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| The purpose of this linkup is to support active women. Have you read the UPDATED RULES ?? |
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| Goodbye February, Hello March! |
This week marked the beginning of a fresh, new month. Honestly, little happened during the workweek on the training front. Aside from strength training on Monday and a six mile progression run Wednesday morning, all of my activity was over the weekend. Life happened. College tours, dental visit, doctor visit, baseball tournament, and an indescribably stressful business merger -- sometimes it is difficult to get even the minimum of training done. It's early in my marathon training cycle, so I am not panicked. Yet
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For fear of cramming too much into my weekend, and paying the price later, I opted to skip my cross training. Cycling for over an hour on the same day of either a 10 mile run or downhill interval repeats didn't sound like the brightest idea. Heck, doing two runs of effort two days in a row is already pushing it for this aging body.
Saturday's long run was odd. I had been forced out of the bed in the wee hours of the morning with a Charley Horse (calf cramp). Although not debilitating, I definitely could feel it. Once I hit mile 8, it wanted to cramp again. But, I was pleased to run a steady MRP (marathon race pace) of 9:48. It was a cool morning but I'm thankful I put a tank on under my long sleeves. It warmed quickly and I had to shed that top layer.
To prepare for REVEL Rockies, I must include fairly steep downhill runs into my weekly training. Sunday was the day -- 'cause I was running out of days. I used the steepest hill in my neighborhood and repeated it 7 times. With my warmup and jogs back to the top, it added up to 5 miles. It would be nice to find a really long section of downhill. I can't say I enjoy those jogs back to the top.
This next weekend brings my hometown half marathon. I can't afford much of a taper as the marathon is approaching quickly. I'll just use it as a training run. I'm very excited to catch up with Tricia who is coming to run with me.
And that's a wrap!
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| Mailbox Greetings! Back at home base after 10 miles. |
To prepare for REVEL Rockies, I must include fairly steep downhill runs into my weekly training. Sunday was the day -- 'cause I was running out of days. I used the steepest hill in my neighborhood and repeated it 7 times. With my warmup and jogs back to the top, it added up to 5 miles. It would be nice to find a really long section of downhill. I can't say I enjoy those jogs back to the top.
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| Why do hills never look very steep in pictures? |
This next weekend brings my hometown half marathon. I can't afford much of a taper as the marathon is approaching quickly. I'll just use it as a training run. I'm very excited to catch up with Tricia who is coming to run with me.
And that's a wrap!
What one word describes your week?
What is next on your calendar?
Have you ever done downhill interval training?
Didn't you have calf pain in Birmingham too? I hope it goes away. I'm impressed that you got all that training in even with your crazy work week.
ReplyDeleteI'm used to cramps during humid races, but it's been ages since I've cramped while sleeping. That part is very strange. At least it didn't linger. I feel fine today.
DeleteOuch! Sorry about that Charlie horse and pain. I hope you are able to get trough your upcoming half without it showing up!
ReplyDeleteMe too! But, this upcoming half is the one I usually cramp in the most. It's typically warm and humid. Fingers crossed we get a cool, dry day.
DeleteSounds like you had a super busy week! Charlier horses are the worse! They can be so painful. I hope it ends up being a rare one time thing for you.
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope they done recur, especially in a race! It could be due to some medication I'm taking.
DeleteI totally agree...hills NEVER look realistic in pictures...they always appear much easier than reality dictates.
ReplyDeleteIt keeps going around the curve too. It is actually pretty steep! I just couldn't capture it.
DeleteExhausting.....that sums up my work week. Like you I skipped out on some training because I just wanted to sleep instead lol. Great job on your long run maintaining MP!
ReplyDeleteThere were two days I could have easily gotten up to get my runs in. I just didn't. I was mentally exhausted.
DeleteGreat job fitting everything in this week! I definitely agree that hills never look as steep in pictures.
ReplyDeleteThis one is pretty steep. It goes on around that curve. But it is not very long. I think I need MILES of downhill grade to train on.
DeleteI did a lot of downhill training for UT. And I'll be doing it for ID no doubt, too, which thankfully is still quite some time away.
