March Miles to Date: 35.0
March Average Pace: 14:05 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date: 92.3
Yoga/Strength Training Sessions this week: 3
Streak Day: 1 (Maximum: 9)
The American 200: 18.4 mi/200
My streak ended at 9 so we are going to try again. I had to trade a run day Thursday for strength training because I desperately needed to go grocery shopping. I intended to run Friday, but then I woke up not feeling well. Saturday morning, I had to force myself out of bed and this morning I didn't feel well. I feel guilty for not having worked out in 3 days, which is a good sign (I think) but I hope to get back on it this week.
Other than that, it was an uneventful week. I need to find a new yoga sequence, or I may drop it all together for the moment. That's really all I know.
Happy Easter!
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Sunday, March 20, 2016
The Road to Dopey: Week 11 - A dozen halfs, a PR, and a racing hiatus
March Miles to Date: 33.0
March Average Pace: 14:06 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date: 90.3
Yoga/Strength Training Sessions this week: 2
Streak Day: 6
The American 200: 16.4 mi/200
Wow, where do I even start with this week? So much happened! Let's start with the stats above this text, since you may notice they've changed from how I've been reporting them for the past weeks. I've changed my workout schedule. My strength training wasn't happening on my run days so I moved it to my yoga days since the yoga routine I do is only 20 minutes and strength training is 10-15. Now both my workout days will be about the same length. "Streak Day" is also something I'm starting. I want to go on a 30 day workout streak, where I follow my workout calendar for 30 straight days. I fell like this will help me stay accountable. I can't excuse my way to Dopey. I have to actually train, because actually training pays off...which I'll get to in a minute.
Now, The American 200 is a virtual challenge I'm doing. Last week I completed The Texas 200, which was a virtual challenge to run 200 miles anywhere in the state of Texas. I barely completed it, thanks to all my training derailments last fall, but I did it. And in an effort to keep the accountability going, I signed up this week for The American 200, which is the same concept as the Texas 200, but I can run the miles anywhere in America, not just Texas. Which is good since there's a good chance I'm moving out of Texas before my 6 months on this challenge are up.
So, training this week. I started my streak on Tuesday, which means I ran all my training runs this week. I did my normal maintenance loop on Tuesday, still focusing on pacing myself, and on Thursday I did my hill routine. My hill routine may not be "hilly" enough, but it's the best I can do where I live right now, since the real hills don't have sidewalks.
Yesterday, I ran my 12th half marathon. It's also the last race I have officially scheduled for the foreseeable future. A bittersweet decision, but I know I have a lot of big things coming up, and focusing on training for Dopey is important. I know that I'll race again before Dopey (I'll need a POT after all), but who knows where or when that will be.
Originally, I had wanted to go sub-3 on my half yesterday, but I was concerned that wasn't going to happen since my training in February hadn't been as on point as January had been and March is shaping up to be. But like I told Catie, if I could have a well-paced race, I would be happy. So when I went to the starting line yesterday morning, that was all I hoped for: a well-paced race.
Well I got it, with the exception of the middle of the race, where I slowed significantly taking the hills, I ran a pretty consistent mile (~14 min). As my running app told me the time on mile 12, I started to cry a little and I texted Catie: I think I'm going to PR. When I made it to the bridge (on the other side of which was my finish line) I dug in deep and headed up and over. As I reached the crest of the bridge, I could see the clock and I could see that my PR was mine! I ran to the finish and crossed in 3:11:27, shaving 6 minutes off my PR for a half! Again, not sub-3 and still a long way to go to where I want to be...but it's a big deal for several reasons:
March Average Pace: 14:06 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date: 90.3
Yoga/Strength Training Sessions this week: 2
Streak Day: 6
The American 200: 16.4 mi/200
Wow, where do I even start with this week? So much happened! Let's start with the stats above this text, since you may notice they've changed from how I've been reporting them for the past weeks. I've changed my workout schedule. My strength training wasn't happening on my run days so I moved it to my yoga days since the yoga routine I do is only 20 minutes and strength training is 10-15. Now both my workout days will be about the same length. "Streak Day" is also something I'm starting. I want to go on a 30 day workout streak, where I follow my workout calendar for 30 straight days. I fell like this will help me stay accountable. I can't excuse my way to Dopey. I have to actually train, because actually training pays off...which I'll get to in a minute.
