I am signed up and training. 3 months ago

in training! 4 months ago

A little background…when I was in my 20s, 30s and 40s, I ran several half marathons and 6 full marathons but now in my 50s it’s getting much harder. I did the Rock n’ Roll Half in Nashville 2 weeks ago and really stressed my Achilles tendon and haven’t been able to run since and I have another half coming up in October. 12 months ago

Race day, Sunday. Starting at 6:30 am, which means leaving the house at at least 5:30. I haven’t done a good job of getting on an early schedule this week, but I will try to go to bed early tonight and get up early tomorrow so that I’ll be tired enough to go to bed super early Saturday night. It’s threatening to be day 1 of my cycle, but I’m hoping to avoid that – not that I’m really in control of such things, but I’m using all the willpower I have to get going earlier. ;) It’s supposed to be pretty nice that morning – early clouds or fog, coolish until later, hardly any wind, no chance of rain. Packet pickup is tomorrow – otherwise, pretty much planning on chilling out between now and then. :) 12 months ago

I’ll update this entry throughout the week to log my actual training.

Sunday 4/29 – Did some yoga and also my exercises.

Monday 4/30 – Ran 4.17 miles and stretched.

Tuesday 5/1 – Did a little yoga in the morning. Did a 30-minute tempo run (3.5 miles) and my exercises, and stretched.

Wednesday 5/2 – Yoga class.

Thursday 5/3 – Did a little yoga in the morning. Short 2.14-mile easy run, did my exercises, and stretched. Last run before the race!

Friday 5/4 – A little bit of yoga this morning, and that should be it today.

Saturday 5/5 – Planned absolute rest day.

Summary

• Total mileage: 9.81 miles
• Ran 3 days
• Did exercises 3 times
• Did yoga 5/7 days
• Attended 1 yoga class 12 months ago

This will be the last week of training, culminating with the race on 5/6.

• Sunday – Exercises and yoga
• Monday – 4 miles and yoga
• Tuesday – 30-minute tempo run & exercises & yoga
• Wednesday – Rest day from running – yoga class
• Thursday – 2 miles & exercises & a little yoga
• Friday – Rest – a little yoga
• Saturday – Complete rest
• Sunday – 13.1-mile race 12 months ago

Distances have started tapering as of today’s run, although I’m still slated for a 12-miler tomorrow morning (longest long run in training). Next week’s distances are light, with extra rest days, and the race is in just over a week. 12 months ago

I’ll update this entry throughout the week to log my actual training.

Sunday 4/22 – Did my own yoga practice at Kripalu in the morning, and then a session during our workshop as well.

Monday 4/23 – Ran 5.05 miles, pretty easy, and did my exercises and stretched. Did not make it to aerial yoga.

Tuesday 4/24 – A little yoga in class in the morning. Ran 10×400m intervals with 400m jogs in between, plus warm-up and cool-down (over 7 miles).

Wednesday 4/25 – Ran 3.15 miles easy & did my exercises & stretched.

Thursday 4/26 – Rest day – did some yoga in the classes I taught (maybe a bit too much of the same thing, judging from how my legs feel – not so gentle)

Friday 4/27 – Ran 3.15 miles at race pace, did my exercises, and stretched.

Saturday 4/28 – Ran 12.25 miles and stretched.

Summary

• Total mileage: 30.9 miles
• Ran 5 days
• Did exercises 3 times
• Did yoga 3/7 days, 4 times
• Attended 1 yoga class 13 months ago

I’ll be gone for a few days without my computer, so I’m getting a head start adding the plan for next week.

• Sunday – at Kripalu and travel day – lots of yoga
• Monday – 5 miles, exercises, aerial yoga?
• Tuesday – 10×400m intervals, yoga
• Wednesday – 3 miles, exercises, yoga class
• Thursday – Rest day – gentle yoga
• Friday – 3 miles at race pace, exercises, yoga
• Saturday – 12-mile run, yoga/ stretching 13 months ago

I’ll update this entry daily to log my actual training.

Sunday 4/15 – Did some yoga before and during my class today. Felt pretty good – forward bending and then stretching out the fronts of the legs/ hips in preparation for backbends was just what I needed today. Also did my exercises.

Monday 4/16 – Ran 5.05 miles and stretched.

Tuesday 4/17 – Did a little yoga this morning. Still really lacking energy for yoga practice. Put in a 45-minute tempo run. Hal Higdon says the tempo run is the thinking man’s run. I definitely wasn’t thinking today – so not a very well paced tempo run, but a hard run of 5.05 miles anyway. Did my exercises and stretched.

