Training (or rather Running) Summary: December 12-18

I am one happy girl. It's so great to be running again and feel so good at the same time. I have no idea what pace I ran all week. I am sure it was slow and if I had worn my Garmin this week, the tone of this recap may have been entirely different. I just focused on getting back in the running groove. It was a much easier adjustment than I thought after 3 weeks off. I actually felt better, physically, than I did before the 50 miler. I feel stronger and my body doesn't feel so beat up. 


TOTALS :   41.5 miles

12/12 (Monday) - 6 mile run AM/Yoga PM
My alarm went off this morning and I immediately checked the temperature on my phone. Twenty-three degrees! Yikes! Nothing was going to keep me from running this morning though. I laced up a shiny new pair of ASICS, put on a pair of thermal tights, two tops, a light reflective jacket, ear warmers, gloves and headed toward the Mt. Vernon trail. (I've decided not to publish what time I run anymore...too many creepy people out there.) It was actually quite beautiful out by the water. There was no wind, so the water was glass-like and there was even a thin layer of ice in the shallow parts. It felt so good to be out there and breathe in that cold air. My legs felt fresh and bouncy. After charging my Garmin last night and having a staring a contest with it, I have decided not to use it, at least this week. I am learning! Easy runs should be based on feel, not by time on the watch. I took a Gentle Flow Yoga class tonight and the instructor focused on the hamstrings which was wonderful! We also did variations of the "splits." If you want to see something funny, ask me to do the splits. Ridiculous.

12/13 (Tuesday) - 6 mile run AM
Another 6 mile run this morning. It was chilly, but tolerable. Old Town was beautiful and quiet...all lit up with holiday lights. I just focused on taking nice long strides - trying to get away from the "Ultra-shuffle" stride. My body feels good.  

12/14 (Wednesday) - 90 minute pool run AM
I have been freezing since Monday. I can't get warm and jumping into a chilly pool didn't help this morning. But after one lap, I am usually comfortable. Claire, Allison and I kept each other company. We tend to talk about food a lot while pool running which makes me hungry. We need to start having someone deliver breakfast to us mid-run!
12/15 (Thursday) - 8 mile run PM
I was up until after 1am finishing up a strategy document last night for an "emergency" meeting that was supposed to happen at 8:30am. It was cancelled at 8:27am and has yet to be rescheduled. This caused me to miss my run this morning because who wants to run on 4 hours of sleep? The day just got more stressful as it dragged on. There was no way I was running relaxed tonight. An easy 6 turned into a lung burning 8. It felt good though. Who knows how fast (or slow) I was actually moving. It was really warm out and kind of breezy. More like Spring than Winter. I ran on the Mt. Vernon trail to Gravely Point then did leg presses, calf raises, hip abductor and adductor work as well as lower back and abs. Let's hope tomorrow is better. I'm questioning if the stress is worth it. Three or four years ago, I would have said, 'Heck Ya!'...now I'm not so sure. 
12/16 (Friday) - 6 mile run AM
I wore shorts this morning on my run towards Belle Haven! That is usually unheard of (for me) in December. I am a weather wimp, I will admit. If it drops below 45 degrees, I am in capris and under 32, I am in tights. I always wear long sleeves as well. Even though it was warm, it was still windy which made me feel like I had a tether around my waist at times.
12/17 (Saturday) - 11 mile run AM/Yoga
I was going to wear my Garmin this morning, but as I was searching for a satellite signal right before the long run with CAR, the battery died. Hmm. I think it was probably better that way. It was a fast run (for me) and I am not used to picking up the pace as the run progresses. My training method in the past has been to run as fast as I can for however long I can...for all runs and distances. Yah, well that is only going to take me so far and that is where I am now. If I want to run sub-3:30 in Boston I am going to have to start doing things differently. It's a little overwhelming. So, today was just kind of a test run for me. My body feels awesome, but my lungs hurt. I am OK with that. I kind of like that feeling because it makes me feel like I am getting stronger. I went to a Kundalini Yoga class after which is an easy stretching, focused breathing type of deal. 
12/18 (Sunday) - 4.5 mile run AM
If you follow Jessica Hofheimer's blog, Pace of Me, you know she is a Lululemon Ambassador and recently started a Run Club where we start with a 30 minute Pilates session, then go out for a 40 minute run. It was so much fun to chat and run with Jess. She is truly as sweet and genuine as they come!  I will definitely try to make it out to her run club a couple times per month!

Such a fun run this morning with Jess. Runners are awesome.