Today I ran a 19km Recovery Run.
What does that mean, recovery? You mean from the 26 km long run on friday? If so, since when is 19 km a recovery from 26 km? Come on, maybe 9 or 10 or even 13 is a recovery from 26 km...? No?
As I was plodding along I wasn't really sure whether I was supposed to run faster or slower than friday's long run. I would assume so, considering I was supposed to be recovering. But I just felt so motivated and able. I still held myself back (6:10 pace) but it was not a lot slower than the 6:17 pace I ran on friday. Maybe someone could enlighten me.
This week promises to be a very heavy week of running (85 km) with the next two weeks pretty much the same. I have a half marathon next week and my final long run 32 km the friday after. Then - we start to taper for the marathon on January 6th.
It is all very exciting.
Best,
Jenny
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Speedy Gonzales
Today's run was intervals. 18 km with 4 x 1600 meters and 800 meter recovery jogs. Yikes.
I usually do my speed work inside on my treadmill, but my program has ramped up the milage for the next few weeks, and suddenly a 12 km speed workout has turned into a 18 km speed workout. After trying 16 km last week, I knew I couldn't keep it up on the treadmill... so, outdoors I went.
I was supposed to run the 1600 meter intervals in 9:09 - but of course, since I have been running much faster than the pace suggested to me in the program - combined with being in the beautiful outdoors, I ran much faster.
1st - 8:38
2nd - 8:31
3rd - 8:42
4th - 9:07
I know one should strive for negative splits, but the speed and length of the interval got the better of me. (In addition to those darn headwinds that come through the valley I was running in.)
I was working overtime trying to convince myself to knock off at mile 15, then 16, then 17. Bully for me that I hung on and completed the entire 18km. Amazing what a feeling of achievement one gets after such a run!
Tomorrow is supposed to be an 18km mid long run, but I think I'm going to scale back to 15km. I am running with a friend who is trying to get back into it, and it's going to be a much slooower pace because of that. So, I'll reap a little of that and relax.
I've got to learn how to stick to a more managable pace on the intervals.... any suggestions?
Best,
Jenny
I usually do my speed work inside on my treadmill, but my program has ramped up the milage for the next few weeks, and suddenly a 12 km speed workout has turned into a 18 km speed workout. After trying 16 km last week, I knew I couldn't keep it up on the treadmill... so, outdoors I went.
I was supposed to run the 1600 meter intervals in 9:09 - but of course, since I have been running much faster than the pace suggested to me in the program - combined with being in the beautiful outdoors, I ran much faster.
1st - 8:38
2nd - 8:31
3rd - 8:42
4th - 9:07
I know one should strive for negative splits, but the speed and length of the interval got the better of me. (In addition to those darn headwinds that come through the valley I was running in.)
I was working overtime trying to convince myself to knock off at mile 15, then 16, then 17. Bully for me that I hung on and completed the entire 18km. Amazing what a feeling of achievement one gets after such a run!
Tomorrow is supposed to be an 18km mid long run, but I think I'm going to scale back to 15km. I am running with a friend who is trying to get back into it, and it's going to be a much slooower pace because of that. So, I'll reap a little of that and relax.
I've got to learn how to stick to a more managable pace on the intervals.... any suggestions?
Best,
Jenny
Friday, November 19, 2010
Mind over Matter
Today I ran a 32 km long run - only the second time I have gone this distance. (3:26:02)
The last time I ran this distance it was so difficult, and I remember crying at the end because of that difficulty and the fear, I guess that I wouldn't be able to run a marathon.
Thanks, God. Today's run was so much better. Besides the fact that I improved on pace from 6:39 down to 6:26, I actually felt like I could have gone further - and this time instead of crying when my husband picked me up, I was actually boogeying down to a great tune. Not only did I have a big smile on my face, but so did my husband, who is in this thing for the long haul, and always worries that I'm pushing too hard.
This past week was a bit of a challenge on almost every run. While not challenging physically, the mental game that we runners play was tough to get through. My mind kept telling me to just quit, you've run enough, you don't need to prove anything... and on, and on. I almost had to step out of myself, so to speak, in order to see this other person that was trying to sabatogue my running goals. I talked to myself a lot - out loud - in a effort, a winning effort, to quiet that negative voice that was trying to make me quit, and ultimately, see myself as a quitter. Not going to happen.