Wednesday 4/18 – Went to yoga class today – it was backbends, so quite a lot of muscular effort, but not so much in the biggest running muscles, so I think it was OK for a rest day.

Thursday 4/19 – Did a little yoga today. Also ran 11.2 miles. It was strange – I was rather distracted when I left and put my shorts on backwards! Also I forgot my watch so I didn’t get an exact time for my run, but it was a little faster than I meant to do for a long run (because I didn’t have my watch to monitor) – about a 10-minute mile. Stretched after. Will update for the next two days after I return from my trip.

Friday 4/20 – Gentle walking in the wildlife sanctuary. Afternoon moderate yoga class and gentle stretching in our workshops.

Saturday 4/21 – Moderate yoga classes in the morning and afternoon, plus a yoga session in our workshop.

Summary

• Total mileage: 21.3 miles
• Ran 3 days
• Did exercises 2 times
• Did yoga 6/7 days, 9 times
• Attended 4 yoga classes 13 months ago

A little different this week because of my vacation at the end of the week.

• Sunday – exercises and yoga
• Monday – run 5 miles, yoga
• Tuesday – 45-minute tempo run, exercises, yoga
• Wednesday – rest day. Yoga?
• Thursday – 11-mile run
• Friday and Saturday – at Kripalu. Yoga at least once a day. :) 13 months ago

I’ll update this entry daily to log my actual training.

Sunday 4/8 – Did a very little bit of yoga and stretching. Did not get my exercises in – will make them up on Monday.

Monday 4/9 – Ran 5.05 miles and stretched and did my exercises. No yoga, though. Slacking in that department.

Tuesday 4/10 – Yoga practice. Interval training: 9×400m with 400m jogs in between plus warm-up and cool-down. Stretched.

Wednesday 4/11 – Ran 3.15 miles, did exercises, and stretched. Going to Yoga 2 class.

Thursday 4/12 – Rest day – just a little yoga before teaching and in class today.

Friday 4/13 – Ran 5.05 miles at race pace, did my exercises, and stretched.

Saturday 4/14 – Ran 11.2 miles in high winds. Stretched.

Summary

• Total mileage: 31.25 miles
• Ran 5 days
• Did exercises 3 times
• Did yoga 4/7 days
• Attended 1 yoga class 13 months ago

• Sunday – yoga and exercises
• Monday – 5 miles easy, yoga
• Tuesday – 9×400m intervals, yoga
• Wednesday – 3 miles, exercises, yoga class
• Thursday – Rest day/ gentle yoga
• Friday – 5 miles at race pace, exercises, yoga
• Saturday – 11 miles, gentle yoga 13 months ago

I’ll update this entry daily to log my actual training.

Sunday 4/1 – Just did a light yoga practice, but did not do my exercises as planned.

Monday 4/2 – Made up my exercises, and also ran a slow and easy 4.47 miles and stretched.

Tuesday 4/3 – Hill workout – about 4 miles total distance (3/4 mile warm-up/ cool-down segments and 10 reps up a 200m section of hill, jogging down in between). Stretched before and after. Also did some light yoga and stretching this morning.

Wednesday 4/4 – 3.15 miles fairly easy. Did my exercises and stretched, but didn’t make it to yoga class.

Thursday 4/5 – Rest day – light yoga/ stretching in the morning.

Friday 4/6 – 5.05 miles – tried to run race pace, but ended up a little slower (maybe can blame new shoes?). Did my exercises and stretched, but no yoga.

Saturday 4/7 – 10.32 miles and stretched.

Summary

• Total mileage: 26.99 miles
• Ran 5 days
• Did exercises 3 times
• Did yoga 3/7 days
• Attended no yoga classes 13 months ago

• Sunday – exercises, yoga
• Monday – 4.5 miles, yoga
• Tuesday – hills or 40-minute tempo run, yoga
• Wednesday – 3 miles, exercises, yoga class
• Thursday – Rest day (light yoga only)
• Friday – 5 miles at race pace, exercises, yoga
• Saturday – 10 miles, yoga 13 months ago

I’ll update this daily to log my actual training.

Sunday 3/25 – 15k race, fast, plus warm-up, cool-down, and lots of stretching.

Monday 3/26 – Ow. My legs are sore, more than I expected. I think it’s better to skip the exercises rather than do strength training today. I am just stretching and making sure to keep moving. I will return to running tomorrow.

Tuesday 3/27 – Ow. Ran a very slow and easy 4.5 miles… like pushing my legs through molasses! A little yoga and stretching. Phew – definitely still recovering!

