It was Seattle Marathon week for Andrew so while he tapered, I gobbled up the leftover miles like Pac-Man. Ideally I would like to do one 20-mile run per month. Twenty is the magic number as far as optimizing fitness, preparing the body and mind for a marathon, but also keeping it at a level where quick recovery is possible. Anything over 20 miles and I'm wiped out for a couple of days. I was able to squeeze in a 20 miler on Monday, topping out at 70 miles for the week while fitting in a rest day on Saturday!
Monday: My life isn't conducive to planning out runs so when the opportunity presents itself, I jump on it. I left Andrew in charge of Callum's naptime, and after I dropped Katie off at school I headed out for 20 miles. I did one loop of 14 miles, had a water break (and kept my watch running) and then finished it off with 6 miles. I was able to do it in a respectable 2:36. Then it was home, shower, and life goes on.
Tuesday: A recovery 7 miles on the therapymill followed by some stretching.
Wednesday: What a gross morning. Callum woke up at 5am. UGH! So when I put him down for his nap, I knew he'd sleep for a long time so I watched Netflix and ran 13 miles on the treadmill. But then later on, we had a free night to ourselves so after Andrew went for a run, I took off outside in the dark (my favourite time to run) for 5 miles. Then we went to El Nopal!
Thursday: I met Lora for a 10 miler along the dyke out here. We went slow and talked and solved the world's problems. They all grew back like chia by the time we got to our cars but hey. At least we had an hour of peace.
Friday: I was at home with a million kids and their friends all day so I was extremely ready to go for a run the second Andrew came home. Except Callum decided to go poo while he was playing in the bathtub so I spent some time scrubbing the tub out with lavender-scented Lysol. I guess I got it on my finger (not poo, the Lysol) because while I ran, I'd blow my nose into my glove and smell chemicals. Typical Friday night, I suppose.
Saturday: Rest Day! Drove down to Seattle for the marathon.
Sunday: Andrew powered through his second marathon in 4:32, taking 22 minutes off his previous time from only 3 months ago! Race re-cap next week.
Showing posts with label Mileage Monday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mileage Monday. Show all posts
Monday, December 1, 2014
Monday, November 24, 2014
Mileage Monday
I hit 60 again this week but it was a lot harder this week than last. I'm guessing it's the sinus infection and the accompanying antibiotics.
Monday: I squeaked in a four miler on the treadmill while Callum napped and then later on in the day, when Andrew got home from his long-ish run of 14 miles, I parked the van at Katie's school and ran a hilly six around there before pick-up.
Tuesday: I did five on the treadmill in the morning, and then we went Christmas shopping where Callum had his first picture taken with Santa. Then I took off for another five outside in the dark while Andrew had Callum. I felt incredibly strong that night, for some reason! I love running at night.
Wednesday: A boring seven miles on the therapymill while Callum napped. I really need to find a new movie or show on Netflix to help pass the time. Suggestions?
Thursday: I ran eight miles on the treadmill again during naptime, but I had ZERO entertainment as Andrew was using my phone to record his vlog.
Friday: Well, THIS was an interesting run. Lora and I went into Fort Langley where we used to run all the time years ago, but we started at around 4 o'clock right when it was getting dark. We parked by the pub and as we were getting our stuff together in the van, these two teenage boys came up to the Lora's side and knocked on the window. I thought they were in trouble so I un-did the window a bit. One of the punkasses reached into the van and asked for some money to which I replied, "NO!" and promptly put the window back up...on his finger. So his buddy starts yelling, and I undo the window and free his finger. But the pinched finger guy starts opening up my van door so I ABSOLUTELY LOST MY MIND on them. I whipped open my van door and started after them and they took off. I'm not exactly sure what I was going to do if I caught them, but I can use my imagination. My teenagers are much, MUCH better people. Anyway, Lora and I did seven miles in the pitch blackness with our hearts pounding with fear, and with the trail sprinkled with deer. Nice. It rhymed.
Saturday: I did twelve miles outside and I really struggled through them.
Sunday: I punctuated the week with an outside six miler to make it an even sixty for the week.
