Monday, September 2, 2013

Happy Labor Day

Has it been 3 weeks since my last post?  Fall is practically here bringing MMTR even closer.  It is exactly 2 months away from today.  Time to get a boogie on the training schedule. I left you with a tentative outline to how training would go.  I got some decent mileage and two amazing track workouts in that week.  I have to say getting on the track has been intimidating and difficult, but in that week I started to find my stride and breathing and with each one they became easier.  I am learning what recovery pace and speed pace works best and maintaining the speed throughout the workout which is what the goal is, right?  I hope so!

The next two weeks of training were leading up to Saturday races.  I ran a new one that I had not ever heard of - a cute guy told me about it and now I do not even speak to him..haha. O well, I am thankful for being turned on to the event.  He didn't even show up either!  The race was August 24th and call the New River Gorge-ous Trail run.  I did the long course, 13.1 miles (or supposed - I am still skeptical.)  That weekend I had intentionally intended on heading up to that area for a yoga retreat anyway and so when I heard about this even I thought, "wow, what a wonderful weekend that would be. Yoga, running, and more yoga!"  On top of that, the venue putting on the race offers FREE CAMPING to the runners, which is what made the race such an incredible experience.  I drove up and camped for two nights on my own, but was never alone.  I made so many new running buddies there - I really like seriously can not wait to do it again!  It is a new one on the MUST DO list!  But, needless to say.. I showed up at the yoga retreat Friday evening ready to pretzel it up and ended up being an  incredible 2-3 hour power yoga session which engaged your backside the entire time starting with your big toe and arches moving up your calves, hams, back and neck.  The revolutionary practice and poses, called The Roots, were developed to really get you thinking about your body's muscle imbalance and correcting that for proper body alignment and therefore more overall strength and wellness.  It was seriously amazing.  I felt it though - shew!  the next day on the run.  I took it easy that week doing only 3 runs on the treadmill (for which I now need to get a footpod for my Garmin to keep track of indoor mileage...not a HUGE priority but would be nice for blogging purposes.)  I ended up placing 4th overall female for the long course, but got won a $50 cash award since the third overall female actually worked for the company hosting the race.  Being a college student, I saw this as a gift from above to cover the gas it took to get up there.

This past week I did not do one run.  Saturday, August 31, I ran the Charleston Distance Run and after the intense yoga on Friday and Sunday with a race wedged in on Saturday, I figured my legs needed a break.  Afterall, is it worth running a race if you are not going to at least race yourself?  That is why I love it.  And, having run the distance run last year, I had a goal in mind - I wanted to beat last years time.  And, so.. I did.  Last year results (149th overall 2:07:56) - this year results (123rd overall 2:05:30).

Maps of training runs week of August 12-18 and race maps August 24 & 31.  I'll be back at it starting tomorrow and hopefully with weekly blog posts, but the next post will be most likely 3 weeks away as I am currently studying for a BIG EXAM coming up on September 11. Wish me luck - I need it!

Tuesday, August 13 - track night



 I just remember Wednesday and Thursday of this week was incredibly busy preparing for a training that had Thursday - Saturday that took place in Ripley - as you can see from the next map.

Friday, August 16 - a little speed workout and a little just jogging.  I remember my legs were pretty tired as I did not fuel that morning and should NOT have been doing speed intervals and focused on a slow steady fat - burning pace.

Saturday, August 17 - back home on my trails in the park



Tues-Thursday, August 20-22, I ran on the treadmill, low mileage, 9 minute mile pace or thereabouts.

Saturday, August 24 - Gorge-ous Trail Run - apparentlly, my gps is not the only one that fell short of 13.1 miles.  I asked around and was told that they had used some gps app that measured the line distance in inclines and not just a flat change in distance viewed looking directly down from space.  I dunno - sounds interesting but that would mean we are covering much more mileage than gps watches are recording everytime we are running hills.  Who knows - I will research it when I have time.



August 31 - Charleston Distance Run