ReplyDeleteMy week? Getting back to normal. I think. I've thought that about 3 times so far, but hope springs eternal. :)
I think I only did it twice for Utah and had no problems with that race. But Utah wasn't very steep. From experience, I know some of this course is steep, which make me now want to run as much as possible.
DeleteI've done downhill training and it's great prep for descents in races! I also like to do specific strength to mimic it - like jumping off boxes or weighted lunge jumps.
ReplyDeleteI added wall sits and lunges to my usual strength routine last month. But there's no way I would jump repeatedly with my previously broken feet. LOL.
DeleteOh man, charley horses are the absolute worst!! I'm glad it didn't stick around long enough to derail your run!
ReplyDeleteAnd, yeah, why don't hills ever look steep in pictures? #thingsthatmakeyougohmmm
Have fun at the half this coming weekend! I'm in training mode until the MCM 17.75k on the 24th!
I'm surprised my calf isn't very sore today. I expected it to be. Maybe the runs loosened it up? I've got my fingers crossed for nice (not too hot) race weather.
DeleteThankfully I haven't had a Charley Horse in a while (knock on wood), but I find if I don't eat a daily banana, it increases the risk. I definitely feel it for a couple days afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI eat bananas often. I think the cramp may have been a side effect of a medication I'm taking. Thankfully, I'm almost finish with it.
DeleteYou're right--hills never look as steep in pictures! My week was good aside from the crazy windstorm on Friday and Saturday :)
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard to run in the wind! I noticed it was strong on both of my weekend runs but nothing like you had, I'm sure.
DeleteLife is why I won’t run a full. I don’t have the time to train.
ReplyDeleteMy week. Home. I was home and not traveling. I’ll be traveling every week until mud June.
Enjoy your next half. Say hi to Tricia.
Mine is in two weeks. In fla. Can’t wait to leave the snow
That's a lot of travel, Darlene. But you seem to enjoy it. I hope you have the perfect condition to enjoy FL. You've put up with enough winter weather already.
DeleteI am impressed that you can still do 2 hard runs back to back in the same weekend! Looks like a busy but productive week for you
ReplyDeleteI don't plan to do that often. And, I'm pretty sure I'll be feeling it tomorrow. LOL.
DeleteSo smart of you to factor in down hill training - I don't think I've ever done that.
ReplyDeleteGood on you for being able to manage two days back-to-back of hard runs - my body does not enjoy back-to-back running any more.
I won the race entry to their half in 2014. I had zero time to train and did well during the race. It was afterward I paid the price. I hope by training on down hills, I can avoid some of the DOMS this time.
DeleteI'm coveting that long hill! We've got nothing here, as you know. And yes, hills never look like a big deal in pics. Have a fun race with Tricia this weekend!
ReplyDeleteWe've got hills galore but they aren't very long. The best I can find in our 'hood is .50 long and unfortunately it flattens out towards the end.
DeleteGood for you for being diligent on your hill work! There are no hills around here (flat desert!!) so I fear the day I'm signed up for a hilly course.
ReplyDeleteI can always hop down to the beach for a flat run...and I often do. But they can be just as tough if they are truly flat. I like a few hills.
DeleteGood for you for your hill training! I tend to play it safe and stick to relatively flat ground, I've never a trained on a downhill! That's a great idea to get those muscles in shape. Have a great race!!
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope it pays off on race day. I figure it can't hurt -- well of course, unless I do too much of it. LOL.
DeleteHow fun to be seeing Tricia! Life took over my week this week too. I still managed a few good workouts and one fun non-race. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat seems to be the theme for everyone this week. As it was pointed out by Wendy, there was a full moon. I should have known!
Delete'Tis the season for life to happen! March-April always seems to be one of the busiest times of year. I used to think it was school schedules...nope, it turned out it was the same when I was in "the real world".
ReplyDeleteI agree. This time of year is crazy. With a senior playing baseball and and graduating in May -- it just adds to the already busy schedule.
DeleteI hear you on hills not looking very steep on pictures! I did my first Hills workout this past week and was disappointed that the photo didn't quite show the extent of the "steepness"! LOL. Sounds like quite a busy week for you - you did well to get in the workouts you did!