Monday: I squeaked in a four miler on the treadmill while Callum napped and then later on in the day, when Andrew got home from his long-ish run of 14 miles, I parked the van at Katie's school and ran a hilly six around there before pick-up.
Tuesday: I did five on the treadmill in the morning, and then we went Christmas shopping where Callum had his first picture taken with Santa. Then I took off for another five outside in the dark while Andrew had Callum. I felt incredibly strong that night, for some reason! I love running at night.
Wednesday: A boring seven miles on the therapymill while Callum napped. I really need to find a new movie or show on Netflix to help pass the time. Suggestions?
Thursday: I ran eight miles on the treadmill again during naptime, but I had ZERO entertainment as Andrew was using my phone to record his vlog.
Friday: Well, THIS was an interesting run. Lora and I went into Fort Langley where we used to run all the time years ago, but we started at around 4 o'clock right when it was getting dark. We parked by the pub and as we were getting our stuff together in the van, these two teenage boys came up to the Lora's side and knocked on the window. I thought they were in trouble so I un-did the window a bit. One of the punkasses reached into the van and asked for some money to which I replied, "NO!" and promptly put the window back up...on his finger. So his buddy starts yelling, and I undo the window and free his finger. But the pinched finger guy starts opening up my van door so I ABSOLUTELY LOST MY MIND on them. I whipped open my van door and started after them and they took off. I'm not exactly sure what I was going to do if I caught them, but I can use my imagination. My teenagers are much, MUCH better people. Anyway, Lora and I did seven miles in the pitch blackness with our hearts pounding with fear, and with the trail sprinkled with deer. Nice. It rhymed.
Saturday: I did twelve miles outside and I really struggled through them.
Sunday: I punctuated the week with an outside six miler to make it an even sixty for the week.
Monday, November 17, 2014
Mileage Monday
Lora recently texted me: "If heartache was a physical pain I could take it."
Running converts emotional pain into functional energy. Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is more emotional pain at the start line of an ultra endurance event than at the alter of a church. We keep trying to convert it over, pushing the pain through the emotional/physical barrier, but no matter how much pain we put ourselves through, we merely sweat blood. All that the physical pain does is temporarily distract us from the heartache. It gives our hearts a rest and sometimes that's all we need to keep breathing, to keep moving forward.
I'm not really in a lot of pain. Running ultras doesn't demand a history of abuse or neglect; it simply calls forth the sensitive souls, the empaths, the ones who carry too much of everyone else's shit in their own suitcases. I've often tugged at my hair and wailed, "I just don't want to feeeeeel so much anymore!!!" And then what do I do? I run it out. Or, at least I try. All I know is that I feel a whole lot better after a run than I do after four crown and cokes. Both result in a bit of nausea, sweating and chaffing, but nevertheless, the run just works better for me.
Here's my weekly mileage: 60 big ones.
Monday: A slothy 7 miles on the treadmill during Callum's morning nap. I tried to watch a movie but it was stupid. Ah well, got 'er done.
Tuesday: No school today, so I left the big kids in charge and took off for 8 miles while Callum slept. It was freeeeezing, and the wind was relentless. My mom came over later and I joined Andrew for 6 miles of his 21 mile training run. He did really well, especially considering the wind and cold.
Wednesday: 5 miles on the therapymill while the chubby kid napped.
Thursday: I watched the first half of the movie "Almost Famous" while doing 10 miles on the treadmill. LOVE that movie. Love love love love.
Friday: I started watching the rest of the movie on the treadmill but then Andrew came home to do some work and print things off so I decided to cut my run short (5 miles) and have lunch with him. And then I scored some free time later on and decided to finish my day with 8 miles outside in the freezing but beautiful temps. I even paused to watch the sun go down.
Saturday: 5 miles on the treadmill, keeping an eye on the MOST DISGUSTING SPIDER IN THE UNIVERSE.
Sunday: 6 miles on the treadmill. The spider is gone. Please baby Jesus let it be not in the house.
I'm dying to run another marathon, but I can't until the C man is weaned from the boobies. Until then, I'm going to keep hammering out as many miles as possible. My dream is to take my current PR of 3:10 to a sub-3 hour marathon. We'll see.
