Mid-Week Musings: Mistakes…They Happen

So far I’m loving the difficulty of the Hanson’s plan. It’s what intrigued me in the first place. I’m the type of person who sees something that’s hard and says, “If it’s been done, why can’t I do it?” I don’t know if that’s the best mentality to have, lol, but it’s gotten me to try a lot of fun, crazy stuff.

Anyway, when I decided to take a break from teaching and become a stay at home mom, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try the Hanson’s 6-days-of-running plan. In my other training cycles, I’ve done 4 days a week with an occasional sprinkle of an extra run or cross training day. I figured, if I was going to try a plan that had so much running, I might as well go for it now that I don’t have a job to worry about (I take care of my kids which is the toughest job ever but you know what I mean).

When it came time on deciding between the Beginner or the Advanced, I leaned towards the Advanced because it got to business a lot quicker than the Beginner. In the Beginner, the first 5 weeks are “Easy” runs which for my goal pace is between 9:45-10:45. I just couldn’t see myself adhering to that for 6 days a week for 5 weeks. The Advanced plan started with the fun stuff– speed work at Week 2 and tempo at Week 3–earlier and I liked that.

Fast forward to Week 5 and I’ve been doing great, nailing the workouts and feeling really confident. Except….my shin is starting to hurt. The shin where I had my stress fracture.

I’m so frustrated because I’ve been doing so well with this plan; I actually like it, and I feel like I’ve improved so much as a runner. And I’ve been stretching, rolling like a good girl and I just don’t understand why my body won’t cooperate. It’s not even fatigue, because I don’t feel tired (miraculously), it’s just the gosh darn shin that’s sore.

If I’m honest, I worried that going from 25-30 miles a week and 4 days of running, to 40-50 miles a week and 6 days of running was going to bring about something. I did my best to transition, to “pre-train,” but I think there’s no avoiding some type of injury-likeness with a jump in mileage like that. Which is what I think is happening with me.

Anyway, what did I do wrong? I think I should’ve stuck with the Beginner plan–modified it, or done something, but starting right away with the Advanced, even though I’ve done “well” with it so far, probably wasn’t the best idea. This is only my 4th marathon, after all.

So, I’ve decided to go to the Beginner’s plan Week 6, which is the week I’m on now. I’ve already passed the 5 weeks of “Easy” running I wanted to avoid, and I’ll get the speed and tempo workouts but just with less mileage. It’s still a shit ton of miles, but less so than the Advanced. I’m hoping that this will help my cause and still keep me happy. I really want to try this plan all the way through.

Of course I’ll continue to stretch, roll, ice, compress the hell out of my shin and if I see that things aren’t getting better, I’ll have to reassess everything. I’m hoping it won’t get to that. I’m proud of myself that I’m addressing it now while it’s simply soreness and not when it’s a full blown I-can’t-run-pain.

There’s the update. Mistakes happens and all you can do is just keep on, keep on.

plan-vs-reality

–Are you good at admitting you were wrong?

Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 5

Week 5 in the books!!

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Easy Runs–9:40-10:20
Long Runs–9:29

Here’s how the week went down.

Monday, August 1st Easy 5 miles, 10:04 avg

The plan said 6 but I was pushed for time as I did these miles in the afternoon/evening and I was expecting visitors. It was a hot one.

Tuesday, August 2nd 1 mile WU, 5×1000 (w/400R), 1 mile CD; 4 Easy Miles @ 9:29 avg = 10.25 miles total

I doubled down Tuesday first with my speed workout. It was 86 degrees with 66% humidity at 5 in the morning. Basically disgusting. Anyway, the goal for each 1000 was a 7:30 pace.

  1. 7:50
  2. 7:31
  3. 7:31
  4. 7:31
  5. 7:27

The first one I did on my own. Then, some of my run buddies were behind me and I invited them to join me on my workout. Only one took the bait. As soon as I told him what my target pace was, he nodded, programming it in his head, and then made sure I hit it each time. This guy was seriously amazing. It was such a confidence booster to see that I was running over a half mile at that pace and feeling like I could do a full one (which I’ll have to later, lol!). I honestly think that I psych myself out. I see a pace and just think I can’t do it. Because as soon as I had someone next to me, it was like I was totally fine going for it. I need to learn to do that BY MYSELF.

Later in the evening, I ran another 4 miles with some friends. In the rain. It was awesome. A little too fast and I need to reel it in, but it was a fun run nonetheless.

Wednesday, August 3rd REST DAY

I don’t mention it, but I’m rolling and stretching each day. I’m not perfect with my MYRTLES but I get them in a few times a week and for sure on my rest days.

Thursday, August 4th– 1 mile WU, 6 miles Tempo, 1 mile CD

I did my warm up mile with my friends and since they had different workout plans, I did the rest of my miles on my own. Target pace for Tempo Run–8:45.

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Friday, August 5th–7 Easy Hilly Miles, 9:41 avg

I’ve been venturing out for my Friday runs to get some hill work in. I want to be prepared for New York’s bridges, lol! Since it’s a hike to get to these hills, and I have to be back for my husband to get to work, I woke up at crazy o’clock to get ready for this run.

I actually woke up earlier than my alarm...ugh....zzzzz

I actually woke up earlier than my alarm…ugh….zzzzz

Anyway, it was a good run. We went a little faster than normal for hills but I was fine.

