miles (I actually did what he said! I ran a 9 mile loop and a 7 mile loop from my house so I could refill my water bottle. I did the 9 mile loop at 8:51 min/mile and the 7 mile loop at 7:59 pace.)
Total: 36.3 miles
I am glad the weekend seemed to turn things around. Next week is pretty intense, but I'm feeling a lot better about it now that I've had a couple good runs this weekend. It's kind of funny that this seems like a really low mileage week, but it's still more than my highest mileage week before LA. I'm definitely in better shape and I'm getting really excited...7 weeks til the San Francisco marathon!
Here's a little look at what the training plan said vs. what really happened:
Monday - Pfitz: Rest or Cross train (I rested)
Tuesday - Pfitz: Rest or Cross train (I rode the stationary bike for 45 minutes, followed by 25 minutes of lifting)
Wednesday - Pfitz: 12 miles (I had a REALLY packed day and had to cut this run down to 9.3 miles. I felt okay and ran it at 8:28 min/mile)
Thursday - Pfitz: Rest or Cross Train (I rested. Again. Not proud of that, but it happens)
Friday - Pfitz: 9 miles w/ 4 at LT pace (I woke up and felt really stick to my stomach, but wanted to try and tough it out. I only made it 4 miles because I was feeling so nauseated. I planned to do the rest of the workout after work, but I was still feeling pretty crappy, so I took it as a sign that my body would rather rest)
Saturday - Pfitz: 5 miles (I bumped this up to 7 miles because I was really low on miles for the week. It felt good, and I ran it at 8:18 min/mile)
Sunday - Pfitz: 16 miles (I actually did what he said! I ran a 9 mile loop and a 7 mile loop from my house so I could refill my water bottle. I did the 9 mile loop at 8:51 min/mile and the 7 mile loop at 7:59 pace.)
Total: 36.3 miles
I am glad the weekend seemed to turn things around. Next week is pretty intense, but I'm feeling a lot better about it now that I've had a couple good runs this weekend. It's kind of funny that this seems like a really low mileage week, but it's still more than my highest mileage week before LA. I'm definitely in better shape and I'm getting really excited...7 weeks til the San Francisco marathon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