Wednesday 3/28 – Speed workout: 8×400m intervals with 400m jogs in between, plus warm-up and cool-down. Very challenging to do speed work as my legs were still tired and sore from racing. When I did the first couple of intervals, I wasn’t sure if I should continue, but my legs did warm up, stretch out, and feel better. I was 5-10 seconds slower than usual per interval and very slow on the jogging in between. I’m glad I stuck with it and got this workout done. Also did my exercises and went to a yoga class.

Thursday 3/29 – Rest day. Feeling glad I pushed myself yesterday because I feel way better today for having moved and stretched so much. Did a light yoga practice this morning, and it felt really good.

Friday 3/30 – Light yoga practice this morning. 4.17 miles close to race pace. I was tired & it took considerable effort. Did my exercises also.

Saturday 3/31 – Ran 10.32 miles and stretched.

Summary

• Total mileage: 34.58 miles
• Ran 5 days
• Did exercises 2 times
• Did yoga 4/7 days
• Attended 1 yoga class

My mileage is a little inflated because last week’s race displaced a long run from last week to this week. :) 14 months ago

• Sunday – 15-k race (9.3-ish miles) & stretch
• Monday – Exercises and yoga
• Tuesday – 4.5-mile run, yoga
• Wednesday – 8×400m intervals with warm-up/ cool-down. Stretch/ yoga. Exercises? Might be too much…
• Thursday – Rest
• Friday – 4 miles at race pace. Exercises. Yoga.
• Saturday – 10 miles 14 months ago

I’ll update this daily to log my actual training.

Sunday 3/18 – Ended up just doing yoga and missing my exercises because I wasn’t feeling great in the afternoon. Will make them up on Monday.

Monday 3/19 – Ran 4.17 miles. It felt easy, but I actually ran a bit faster than I ought to have probably. It felt good… Also made up my exercises from yesterday.

Tuesday 3/20 – Ran 4.47 miles. Not a very smart tempo run – I felt “off pace” the whole run, though I averaged about the pace I wanted. Short on sleep and probably dehydrated, so I felt super “off” for the whole run, but did complete it. Also did a light yoga practice this morning.

Wednesday 3/21 – Hiked up Cowles Mtn (1.5 miles each way approximately and a good uphill climb!). Took it easy on the hike, though. Stretched and went to a yoga class, but decided to skip my exercises because it felt like I’d worked an awful lot with those muscles already. Will either make them up tomorrow or just skip one set for this week. I think it will be OK.

Thursday 3/22 – I’m OK with skipping one set of exercises, given the extra leg-strengthening activities yesterday and how sore I am. I will still do tomorrow’s as planned. Today, a light yoga practice focusing on stretching out my sore legs and hips.

Friday 3/23 – Picked up my race packet! Nice easy 3.15-mile run, stretch, exercises. Going for a walk with my friend this afternoon as well – will try to keep it light as well and get keep the legs moving. Rest day tomorrow, race on Sunday.

Saturday 3/24 – Resting and stretching a little bit. Went for a very short, low-key walk to the farmer’s market.

Summary

• Total mileage: 11.79 miles + 3-mile hike
• Ran 3 days
• Did exercises 2 times
• Did yoga 4/7 days
• Attended 1 yoga class 14 months ago

Running a 15k race on the 25th, so this week’s training plan will be a slight departure from normal.

• Sunday – exercises and yoga
• Monday – 4 miles easy, yoga
• Tuesday – 40 minute tempo run or hills, yoga
• Wednesday – hike and yoga
• Thursday – rest – gentle yoga
• Friday – very easy run, exercises, yoga
• Saturday – rest 14 months ago

I’ll update this entry daily to log my actual training. Also, I wrote a post about nutritional issues here.

Sunday 3/11 – Did my exercises and a little bit of yoga.

Monday 3/12 – 4.17 miles easy, stretched.

Tuesday 3/13 – 7×400m intervals plus warm-up and cool-down of 1+ mile each. Stretched and a light yoga practice.

Wednesday 3/14 – Easy 3.15-mile run and exercises. Lots of stretching, but no yoga.

Thursday 3/15 – Rest day – just some gentle yoga.

Friday 3/16 – 3.15-mile run at race pace & exercises.

Saturday 3/17 – 8.98-mile long run & stretching.

Summary

• Total mileage: 25.25 miles
• Ran 5 days
• Did exercises 3 times
• Did yoga 3/7 days
• Attended 0 yoga classes 14 months ago

• Sunday – Exercises and yoga
• Monday – 4 miles, yoga
• Tuesday – 7×400m intervals, yoga
• Wednesday – 3 miles, exercises, yoga class
• Thursday – Rest day – gentle yoga & stretching
• Friday – 3 miles race pace, exercises, yoga
• Saturday – 9 miles, yoga 14 months ago