Monday, September 9, 2013

Wineglass: 4 weeks out



Quick Run-Down
Monday: 90 minutes spinning, 25 minutes core/stretching, 20 minutes elliptical
Tuesday: 12.4 mile easy run with Hollie
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 8.11 mile easy run
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 1.64 mile warm-up, 6.2 mile race
Sunday: 17.27 mile run with Laura

Total Miles Running: 45.6
Total Cross Training Time: 135 minutes


This week was just....a blur. After RNR 13.1 it was nice to cross train at the gym on Monday, and even better doing long easy shake out with Hollie on Tuesday before flying out. Wednesday was a busy day being the first day back at work after vacation as well as my birthday. I ended up taking an unplanned rest day, normally I am all about "Birthday run" but decided "birthday relaxation and family time" was much better idea.
My sister (left) and I at my birthday dinner, I'm pretty sure my nephew is getting cuter daily.
Thursday's run was nice easy miles, but took me longer to warm-up than I would have expected after a rest day- I will chalk that up to delayed race and travel soreness. Friday was another busy one, and decided to take a second rest day even though I just had one Wednesday.  We will call that a smart play for me, I have had a lot going on and been pushing my legs- I need to be smart with a month to go to Wineglass.

Saturday morning I had a 10k race, I went in with VERY specific goals and luckily hit them. My legs didn't feel fabulous but they did what I needed them to do. Recap to follow this week- maybe a little more on specific goals as well.

Sunday's long run was an early morning run with Laura. She is another local runner, and it was our first run together- it definitely helped get my butt out of bed early Sunday morning knowing I had someone waiting for me. The run didn't feel great physically (I couldn't even choke down 1 whole gel), but I got the miles in and we held a good pace so we will leave it at that. I owe this one to Laura for keeping me going.
Ice bath after long run, first time all year I had to actually bundle up to do it at the air temp was about same as water temp.
Thoughts 4 weeks out from the race:
My legs have been holding up well, with mileage, paces, races and even with me being a super slacker on stretching. BUT I don't think I want to test my limits and see if I can keep this up for another 4 weeks and still have the race time that I want.

What does that mean? It mean's I need to be smarter the next 4 weeks. I need to stretch more, and I also need to fine tune my diet.

As for the smarter with training: On my easy runs if I don't think I can hit an easier pace, I will force myself to the treadmill to slow my ass down. I also need to stretch way more, foam roll, and focus on giving my legs better recovery.

Unfortunately this also means I am considering dropping the Rochester Half Marathon from my race schedule. As much as I love this race and it's my home city and all- I don't know if I have enough self control to NOT race it. After coming within 13 seconds of my half-marathon PR last week, I am itching to get after it....but 2 weeks before my goal marathon is not the time to do that. As much as I can say "I will run it at marathon pace", I know that it would be VERY hard for me. It's too easy to get caught up in the adrenaline and excitement of racing. I won't make any decisions until the week of the race, but one way or another I will be at the race (cheering or running).

I also need to get my nutrition on track- between vacation, traveling, eating on the go a lot, MULTIPLE birthday celebration dinners this week- I haven't exactly been watching my intake. No I don't need to diet, no I'm not giving up "treats", I just need to get back into my normal routine.


Do you end up having multiple birthday celebrations?

Are you controlled enough to "not race" a race?

To Run Rochester half or not?


14 comments:

  1. Yes to multiple birthday celebrations. I like to have parties with every group of people in my life haha.

    It sounds like you know the answer to the Rochester Half question. It's not worth getting injured and not being able to run (or not being able to run your best) for the marathon. Just my two cents.

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  2. Great job with your training girl! I say do what you know is best for your body when it comes to Rochester. If you know that you won't be able to resist racing it then I would stick this one out.

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  3. I absolutely have multiple bday celebrations! I love it!

    I've never seen any of my races and races. Just going out and having fun :) The times are always welcoming surprises :)

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  4. I'm planning on racing a half marathon Oct. 12 and then doing NYC Marathon Nov 3. Not sure how many weeks that is (I can't count haha) but I did it last year and didn't have any problem with it.

    You're training has been going so well. Almost in the home stretch! Keep up the good work girl :)

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  5. I am in the same mindset right now - with 4 weeks to go, I've started setting aside 30 minutes every night to spend quality time with my foam roller and yoga mat, and I've been tracking what I eat and how much water I'm drinking. It's time to buckle down and get it done!

    That being said, I think you know yourself best and will figure out the best thing to do for the Rochester half. In my opinion, you will have plenty of chances to try and crush that half marathon PR, and you'll be able to do so without a ton of training buildup and recovery time. To me, it seems like your marathon PR is much more important to you - and I know you have big goals for this race. There's no harm in sitting out the half if it will help you reach your goals in the long run.

    I know you'll make the right choice for you though. You are an incredibly smart runner and racer. :)

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  6. I fully believe in at least a birthday week if not month! ;) I think you know yourself well enough. If you know you are not going to do the half "just for fun" then don't risk feeling like crap for your goal race. Eye on the big prize, right?

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  7. I think I would personally have to skip the race. I don't know if I would have the self control either to (well I know I don't). I need to start setting aside more time to foam roll and such.

    I love that photo of you, your sister and your nephew. So cute.

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  8. Great week of training, I wish I would cross train as much as you do.

    Glad you had a happy and relaxing b-day, and you're nephew is adorbs.

    I thought your ice bath pic was of something else, LOL! Ew!!! :)

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  9. Lol yes I'm on a different planet when you talk about how you can't control your race pace. I'm actually the opposite- I keep trying longer distances because I can't ever push myself enough to know what's too far. Keep up the good work and don't be so hard on yourself nutrition-wise....if you start giving up coffee I'm going to stop following you ;)

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  10. It is really hard not to "race" a race. My half marathon I did Saturday, the thing that kept me from racing it was mentally knowing it would not be a PR anyway due to the heat and the fact that it was a trail run (dirt/gravel roads, but still very different from road). That took the pressure off big time because I was like, why would I waste my time giving 100% on a race that wouldn't even be a PR (like, no possibly. It's hot and humid here too). I'm doing another trail race before my full and also have that same mindset- that's one good thing about trail runs, people are not as hardcore about times (well, some people are, but it's more about experience). Just do what you feel like is right- the race will be there next year for you to run it- I always look at it like that.

    You had a great week of workouts :). I want to hear about the 10K too!

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  11. Awesome job with training! Reading blogs about everyone training for somethig is making me have the itch to pick a race to train for...

    I don't do multiple birthday celebrations maybe I should try that next year :)

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  12. I cannot believe that Wineglass is only 4 weeks away!! ahhh!!!

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  13. I am beyond obnoxious about my birtday. It's definitely a week long celebration, haha.

    I cannot not race a race. I am supposed to run RnR Philly this weekend but I might not because I know I will race it instead of using it as a training run.

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  14. I use races as training runs all the time. I'm really disciplined about saying I'm going run X pace and actually do it, no matter how excited I get. But you know yourself best. Some people can't. But I love being a part of events and I can only race so often, so inevitably some end up as training runs or fun runs. But you've got to do what's best for you!

    And yes to LOTS of birthday celebrations!

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