Feature Friday: Letting Your Training Marinate

You know I’m all about Carbs over here, so anytime I can relate training to something carbohydrate related- I’m all for it. It’s taken me so long to realize that training and fitness can ebb and flow. It’s funny how I often have to remind myself of that (especially among set-backs or when training starts up again and everything feels hard). Once I get into a routine with training and life and diet, I’m GREAT, but getting there takes so much patience.

It’s ok (and honestly HEALTHY) to go through different seasons of life and running- maybe taking a break is what you need or totally just doing a different activity for awhile (I certainly think that this Pandemic has taught us a whole lot about being patient). It’s the seasons of change and cut-backs that rejuvenate our minds and bodies and gives us the permission to dream big again. It’s all of the ingredients in our best homemade tomato sauce that we’re collecting and prepping.

Once we’ve got all of our ingredients ready to go (our training plan is set), we’re ready to start popping them into the pot. This is when we we’re adding a little bit at a time into our training. Maybe we sprinkle in some speedwork, a bit of a longer run, or a dash of tempo work. BUT we also can’t forget about the little things (I.e. our ‘seasonings’ if we’re sticking with the sauce reference)- like the importance of sleep/ nutrition/ stretching/strength training/foam rolling.

Then, we continue with our ingredients and let them simmer (marinate) for awhile. Nothing really new is added (maybe a bit of additional mileage), but we just continue on building a bit at a time. Our sauce (& fitness) will slowly come together, but it takes time (and a whole bunch of PATIENCE)! I continue to remind myself of this when I feel stuck or like I’m making no progress-> really good sauce takes time.

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-What ingredients are you adding now for a really good sauce later?

Training Rundown

I WISH I could say that last week’s training went as planned, but it certainly did not and that’s OK. I started out the week with an awesome 60 minute tempo at 8:34 pace. It’s definitely hard to not want to round-up to that 7.00 miles, but 60 minutes running is 60 minutes running! Also got in 20 minutes of strength & 10 minutes of yoga.

I worked Monday night and got in 4.6 miles easy on Tuesday before another night shift. Also being diligent about getting in my PT exercises. What I wouldn’t give for an accurate treadmill running watch. I do the treadmill between night shifts so I can sleep as late as possible (normally only get in 6ish hours of sleep though just because my body wakes me up naturally) and I’m staying in a busier area where I don’t feel as comfortable running in the dark. I’m sure I would be fine, but better to be safe!

I got home Wednesday morning, took a 2 hour nap, and managed to sneak in my 45 minute workout on our treadmill (so I wouldn’t have to deal with the hassle of traffic with speedwork). I did a 10 minute warmup, 3 x 6 minutes hard-ish (7:30/ 7:13/7:00 paces), 10 minute cool down. I love to run hard on our treadmill at home- I can crank our music on it and feel totally badass.

Thursday was filled with meal-prepping and cleaning/packing for the upcoming work stretch, but I got in my PT exercises and a 40 minute easy run.

Friday was my planned long run day, but I slept in SO LATE (9:30 😱) and my Psoas was absolutely killing me. I did manage to get in my strength, PT, 10 minutes of spinning, and yoga, but decided it was best to relax rather than push for a run. Love our little home gym .

Saturday was a rest day since I left home at 3:45am, worked from 6:30-7:30pm, and got maybe 5 hours of sleep. I got in an easy 60 minute run on the hotel treadmill early Sunday morning before another day shift, along with PT exercises and 10 minutes of yoga.

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How did your week go? Did it look like you wanted or did you have to shift your expectations a bit?

Training Rundown

Humpday! Has anyone felt like this week has felt like an eternity and it’s only Wednesday?!? I’m choosing to change my mindset and tell myself that it’s ALREADY Wednesday! Sometimes a quick mindset shift is all we need. I wanted to bring back my weekly training rundowns mainly because it helps me reflect on the last week and set intentions for the week ahead. I definitely had some treadmill miles last week.

I also addendum some Christmas lights in our home gym and it really gets me excited to do anything in there now.

Monday, 1/11- 3.37 mile run & 30 minutes of yoga before my second night shift. I can’t wait for the days to continue to get longer so I can run in the daylight before work. Also did 10 minutes of Pilates.