Running converts emotional pain into functional energy. Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is more emotional pain at the start line of an ultra endurance event than at the alter of a church. We keep trying to convert it over, pushing the pain through the emotional/physical barrier, but no matter how much pain we put ourselves through, we merely sweat blood. All that the physical pain does is temporarily distract us from the heartache. It gives our hearts a rest and sometimes that's all we need to keep breathing, to keep moving forward.
I'm not really in a lot of pain. Running ultras doesn't demand a history of abuse or neglect; it simply calls forth the sensitive souls, the empaths, the ones who carry too much of everyone else's shit in their own suitcases. I've often tugged at my hair and wailed, "I just don't want to feeeeeel so much anymore!!!" And then what do I do? I run it out. Or, at least I try. All I know is that I feel a whole lot better after a run than I do after four crown and cokes. Both result in a bit of nausea, sweating and chaffing, but nevertheless, the run just works better for me.
Here's my weekly mileage: 60 big ones.
Monday: A slothy 7 miles on the treadmill during Callum's morning nap. I tried to watch a movie but it was stupid. Ah well, got 'er done.
Tuesday: No school today, so I left the big kids in charge and took off for 8 miles while Callum slept. It was freeeeezing, and the wind was relentless. My mom came over later and I joined Andrew for 6 miles of his 21 mile training run. He did really well, especially considering the wind and cold.
Wednesday: 5 miles on the therapymill while the chubby kid napped.
Thursday: I watched the first half of the movie "Almost Famous" while doing 10 miles on the treadmill. LOVE that movie. Love love love love.
Friday: I started watching the rest of the movie on the treadmill but then Andrew came home to do some work and print things off so I decided to cut my run short (5 miles) and have lunch with him. And then I scored some free time later on and decided to finish my day with 8 miles outside in the freezing but beautiful temps. I even paused to watch the sun go down.
Saturday: 5 miles on the treadmill, keeping an eye on the MOST DISGUSTING SPIDER IN THE UNIVERSE.
 |
| Sorry Jen!!! |
I'm dying to run another marathon, but I can't until the C man is weaned from the boobies. Until then, I'm going to keep hammering out as many miles as possible. My dream is to take my current PR of 3:10 to a sub-3 hour marathon. We'll see.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Mileage Monday
I hit 60 miles this week, which shocks me a little bit because I have no idea how I fit it all in. I get asked that question a lot, how I manage these many miles when I lead such a full life and the only answer I can come up with is that I simply make time. Running is how I deal with my anxiety and stress levels and so it's more of a priority than say, painting my nails and blow-drying my hair, or watching whatever shows everyone else watches and talks about on Facebook. Pretty much, I'd way rather walk around looking like a swamp donkey and having got my run in than sitting in Starbucks on Facebook with shiny white sneakers and a fresh set of fake nails. Anyway. Did I convincingly justify my addiction?
Monday- 7 miles on the treadmill while watching the movie "Enough Said." This is the first time I've ever watched a movie while running, and while I went really super slow, it worked for me. I really liked the movie, and I logged some miles. Win, win.
Tuesday- 11 miles on the treadmill during Callum's nap. I watched the rest of "Enough Said" and some YouTube videos. Still really slow, but I got it done.
Wednesday- I headed out for a long run but while I was out there, Andrew phoned me to ask when I'd be home because he had the chance to do his long run that day and needed to get started in time to get it done before the sun went down. So I cut it short at 8 miles and then did 4 miles on the treadmill later on when the kids went to bed.
Thursday- My hip is jammed. I know this because it's a chronic problem and I can tell when it happens--my hamstring gets all buggered up and when I run it feels like I'm dragging my leg. So I ran 5 miles and made a massage appointment for Friday.
Friday- My massage therapist Brent fixed me all up and told me not to run on it and to see him next week, so I only ran 5 miles with Lora that night in the trails, in the dark. It was actually a really stupid thing to do, but we didn't get raped or mauled by a bear, so I guess it worked out okay.
