Sunday, March 4, 2018

WORK Week (WW # 135)



The purpose of this linkup is to
support active women.
Have you read the UPDATED RULES ??

*****************************************************


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
.


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.

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.

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?




71 comments:

  1. 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'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.

      Delete
  2. Ouch! Sorry about that Charlie horse and pain. I hope you are able to get trough your upcoming half without it showing up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me 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.

      Delete
  3. Sounds 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I certainly hope they done recur, especially in a race! It could be due to some medication I'm taking.

      Delete
  4. I totally agree...hills NEVER look realistic in pictures...they always appear much easier than reality dictates.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It keeps going around the curve too. It is actually pretty steep! I just couldn't capture it.

      Delete
  5. Exhausting.....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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There were two days I could have easily gotten up to get my runs in. I just didn't. I was mentally exhausted.

      Delete
  6. Great job fitting everything in this week! I definitely agree that hills never look as steep in pictures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This 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.

      Delete
  7. I 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.

    My week? Getting back to normal. I think. I've thought that about 3 times so far, but hope springs eternal. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.

      Delete
  8. I'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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I 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.

      Delete
  9. Oh man, charley horses are the absolute worst!! I'm glad it didn't stick around long enough to derail your run!

    And, 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.

      Delete
  10. Thankfully 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I 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.

      Delete
  11. You're right--hills never look as steep in pictures! My week was good aside from the crazy windstorm on Friday and Saturday :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It 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.

      Delete
  12. Life is why I won’t run a full. I don’t have the time to train.

    My 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.

      Delete
  13. I 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't plan to do that often. And, I'm pretty sure I'll be feeling it tomorrow. LOL.

      Delete
  14. So smart of you to factor in down hill training - I don't think I've ever done that.

    Good 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.

      Delete
  15. I'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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We'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.

      Delete
  16. Good 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I 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.

      Delete
  17. Good 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!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I 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.

      Delete
  18. How 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. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That 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
  19. '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".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I 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.

      Delete
  20. I 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I 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.

      Delete
  21. I’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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I 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.

      Delete
  22. That 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The 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.

      Delete
  23. I'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?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I usually stay pretty hydrated. I'm a huge water drinker. But, maybe didn't drink as much that day?

      Delete
  24. Good luck with the hometown half coming up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I appreciate that. It's always a tough one.

      Delete
  25. I don't train enough for the downhills...good work preparing! Good luck with your half coming up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember how bad the DOMS were after this downhill half. This time I want to be prepared.

      Delete
  26. I do hill training and it really helps overall!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really should do it year round. It would make all other runs feel much easier.

      Delete
  27. It's just not fair how those steep hills never look as steep in pictures. :D Good luck next weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really is a mystery why hills look flat in pictures. I'm always disappointed with my pics.

      Delete
  28. Good 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I could find longer sections of downhill around here. I feel like I'm constantly stopping to go back up the hill.

      Delete
  29. That 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'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.

      Delete
  30. You are SO right that hills never look as steep in pics! I wonder why that is?
    I 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like your word. I am feeling overwhelmed and need to FOCUS on one thing at the time.

      Delete
  31. My word is "overwhelmed". Lord, am I ever. This too shall pass, right?

    I 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.

      Delete
  32. Those 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope the downhill repeats will pay off at the race. It certainly can't hurt, right?

      Delete
  33. The one word that describes last week for me would be "windy," as we were in the middle of the east coast wind storm!

    I, too, have noticed that the hills NEVER appear as steep in pictures as they do in real life...

    Thanks for the linkup!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We've had a lot of wind here too. I guess that is pretty typical for March though.

      Delete
  34. One 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the best word I've heard yet! It's always good to get away and relax.

      Delete
  35. Sorry to hear about your calf cramping! Hate those! Great job with your hill repeats! Hope you have a great race next weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope these hill repeats will do me good. I definitely need to build my quads up as much as I can.

      Delete
  36. Tricia 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

I enjoy reading your comments. Thanks for taking the time to leave one!