Tuesday, 1/12- 5 mile Progression run on the Peloton App and on the treadmill. I love using the App when I’m not feeling super motivated to run and also when I want some casual speedwork. This was before my third night shift in a row.

Wednesday, 1/13- Rest day

Thursday, 1/14- 4.6 mile easy run on the treadmill & 20 minutes of strength on the Peloton App (where I’m getting all my strength/stretching ideas lately ) & 10 minutes of yoga

Friday, 1/15- 5.3 mile run outside! Love getting some fresh air.

Saturday, 1/16- 10.8 mile run on the treadmill (love that I can run the Boston Marathon course via the iFit feature on my treadmill) and 10 minutes of Pilates/ yoga and 20 minutes of strength.

Sunday, 1/17- 30 minutes on the bike trainer, 1.45 mile snowshoe, 5 mile run, & 15 minutes of PT exercises/ mobility work.

Total mileage: 34.05 miles

Positive takeaway: I managed to fit in 6 days of running! Also got in multiple sessions of yoga and strength training.

Something to improve upon this next week: I’d like to work on taking in nutrition on my long run this week.

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—How’s your training going right now? Anyone else excited for more sunlight?

7 Things

Happy Monday! I had the weekend off, which was SO nice, but also- time went by way too quickly. Can I please have a few more days off? I would also really love being woken up every morning by Alex saying that blueberry waffles are waiting for me downstairs.

We got our date night in our home gym Saturday night. I got in some strength and yoga, while Alex got in some hiking 🥾

I got in my long run Saturday too before my Physical Therapy Appointment (Hilary McCloy is amazing if you’re in the area and looking fir a PT) and all 10.8 miles were on the treadmill. I love our Nordictrack and think that there will be many more long runs together in our future. I also followed the iFit Boston Marathon course, which is so inspiring and makes me miss racing so much!

I saw this on Instagram the other day and I feel seen. This is 100% me after working a few night shifts in a row and trying to adjust back to normal sleep hours.

Brady is also really enjoying our home gym (….or well- the plant in our home gym really)

We’ve started playing bird noises from Alexa during the day for our cats and Maple loves it.

30 minutes of cycling, 1.5 mile snowshoe, PT exercises, and an easy 5 mile run to round out the weekend (also currently eating Brownie Sundaes for dessert as I type this out).

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-How was your weekend?

-Tips for keeping cats off of plants?!?
-Brownie Sundaes- yay or nay?

I'm BACK TO DO IT AGAIN.

You know those things where you’re thinking to yourself ‘gee, well I MIGHT be a bit crazy, but 'WHY NOT?!?’’ - that’s me most of the time. Ha. And I suppose this latest new goal basically solidifies my craziness.

I’ve signed up for a 100 miler on August 14th, 2020. And my big goal? Do it in 24 hours.

Oh, and my other big goal? Fundraise some money for my favorite non-profit, MS Run The US because well, why not?

Once I committed to training for my first 100 miler, I thought back to my Relay experience in 2018 and how amazing of an experience it was to run for more than just me. Running is a very selfish sport (you have to take hours upon hours to train away from your family/friends!) and running a 100 miles just because didn’t seem right to me. I wanted it to be more than just running 100 miles in 24 hours- I wanted to connect with my new community, meet others who have been impacted by MS, and draw upon these experiences during my 100 mile race.

I’d love to say that my big goal is to again fundraise $10,000, but that most likely is not possible given my very busy student schedule these next 6 months (ahem- HOW is it already only 6 months away?!?). BUT I want to see if I can get to $1,000 (maybe $10 from 100 people) and who knows beyond that. I have a few different fundraising ideas and hopefully can get those in motion within the next 3-4 weeks.

I have my fundraising page up here and also have a Facebook fundraiser page as well if that is easier for you to donate.

Maybe you’re unable to donate, but want to help me reach my goal in another way? AWESOME! I’d love to have anyone jump in with me for a few miles (it’s a 2.6 mile loop course - race website is here), help me with my fundraising campaign (help me get the word out- share it with co-workers, friends, family members), or come support me during my race!

It also happens to start the same day that the 2020 MS Run The US Relay Team finishes the entire relay in New York City! Coincidence? Maybe. But I’ll take whatever signs I can get.

SO, that’s a new update from me and I promise I’ll start sharing my training recaps on Wednesdays beginning next week because not everyone trains for 100 miles and shares how they get it all done!