Saturday- Lora texted me in the morning and we met super early and knocked out 7 miles before I could even think better of it.
Sunday- I wanted to hit 13 so that I could make a solid 60 for the week, so while Andrew ran outside, and while Callum was sleeping, I ran 5 on the treadmill. Then we hit Kylah's soccer game in Burnaby, came home and I ran 8 miles outside before our date night at El Nopal.
Now Andrew and I are sitting here on the couch while Callum sleeps soundly in bed and we're talking about his last long run this week: 21 miles tomorrow. Seattle is a tough route with a huge hill at about mile 20, so I'm setting him up for a a solid hilly route that mimics race day. Probably a good thing he's not running until tomorrow, seeing as we our El Nopal date night last night.
Happy Running!
Monday- 7 miles on the treadmill while watching the movie "Enough Said." This is the first time I've ever watched a movie while running, and while I went really super slow, it worked for me. I really liked the movie, and I logged some miles. Win, win.
Tuesday- 11 miles on the treadmill during Callum's nap. I watched the rest of "Enough Said" and some YouTube videos. Still really slow, but I got it done.
Wednesday- I headed out for a long run but while I was out there, Andrew phoned me to ask when I'd be home because he had the chance to do his long run that day and needed to get started in time to get it done before the sun went down. So I cut it short at 8 miles and then did 4 miles on the treadmill later on when the kids went to bed.
Thursday- My hip is jammed. I know this because it's a chronic problem and I can tell when it happens--my hamstring gets all buggered up and when I run it feels like I'm dragging my leg. So I ran 5 miles and made a massage appointment for Friday.
Friday- My massage therapist Brent fixed me all up and told me not to run on it and to see him next week, so I only ran 5 miles with Lora that night in the trails, in the dark. It was actually a really stupid thing to do, but we didn't get raped or mauled by a bear, so I guess it worked out okay.
Saturday- Lora texted me in the morning and we met super early and knocked out 7 miles before I could even think better of it.
Sunday- I wanted to hit 13 so that I could make a solid 60 for the week, so while Andrew ran outside, and while Callum was sleeping, I ran 5 on the treadmill. Then we hit Kylah's soccer game in Burnaby, came home and I ran 8 miles outside before our date night at El Nopal.
Now Andrew and I are sitting here on the couch while Callum sleeps soundly in bed and we're talking about his last long run this week: 21 miles tomorrow. Seattle is a tough route with a huge hill at about mile 20, so I'm setting him up for a a solid hilly route that mimics race day. Probably a good thing he's not running until tomorrow, seeing as we our El Nopal date night last night.
Happy Running!
Monday, November 3, 2014
Mileage Monday
My goal was to hit at least 60 miles this week with the incorporation of a 15-20 miler on the weekend, but we ran out of time and all I could swing was a medium long run each on Saturday and Sunday. I did manage to hit 70 total miles for the week, though, which pleases me to no end.
Monday- 7 miles on the therapymill while Callum napped.
Tuesday- 8 miles on the therapymill during Callum's nap and then 5 more miles at night (I knew I would need a double run day if I wanted to hit the high miles).
Wednesday- 8 more miles on the MF treadmill. I really need to get outside soon.
Thursday- Andrew came home to work so while Callum slept, I took off for 10 miles in the rain and wind. It could have been raining sasquatch dicks and it would have been better than the treadmill.
Friday- 7 miles on the treadmill AGAIN, but I'm anticipating some outside mileage this weekend.
Saturday- I headed outside for 12 miles when Andrew got home from work. I had to get my run in while Callum's belly was full and then when I got home Andrew went for his shorter run. We managed to squeeze them both in before heading to his parents' house for drinks and appies.
Sunday- Callum woke up at whatthefuck o'clock so I went out for 13 miles once I got him down for a nap...at 7:30am. Unreal.
Andrew and I booked a room in Seattle for the night before the marathon but I'm realizing with each passing day that Callum is not going to take a bottle. He's only 8 months old so he still needs breast milk or formula, yet whenever I give him formula he literally gags himself silly. Not really sure what to do about that. We have 27 days to figure it out. He's really lucky he's so cute.
