The 'crappy' thing...
Don't you think the crappy thing about having to pause your run to squat, besides the obvious impact on your time, is trying to get your sweaty clothes back onto your sweaty body!
Really, I'm glad to live in a highly vegetated area. If there isn't a porta potty around, no problem.
That doesn't mean I'd like to hang out and doddle! I can take care of business pretty quickly. It's trying to get dressed again that throws me!
Belts, tops, bottoms, everything has to be readjusted and all of it sticks because of the sweat!
Someone needs to invent a short with a trap door! Not kidding! My tri shorts have the butt padding for cycling, I'm thinking cut the fabric around that, maybe some Velcro... trap door!
No dropping drawers, no pulling up, no readjusting... just one and done!
Or I guess I could wear one of these...
My last long run was a flop! I posted about that last week. I'd had a great week, but there were just many things that threw me for my long run. This week was much different.
The biggest change was of course in my head! I did go out earlier and the weather was cooler, but the humidity wasn't different. I was back to wearing my normal shoe, good choice, and I was well equipped with fuel.
The mind shift was the change!
Last week on Tuesday I headed out for a quick 8 miler. I hit mile 4 at 29:12 (7:18). I saw my faster than normal time and told myself to slow down... I still had 4 to go, but I felt fine.
What was I saying? This is where I've been working to get to! After some time off through the winter, working hard to build strength and speed. I am here!
My mind shifted from slow down to go for it! See how fast you can go, push yourself. This is where you've worked to be... keep going.
So I did, and finished the 7.8, actually, at 56:29 (7:14).
The bad days are just that, bad days, the overall success and picture is where the focus needs to remain.
That was a good run for me. I pushed my speed workout the next day, finished my week, then took on my long run.
My number this past Saturday was 18, but I decided to just go for 20. My longest distance thus far was 16.
It was a great run! I was up at 5, ate oatmeal and some chocolate milk. I left a little after 6. It was cooler so I didn't take as much Gatorade. I did set a spare bottle down on a part of my route I'd be passing back through. I didn't use it though.
Let me say historically I've not been the best at fueling myself. Last year I trained w/ Gatorade only! I actually trained just fine, but race day was a different story, especially since I went too long w/o Gatorade w/ the stations they had set up.
I want to improve this year, so I've been practicing fueling. I started w/ candy my first couple of distances. I moved to Gsquares, which I like. There is 100 calories in 6 of them, so I'm learning that they are best for smaller bursts, or shorter distances. I stopped at my local fitness store last week and picked up some new goods to try.
I took these items...
Last week I started with my music on. I think that is a mistake for me. I brought it this time, but never turned it on! I've turned into the non-music runner. I think it's important for me to start quiet. It clears my head, helps me find the calm in the rhythms of breath and strikes. I love it.
I felt good. I fueled between mile 6 and 7. I tried the stinger. I thought it was good. I appreciate having something solid in my gut. It did take me a mile to eat it though. Chewing while your breathing hard is just difficult! I felt like you do when you eat a cracker and try to whistle!
The hill felt like a hill today, last week it felt like a mountain!
Potty break. I'd say it added 2 minutes to my overall time.
Continuing on... between 13 and 14 I was unsure of what my gut was telling me, turns out it was telling me to keep going, it was just digesting.
I fueled again with Goo around mile 15. It's nice to just be able to swallow! I have tasted one of these before, years ago. They do have a ton of flavors now. It was a great burst of energy, I'd say more than the stinger for sure.
I hit mile 18 at 2:21.
I kept going and felt surprisingly good, strong. I thought nothing of my pace the whole run. I just wanted to go. I didn't want to tell myself to slow down, save energy etc. I just wanted to let go and see how I'd do.
I kept great pace and finished at 2:36:48 (7:50).
I drank a Gatorade, then tall glass of chocolate milk to recover. I stretched... then stretched 2 more times after my shower!
I want to run a 3:30 marathon this year. I think I may be able to do that!
I read a RW article about Kara Goucher and Shalane Flanagan training together... great article. Kara asked Shalane at one point if she doubts or thinks it's hard. Shalane's response was yes, she feels those things, but she's not as vocal about them.
It's nice to know even the best runners think it's hard, battle their heads, the discomfort, need motivation. But ultimately they find their way to keep it all at bay, not let it get bigger than what their real abilities are.