This is one of the things that I so love about running. It's a place where I can square off with my negative inner voice, and triumph. I must admit that I tend to be a glass is half empty kind of person. But running, helps me to switch points of view, and be that half full type of person. I guess being successful at running helps me make that switch. As such, running is the time that I like to have all my life's conversations with myself. It's a time and place that I feel strong.
So it was a good running week - mentally and physically.
Best,
Jenny
The last time I ran this distance it was so difficult, and I remember crying at the end because of that difficulty and the fear, I guess that I wouldn't be able to run a marathon.
Thanks, God. Today's run was so much better. Besides the fact that I improved on pace from 6:39 down to 6:26, I actually felt like I could have gone further - and this time instead of crying when my husband picked me up, I was actually boogeying down to a great tune. Not only did I have a big smile on my face, but so did my husband, who is in this thing for the long haul, and always worries that I'm pushing too hard.
This past week was a bit of a challenge on almost every run. While not challenging physically, the mental game that we runners play was tough to get through. My mind kept telling me to just quit, you've run enough, you don't need to prove anything... and on, and on. I almost had to step out of myself, so to speak, in order to see this other person that was trying to sabatogue my running goals. I talked to myself a lot - out loud - in a effort, a winning effort, to quiet that negative voice that was trying to make me quit, and ultimately, see myself as a quitter. Not going to happen.
This is one of the things that I so love about running. It's a place where I can square off with my negative inner voice, and triumph. I must admit that I tend to be a glass is half empty kind of person. But running, helps me to switch points of view, and be that half full type of person. I guess being successful at running helps me make that switch. As such, running is the time that I like to have all my life's conversations with myself. It's a time and place that I feel strong.
So it was a good running week - mentally and physically.
Best,
Jenny
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Al Derech Burma 5K Race
WooHoo! This past Friday I ran my first official 5k Race. It was a trail race, and I placed 2nd in my age division (40+ although I'm 49) with a time of 29:34.
It was a very hot day, 30c and the race was run at high noon - talk about hot! The course was advertised as relatively flat, but believe me, there were more hills in the course than there should have been in such a short race. The first half I ran in 13:13 and really should have had a better finishing time, but the heat and hills just got to me. (I guess I was also a bit tired from the 14 k I ran in the morning as part of my marathon training.)
Because is was a family run, there were many, many children and they were like ants scampering in front of all the runners. They haven't learned the finer rules of racing, and as such, they kept crossing in front of everyone, at odd intervals which made it hard to figure out where to step next.
My husband also ran his first 5k and he placed 17th in the same age division. I am very proud of him, as you know, he's really not that fond of running. My family came to the run to watch Bubby & Zaidy run, and it was great fun having them there to cheer us on.
This is my son & family
All in all it was a great day and a fun race!
This weeks Marathon training has me scheduled for:
16km (13km tempo)
14 km easy
32 km long
14km recovery
I need to psyche myself up for the long run. It is starting to get a bit challenging mentally.
Best to all,
Jenny
It was a very hot day, 30c and the race was run at high noon - talk about hot! The course was advertised as relatively flat, but believe me, there were more hills in the course than there should have been in such a short race. The first half I ran in 13:13 and really should have had a better finishing time, but the heat and hills just got to me. (I guess I was also a bit tired from the 14 k I ran in the morning as part of my marathon training.)
Because is was a family run, there were many, many children and they were like ants scampering in front of all the runners. They haven't learned the finer rules of racing, and as such, they kept crossing in front of everyone, at odd intervals which made it hard to figure out where to step next.
My husband also ran his first 5k and he placed 17th in the same age division. I am very proud of him, as you know, he's really not that fond of running. My family came to the run to watch Bubby & Zaidy run, and it was great fun having them there to cheer us on.
This is my son & family
Hubby and I post race.
All in all it was a great day and a fun race!
This weeks Marathon training has me scheduled for:
16km (13km tempo)
14 km easy
32 km long
14km recovery
I need to psyche myself up for the long run. It is starting to get a bit challenging mentally.
Best to all,
Jenny
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
