When I was sitting around thinking about running, and my PIA (pain in the ass), and training, and more running, and more training… I wondered how my training looked last year.  Last year at this time I was training for the same marathon – Erie.  And as luck would have it, a 20 miler always seems to fall on July 4th!  Yes, the hottest day of the year.  Or so it seems 🙂

Here’s what I was running this week, 2015:

  • Mon = 8 miles + strides
  • Tues = 10 miles (8 miles at half marathon pace)
  • Weds = Rest!
  • Thurs = 9 miles easy
  • Fri = 20 miles
  • Sat = Rest!
  • Sun = 5 miles
  • Total = 52 miles

Here’s what I’m doing this week… per my reduced, lame condition:

  • Mon = Rest!
  • Tues = 7.5 miles, intervals *(had some pain)
  • Weds = 6 easy miles *(had pain, pain, pain!)
  • Thurs = Rest!  I biked 8 miles
  • Fri = 8 easy miles *(had some pain)
  • Sat = between 3 and 6 miles, depending how I feel
  • Sun = 9 or 10 miles, 7 at marathon pace
  • Total = 37.5 on the high side

Oh man.  My training has really sucked this cycle.  I was running so many more miles last summer and doing quite well.  Some days I’d crank out 13 or 14 miles before work and feel just fine.  Now, I feel pain from the moment I walk out the door.  Sucks.  But… I’m still working on the issue, trying different things and hoping for the best.

I think above all the rest days help.  I didn’t run at all on Sat, Sun & Mon and then Tuesday I was able to crank out my goal paces on 3 x 1600 intervals.  That accomplishment felt great!  (Until I paid for it the next day!)

2016-06-28 06.27.33

Today I got through my 8 easy miles with a lower amount of pain, following my rest from running day yesterday.  I actually enjoyed my morning bike ride quite a bit.  Biking was far less tiring than running, and I still got out to enjoy the early morning!

bikepic

My bike is in need of an upgrade!  It’s at least 17 years old, and makes terrible noises due to needing a tune up.  But, it has been a reliable form of transportation for all of these years, so I have to give it credit for that.

I’m looking forward to the long holiday weekend.  We will be going to see some fireworks, and do some relaxing.  I hope you are all having a good weekend too, if that means racing, resting, traveling or just doing nothing!!

*****************************************************

Q:  Are you racing this weekend?

I have never run a July 4th race… see previous comment about 20 mile long run usually falling on this weekend!

Q: If you’re training right now – how has your plan been going?

Glad I have a coach, because I’m pretty far off the “paper” training plan now!

Q: What’s your favorite way to celebrate the holiday – cookout, fireworks?

 

3 thoughts on “What a difference a year makes”
    1. It didn’t bother me while I was biking, but afterwards I was feeling a little sore and wondering if I should have biked as hard as I did (as fast as my little bike would go, which isn’t much!!). It was definitely a lower amount of pain though, not as much as running!

  1. Go to Cyclewerks in Whitehouse for repairs or upgrade. Jon and Julie are awesome people who run as well…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.