ReplyDeleteI wish we could capture the hills in all their steepness! I know how hard I worked and I want the photo to reflect it. LOL.
DeleteI’ve done downhill training a few times. Thankfully there’s no shortage of hills around here. Yesterday our run consistented of many uphills and downhills since two of my friends are training for Boston.
ReplyDeleteI have no shortage of hills, but I want a hill that goes on for miles so I don't have to keep jogging back to the top. I guess I need a mountain and I surely don't have one of those. LOL.
DeleteThat hill training will pay off! I am doing some downhill training now for Boston but not interval repeats. The jog back up definitely sounds rough!
ReplyDeleteThe jog back up a steep hill is pretty miserable. After all, I don't want to train on the UP hill portion. LOL. I wish we could magically get there somehow. Or, a ski lift would be awesome.
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear about the calf pain. Being woken up out of a sound sleep with it is always a miserable experience. I often find that I get the calf cramps when I'm dehydrated. Did you find that to be the case for yourself?
ReplyDeleteI usually stay pretty hydrated. I'm a huge water drinker. But, maybe didn't drink as much that day?
DeleteGood luck with the hometown half coming up!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that. It's always a tough one.
DeleteI don't train enough for the downhills...good work preparing! Good luck with your half coming up!
ReplyDeleteI remember how bad the DOMS were after this downhill half. This time I want to be prepared.
DeleteI do hill training and it really helps overall!
ReplyDeleteI really should do it year round. It would make all other runs feel much easier.
DeleteIt's just not fair how those steep hills never look as steep in pictures. :D Good luck next weekend.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a mystery why hills look flat in pictures. I'm always disappointed with my pics.
DeleteGood luck with your upcoming half! I haven't ever done downhill training. I do have 1 hilly road that I will use for some hill training, but it is never enough for the races I do outside of Houston!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could find longer sections of downhill around here. I feel like I'm constantly stopping to go back up the hill.
DeleteThat hill training will pay off! I've never done downhill repeats, but for CIM I tried to incorporate a good amount of downhill (and uphill) on long runs and race pace runs. Good luck with your upcoming half!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to avoid a really bad case of DOMS after this race, although I do expect some soreness. I don't think I can avoid it completely.
DeleteYou are SO right that hills never look as steep in pics! I wonder why that is?
ReplyDeleteI have only ever ran the uphill parts of hill training. I am sure I could benefit from the downhill runs also!
My word right now is FOCUS! So much going on and I need to focus on one thing at a time.
I like your word. I am feeling overwhelmed and need to FOCUS on one thing at the time.
DeleteMy word is "overwhelmed". Lord, am I ever. This too shall pass, right?
ReplyDeleteI love your training plan. Going downhill over and over like that definitely takes some dedication! I really can't wait to hear how this race goes for you!
Overwhelmed definitely fits for me too, unfortunately. I actually enjoy the downhill portion. I just hate turning around to go back up the hill. LOL.
DeleteThose downhill repeats sound crazy but a smart idea for a downhill race. I'm glad you got your training in even if it was the minimum. Life happens and real life is always more important than running. It's hard to dress for weather here, sometimes it warms up majorly during runs!
ReplyDeleteI hope the downhill repeats will pay off at the race. It certainly can't hurt, right?
DeleteThe one word that describes last week for me would be "windy," as we were in the middle of the east coast wind storm!
ReplyDeleteI, too, have noticed that the hills NEVER appear as steep in pictures as they do in real life...
Thanks for the linkup!
We've had a lot of wind here too. I guess that is pretty typical for March though.
DeleteOne word to describe my week: Vacation! We went to the Bahamas (in the second half of the week). The first half was lots of vacation prep and life happening. Good job on that hill training!
ReplyDeleteThat's the best word I've heard yet! It's always good to get away and relax.
DeleteSorry to hear about your calf cramping! Hate those! Great job with your hill repeats! Hope you have a great race next weekend!
ReplyDeleteI hope these hill repeats will do me good. I definitely need to build my quads up as much as I can.
DeleteTricia wasn't able to come after all so I'm glad this was a local race and I knew people running it. Downhill running is so much easier on the cardiovascular system. It just makes the quads cry for a few days.
ReplyDelete