Hey everyone! Welcome to Runs on Espresso. Today’s episode is going to be like a shot of espresso. I don’t have much time to record but wanted to make sure I still got an episode up!
It’s been another week and I was still all over about my training plan. So this episode is going to focus on this week’s training and the struggle to figure out what I’m doing. I think, I hope I finally have an idea of what I want to do.
So first, how did this week go? It wasn’t my best but certainly not my worst.
I’m going to talk about some TMI here so if you don’t want to listen feel free to skip ahead a bit.
I knew my period was coming (thanks Garmin) and yet every time it still hits me like a ton of bricks. I felt like I hadn’t slept at all. I had some coffee and just curled in a ball on the couch. Eventually I moved back to the bed. It was clear I wasn’t going to be getting anything accomplished. I had some Prevail Oil so I took that and it helped with cramps and nap time.
(Side note: I’m a Prevail ambassador and if you are interested in trying CBD you can use my code Volden20 at prevailbotanicals.com. We use the salve for a lot of different things.)
Basically Sunday was no workout and I are all the food. All of it. And I slept. My body needed it.
Monday was the day I just gave up. I had to go into the office and so didn’t run before work. I’d do it after. Then I ran around work a lot so I was like ok, I can do my Sunday weight work out. Did I do either of those things? Nope. I stuffed my face with french fries and watched TV.
Wednesday morning I had goal pace repeats. They were definitely a challenge but I was able to maintain the faster pace for 5 minutes at a time. Progress.
Tuesday and Thursday Thursday I did a morning bike ride and weights at lunch.
Friday was an easy run. And it was easy. I woke up and get out the door pretty quick for me. I didn’t struggle with wanting to run. I just did it.
Saturday I did a virtual 10k trail race! I haven’t been on a trail since early March. OMG. I forgot how hard it can be! As usual, it took me longer to get ready and go than planned. I think I started around 6:20 and it was already over 90 degrees. I was also running into some heavy wind so I was slow and hot. My energy level depleted quickly. But you know what? I did it. I went to the trail, I ran 6.2 miles and I survived. I didn’t get attacked by a snake. I didn’t even see (or hear) one. A couple of times I thought I heard one but I think it was lizards in bushes because the noise stopped as soon as I heard it.
And back to thinking about stopping the Garmin Training and do my own. This is why I can’t have nice things. I started with a spreadsheet (yup, I’m a dork like that) and plugged in my long runs for the rest of August through November. I used a 16 week 50k plan and adjusted the distances to fit my virtual races and upcoming Run Every Trail and Run One challenges. Both challenges are from Aravaipa Racing. You should check them out. You can do run every street if you aren’t a trail runner. But basically you pick an area, like your zipcode or town, and run every street. Or you pick a park and run every trail. I’ve got my park and trails already planned out. It starts in September and goes through the end of the year. Run One is pick one trail or street and run one end to the other. I picked a trail I haven’t done yet.
After the long runs I plugged in the east days and Wednseday I alternated temp and intervals. I will probably use the Nike app for the speedwork. It’s way too much work to enter workouts in Garmin.
I also decided to drop the duathlon but going to keep riding on Tues/Thurs for more cardio/cross training. I don’t have a good way to record the bike position and upload to the race site and I want to get these challenges done so I decided to hold off on the duathlon. I might make my own and do it eventually but for now I want to continue to focus on doing a 50k.
Currently I’m reading The Brave Athlete and its been so helpful. And now it’s calling me out. I’m on the quitting chapter this week. And I to quote the book shit quit all the time. I am queen at coming up with excuses. Usually it’s “I’m too tired”. Most of the time my limitations are all mental. Yes, running longer distances is uncomfortable physically, as in my body gets tired but I don’t quit because of pain or injury. It’s all in my head. I am definitely going to re-read this chapter and work on the recommendations. The next chapter is about hardening up. I haven’t read it yet but I think I may also need to read that one a few times.
Coffee Corner… I don’t have many random thoughts this week. Let’s see, maybe I’ll recommend a few podcasts. If you like audiobooks and classic novels you should check out Phoebe Reads a Mystery. Phoebe is the voice of the podcast Criminal and this summer she has started reading a chapter a day in classic books. If you like comedy, maybe The Endless Honeymoon is more your flavor. It’s comedians Moshe Kasher and Natasha Leggero. They give advice to callers, listen to secrets people have left in voicemails and interview comedian friends.
Alright, that’s all I have for today. I will see you in a week! Until then, may your runs be as strong as your coffee.
