premature tapering

Typically, when I write about other topics and don’t touch on running it’s because I’ve been slacking.  However this isn’t the case!  Wahoo!  I’ve been running like a good runner in training should.  On the treadmill no less, which despite all of my previous whining has been a huge asset.  You see, it’s been snowing here in Kzoo.

this was my experience  last week

So thankfully, my good ol’ ‘mill has been seeing some action.  My Kindle has been a big helps as well and I figured out that if I open my window it makes it much less stifling.  Now time for a related topic… Awkward transition…  Throughout the course of my longer race training history an interesting pattern has evolved.  I call it premature tapering.

No picture here as I am not even willing to do an internet search!

I’ll be running and running and then the 3 weeks BEFORE I am supposed to taper, I start the tapering process.  I’m not quite sure why but I do think I start to get bored or burned out.  Then after these three weeks are over I give myself a quick swift kick in the bum, freak out and go full throttle with training again.

I wonder if Disney will allow me to have one of these?

This is a most excellent plan.

Since I can’t remember doing it a different way (I’m sure it wasn’t like this when I did the running camp but my memory fails me) it hasn’t been too detrimental.  I did it for my first full and I’ve done it for most of the 1/2’s I’ve run.  I’m sure doing it the way I’m “supposed to” would be helpful although the concept of tapering freaks me out.  And you know, it’s too late now.

Am I worried?  Eh – I don’t know.  Since this race has been on my mind for months I’m to the point where I know it’s going to happen.  I’m 75% confident I will be able to complete the whole thing.  I have no worries about the first three races; it’s just that dang full at the end!  But if I don’t complete the full I won’t get the Goofy medal, the Dopey medal or the 26.2 medal.  This set of races is really about the bling!  I’ve also told everyone I know (repeatedly) about this race and I’m not thrilled with the idea of saying I didn’t finish.  Oh yeah, and you know my personal pride!

okay, so I kind of feel like this on the inside sometimes!

I am also getting excited to go to (warm) FL, stay in a Disney hotel, buy some treasures and run!  The minibreak aspect of it will also be welcome.  I do plan on busting out some snowy, cold miles on Thursday and Friday when I have time during the day.  Then next week I’m headed out to visit the fam and it is a balmy 40ish degrees!  I find this splendid.  While the weather will be ideal my test will be to get out there and run as opposed to sitting on the couch.  While I would like to declare my intentions of running all the miles we all know this isn’t a solid guarantee.  Haha, stay tuned!

Are you good at tapering?  If not, you have found a kindred spirit!

a tale of two long runs

Considering I ripped off songs for my titles, I figured classic novels shouldn’t be exempt.  I will say, I hated this book.  Madame DeFarge irked me on so many levels.

I planned to do a long run on both Saturday and Sunday back on Monday (when it wasn’t even close – it sounded like such a great!).  But I knew I wanted to run on tired legs.  After the 1/2 last weekend, I took Monday off and ran on Tuesday.  I hit four miles and my legs were exhausted.  It worried me considering my legs are going to be spent by the time I have to run 26.2.  This is a sobering thought.

Just so you know – this didn’t happen.  I don’t want to hold you in suspense.  I overestimated my own abilities and motivation.

This illustrates it well.

Nevertheless, here is the tale:  I procrastinated getting started on Saturday.  I didn’t feel good all day and the good ol’ Saturday lethargy was in full swing.  I finally left at 5:15 pm and told myself I would run as long as my stomach would let me.  Thankfully, I ended up being able to hit all 10 miles I had planned on last Monday.

The run went pretty well.  I felt strong while running and didn’t even realize it until it was over that I never felt the need for a walk break.  The route I choose was ridiculously hilly, too.  I ran this route 4 or 5 years ago and while I remembered it was tough, I didn’t remember HOW tough.  Also, the sidewalk was really uneven and this didn’t do my bum ankle and arch on my right foot any favors.  I could tell I was compensating (my left knee was getting crabby) and I tried hard to hit the pavement as evenly as I could.