Now, The American 200 is a virtual challenge I'm doing. Last week I completed The Texas 200, which was a virtual challenge to run 200 miles anywhere in the state of Texas. I barely completed it, thanks to all my training derailments last fall, but I did it. And in an effort to keep the accountability going, I signed up this week for The American 200, which is the same concept as the Texas 200, but I can run the miles anywhere in America, not just Texas. Which is good since there's a good chance I'm moving out of Texas before my 6 months on this challenge are up.
So, training this week. I started my streak on Tuesday, which means I ran all my training runs this week. I did my normal maintenance loop on Tuesday, still focusing on pacing myself, and on Thursday I did my hill routine. My hill routine may not be "hilly" enough, but it's the best I can do where I live right now, since the real hills don't have sidewalks.
Yesterday, I ran my 12th half marathon. It's also the last race I have officially scheduled for the foreseeable future. A bittersweet decision, but I know I have a lot of big things coming up, and focusing on training for Dopey is important. I know that I'll race again before Dopey (I'll need a POT after all), but who knows where or when that will be.
Originally, I had wanted to go sub-3 on my half yesterday, but I was concerned that wasn't going to happen since my training in February hadn't been as on point as January had been and March is shaping up to be. But like I told Catie, if I could have a well-paced race, I would be happy. So when I went to the starting line yesterday morning, that was all I hoped for: a well-paced race.
Well I got it, with the exception of the middle of the race, where I slowed significantly taking the hills, I ran a pretty consistent mile (~14 min). As my running app told me the time on mile 12, I started to cry a little and I texted Catie: I think I'm going to PR. When I made it to the bridge (on the other side of which was my finish line) I dug in deep and headed up and over. As I reached the crest of the bridge, I could see the clock and I could see that my PR was mine! I ran to the finish and crossed in 3:11:27, shaving 6 minutes off my PR for a half! Again, not sub-3 and still a long way to go to where I want to be...but it's a big deal for several reasons:
- It's a PR...by quite a bit! YAY!
- I ran my intervals for all 13 miles. This is the first time this has happened EVER. Normally by mile 11 at least I have to start walking, but I kept pushing forward and was running even at the end.
- I only skipped a few on my running intervals, most of which were on the steeper parts of hills.
- I managed to pace myself so that I could make it to the finish, a first.
It may have taken 12 half marathons, but I finally figured out how to race.
And now we train.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
The Road to Dopey: Week 10 - Training time, Travel time, Time changes
March Miles to Date: 14.0
March Average Pace: 13:45 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date: 71.3
Yoga Sessions this week: 0
I intended to run 4 miles this morning. But the time changes have thrown off my schedule. Not just daylight savings, but the time zones I've been traveling between. And since I still have one trip left to take, I thought it wise to get my sleep and rehydrate rather than run.
I did get my 9 miler in from last weekend on Wednesday. It took a lot of determination to get it done, but I knew it was important to to my half next weekend. I get back from my last trip Monday night, so Tuesday and Thursday morning, I'll do my maintenance runs and hopefully that will be enough.
The best part of my 9 miler on Wednesday was how consistent I kept my pace. I started at 13:30 and wound up at 14:00 min/mi, which is a lot closer together than my pacing normally is. And I ran every interval the whole time. It gives me hope for a well paced half on Saturday.
runDisney announced a new challenge as part of Wine and Dine weekend and I WANT TO DO IT SO BADLY, but unfortunately it looks like it will be in 2018 after Dopey before I'm able. Sad face.
My travels will be over (for now) after Monday and hopefully that means I can focus on my training again. While it hasn't suffered as much as last semester, it has suffered a little bit and I don't want it to anymore.
Until then, keep running.
March Average Pace: 13:45 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date: 71.3
Yoga Sessions this week: 0
I intended to run 4 miles this morning. But the time changes have thrown off my schedule. Not just daylight savings, but the time zones I've been traveling between. And since I still have one trip left to take, I thought it wise to get my sleep and rehydrate rather than run.
I did get my 9 miler in from last weekend on Wednesday. It took a lot of determination to get it done, but I knew it was important to to my half next weekend. I get back from my last trip Monday night, so Tuesday and Thursday morning, I'll do my maintenance runs and hopefully that will be enough.
The best part of my 9 miler on Wednesday was how consistent I kept my pace. I started at 13:30 and wound up at 14:00 min/mi, which is a lot closer together than my pacing normally is. And I ran every interval the whole time. It gives me hope for a well paced half on Saturday.
runDisney announced a new challenge as part of Wine and Dine weekend and I WANT TO DO IT SO BADLY, but unfortunately it looks like it will be in 2018 after Dopey before I'm able. Sad face.