Wise.
Really, I'm glad to live in a highly vegetated area. If there isn't a porta potty around, no problem.
That doesn't mean I'd like to hang out and doddle! I can take care of business pretty quickly. It's trying to get dressed again that throws me!
Belts, tops, bottoms, everything has to be readjusted and all of it sticks because of the sweat!
Someone needs to invent a short with a trap door! Not kidding! My tri shorts have the butt padding for cycling, I'm thinking cut the fabric around that, maybe some Velcro... trap door!
No dropping drawers, no pulling up, no readjusting... just one and done!
Or I guess I could wear one of these...
My last long run was a flop! I posted about that last week. I'd had a great week, but there were just many things that threw me for my long run. This week was much different.
The biggest change was of course in my head! I did go out earlier and the weather was cooler, but the humidity wasn't different. I was back to wearing my normal shoe, good choice, and I was well equipped with fuel.
The mind shift was the change!
Last week on Tuesday I headed out for a quick 8 miler. I hit mile 4 at 29:12 (7:18). I saw my faster than normal time and told myself to slow down... I still had 4 to go, but I felt fine.
What was I saying? This is where I've been working to get to! After some time off through the winter, working hard to build strength and speed. I am here!
My mind shifted from slow down to go for it! See how fast you can go, push yourself. This is where you've worked to be... keep going.
So I did, and finished the 7.8, actually, at 56:29 (7:14).
The bad days are just that, bad days, the overall success and picture is where the focus needs to remain.
That was a good run for me. I pushed my speed workout the next day, finished my week, then took on my long run.
My number this past Saturday was 18, but I decided to just go for 20. My longest distance thus far was 16.
It was a great run! I was up at 5, ate oatmeal and some chocolate milk. I left a little after 6. It was cooler so I didn't take as much Gatorade. I did set a spare bottle down on a part of my route I'd be passing back through. I didn't use it though.
Let me say historically I've not been the best at fueling myself. Last year I trained w/ Gatorade only! I actually trained just fine, but race day was a different story, especially since I went too long w/o Gatorade w/ the stations they had set up.
I want to improve this year, so I've been practicing fueling. I started w/ candy my first couple of distances. I moved to Gsquares, which I like. There is 100 calories in 6 of them, so I'm learning that they are best for smaller bursts, or shorter distances. I stopped at my local fitness store last week and picked up some new goods to try.
I took these items...
Last week I started with my music on. I think that is a mistake for me. I brought it this time, but never turned it on! I've turned into the non-music runner. I think it's important for me to start quiet. It clears my head, helps me find the calm in the rhythms of breath and strikes. I love it.
I felt good. I fueled between mile 6 and 7. I tried the stinger. I thought it was good. I appreciate having something solid in my gut. It did take me a mile to eat it though. Chewing while your breathing hard is just difficult! I felt like you do when you eat a cracker and try to whistle!
The hill felt like a hill today, last week it felt like a mountain!
Potty break. I'd say it added 2 minutes to my overall time.
Continuing on... between 13 and 14 I was unsure of what my gut was telling me, turns out it was telling me to keep going, it was just digesting.
I fueled again with Goo around mile 15. It's nice to just be able to swallow! I have tasted one of these before, years ago. They do have a ton of flavors now. It was a great burst of energy, I'd say more than the stinger for sure.
I hit mile 18 at 2:21.
I kept going and felt surprisingly good, strong. I thought nothing of my pace the whole run. I just wanted to go. I didn't want to tell myself to slow down, save energy etc. I just wanted to let go and see how I'd do.
I kept great pace and finished at 2:36:48 (7:50).
I drank a Gatorade, then tall glass of chocolate milk to recover. I stretched... then stretched 2 more times after my shower!
I want to run a 3:30 marathon this year. I think I may be able to do that!
----------------------------------
Question: Are you a head case? I really am sometimes!I read a RW article about Kara Goucher and Shalane Flanagan training together... great article. Kara asked Shalane at one point if she doubts or thinks it's hard. Shalane's response was yes, she feels those things, but she's not as vocal about them.
It's nice to know even the best runners think it's hard, battle their heads, the discomfort, need motivation. But ultimately they find their way to keep it all at bay, not let it get bigger than what their real abilities are.
Wise.