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Monday, August 18, 2014

Marathon Training Monday - Week 4


My calves, my butt, my hamstrings...all of them were SO SORE this past week. We're officially one month into training (and about three left to go!), so I'd say some soreness was definitely called for.

Monday: One hour SEAL Team PT workout
Tuesday: 1 hour, 15 minute run (7.8 miles)
Wednesday: 1 hour run (5.8)
Thursday: One hour SEAL Team PT workout
Friday: 40 minute yoga on own
Saturday: 2 hour run (11.5 miles)
Sunday: 1 hour gentle "restorative" yoga

TOTAL MILEAGE: 25.1 (+ 3-4 miles from SEAL Team PT workouts)
versus a total mileage of 12.1 miles three weeks ago!

Let's address this glaring no-no first: My weekly total mileage has increased very, very quickly. It's been way more than the recommended 10% increase. This is probably definitely a big reason as to why I was so sore this week, and also why I'm approaching this recovery week very enthusiastically. Up until this point, my runs have generally felt great. There's been some subtle soreness, but no building or persisting pain during runs or after. I've been careful; however, I know I could afford some more starting today. As for last week...
Tuesday was another hour-fifteen run with the return of the tempo! We were instructed to break up into slow, medium and fast, which dictated our turning point during the run, and I impulsively went with the fasties. The plan was to engage in tempo runs when we went back-to-last after reaching certain landmarks. HOWEVER, I was very close to last in this group and felt as though I was on a tempo the entire time in order to keep up. It took a ton of mental strength to not give up, although you'd never guess based on my run numbers. It looks like an average, if not slow run, compared to the last fews weeks. Evidence that my body is loosing steam. Total time: 1:12:34; average pace: 9:18; fastest mile: 8:40; slowest mile: 9:36.



I'm still on the eggs bandwagon for post-run meals. Leftover potato, corn and bacon hash with a fried egg here...apparently eggs can help reduce inflammation. Wonder if that has anything to do with my cravings?! Hmm.

Garland and I had plans with friends Wednesday night that led us to believe we wouldn't be in good condition to run Thursday morning, so we ran individually after work on Wednesday. I haven't have a run this mentally painful and physically challenging in a-g-e-s. It took all that I had not to stop 3 miles in, ultimately making it to 5.8 miles. And the terrible feeling followed me to our dinner; I felt on the verge of passing out up until we ate! During the run, my legs felt like lead, the sun was burning, and I couldn't get my brain to zone out. I guess I had to have one of these sooner or later? I'm just glad there wasn't any serious physical pain. Total time: 53:09; average pace: 9:12; fastest mile: 8:50; slowest mile: 9:35.



Since I loved last week's yoga so much, I attempted some self-guided yoga and stretching this past Friday. I started with a DoYogaWithMe.com video and then went off of memory when the video loading started to stall. I really want to get back into yoga to help with my muscle tightness and flexibility!

Saturday's run was set to start at Chimborazo Park, on top of Church Hill in Richmond. Typically, our runs here are brutally hilly (never would have guessed, right?). Hilly = slow run, so I opted to start with the 6AM crew for a full two hours to ensure I got to prescribed 8-10 miles. The yoga/stretching on Friday helped with my soreness so I felt good the entire time---thankfully, the instructors took it easy on the hills!---but still tried to take it slow. At 11.5 miles, I shifted down to a walk for the last few minutes. Total time: 1:49:58; average pace: 9:33; fastest mile: 9:04; slowest mile: 10:17.



We walked a block to Urban Farmhouse for breakfast afterwards, where I inhaled a breakfast sandwich (EGGSSSSSS) and grabbed an iced coffee before heading to the farmers' market. The rest of the weekend included: lounging by the pool, reading a new book, grocery shopping, cleaning my car out. And there was more YOGA at Project Yoga Richmond on Sunday for a very gentle active recovery! They're the same people that put on yoga at VMFA last week. It's all donation-based (read: affordable) and they use the money to help fund programs like yoga for the mentally disabled and elderly in the community. That's something I'll gladly get behind!

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