My travels will be over (for now) after Monday and hopefully that means I can focus on my training again. While it hasn't suffered as much as last semester, it has suffered a little bit and I don't want it to anymore.
Until then, keep running.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
The Road to Dopey: Week 9(?) - finding the time for training
March Miles to Date: 5
March Average Pace: 13:06 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date: 62.3
Yoga Sessions this week: 0
What up? (Good grief Addie, you can't start a blog that way). Today's post is going to be short because, well, in a shocking turn of events I find myself in an airport. I board in like 20 minutes but I want to give you a Sunday blog.
March Average Pace: 13:06 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date: 62.3
Yoga Sessions this week: 0
What up? (Good grief Addie, you can't start a blog that way). Today's post is going to be short because, well, in a shocking turn of events I find myself in an airport. I board in like 20 minutes but I want to give you a Sunday blog.
This week I did my weekly training, bringing my March to date miles to 5 and my year to date to 50-something (blogging on mobile has several limitations, but I'm doing my best). I ran them back to back on Tuesday and Wednesday because I am doing a whole lot of traveling in the next little bit, but I am determined that, unlike last semester when this happened, my training won't suffer the consequences.
Because of my schedule, my Saturday long run didn't happen. There was no time for 9 miles, but I plan to make it up on Wednesday, which is my next no travel day. That will be my last long run before I run the Bearathon on March 19. Im looking forward to it because on both my runs this week I worked really hard on focusing on pacing (which is something I am terrible at) and I was Doug a pretty good job. Im anxious and excited to try this over a longer distance in hopes of doing a good job on it at the race.
That's really it. Good thoughts while traveling are appreciated. Hopefully I won't have to do this again for a long time (if all goes well). Keep on running.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
The Road to Dopey: Week 8 - The Wrap up of a Disappointing February
February Miles to Date: 16.5
February Average Pace: 14:08 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date:57.3
Yoga Sessions this week: 1
Last week, I was unexpectedly taken home to say goodbye to my grandfather. That's why there was no blog. It was sad, and we're all doing better, but it made for a rough week. And that is one of the contributing factors to my February training being disappointing to me. After doing so well in January, it was all too easy for life to derail my training.
I had what seemed like emotional upheaval after emotional upheaval in February. First there was drama with when I can defend my dissertation (I just want to graduate people). Then when I seemed like I got that under control, I got the call about my grandfather and went home to be with my family. This week I had a number of leads in the job hunt, which will be taking me away from home again.
But I'm determined to stick with my training better in March. I have a race in March, after all. I had a time goal for it, but I don't know if I will make it now with the training slump.
Princess was last week and I was vicariously reliving the best weekend in 2015 while watching my friends race via FB. The bling envy definitely helped renew my desire to train for Dopey 2018, but I'm itching to get back to a Disney race sooner than that. Maybe if I get a good job soon, I can think about a 2017 race.
When I saw this quote yesterday, it made me think of my dismal February. I need to keep this in mind when I wake up in the morning and think "I should work on that paper ASAP" and let my running shoes gather dust. I'm going to try and be better about that next month. Hopefully life will let me do it.
February Average Pace: 14:08 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date:57.3
Yoga Sessions this week: 1
Last week, I was unexpectedly taken home to say goodbye to my grandfather. That's why there was no blog. It was sad, and we're all doing better, but it made for a rough week. And that is one of the contributing factors to my February training being disappointing to me. After doing so well in January, it was all too easy for life to derail my training.
I had what seemed like emotional upheaval after emotional upheaval in February. First there was drama with when I can defend my dissertation (I just want to graduate people). Then when I seemed like I got that under control, I got the call about my grandfather and went home to be with my family. This week I had a number of leads in the job hunt, which will be taking me away from home again.
But I'm determined to stick with my training better in March. I have a race in March, after all. I had a time goal for it, but I don't know if I will make it now with the training slump.
Princess was last week and I was vicariously reliving the best weekend in 2015 while watching my friends race via FB. The bling envy definitely helped renew my desire to train for Dopey 2018, but I'm itching to get back to a Disney race sooner than that. Maybe if I get a good job soon, I can think about a 2017 race.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
The Road to Dopey: Week 6 - A whole lot of nothing
February Miles to Date: 10.5
February Average Pace: 14:10 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date:51.3
Yoga Sessions this week: 0
A whole lot of nothing. That's what I did this week workout wise. This week was really stressful and I'm a little ashamed to come to you having only run 2 miles. But there's was a weird pain in my right foot. It's doing much better and I hope to run more this coming week. Even if I have to go to Ohio in the middle of it for a funeral.
