Minneapolis-Star-Tribune-runningkellometers

Yesterday I hit the treadmill during my lunch break for a tempo run. Spoiler alert: things did not go well. The plan was to do a 1/2 mile warm up, 3 miles at tempo, and a 1/2 mile cool down. Perhaps it was a bit of an ambitious speed workout after not having done much in the past month. Maybe I was just having a bad day. And maybe I just need to strengthen my core more before doing this type of workout. Either way, my shins started hurting me part way through the 2nd tempo mile. I didn't want to risk anything so I cut the workout a mile short (and did some foam rolling afterwards). I'm looking to get on the exercise bike or rowing machine for some cross training today so that should be helpful. I'm not quite sure what happened. Maybe I'm trying to do too much too soon? Maybe this was too soon to try and incorporate some speedwork? I'll keep it easy the rest of this week and see how things go. I'm looking forward to my first "long run" in awhile this weekend!

After my workout, I was pretty sweaty and gross but was able to whip up a sock bun and look halfway decent for the rest of the work day (after taking a shower from the neck down, due to the adjustable shower heads in our locker room showers). Do you workout on your lunch break? If I'm working out during the work day, I try to take my lunch break later so I am only gross for an hour or two instead of more.

Sweaty post-run photo

Last night I had a run on the schedule of 4 miles. I tried to do some mental focusing getting ready for the race. It was a bit humid yesterday and I came back from my run just a little sweaty...

I'd like to think that I had so much sweat because I was sweating off the nerves and fear that often accompany a goal race. I have worked hard for this. I can do this. It is supposed to be hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it.

The half marathon course shape is kind of similar to the Chicago Marathon. I'm trying to picture myself at different points in the course, meeting the time I want to meet. I don't want to obsess about the weather, but I definitely have a Plan A, B, and C. I already regret checking Sunday's weather because it is back up to 96. (It was predicted as 90 a few days ago, and read as a predicted 89 degrees in the elevator this morning.) As we can't control the weather, I'm TRYING not to focus on it. :) Last night I did my laundry and have laid out my race day outfit. I'm getting excited. The big day is almost here...


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When I had my first meeting with my coach, I told her that I had some difficulties with progressive runs in the past. Since she believes they are a useful training tool, she has been suggesting them as part of my workout routine. I have to say, they are much less mentally challenging than they were when I started. As I've said before, I'm pushing my body to limits I've never thought to reach before. On the schedule was a 10 mile run this weekend. Temperatures were awful all day on both Saturday and Sunday so I waited until the evening on Sunday. The temps were still warm (high 70s) but the sun wasn't a factor and there was a small breeze. I don't want to fall into my old habits from last summer as I have to allow myself to acclimate to the heat. Last year I probably would have done this run on the treadmill to avoid any heat at all. Baby steps, right?

I headed out and did some loops around my neighborhood. In case I was feeling weak from the heat, I wanted to be close to home. In my area, there aren't a lot of sidewalks so I stayed within the busy street limits and the route got real boring real quick. That's okay though, it served its purpose and I got it done. The first 6 miles were to be at an easy pace, picking things up the last 4 miles. At first I was a little worried as to how things would shake out. I'd like to think this run was a success as I was able to do just that. I had to make a quick pit stop part way through the run to use the rest rooms but I made sure it coincided with my energy chew consumption to minimize the amount of time stopped.

Sweaty and ready for round 2

I headed back out and finished things up strong with my last mile being the quickest, yet I still felt controlled and challenged (yet not completely spent). It was a great run, but the next day my lower extremities were a little sore. Thank goodness for compression. It was a warm day so I wanted to see if I could get away with wearing my CEP Compression shorts under a pencil skirt.

SUCCESS

I only have one workout this week until the Jim Gibbons 5k on Thursday. It is a goal race and I already have several race day outfits laid out. If you are going to be completing the Jim Gibbons 5k, come meet up with us! It will be a fun time and the temps don't look like they'll be too bad. This really is a great race and I hope to see you there! Then, this Sunday is the Warrior Dash that I will be completing with my husband. I want to get a photo of us both jumping over fire together to hang in our living room. I think it would be a cool statement piece. :)