Saturday, August 6th–6 Easy Miles, 9:59 avg

I forget my husband’s also training for a marathon, lol! He took the first shift and did his long run which meant I would get the later, warmer start. It wasn’t too bad, 82 degrees, 66% humidity–and there were sprinklers.

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Sunday, August 7th–12 Miles Long Run

My Moms Run This Town chapter meets at 5:30 a.m. and I did not want to be in the middle of 12 miles at 7 in the morning–I remembered yesterday’s run, lol!

So, I got up and did 4 by myself at 4:45 and then swung back to meet the group for my last 8. It’s not ideal; I don’t particularly like stopping and restarting, but I like my MRTT ladies and enjoy their running company. The target pace for Long Runs are 9:29 and I was happy I was able to stay close to it.

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It was a 48.63 mile week. Another big one, another weekly mileage PR.

–How was your running week?

–How late is too late in the morning for you to run? 7 is too late for me. It gets ridiculously hot here.

–How early is too early for you to run? Clearly, I don’t mind seeing a 3 on the clock.

 

 

 

 

 

Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 3

Holy Helly mileage!!! I’ve seriously never run so much in my life.

The plan:

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Easy Runs–9:40-10:20
Long Runs–9:29

Monday, July 18th– Easy 6 miles, 9:37 avg

I met up with a buddy for these easy miles and we insanely did them in the evening amidst an oncoming monsoon storm.

Screen Shot 2016-07-26 at 8.45.07 AM

It wasn’t even 100 degrees …

Tuesday, July 19th– 1 mile WU, 8×600 (w/400R), 1 mile CD=7 miles total (+3 easy miles in the evening)=10 miles

The goal for the 600s (what an awkward distance btw) was 2:51 and even though I had programmed the workout on my watch, I forgot to set the target pace so I had no idea where I was supposed to be. I had a vague idea (I thought it was 2:55) and stuck with that but even then, I struggled getting these done.

600 Splits

  1. 2:54
  2. 2:43
  3. 2:55
  4. 2:48
  5. 2:53
  6. 2:56
  7. 2:55
  8. 2:58

I was definitely disappointed when I got home and saw that I missed the mark. I don’t know if it was travel fatigue (and training fatigue) but the run was hard. Plus, it was one of those where I ran in the evening the night before and then ran in the morning the next day. #excuses

And then, maybe to punish myself, I ran again in the evening with a friend. It was an easy (yet hard b/c omg, heat) run and I did it pushing my 4 year-old daughter in the stroller.

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Wednesday, July 19th–GLORIOUS REST DAY

I milked it.

Thursday, July 20th– 1 mile WU, 6 Tempo @8:45 pace, 1 mile CD

I was determined to do this tempo run well but it took a while for me to warm up, jaja! It was effing ridiculous at 5 in the morning (86 degrees with 46% humidity).

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This run definitely made me feel better after Tuesday’s not so stellar workout.

Friday, July 21st–Easy/Hilly 6 miles 9:51 avg

pretty much.....

pretty much…..

This was seriously crazy. There’s been a few moments already in this training where I’ve questioned my sanity. But yeah, I woke up at 4 to drive 30 minutes to run 6 miles of hills. Luckily, I met up with some friends and we had pretty amazing views that made it worth it.

90 degrees, 36% humidity but still beautiful <3

90 degrees at 5 a.m., 36% humidity but still beautiful ❤

Saturday, July 23rd–6 easy miles, 10:16 avg

I made sure to take these reeeeally easy considering I had two days of tough running. Four out of the 6 miles were in the 10 minute range.

And I made it home in time for a little Birthday Breakfast celebration ❤

Cupcake for breakfast=best mom ever

I have a 3 year old ❤

Birthday pizza tradition--birthday year in pepperonis

Birthday pizza tradition–birthday year in pepperonis

Sunday, July 24th–10 miles Long Run @9:29 goal pace

I had to wake up early again for this one since we had my son’s actual birthday part in the morning. I started at 4:45 a.m. and did 4 miles by myself before meeting up with my MRTT friends at 5:30 and doing the last 6 with them.

It was hot, it was windy. Same ‘ol, same ‘ol.

First 4–10:04, 8:58, 9:12, 9:13

Last 6–9:48, 9:14, 9:30, 9:40, 9:31, 10:00

I did not mind one bit slowing down to run with my friends for the last 6. I was tired and the company was way better than hitting the paces solo. I ended up with a 9:31 average anyway=WIN.

In fact, I was so tired, that on the last mile I tripped over a piece of raised sidewalk, flew, and fell hard. This was actually the first time I’ve ever fallen! Crazy, since I often run on the trails but til Sunday, I’ve lucked out. Luckily, I was able to adjust mid-air and prepare for the fall; I only had a small scratch on my hip and spared the rest of my body.

I showered and went straight to party mode as my son’s superhero birthday party was at 9:30 a.m.!!

My lil Batman

My lil Batman

Batgirl, so serious <3

Batgirl, so serious ❤

WonderWoman and Robin <3

WonderWoman and Robin ❤

To say I was exhausted after this week is an understatement. I ran 46 miles this week–the most I’ve ever ran in my life, including the week I’ve run a marathon. Here’s hoping it’s all worth it and Hanson’s gets me the PR I’ve been coveting!! 😀

–Have you fallen during a run?

–Do you have a favorite superhero?