I'm really not thinking a lot today. A LOT happened this past week that was stressful and upsetting and I wish I could have run it out. I just wanted to keep my end of the bargain and check in here. Hopefully my foot feeling better will help me run out the weirdness of this past week.
I'll check in again next week.
<3
February Average Pace: 14:10 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date:51.3
Yoga Sessions this week: 0
A whole lot of nothing. That's what I did this week workout wise. This week was really stressful and I'm a little ashamed to come to you having only run 2 miles. But there's was a weird pain in my right foot. It's doing much better and I hope to run more this coming week. Even if I have to go to Ohio in the middle of it for a funeral.
I'm really not thinking a lot today. A LOT happened this past week that was stressful and upsetting and I wish I could have run it out. I just wanted to keep my end of the bargain and check in here. Hopefully my foot feeling better will help me run out the weirdness of this past week.
I'll check in again next week.
<3
Sunday, February 7, 2016
The Road to Dopey: Week 5 - The dangers of "used to be"
February Miles to Date: 8.5
February Average Pace: 14:10 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date:49.3
Yoga Sessions this week: 2
Well, we made it through another week. I had to send the super scary "let's pick a date for my dissertation defense" email this week. Terrifying. But let's not talk about that. Let's talk about the things that are going to get me through the stress surrounding defense.
Monday morning I was a bit exhausted from the Miracle Match weekend, so I skipped my Yoga. But by the time I got home Monday night, I felt the need to stretch everything that was sore out. So I did my yoga. Tuesday, I slept in instead of running. I was still sore from the race and I felt a little terrible (cedar has moved into the area...yay allergies). Wednesday, I also skipped the yoga, but Thursday I got up and got out and ran 3 miles, including some hills. And by hills, I mean the pedestrian bridge to the stadium. Its a pretty nice incline. I did 4 repeats of it and then ran back home.
Friday morning I did my yoga and then Friday night I had some friends over, so I didn't do my long run on Saturday, opting to take it easy first thing in the morning and then get most of my work for the weekend done. This morning I did 5.5 miles to the Hamilton soundtrack (I finally caved and bought it and then my friend Davis mentioned he ran to it and I was like "hmmm...I should try that this weekend". It was pretty fantastic. Definitely going to be repeated.
My 5.5 miles was in a time that I used to run 10Ks in. And that made me a little sad. Oh how far I've fallen. I know I can't dwell on the runner I was before science got crazy and I basically stopped training. I will get back to where I was and beyond. That's part of what this road to Dopey is for. In the meantime, I'll put one foot in front of the other and not throw away my shot (Hamilton reference...)
Until next week...I'm gonna go foam roll :)
February Average Pace: 14:10 min/mi
2016 Miles to Date:49.3
Yoga Sessions this week: 2
Well, we made it through another week. I had to send the super scary "let's pick a date for my dissertation defense" email this week. Terrifying. But let's not talk about that. Let's talk about the things that are going to get me through the stress surrounding defense.
Monday morning I was a bit exhausted from the Miracle Match weekend, so I skipped my Yoga. But by the time I got home Monday night, I felt the need to stretch everything that was sore out. So I did my yoga. Tuesday, I slept in instead of running. I was still sore from the race and I felt a little terrible (cedar has moved into the area...yay allergies). Wednesday, I also skipped the yoga, but Thursday I got up and got out and ran 3 miles, including some hills. And by hills, I mean the pedestrian bridge to the stadium. Its a pretty nice incline. I did 4 repeats of it and then ran back home.
Friday morning I did my yoga and then Friday night I had some friends over, so I didn't do my long run on Saturday, opting to take it easy first thing in the morning and then get most of my work for the weekend done. This morning I did 5.5 miles to the Hamilton soundtrack (I finally caved and bought it and then my friend Davis mentioned he ran to it and I was like "hmmm...I should try that this weekend". It was pretty fantastic. Definitely going to be repeated.
My 5.5 miles was in a time that I used to run 10Ks in. And that made me a little sad. Oh how far I've fallen. I know I can't dwell on the runner I was before science got crazy and I basically stopped training. I will get back to where I was and beyond. That's part of what this road to Dopey is for. In the meantime, I'll put one foot in front of the other and not throw away my shot (Hamilton reference...)
Until next week...I'm gonna go foam roll :)
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