I didn’t bring water – bad idea.  I won’t make this mistake again.  A bug flew in my ear and stayed there for about 5 mins.  It was a perfect fall day and the 30% chance of rain never manifested itself.  I would say this counted as a dumb thing, a weird thing and a good thing.  It worked out.

I woke up fairly sore on Sunday.  While I had put on my compression socks the night before and (sort of) iced, I didn’t take an ice bath and considering the route, I should have.  My ankle/arch were really bothering me and I was concerned about running on it for 19 miles.  I finally talked myself into getting ready and was out the door at 4:15 pm.

I ran 00:08.  Then I said, “nope, this isn’t going to happen”.

I used Rocktape to tape my foot/ankle but as soon as I started running my whole body started to riot.  Wasn’t it nice of my garmin to track my failure?!  My stomach was still disagreeing with me and I could tell with the first few strides everything was off.  I decided not to push it.  Maybe this was a missed opportunity, maybe I would have hit all 19 miles with only a sucky first few… maybe.  Or maybe choosing caution was the right decision.  Who knows.

As I am planning out this week’s run schedule, I am going to be a bit more realistic.  See, I thought if I did the 10 miler first then I would HAVE to do the 19 miler since this was on my plan.  Clearly, I found an alternate path.  I am also not in peak training considering the race is still two months away and building up to these long back to backs is a much better plan!  Or am I just making myself feel better?

dopey training plan and some other tidbits

Anybody have a  run on the docket today?  I ran last night, Saturday and then today I have some miles on the schedule as well.  Actually, I am supposed to be swimming right now but the stinkin’ pool was closed.  So now I get to sweat my buns off on a run later tonight.  My first week on my training plan was a bit of a bust.  Okay, a total bust.  But I know this doesn’t have to determine the rest of my training.  I blame work and 12 hour days that left me exhausted – physically and emotionally.  However, this is the case for many folks out there so it’s time to BUCK UP BUTTERCUP!

see? I’m bucking up just by watching this!

Oh and watch this gif over and over because it’s so dang happy!

I’m still not sure what I was thinking kicking off my training week with a rest day?!  People, it’s okay to question me when I am doing something completely silly.  Thankfully, I realized this on my run the other day.  A rest day just didn’t set the tone I wanted/needed for a successful week.

In addition, I fixed my training plan so I no longer have Monday off.  And get this – now you can view it!  Yay!  This stinkin’ plan took me forever and a day.  It’s one of the first ones I’ve ever created and thanks to Running Down a Dream 23 and Running for the Prize something for the help.

Runners World posted an article the other day on facebook about building endurance.  I posted it on my facebook page for my blog but in case you missed it, here it is.  It’s a good article.  I really like number 4 because it talks about how walking isn’t a bad thing.  Anyone else consider “walk” a four letter word?  I used to and now I recognize it could be a lot worse – I could be hanging out on my couch.  What I didn’t realize is it actually helps your endurance when you need to take a walk break during your longer runs.

Far stretch of a transition:  So, I am a big believer that physical health and emotional health are strongly connected.  I’m sure you have probably been able to gleam this from previous posts and the fact I am starting my holistic health certificate (June 26th class starts!) so I’m sure it’s no surprise.  I’m very much looking forward to these classes and working on my own overall health.  Part of this is that I am a huge people pleaser which definitely has an impact on my emotional health.  I saw this quote the other day and it struck a cord with me

My sister is really good about putting other people’s opinions in perspective.  Since I tend to needlessly worry, I spend a lot of time trying to figure out WHY people either like me or why they don’t.  Wasted effort, I tell you!  Last weekend, I had a mini-intervention with myself and am working on letting go.  Of course there will always be those important people in my life that I do want to please.  I don’t think I like the words “to please” though, however I can’t really figure out what I want to say instead, so I hope you know what I mean.  Letting go WILL help my overall emotional health and I started putting it in action this week.  It’s not easy, that’s for sure but I believe it is worth it.

miss piggy never cared what anyone thought of her!

Alright, I am going to sit on my couch for a bit – take a gander at the Dopey training plan page!  I am really excited!