Monday- 7 miles on the therapymill while Callum napped.
Tuesday- 8 miles on the therapymill during Callum's nap and then 5 more miles at night (I knew I would need a double run day if I wanted to hit the high miles).
Wednesday- 8 more miles on the MF treadmill. I really need to get outside soon.
Thursday- Andrew came home to work so while Callum slept, I took off for 10 miles in the rain and wind. It could have been raining sasquatch dicks and it would have been better than the treadmill.
Friday- 7 miles on the treadmill AGAIN, but I'm anticipating some outside mileage this weekend.
Saturday- I headed outside for 12 miles when Andrew got home from work. I had to get my run in while Callum's belly was full and then when I got home Andrew went for his shorter run. We managed to squeeze them both in before heading to his parents' house for drinks and appies.
Sunday- Callum woke up at whatthefuck o'clock so I went out for 13 miles once I got him down for a nap...at 7:30am. Unreal.
Andrew and I booked a room in Seattle for the night before the marathon but I'm realizing with each passing day that Callum is not going to take a bottle. He's only 8 months old so he still needs breast milk or formula, yet whenever I give him formula he literally gags himself silly. Not really sure what to do about that. We have 27 days to figure it out. He's really lucky he's so cute.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Mileage Monday
I never know how many miles I'm going to get in during any average week. It all depends on how each day unfolds. I've been spending a lot of time on my treadmill in the garage which is fine with me, I guess. I call it my "therapymill." There's something about sweating so much that I could wring my shirt out that just kills all of the cortisol in my bloodstream. It's like an ounce of FML exits my body with each drop of sweat.
I think most long-distance runners have at least a touch of OCD. I have to run on the left side of whoever I'm running with. I have to top out at a number of weekly miles that end in zero (ie. 50 miles, 60, etc). And I typically need to run every day or I feel like something bad will happen to me; I don't "feel right" if I don't get a run in.
This is what the past week looked like:
Monday: 5 mile recovery run after racing on the weekend
Tuesday: 8 miles on the therapymill
Wednesday: 10 miles: I did 3 on the treadmill and then mapped out a 7 mile run for Andrew
Thursday: 7 miles on the therapymill while the chubby kid slept
Friday: 10 super slow miles. I took walk breaks, checked Facebook, texted people, made notes.
Saturday: 5 miles on the sweatmill. Our one year anniversary!
Sunday: Andrew did his long run of 14 miles (he's training for Seattle at the end of November) and when he got back, I took off with Lora for 10 miles.
So, 55 total miles for the week. I'm not thrilled that my total didn't end in "0" but at least "5" is a divisor of 10. NERD.
I'm itching to race again but not as much as I'm looking forward to seeing Andrew run his second marathon. It's going to be a very different experience for him with Seattle being a big city with much cooler weather. I'm happy to pass the racing baton on to my sexier half.
I think most long-distance runners have at least a touch of OCD. I have to run on the left side of whoever I'm running with. I have to top out at a number of weekly miles that end in zero (ie. 50 miles, 60, etc). And I typically need to run every day or I feel like something bad will happen to me; I don't "feel right" if I don't get a run in.
This is what the past week looked like:
Monday: 5 mile recovery run after racing on the weekend
Tuesday: 8 miles on the therapymill
Wednesday: 10 miles: I did 3 on the treadmill and then mapped out a 7 mile run for Andrew
Thursday: 7 miles on the therapymill while the chubby kid slept
Friday: 10 super slow miles. I took walk breaks, checked Facebook, texted people, made notes.
Saturday: 5 miles on the sweatmill. Our one year anniversary!
Sunday: Andrew did his long run of 14 miles (he's training for Seattle at the end of November) and when he got back, I took off with Lora for 10 miles.
So, 55 total miles for the week. I'm not thrilled that my total didn't end in "0" but at least "5" is a divisor of 10. NERD.
I'm itching to race again but not as much as I'm looking forward to seeing Andrew run his second marathon. It's going to be a very different experience for him with Seattle being a big city with much cooler weather. I'm happy to pass the racing baton on to my sexier half.
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